5 Best Gun Cleaning Kits

BEST OVERALL
HOPPE'S No. 9 Deluxe Gun Cleaning Kit
DAC Winchester Super Deluxe Soft Sided Gun Care Case (68-Piece)
Allen Company Universal Gun Cleaning Kit & Tool Box - Rifle, Shotgun &...
9mm Quality Gun Cleaning Snake, Hoppes No. 9 Bore Cleaner and Lube Oil...
Dewey Rods Chr-16 Chamber Cleaning Combo, Red, Gold
Model
Hoppe's No. 9 Deluxe Gun Cleaning Kit
DAC Winchester Super Deluxe Soft Sided Gun Care Case
Allen Company Ultimate Universal Weapon Gun Cleaning Kit
9mm Quality Gun Cleaning Bore Snake
Dewey Rods Chr-16 Chamber Cleaning Combo
Our Score
9.5
9.2
9.1
8.8
8.4
MSRP
$34.99
$83.78
$50.11
$19.99
$17.11
Best For
Pistol & Rifle
Pistol
Rifle/Pistol
Pistol
Rifle
Includes
Bore Cleaner, Lubricating oil, patches. 3-piece brass rod, 4 slotted ends, 5 phosphor bronze brushes, rifle/shotgun and pistol adapter, silicone cleaning cloth.
Cleaning rod, rod endcustom fitted Winchester EVA soft sided case - removable Handoliers and accessory pouches - machined aluminum handle - 4 brass accessory adapters - 1 double ended metal cleaning pick - 2 double ended utility/breech brushes (one phosphor/nylon) - 3 utility parts brushes (phosphor, nylon, and stainless) - 2 choke/breech brushes (1/4" and 3/4" diameter) - 1 polishing cloth - 3 sets of 50 cleaning patches (1" x 1", 1.5" x 1.5", 3" x 3"). 6 solid brass rods: - .17-.28 caliber - .30-.54 caliber. 14 phosphor bronze brushes and mops: - .17, .22, .204, .243, .270, .30, .357 (.38 and 9mm) .40, .45, .50, .54 calibers - 12, 20, 410 gauge. 4 slit tips: - .22, .30 calibers - 12, 410 gauge. 13 solid brass spear pointed jags: - .17-.50 calibers accessories, cloth patches,cleaning solvent, oil, storage box, bore brush
Brass ThreadBronze shotgun bore brushes: 12 & 20 gauge and .410 bore, all 5/16-27 threads Bronze rifle/pistol brushes: .54, .50, .44/.45, .40, .375, .35, .338, .30, .270, .243, and .22 caliber (8-32 thread), and .17 (5-40 thread) Brass jags for rifle/pistol: .50, .45, .44, .375, .35, .338, .30, .270, .25, .243/6mm, and .22 caliber (8-32 thread), and .17 (5-40 thread) Cotton swabs for shotgun: 12 & 20 gauge, and .410 bore, all 5/16-27 thread Cotton swabs for rifle/pistol: .357/9mm, .30, and .270 caliber, all 8-32 thread Brass slotted tips: shotgun (5/16-27 thread) and rifle/pistol in .40, .30, and .22 caliber (8-32 thread) Brass adapters: shotgun (5/16-27 thread), rifle/pistol (8/32 thread), and .20 caliber and less (5-40 thread) Muzzleguards for 4mm and 6mm brass cleaning rods Brass cleaning rods (3-piece rods): 4mm and 6mm Pick tool, cleaning brush, brass cleaning brush and cotton patches Adapter (5-40 male to 8-32 female), Nylon Bore Brush x 2, Cotton Bore Mop x 2, Brass Jag x 2, Brass Slotted Tip
9mm Quality Gun Cleaning Bore Snake, Hoppes No. 9 Bore Cleaner and Lube Oil
Dewey Fixed Handle Brass Rod and the Dewey Chamber Brush
BEST OVERALL
HOPPE'S No. 9 Deluxe Gun Cleaning Kit
Model
Hoppe's No. 9 Deluxe Gun Cleaning Kit
Our Score
9.5
MSRP
$34.99
Best For
Pistol & Rifle
Includes
Bore Cleaner, Lubricating oil, patches. 3-piece brass rod, 4 slotted ends, 5 phosphor bronze brushes, rifle/shotgun and pistol adapter, silicone cleaning cloth.
More Information
DAC Winchester Super Deluxe Soft Sided Gun Care Case (68-Piece)
Model
DAC Winchester Super Deluxe Soft Sided Gun Care Case
Our Score
9.2
MSRP
$83.78
Best For
Pistol
Includes
Cleaning rod, rod endcustom fitted Winchester EVA soft sided case - removable Handoliers and accessory pouches - machined aluminum handle - 4 brass accessory adapters - 1 double ended metal cleaning pick - 2 double ended utility/breech brushes (one phosphor/nylon) - 3 utility parts brushes (phosphor, nylon, and stainless) - 2 choke/breech brushes (1/4" and 3/4" diameter) - 1 polishing cloth - 3 sets of 50 cleaning patches (1" x 1", 1.5" x 1.5", 3" x 3"). 6 solid brass rods: - .17-.28 caliber - .30-.54 caliber. 14 phosphor bronze brushes and mops: - .17, .22, .204, .243, .270, .30, .357 (.38 and 9mm) .40, .45, .50, .54 calibers - 12, 20, 410 gauge. 4 slit tips: - .22, .30 calibers - 12, 410 gauge. 13 solid brass spear pointed jags: - .17-.50 calibers accessories, cloth patches,cleaning solvent, oil, storage box, bore brush
More Information
Allen Company Universal Gun Cleaning Kit & Tool Box - Rifle, Shotgun &...
Model
Allen Company Ultimate Universal Weapon Gun Cleaning Kit
Our Score
9.1
MSRP
$50.11
Best For
Rifle/Pistol
Includes
Brass ThreadBronze shotgun bore brushes: 12 & 20 gauge and .410 bore, all 5/16-27 threads Bronze rifle/pistol brushes: .54, .50, .44/.45, .40, .375, .35, .338, .30, .270, .243, and .22 caliber (8-32 thread), and .17 (5-40 thread) Brass jags for rifle/pistol: .50, .45, .44, .375, .35, .338, .30, .270, .25, .243/6mm, and .22 caliber (8-32 thread), and .17 (5-40 thread) Cotton swabs for shotgun: 12 & 20 gauge, and .410 bore, all 5/16-27 thread Cotton swabs for rifle/pistol: .357/9mm, .30, and .270 caliber, all 8-32 thread Brass slotted tips: shotgun (5/16-27 thread) and rifle/pistol in .40, .30, and .22 caliber (8-32 thread) Brass adapters: shotgun (5/16-27 thread), rifle/pistol (8/32 thread), and .20 caliber and less (5-40 thread) Muzzleguards for 4mm and 6mm brass cleaning rods Brass cleaning rods (3-piece rods): 4mm and 6mm Pick tool, cleaning brush, brass cleaning brush and cotton patches Adapter (5-40 male to 8-32 female), Nylon Bore Brush x 2, Cotton Bore Mop x 2, Brass Jag x 2, Brass Slotted Tip
More Information
9mm Quality Gun Cleaning Snake, Hoppes No. 9 Bore Cleaner and Lube Oil...
Model
9mm Quality Gun Cleaning Bore Snake
Our Score
8.8
MSRP
$19.99
Best For
Pistol
Includes
9mm Quality Gun Cleaning Bore Snake, Hoppes No. 9 Bore Cleaner and Lube Oil
More Information
Dewey Rods Chr-16 Chamber Cleaning Combo, Red, Gold
Model
Dewey Rods Chr-16 Chamber Cleaning Combo
Our Score
8.4
MSRP
$17.11
Best For
Rifle
Includes
Dewey Fixed Handle Brass Rod and the Dewey Chamber Brush
More Information

