Cleaning kits are not all the same so don’t get fooled by pretty packaging

There have been cleaning kits made for several generations, at least, probably beginning the first mil-spec style nylon pouches made to hold a portable cleaning rod and clp that was attached to an Army M1 rifle or similar. Since they have been all kinds of kits including the briefcase style product with like 100 different brushes and other accessories inside. That’s overkill unless you are a gunsmith, and even then, I don’t think that’s what you are getting – but a great Christmas gift.

Today, most cleaning kits are hard plastic cases that open up and offer you a sectional rod and possibly a bore rope or cable-based pull-thru solution, but that’s where the similarity ends. Consider the following before making your move:

1. Do you want a kit for handguns, rifles, shotguns or something universal. Or, are you looking to serve a specific caliber.
2. Are you easily distracted by pretty colors. That can be a problem.
3. Is there a coated steel rod inside, or is it made of brass of aluminum.
4. Are cotton patches included.
5. Is there a bore guide. That’s the little cone-shaped object used to guide the rod down the bore. This is commonly confusing when people first see it.
6. Are there chemicals included. Solvent, CLP oil. Grease. Or nothing.
7. What kind of handle does it have. Spinning t-shaped, or cyclinder shaped. Spinning or fixed on the rod is important. You want spinning.
8. Look at the patch holder, the looped attachment. Is is metal or plastic.
9. Is there a bronze brush, or other screw-on attachments. Does it look like good quality or a throw away.
10. Are there instructions included.

Tally your score and decide if what you’re looking at addresses these questions and whether it looks more complete than the other options at the store. Hopefully, you got that far.

Fancy packaging. Spectacular graphics. Cool words and pictures all over the label. None of that will help you practically. Look for quality, and at a fair price. Don’t be dazzled and fooled by a kit that cost twice as much as another that is simply well built. Alternatively, don’t waste your money on a cheap piece of garbage as some of them are. When you take a close look you will know what I mean. And unfortunately, sometimes the guy behind the counter at the gun shop doesn’t always know the difference or care what you use, and sometimes they have an agenda to push something that they are trying to offload.

Be an educated consumer. Right now, a good product should cost around $25. Not $9.99 nor $49.99.

Other than that, there are other important firearm maintenance product options like a good gun spray, which is probably either a cleaner greaser, or a lube spray, sometimes called a CLP by description. That can cost under or over $10. The same goes for copper solvent or other specialty surface treatments. Accessories are also mostly in that $2-$4 range for the little attachments or a bit more for bags of things, so think before you spend much more on any of that. However, they all serve a purpose.

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