Looking for a perfect all-in-one gun cleaning kit?
Bad news…there isn’t one.
But we’ll help you get the best one for your end-use…and suggest some standalone products to truly make your kit perfect.
I’ve used a bunch of cleaning kits throughout the years and this is only a snapshot of the ones I haven’t thrown away.
Follow me as I cover what’s needed for rifle, pistol, and shotgun cleaning.
THE QUICK LIST
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Best Universal Gun Cleaning Kit
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Best AR-15 Cleaning Kit
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Best US-Made Cleaning Kit
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Best 9mm Cleaning Kit
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Best Range AR-15 Kit
Table of Contents
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How We Tested the Best Gun Cleaning Kits
We shoot and dirty up a lot of guns here at Pew Pew Tactical, especially 9mm pistols and AR-15s. This hands-on test took place over several cleaning batches.
We chose the gun cleaning kits with the following criteria:
- Precedence towards US-based companies
- Mix of universal and caliber-specific kits
- Mix of larger home-based kits and compact range kits
And we evaluated the kits based on:
- Included tools and accessories for the caliber
- Quality of tools and accessories
- Form factor for end-use
- Value
Best Gun Cleaning Kits
1. GuardTech Plus Universal Kit
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Pros
- Universal pistol, rifle, shotgun kit
- Comes with patches, Q-tips, & oil bottle
- US-based mom & pop company
Cons
- Doesn't include cleaner/oil
My current go-to all-encompassing gun cleaning kit is GuardTech’s Universal Kit.
It comes with everything you’ll ever need from shotguns to pistols, rifles, and even rimfire.
There’s all the AR-15 specific tools you need like a .22 barrel brush, star chamber brush, and chamber mop. Quality is good through several AR and pistol cleanings.
One nit-picky thing I could think of is that the patches are 12-ga sized so you’ll have to quarter-cut them for AR cleaning.
All those plus some bronze and polymer brushes make even cleaning the suppressed-shooting bolt a breeze.
Even though I put it as a con…I prefer kits that don’t include cleaning solution and oil since I have my own preferences. But there’s an empty bottle and space for whatever you end up choosing.
The latest update kit comes with 9mm/.357 specific components and modified jag retention so they don’t pop out easily. Great idea since I’ve definitely had that happen with other kits spilling out parts when you open them up.
It’s fairly large but comes in a nice locking hard-case if you plan on bringing it to the range. However, I just keep mine at home for big batches of cleaning.
An extra perk is that GuardTech is US-based in PA and literally a mom and pop operation. Plus value is great at around $40 for the entire universal kit.
What do you think? Rate it below!
2. GuardTech Plus AR-15 Cleaning Kit
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Pros
- Nice brass cleaning rod
- Compact size for home or range
- Comes with bore snake and patches
Cons
- No space for cleaner/oil
A more recent product from GuardTech is their AR-15 specific cleaning kit which comes with everything you need in a smaller package compared to the everything kit above.
I especially like the two choices of using a bore snake and a surprisingly nice brass cleaning rod that rotates as you push it through your barrel.
It’s a very nice to have that when the rifling rotates your patch/jag nothing becomes loosened.
Speaking of jags and other tips…the kit also comes with everything for cleaning your barrel to your chamber and even a nylon brush for everything else.
All you need is some of your fav cleaner and lube and you’re ready to go. Value is also decent at $39 since you get the much better cleaning rod.
3. Otis Defender 9mm/5.56 Kit
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Pros
- US-made product
- Comes with cleaner/oil
- Nice compact package
Cons
- Higher priced
Got an AR and 9mm handgun?
This is the perfect kit for you that’s high-quality and US-made.
For cleaning another suppressed AR-15…the Otis kit came with everything needed. I liked that it has the bore brush and also differently sized patches for the two calibers.
Although the smaller patch was slightly too small for my AR.
However, it’s the only one on the list that comes with CLP (clean, lubricate, protect) which worked well.
While cleaning a pistol, the kit also performed great. I appreciated the different sized brushes for getting to the rails and other nooks and crannies.
It’s a great Goldilocks kit that is perfect for both at-home and range use. The only knock I can give is that it’s more expensive than other kits out there. But you get the quality of a US-made product.
