$2 brake cleaner is what I use on my barrels and choke tubes - it is able to immediately get the crud out of those fine threads - remember to relube everything, as brake cleaner removes all oils, etc.
$8-$10 worth of supplies lats me maybe a month - so $25 a year or $120 a year - makes MY decision easy. Just like any other hobby, when a company takes a generic product and applies it to a specific hobby or sport, the price skyrockets.
If you don't like brake cleaner, make up some Ed's Red