Recommendation Wanted: Cleaning Kit or buy individual

[jhudock]

I am a new shooter still waiting for my permit, but once I get the permit I expect to have minimally a .22, 9mm and .357 (maybe .44 Mag) plus a shotgun.

Do you think I should buy individual brushes, rods. mops, etc... or just buy a nice comprehensive kit like this one:

Outers Universal 62-Piece Blow Molded Gun Cleaning Kit

I'm strongly leaning toward the kit, it might have some things I don't need and may be a little more expensive than buying individually, but then, at least, I should have everything I need for whatever caliber I choose to get in the future.

 

[Hoppe]

I have used an "all-in-one" kit for decades with no problems. The one you listed is very nice, using proper brush, swab, tip, etc for the caliber is what really matters. I would much rather have one kit to keep track of then 5 or 6 that each only work with 1 maybe 2 guns, also you might find to get same quality you will spend much more to buy one for each gun. What if a year from now you find a 30 cal rifle you want? Well you already have what you need. Shop around find a quality kit, remimber there are only so many size threads on all those differant "tips", and you will be ready for what ever you shoot.

 

[Geckgo]

+1 for the kit

 

[avan47]

I vote for individual parts. There are better quality parts available than what is in that kit. At least the rods in that kit are brass - not aluminum. Stay away from aluminum cleaning rods. I like one piece steel rods. I like Pro-Shot Spear Tipped jags. Brushes wear out and need to be replaced from time to time. www.midwayusa.com has most of these items. Prices vary quite a lot on the steel rods, but midway has several for pistol and shotgun at reasonable prices. I would only use a good quality one piece polished stainless steel or carbon fiber rod for cleaning a rifle. Expect to pay $30 or more for one of those, but you don't need to buy one until you have a rifle. Except for .17 cal, and shotgun, most of these components use 8 x 32 thread size. There are a few odd sizes out there, so read product discriptions before buying. 8 x 32 seems to be a standard. Rifle and pistol cleaning brushes that you can buy at Wal Mart are that size.

 

[Strykervet]

I like the Dewey components, Dewey is simply the best as far as I'm concerned. They may sell a kit, I don't know. But you can get the small rod for the pistols and the longer one for the rifles. The handles spin on bearings and the rods are coated. I love 'em. You can add what you need as you go. This stuff is the best you can get and worth it if you are in this for the long haul. Make sure to get the adapters for whatever rod you get so you can use the cheap stuff the stores sell in a pinch.

For cheap stuff, I use the plastic that comes with the Glock. Good cheap and safe field stuff.

I also made my own cable cleaning rod by taking a coated steel cable and trimming a half inch or so of the coating off and then jb-welding that into a Dewey coupling. Viola! a nice cheap compact cable pull rod that will use all common supplies.

 

[bigfatdave]

Oh, kits are nice ... but you'll end up buying little things alone after a while
And then it won't all fit in the kit
And then you end up with a bunch of loose stuff in a little toolbox

Pick up a extremely basic kit for now, and add to it as you find you need stuff. I think that the kit you listed is overkill for someone looking to get a few pistols and a shotgun, look for more basic and get a container for all the fluids/tools/etc you'll amass over time.

 

[MyGreenGuns]

I built my own kit buying components. I store it all in an ammo can from a surplus store. Its full to the brim now and all the parts in it can be used on guns I own. If I collect more components I'll have to buy a bigger ammo can.

 

[jhudock]

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll at least start with an kit and then add pieces as I get more guns

 

[Sky]

Think Walmart has or had a wooden box with cleaning kit that stands about 10" high by 18" long (?). Top of box can be opened and there is a 2 or 3" tray that comes out to expose a lot of room for other stuff that might be large and bulky such a full size towel and other things for storage under the tray.