4. Real Avid 9mm Multi-Kit
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Pros
- 9mm, .357, .38 specific kit
- Comes with mini range kit
- Cool folding package
Cons
- No space for anything else
- Does not come with cleaner/oil
Looking for something that will clean your 9mm, .357 Magnum, and .38 Special handguns?
The Real Avid Multi-Kit is our favorite…especially with its compact form and really cool opening mechanism.
We love that it also comes with a travel range kit that contains a bore-brush and bore snake.
It also comes with everything needed including some decent quality picks and brushes. Plus the bore rod nicely rotates to save your barrel.
One negative is that you might have a hard time getting everything back into the space-saving box if you forget how it was when you started.
5. Green Canvas Gun Cleaning Kit
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Pros
- Tiny kit for AR-15
- Space for adding extra accessories
Cons
- Steel cleaning rod
There’s a lot of this kind of kit being sold…probably from one factory that makes it and a bunch of people brand it as a something else.
But it’s my go-to range kit if I don’t think I’ll actually need to clean.
It’s small, slim, and has an empty bottle to put some cleaner or oil…however I’d presume that it would leak.
I’ve had several through the years, and I like to modify mine to have extra bronze brushes, a dental pick, Allen key, and Q-tips/patches.
It’s not my cleaning kit for home since the rods seem to be steel and could damage the barrel if used a lot.
But it’s great for getting things unstuck! Can’t go wrong as a backup cleaning kit for around $10.
Best Gun Cleaner & Oil
Everyone and their mom have a favorite gun cleaner and oil. Here’s a sample of what you’ll see if you try to find out more:
- Hoppe’s No. 9…enough said.
- They issued me _____ and I’ve been using it for _____ years.
- I can eat my gun oil…can you?
- I bought 1 gallon of (insert motor oil) and it will last me a lifetime.
I’ll admit…I started with Hoppe’s No. 9 and it’s an awesome cleaner. Problem is that I like to clean indoors and though I really LOVE the smell…I’d get dizzy and also it started eating away at my nails.
I switched to M-Pro 7 cleaner and didn’t look back. It’s nearly as good at cleaning but without the caustic effects.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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For oil, I really like the Lucas Extreme since it does the job and comes in a compact bottle with a very nice needle applicator.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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See more in our Best Gun Oils article.
Additional Gun Cleaning Accessories
For my precision rifles, I like using a one-piece cleaning rod to make sure nothing scratches my lands & grooves. I stick with the ole standard…Tipton.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Now some of you might be asking where are the bore snakes? Frankly, I don’t really use them since I don’t like the idea of running something previously dirty back through my barrel.
But some swear by them…especially as the ultimate space-saving cleaning “kit” for a range bag.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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And you’ll be sure to run out of patches sooner or later. In a pinch some cut up t-shirts or boxers will work. But I like going with Hoppe’s.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Final Thoughts
In conclusion, my go-to everything cleaning kit is the GuardTech.
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While the US-made Otis is great at home or at the range if you have something .223/5.56 and also 9mm.
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That’s it on my end…let me know if I missed some kits. And if you must…your favorite oil and cleaner.
Lastly, be sure to check out our Editor’s Picks for more guns & gear that we love.
LATEST UPDATES
June 21, 2024 – Added How We Tested and complete overhaul of previous choices after extensive testing.
40 Leave a Reply
Thank you for this comprehensive review! I decided to purchase the Real Avid set since I only have handguns.
OMG. Lose the horrible script font on the website. It is absolutely unreadable. And all caps? Forget it twice. Please, who decided this was a good font for a website for gun enthusiasts, or anyone who reads.
I’m all for someone making a living, but promotion-for-profit has its drawbacks and deficits: some of the kits listed have brushes that damage barrels, and some of the old techniques of cleaning have been improved upon significantly — and not one of these advanced kits appear in this review.
The Guardtech kit is MADE IN CHINA. We should not buy ANYTHING that is manufactured in China...period!
When the company that made 'Weapon Shield' went under I was thankful that I had purchased a bunch of it before they closed the doors. But now, years later my supply is getting low. Its about the best thing I ever used for my firearms, they were easier to clean and it protected and lubricated so well - after the treatment is gives the metal. However, another company (Rattac Technologies Inc.) has the formula now and is getting ready to reintroduce it and have the web site up for it with a 'coming soon' on the site (the site is weapon-shield DOTT com) so I look forward to getting more of this.