Cleaning your gun is an essential element of gun maintenance that you absolutely have to nail if you are to get the most out of your weapon.

Rather than running around to pick up the odds and ends that you need, it makes far more sense to pick up a complete gun cleaning kit.

Finding the best gun cleaning kit takes some effort but who’s got time for that?

That’s why we’ve done the work for you with our review of the 5 best gun cleaning kits on the current market.

We also provide you with a comprehensive gun cleaning kit FAQ.

Our Reviews Best Gun Cleaning Kits

#1 DAC Winchester Super Deluxe Soft Sided Gun Care Case

 



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Benefits

The DAC technologies Winchester cleaning kit is a universal kit that provides you with a pretty comprehensive array of gun cleaning accessories.

We love how this kit contains almost every tool you need for breech-to-muzzle cleaning, and for a price that won’t hurt your wallet. Talk about value for your money!

DAC technologies guarantee the durability of the case as it’s made from a soft-sided custom-fitted Winchester EVA.

Cons

The threads on the cleaning rod tend to fall off easily, so you have to be a little gentle while wiping your weapon.

Some users also mentioned that the patch was too big for the bore.

Extra Features

The DAC Winchester made sure that each tool is secured with its individual Velcro straps in the airtight kit.

The kit also contains two accessory pouches for extra storage.