Bottom has a tray with cleaning rods and brushes. The box would be easy to use because you could carry it to the range with all kinds of oils, rags and cleaners inside plus have the cleaning brushes and rods. There is enough room in the box that if your weapon collection grows you can buy a particular item at Academy or some such place to add. Think the box was $29 but not sure. The kit in your link is nice but not much room to add stuff or arrange new items. I have my box of stuff that goes to the range with me and another cleaning kit like your link posted that I use something out of occasionally when needed at the house. Just another option.

I almost bought one and thought it would be a great idea but I already had a box for the same thing so frugal me I passed but looked hard!

 

[Safetychain]

I've got the components of at least 5 different kits that either I inherited, found at garage sales, or whatever. Then there are several rods from the military or friends that have changed calibers or quit shooting. All these I keep in a pretty little homemade 12x10-20" wooden box. The box solves the problem of the typical leaking oil bottle. The latest little kit is a $3 or $4 pistol kit from Cabelas although I've seen it elsewhere since. Its a one inch diameter 5" aluminum sabot looking tube that has a multi piece rod, all the brushes for the common pistol calibers and a jag. I added a little squeeze tube of oil. Great for keeping in the vehicle as I travel a lot and can clean anywhere if I happen to see a public range on the road.

 

[bigfatdave]

Those little basic pistol kits are actually a pretty good starter, for the bore, at least.

You'll still want an old toothbrush, cotton swabs, and compressed air for the moving parts.
A lot of shooters over-focus on the bore and neglect the moving parts, and I just realized that the cleaning kits may be a contributing factor ... " here's everything you need to clean your pistol! bore only "

 

[GLOOB]

You will probably save money buying a kit. You never know what you might find useful.

Personally, the only things I use are jags and bore brushes. And for my .22, just fishing line and patches.

 

[MyGreenGuns]

A lot of shooters over-focus on the bore and neglect the moving parts

Was guilty of this myself. Have since added toothbrushes and toothpicks to my kit. The first time I cleaned deeper than a field strip on my XD it was NaStY!

 

[Bobson]

I vote for individual pieces. Kits always come with brushes and swabs. Garbage.

You'll want a bore snake for the barrel, among other odds and ends for moving parts, as others have mentioned.

 

[bigfatdave]

You never know what you might find useful.

I know I will find a bore mop non-useful
And a cheap metal brush
And a rod that won't come off of the handle

 

[FruitCake]

I myself went to walmart and bought a medium size fishing tackle box for cheap and labeled all the comparments and keep eveything in there and in the bottom you have room for chemicals oils and very small precision picks and screwdrivers and add on brushes etc.
Everything was cheap.

 

[Sky]

I myself went to walmart and bought a medium size fishing tackle box for cheap and labeled all the comparments and keep eveything in there and in the bottom you have room for chemicals oils and very small precision picks and screwdrivers and add on brushes etc.
Everything was cheap.

Yep I got one of those too!

 

[RKRCPA]

At this point (30 year shooter) I would stay away from kits because they generally have stuff you don't need and don't have stuff you do need.

My cleaning "kit" consists of various brushes, jags and other sundry items for a wide array of calibers. If you have the fitted kit you will need a box of some sort to hold your consumables that you will eventually learn to buy in bulk.

Then come the chemicals, you'll end up buying the big bottle of Hoppe's No.9 because it's cheaper, but will refill the little bottle with it because it's more convenient. At some point you may find that one piece cleaning rods are nicer and you'll get a couple of those for both pistols and rifles.

By the time you're all set you will find that you have the original kit you bought plus a box full of other stuff you decided would be nice to have.

Buy the kit if it makes you happy but be aware that it's not as complete as you might think. At least that's been my experience.

 

[lightman]

My cleaning kit consists of a large aluminum tool box and a lifetime collection of brushes,jags,do-dads,parts,tools,ect. Jags and brushes are kept in plastic boxes marked with the caliber.Oils and solvents are bought by the quart,and poured into smaller bottles.
Just for kicks,you should order a Sinclair Intl catalog and look at the cleaning supplies and stroage boxes and bottles.Or,you can brouse on-line. Lightman