BORETECH. No other product compares. Their cleaners are better than anything else. You pay for what you get, though. Remember that gun cleaning kits are designed to clean the bore and action mostly. Cleaning the rest of the weapon has always been a struggle. Most kits want you to spray it down with a degreaser or some CLP. To get the rifle completely clean, you will need a full-size sonic cleaner to soak the gun in before cleaning the bore and action. It will be cleaner than the day it was manufactured.
Fifty plus years of Shooting/Hunting, means I've so many different cleaning kits from Lord only knows how many different manufacturers from Monkey Wards/Sears to Williams and some brands that haven't made kits since I was a kid, that I've a Big Tub of Cleaning Kits. One Shotgun Rod is nearly as wide as the bore of a. 410 and has absolutely No flex at all to it. The brushes are still good,, but I've not seen any brushes made today that would fit the threads on that rod, so once they're gone, that'll be it.
Though I love the smell of Hope's #9, Forty years of being nagged about the Nasty Smell, encouraged me to try "Shooter Lube" Cleaner and Lube. It's odorless formula does make life easier, and it works just as well as all the others I've tried. I do keep an Otis kit in my SHTF pouch on my Plate carrier, with brushes for 9, 5.56 and 7.62. I also keep a Mil Surp M16/M4 Cleaning Kit in that pouch as well.
In my Range bag I keep Boresnakes and a takedown fiberglass rod for use in the field.
I've picked up a few different tools for my ARs, but I tend to soak the bolts and wire brush them rather than scrape. Scraping just seems like it may cause issues.
Having used CLP and the tail of my t shirt in the field more than once, along with the kit in then butt trap, it doesn't take much to clean an AR. In garrison we were using the first battery operated drill drivers on rods with jags and brushes.
Of all the "improvements" I found the bolt tail scrapes to be counter productive. They can and do scrape carbon - but that end of the bolt is part of the gas cylinder, and the more you clean it, the more you open up the clearance which allows gas to escape, not drive the bolt carrier back. The other end has rings that seal well enough - field stripping, it's never recommended to remove them, yet here we are attempting to remove the finish on the other end of the bolt. That's what it does - scrape.
They are sold to those who were cleaning a weapon to get it back thru the armorer's gaze, and his intent is to avoid ever doing it if there were spot check on one of the hundreds in his/her charge. That tradition is like granma cutting off the end of the ham - to fit her tiny bake pan, no other reason.
In the field you wipe them down with more lube, ran a patch thru the barrel to remove obstructions, and then tape or cap it - done. The toothpic inspection standards are Ordnance busy work for troops who can't be let go early in the day so their training schedule gets stretched out running pipe cleaners in odd holes - like, the cloverleaf in front of the upper. After 45 years of field use, nobody reports that bolt tails are a major malfunction - it's usually a badly dented magazine or dirty/bent ammo. The firearm itself does a good job running thru a basic load and by then all the rest is mud/dust getting in from the outside.
Note how our web gear changed - we went from flapped pouches to open top, from low crawling to squared up. I challenge someone with a modern war belt to low crawl thru mud then load their magazine and get them to fire reliably. Not all changes are good and knowing which to use with what is important.
Update: Gifted a son my '64 Win 94 Saddle Ring carbine, and he needed a kit to clean it. This is a difficult weapon to get apart, most never do, plus, the bolt can't be removed easily. Its a 90 minute tear down almost gunsmith level. That means a lot of lever guns aren't well cleaned and also are contrary to the process. The rod will have to go down the muzzle - horror! - and spray cleaners used in the action and allowed to drain out as best gravity will allow. I purchased the Breakthrough Rifle kit, it has BRASS jags for the patches, not plastic, a 4 piece rod set with coated nylon exterior, not steel, and a grip with bearings to help the jags and brushes negotiate rifling. I've had a rod with bearing grip since the 70's and it's likely the best thing that happened to kits in that century. Another aspect of Breakthrough is they are readily available at a major discount store in almost every American town - you can pick one up today, when you need to clean a gun. Buying local keeps those stores open and supports your neighbors working there. Considering there is not one bolt, screw or nail Made in the USA, the source of what we buy is out of our hands, but the neighbors we keep employed are more important. We should consider that buying imported ammo, too . . .
I pay a premium for fasteners Made in USA, but they’re readily available from McMaster. I don’t shop by price though, and many folks do.