Buying Advice

The DAC Winchester gun cleaning kit is the best that we could find on the current market. This is a universal kit so you can use it for more than one caliber of weapon.

The best thing about this kit is you can transport it over the roughest terrain and each tool remains in place. Strongly recommended!

Key Features

  • Best for: Pistol & Rifle
  • Kit Included: Custom fitted Winchester EVA soft sided case – Removable Handoliers and accessory pouches – Machined aluminum handle – 4 brass accessory adapters – 1 double ended metal cleaning pick – 2 double ended utility/breech brushes (one phosphor/nylon) – 3 utility parts brushes (phosphor, nylon, and stainless) – 2 choke/breech brushes (1/4″ and 3/4″ diameter) – 1 polishing cloth – 3 sets of 50 cleaning patches (1″ x 1″, 1.5″ x 1.5″, 3″ x 3″). 6 solid brass rods: – .17-.28 caliber – .30-.54 caliber. 14 phosphor bronze brushes and mops: – .17, .22, .204, .243, .270, .30, .357 (.38 and 9mm) .40, .45, .50, .54 calibers – 12, 20, 410 gauge. 4 slit tips: – .22, .30 calibers – 12, 410 gauge. 13 solid brass spear pointed jags: – .17-.50 calibers

#2 Otis Technologies FG-901-5576 Cleaning System



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Benefits

The Otis Technologies FG-901-5576 Cleaning System is a cleaning kit that can be used on a wide range of handguns.

The kit includes all the tools needed for proper gun cleaning – an all-purpose receiver brush, memory-flex cables, bore brush, slotted tip, and patches, to name a few.

The Otis Cleaning Kit was initially manufactured for soldiers, but now it’s made available commercially.

Cons

The cable handle is not included in the kit, so inserting the cleaning pads and brushes through the gun barrel requires a little effort.

Extra Features

The kit also contains cleaning instructions which will be very useful for beginners.

Buying Advice

The Otis Technologies FG-901-5576 Cleaning System is a basic affordable gun cleaning kit. You will need to buy extra cloth patches. But this is a good kit for new gun owners.

Key Features

  • Best for: Pistol
  • Kit Included: Memory-flex cables – Bore brush – Slotted tip – Cleaning patches – Ripcord – All-purpose receiver brush – Solid rod sections

#3 Allen Company Ultimate Universal Weapon Gun Cleaning Kit



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Benefits

The Allen Company Ultimate Gun Cleaning Kit is another universal kit manufactured from professional-grade materials. So you can rest assured that the toolbox is sturdy enough to protect your gun cleaning accessories.

The kit contains tools for standard rifle and pistol calibers, as well as for 12 gauge, 20 gauge, and .410 bore shotguns.

These tools include muzzle guards, cleaning rods, pick, cleaning brushes, cotton patches, bronze brushes, brass jags, cotton swabs, brass slotted tips, and brass adapters.

Cons

The Allen toolbox is a little bulky and can be difficult to store and transport.

Extra Features

We love how Allen built the toolbox with a designated space for each tool, so it’s very organized.

There’s also extra space if you’re planning to buy additional gun cleaning tools.

Buying Advice

The Allen Company Ultimate Universal Weapon Gun Cleaning Kit is a comprehensive kit consisting of 65 high-quality pieces. The cleaning rod, jag, and slotted tips are all made of brass.

However, it does not contain any solvents or oils so you will have to purchase these separately.

Key Features

  • Best for: Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun
  • Kit Included: Bronze shotgun bore brushes: 12 & 20 gauge and .410 bore, all 5/16-27 threads Bronze rifle/pistol brushes: .54, .50, .44/.45, .40, .375, .35, .338, .30, .270, .243, and .22 caliber (8-32 thread), and .17 (5-40 thread) Brass jags for rifle/pistol: .50, .45, .44, .375, .35, .338, .30, .270, .25, .243/6mm, and .22 caliber (8-32 thread), and .17 (5-40 thread) Cotton swabs for shotgun: 12 & 20 gauge, and .410 bore, all 5/16-27 thread Cotton swabs for rifle/pistol: .357/9mm, .30, and .270 caliber, all 8-32 thread Brass slotted tips: shotgun (5/16-27 thread) and rifle/pistol in .40, .30, and .22 caliber (8-32 thread) Brass adapters: shotgun (5/16-27 thread), rifle/pistol (8/32 thread), and .20 caliber and less (5-40 thread) Muzzleguards for 4mm and 6mm brass cleaning rods Brass cleaning rods (3-piece rods): 4mm and 6mm Pick tool, cleaning brush, brass cleaning brush and cotton patches: 1″ x 3″ and 1.5″ x 3″

#4 Hoppes No.9 Bore Cleaning Snake



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Benefits

The Hoppes No. 9 Bore Cleaning Snake is designed as a one-stop solution for cleaning your .22 Caliber pistol and revolver. It consists of a brass weighted drop-through cord that easily slides through the barrel of your pistol.

