Best Gun Cleaning Kits [Hands-On Tested]

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.

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

Best Universal Gun Cleaning Kit

GuardTech Plus Universal Gun Cleaning Kit

$29

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$29 at Amazon

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.

• M-Pro 7 Cleaner
• Lucas Extreme Duty Gun Oil

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

Best AR-15 Cleaning Kit

GuardTech Plus AR-15 Cleaning Kit

$39

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$39 at Amazon

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

Best US-Made Cleaning Kit

Otis Defender 9mm/5.56 Kit

$83

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$83 at Amazon

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

Best 9mm Cleaning Kit

Real Avid 9mm Multi-Kit

$29

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$29 at Amazon

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

Best Range AR-15 Kit

Canvas AR-15 Gun Cleaning Kit

$14

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$14 at Amazon

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.

M-Pro 7 Gun Cleaner

$19

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$19 at Amazon

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.

Lucas Extreme Duty Gun Oil

$15

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$15 at Amazon

Brownells (see price)

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.

Tipton Rifle Cleaning Rod

$40

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$40 at Amazon

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.

Hoppe’s Bore Snake

$15

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$15 at Amazon

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.

Hoppe’s Cleaning Patches

$6

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$6 at Amazon

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, my go-to everything cleaning kit is the GuardTech.

GuardTech Plus Universal Gun Cleaning Kit

$29

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$29 at Amazon

While the US-made Otis is great at home or at the range if you have something .223/5.56 and also 9mm.

Otis Defender 9mm/5.56 Kit

$83

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$83 at Amazon

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.