If you need cleaning patch (cloth). I suggest you go to a local fabric shop or order online for Diaper cloth or diaper material. Great for cleaning patches. SUPER absorbent and cheap.
Your article caught my attention. Your #3,"green canvas," far as the rods being steel easy to test with a magnet. My kit is in a steel box, no idea where they came from. Some of my rods are brass and some are aluminum. I was hoping for an opinion as to advantages of each-if there are any. A brush, nothing fancy I use a tooth brush. Q tips, confession I use them. Shown in one of the kits are wooden stick non-Q tip Q tips they are better quality lint free. They can be bought. They are better and more expensive.
Cleaning at the range? I would never do that. You drop a part, hard if not impossible to find it. My dad taught me to shoot a real long time ago. Dad said to clean the gun every time you use it. I expect with non-corrosive modern primers it is not at all necessary. My 22 semi auto pistol runs the dirtiest. It is also the easiest to disassemble. I clean it every 200 shots.
My stainless revolver, it is pretty but a pain to get and keep clean. I clean it after every trip to the range. Brass brushes. I was taught to push the brush all the way through. If, you go back and forth with the brush in the barrel, you force the wire that the brush is made of to push into the barrel and increase wear at that spot.
Otis isn't on this list? Why not?
Any thoughts about Hoppes "One Shot" dry cleaner and lube? I love it!
I buy good quality rods, jags and brushes from Dewey in the specific calibers I want. Once in a while I need replacement brushes.
This is exactly what I do but I'm starting to shy away from Dewey because their brass ends strip out too easily. Im slowly rotating my stock to Tipton fiberglass as my Dewey's go bad. They are still a great rod though
Strange that you're having these kinds of issues with Dewey products. I've used Dewey for YEARS now through thousands of applications, "I do cleaning and minor gunsmithing on the side". As long as you're using a good bore guide and not forcefully bending rods or over tightening stuff on your threads then you should have no issues. Dewey also has a great customer service process as well.
You should note that many modern pistols have warnings to avoid use of any cleaner that is ammonia based (ie Hoppes #9). Walther for example says to avoid its
Use on any walther gun.
The rod in the Real Avid Gun Boss Handgun Cleaning Kit broke on the first use. Quality was B.A.D. If you like Chinese built products it's fine but I ended up throwing it away. I bought a Hoppe's rod with a quality ball bearing and it's just fine. I don't need or require kits. As far as the cleaning goes I take into the shower and use Axe body wash. Just about any cleaner and good gun oil will do the trick. Hoppe's No. 9 is my favorite because I have used it since I was a kid and the smell is divine.
Seriously, and I don’t want to hear about the price, get the Bore Tech “kit” for your ar. I’d spend hours cleaning mine, especially after a two day 3g match. There’s a tool in there with a procedure or process for every sub assembly, and it all works. Oil turns to grease, and grease turns to gunk, but this thing gets it all out from everywhere. Just buy it. You’ll be so happy you did. Oil? Crazy uncle jerry’s Lucas Extreme Duty. I’m sure someday somebody’s going to show me better. That stuff’s always evolving, but for now, Lucas is the way to go. Cleaner? I’m a Hoppes man myself, but: Simple Green PRO HD is awesome and cheap! You can get a gallon for less than a quart of Hoppes. Pour it on lol! And, I you ready for this? It’s specifically engineered to NOT induce corrosion. Spray it with Hornady One Shot or something and wipe it down, lube/grease it up and put it back together. I like the Mil-COMM grease, but I know shooters a lot better/faster than me who swear by Crisco, and it makes their rifle smell like their frying chicken. I never got the running a dirty Bore Snake down a dirty barrel to clean it either. Hope some of this helps. Love your site. Have a great day...
old tee shirt, bore snake, Hoppes lube, can of CPL. its a gun, not a babies bottom
Best response to gun cleaning I have ever read!
Agreed I use a bore snake on all my guns, quick and clean. I wash them every so often to freshen them up and let em hang dry.
I prefer the Shooters Choice (caliber-specific) kits.
They contain quality brass components that won't damage your firearm while cleaning.
Includes a solid brass rod with swivel t-handle along with a brush, mop, jag, lubricant, and patches... my favorite @ $25.
I’ll have to check those out, I liked my old M Pro kit, but gave it away as I expanded calibers, back down to 9mm and 556.