One simple pull is all it takes. Importantly there are no exposed metal parts that may damage your weapon as you pass the snake through it.

Cons

The Hoppe’s Boresnake does not come with any oils or silicones.

You will want to apply these lubricants to your gun after every ten cleans, so will have to buy them separately. This bore cleaning snake is only made to work with a .22 caliber pistol and revolver.

You should be aware that Hoppe’s Boresnake is not a replacement for a regular cleaning kit. That is because it will not get into all the nooks and crannies of your weapon.

Extra Features

The Hoppes Bore Cleaning Snake is the fastest bore cleaner on the planet.

It’s also completely washable. It can be used and reused hundreds of times. This snake can be carried anywhere so that you can clean your weapon before you get home – even before you leave the shooting range!

The initial floss brushes the action and then removes loose grit and debris in the bore prior to the main scrubbing. Then the main floss will deliver 160 times more floss than a regular cleaning patch.

The total length of the Cobra Bore Cleaning Snake is 6 inches.

Buying Advice

The Hoppes Bore Cleaning Snake is a great little tool to allow you to clean out the barrel of your handgun anywhere, anytime.

You should view the snake as an addition to rather a replacement for a full cleaning kit. Buy it to clean your gun on the range or at home in order to reduce the time required between full kit cleans.

Key Features

  • Best for: Pistol
  • Kit Included: One cleaning snake

#5 Dewey Rods Chr-16 Chamber Cleaning Combo

Dewey Rods Chr-16 Chamber Cleaning Combo

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Benefits

The Dewey Rods Chr-16 Chamber Cleaning Combo is a simple two-piece kit designed to clean your AR 15 rifle (.223/5.56 Caliber).

You get a CHR Chamber Rod and CH-16 Chamber Brush.

Cons

The Dewey Rods Chr-16 Chamber Cleaning Combo is a very limited set that consists of just two pieces designed to clean your AR rifle.

You will need to buy oils and silicones along with cotton patches and a bore brush to provide a complete cleaning job on your weapon.

Extra Features

The cleaning rod on the Dewey Rods Chr-16 Chamber Cleaning Combo has a fixed rather than a swivel head.

This makes it easier to turn the brush while inserting it so that the long bristles scrub the barrel extension.

Buying Advice

The Dewey Rods Chr-16 Chamber Cleaning Combo is a simple two-piece kit that will do a great job of cleaning out the barrel of your AR rifle.

However, this is a very limited set. You will need to also buy a bore brush and patches.

Key Features

  • Best for: Rifle
  • Kit Included: Dewey Fixed Handle Brass Rod and the Dewey Chamber Brush.

Gun Cleaning Kit FAQ

cleaning pistol

Do I need to clean my gun after every use?

No, you do not have to clean your gun after every use. Modern firearms do not need to be cleaned as often as in earlier times.

People who obsess over cleaning their weapon after every use run the risk of wearing out the parts early, making them lose fitting after so much dismantling, or weaken your gun’s finish due to excessive use of cleaning solvent.

Of course, you need to strike a balance here because your firearm is an investment that must be maintained and cleaning is a vital part of that process. You should not need to clean your gun more than once a month.

When you clean your weapon, check it for worn-out parts. However, you should give your gun a quick wipe down with a cloth after every use. At that time you should also conduct a quick visual inspection of the weapon.

Can you clean a gun too much?

Yes, you definitely can overclean your gun. This is especially the case if you are dismantling the weapon every time you clean it.

You can also do damage to the gun if you are not using the best quality gun cleaning supplies. Be sure to stick with the gun cleaning kits that we have reviewed in this article in order to keep your gun in tip-top condition.

What is a gun cleaning jag used for?

A jag is a piece of metal that is designed like a plunger. You attach a cotton or synthetic patch to the jag and use it to clean out your gun barrel.

It fits tightly into the bore, which is why you need to match the jag to the bore of your weapon. The jag will allow you to remove fouling from the barrel, along with excess solvent and oil.

How to clean your pistol?

Handgun Cleaning How to

The first thing is to have your complete gun cleaning kit on hand. Then dismantle the handgun. The first part you will clean is the frame.

Use a rag to clear off the surface gunk from the frame. Use a little solvent on a cue tip to get into the small nooks and crannies.

