Otis Delux Kit

[natedog]

I bought an Otis "Delux" Kit off the of Ebay a month ago for $50, and have used it quite a bit since then. I've decided to post a brief write-up about it.

The kit comes packaged in a velvet-lined case, which seemed pretty sturdy. Inside their are bore brushes, the "hockey puck" belt cleaning kit, documentation on cleaning, several hundred "all-caliber" patches, brass cleaning kit, extra oil/solvent combo, and an extra pull-through cable. Inside the hockey puck belt kit, there are patch heads, cords, a T-handle to pull stubborn patches through, and space for patches and oil.

With this kit, I can clean my Colt Officers Model (.38 Special), Winchester Model 12 (20 gauge), M-1 Garand (.30-06), Mini-14 (.223- has since been sold at the time of this writing), and any other caliber that I'd need to clean in one sitting. While you can't use the cheap square patches you find at Wal-Mart, the propriety round patches are very strong and absorbent. Inserting one into the cleaning head forms a fat knot, and the patch cones out, meaning 360* patch coverage, so one patch can do the work of several regular patches. Plus, each patch can be re-used about six times (advertised- usually only about three) with a clean surface.

This kit has all you need to maintain an entire armory. All your handguns, rifles, and shotguns can be cleaned from breach to muzzle with one kit that can fit on your belt. The firearm doesn't even need to be disassembled to clean the bore. When you clean muzzle-bore, you're pulling fouling out of the barrel, in the direction of the bullet, without drawing any gunk into the action or damaging the muzzle.

I give the Otis Kit an A+. I wouldn't get the Delux kit unless you find a killer deal on it like I did. The standard universal kit is about $30.

Links here:

www.otisgun.com

www.snipercountry.com/InReviews/OtisFieldCleaningSystems_Overview.asp

http://www.impactguns.com/store/otis.html

 

[bogie]

Won't work on my bench guns.

Not good if you need to do a lot of brushing for copper.

 

[Valkman]

I got the Tactical Kit a while back - same thing where I can clean pretty much all my guns with it. I find it kinda hard to get used to after cleaning the conventional way so long! I do have trouble getting the patch big enough to clean a .45 well, but I just need more practice and I haven't been shooting much lately.

 

[sm]

I like 'em a lot.

I started with them when they were called "Kit and Caboodle" ( something like that). Granted I don't clean bbls often, still handy for what I use one for. I used one quite a bit taching students on the range ( different calibers) and found great for revos and lever actions. Always have one in the field , mud, snow,rain - happens. Competiting with shotguns- I use mine a lot for the chambers...all I really worry about on any firearm.

Actually I still use a length of rawhide a lot.

More compact for me is the Otis .177 micro kit , and the two patch savers for shotguns. Basically all I use anymore and I can go from .177 to 12 gauge. I use an old Otis case, add pipe cleaners, Q- tips , and stick a M16 brush in the belt dealie...some kind of lube ...I rarely use a brush anyway - pipe clean chambers...

The rawhide resides in the Otis Kit...along with a pc of straw...muzzle / crown protector just in case...

humm...haven't really cleaned mine in awhile....CCW gets a blast of Dust off and relube ...I like simple - can you tell?

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Thanks for the excellent writeup, natedog.

Oh, you sold your Mini-14???

 

[natedog]

Yeah, I bought a Remington 870P and a Para SKS to replace it .

 

[SMLE]

I have an Otis kit and love it. Where this kit really shines is cleaning an M1. You can clean from breach to muzzle very easily. I also use a bore snake, but the Otis can actually be used to PUSH stuff out of the bore. IE; if you're out in the woods and stumble and jam the muzzle in the dirt/mud/snow. The Otis kit can even be used to drive a stuck bullet out of the bore!

 

[LAK]

These really shine (for me) as a field kit; compact, light, and able to do a thorough job. But at home or with "vehicle support" I prefer a regular rod for the speed with which a barrel can be brushed and mopped etc. Of course the pull-through kits like the Otis make good sense for rifles like the leverguns to avoid trying to center a rod from the muzzle end.