Shooters choice is my go to. Caliber specific kits.
I heard the M-Pro 7 has been discontinued by the manufacturer. Do you have any updated suggestions? I am a new owner of a Glock 19 - my first gun.
Yes, just found this same thing. The recommendations are not up to date.
Cherry Lube. Fairly new stuff and works great! When I break down my pistol after 100 rounds or so, the barrel looks like NONE of the lube has even remotely dissipated. They make several different variations...cold weather, AR’s etc.
I use shooter lube solvent and shooter lube oil and live it. No smell and it does a great job. I also have the 80 pc gun cleaning kit that they sell at academy sports. Everything is in its own container and labeled. It also has a case that I can put all my cleaners and pad in. It hold a lot. I wanted you to check them out and see what you think. The kit has brushed bore light and a lot more.
Hoppe's #9 is still the best solvent, although I feel like every time I crack open the bottle I kill a little bit of the environment. It's rumored to be bad for nickel finishes, and I believe it The stuff is strong! But when you need to clean gunk out of the crevices, this is your stuff.
I have recently switched from Break Free CLP to Ballistol, but it's more for personal preference about the light & non-greasy feel than anything related to tested performance. I can recommend either one.
Not a fan of bore snakes, especially 22 caliber. It's just a raging pain to cram the snake through the barrel, especially for longer guns, and you might even need to wear gloves to prevent scratches or small cuts on your fingers when using them. Too much work for something that's supposed to make cleaning faster and easier.
One thing that helps a lot with cleaning rifles is a brace to hold them steady. I don't do much home gunsmithing, so I don't have a vise-type setup at my house. That's why I like the Outers wooden box kit. There's another one made by Evans that looks a little more sturdy and I'm thinking about switching to that one.
I don't see the actual caliber listed in any of these kits, so what cleaning kit would you recommend for a 10mm Glock Gen4? (I'm a new owner ... first handgun)
10mm is the same as .40 Cal, so any kit that has a .40 cal or .40 S&W rod/cleaner will fit. I would recommend a do-it-all kit like the M-Pro 7 Soft Sided or Real Avid Boss, either one will fit your needs.
I'd like to see a video on cleaning a pistol. Not just the barrel and slide, but all the action in the lower part where you cannot reach with a brush or swab. What do you use? A lot of spray cleaner? Air compressor? Don't clean in there?
It depends a bit on the pistol, a plastic fantastic is really easy to get down in their with some spray and Q-tips - you generally won't get enough crud in there to start with to really need more cleaning than that. If it is a 1911 style then you likely just won't ever clean it, it's more closed off and is hard to get crud down there to start with. *If* it does happen though then taking off the grip panels and using a spray and Q-tips will do the deed.
I clean my firearms at my bench so cleaning kits aren't that important to me. Having the right cleaning solutions, brushes & rods are. "Bore Tech" and "M-Pro 7" are on the top of my list for cleaners and lubricants. Dewey rods, jags and brushes are my choice for cleaning equipment. Dewey makes a great kit (if you want to call it that) for the AR format. rifle that includes a great bore guide, rod, brushes and chamber mops.
I recommend the Otis Elite kit which cleans/covers just about everything in the common pistol, rifle and shot gun category. Add in a bore snake for some hard to reach rifles or for quick field cleaning - in the caliber of choice - and your are good to go!
I like the cable systems better than others that have rods.
That looks like a great one too!
Thanks for this article. I wonder if you would be able to do a similar article, but for caliber specific "kits". I have .22 pistols and rifles, a .380, a 223, and a 243. What would you suggest I get for those? Just a one-size-fits-all kit, or a hodgepodge of individual cleaning parts?
If you see a kit that covers .22lr and .38 anything that should be all you really need. A short rod for the .22 pistols and a long rod for the .22 and .223 rifles is all you'll need for those, the .380 will need its own, the .243 I'm not sure. You might be able to get away with using the .22 rod for it also but it might be a little loose. Loose isn't really bad bad, but it will mean it will take a few more strokes through to get it clean. If it is too loose then it won't work - .22 vs .24is kind of borderline.
I would start with a one-size-fits-all kit and then if those don't work for everything you have, add on one by one what you need. Keep it all in the same box/bag and it will be handy.
Personally, I'm a boresnake fan - both work very well though.