Next, you should clean the recoil spring. Use a dry wire brush to do this. You should not have any need to take the recoil spring apart.

Next move on to the barrel. Use a small amount of solvent on the barrel. Then put another small amount of solvent on your wire brush and work the brush actively inside the barrel in order to loosen and dislodge any grit that is contained there.

Follow this up with  jag and patches to thoroughly clear the barrel of gunk.

The final step before reassembly is to oil your gun. Don’t make the mistake that most people do and over oil your handgun. Rather, apply some oil to a cue tip and use that to oil only the shiny parts of the gun. You can now reassemble the gun.

Do you have any gun cleaning tips?

  • Provide yourself with plenty of to work
  • Work under clear light
  • Use a fan to blow away solvent fumes
  • Organize your cleaning process in assembly-line fashion

How to clean your rifle?

Here is a 12-step process for cleaning your disassembled rifle:

(1) Lay the rifle on the table with the muzzle way for the body.

(2) Always clean the bore from the chamber toward the muzzle, being sure to keep the muzzle lower than the chamber. This will prevent bore cleaner from running into the receiver or the firing mechanism.

(3) Always use a bore guide to keep the cleaning rod centered in the bore during the cleaning process.

(4) Push several patches that are saturated with carbon cleaner through the barrel in order to loosen any powder fouling.

(5) Saturate a bronze bristle brush with carbon cleaner using a medicine dropper to prevent contamination of the carbon cleaner.

(6) Run the bore brush through the barrel at least twenty times.

(7) Use a pistol cleaning rod and a .45 caliber bronze bristle bore brush to clean the chamber. The brush should be wrapped in a patch. Rotate the patch rather than scrubbing it in and out of the chamber.

(8) Continue pushing through patches with carbon cleaner until the patches have no traces of black or gray and instead are green or blue. This will tell you that there is no longer any powder fouling in the barrel.

(9) Now push several patches that have been saturated with copper cleaner through the bore. Use a scrubbing motion in order to work the solvent into the copper. Allow the solvent to do its work for 15 minutes.

(10) While you are waiting, scrub the bolt with carbon cleaner moistened toothbrush. You can also wipe down the rest of the rifle with a cloth.

(11)  After fifteen minutes has elapsed, push a few patches saturated with copper cleaner through the barrel. They will appear dark blue at first to show the amount of copper fouling removed. Continue until the patches have no blue or green on them.

(12) Once the barrel is clean, dry it with several tight fitting patches. Dry the chamber with a .45 caliber bronze bristle bore brush that has a patch wrapped around it.

(13) Run a patch that has been saturated with rust prevention down the barrel and chamber.

(14) Put a small amount of rifle grease on the rear surface of the bolt lugs.

(15) Reassemble the weapon and wipe it down with a cloth.

How do you disassemble a rifle?

Follow this 5 step guide to safely disassemble your rifle:

  1.   Point the rifle in a safe direction.
  2.   Put the safety in the “S” position.
  3.   Remove the bolt assembly.
  4.   Use the 1/2-inch combination wrench, loosen the front and rear mounting ring nuts on the scope, and remove the scope.
  5.   Loosen the front and rear trigger guard screws.
  6.   Lift the stock assembly from the barrel assembly.
  7.   Reassemble in reverse order.

What should you look for when buying a universal gun cleaning kit?

Here are the key considerations:

Caliber range – it is best to buy a universal gun cleaning kit that will work with a range of caliber weapons. Check the  smallest and largest calibers listed in the description. Remember that the brushes must fit snugly in the barrel or they will be next to useless.

Number of brushes – the more brushes a kit has, the more calibers it will be able to clean. A really good universal gun cleaning kit will provide you with ten or more brushes.

Case – the kit should come with a carry case, complete with a handle.

Solvent and oil – make sure that the universal cleaning kit has a generous amount of solvents and oils, rather than the token amount that you find with many gun cleaning kits.

Picks – Be sure that the kit contains a number of picks in order to reach the hard to get to nooks and crannies of your weapon.

Accessories – The following accessories are nice to have but are by no means necessary – long cotton swabs, gun vise, slotted tip gun jag, gun cleaning mat, gun cleaning picks.

Conclusion

The best professional gun cleaning kit on the market right now is the Hoppe’s No. 9 Deluxe Gun Cleaning Kit.

The next best gun cleaning kit is the HOPPE’S Cleaning Kit.

Rounding out our top three best gun cleaning kits is the Raiseek .177 Cal & .22 Cal Airgun Cleaning Kit.

Be sure to pair your kit with the best gun cleaning mat for mess-free cleaning.

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Last update on 2024-03-17 / Images from Amazon Product API