First time buying cleaning supplies/maintenance tools

[Counsel]

I just purchased my first firearm. It is in the mail, intending to get more over time. But planning to have a 12 gauge, 22lr and a .308 rifle.

Looking to pickup some products to maintain all three, but kind of have no idea what I am looking for. I have a general idea of how to clean the firearm I purchased and have watched videos but none of the videos really discuss the products they are using.

I think I need or would like to have some kind of a bore snake, some kind of rod that can push patches down the barrel and some rags for cleaning. Do I need CLP and solvent or just CLP?

I browsed on amazon and picked these items out. Anything missing? Other recommendations? I picked the otis universal compact cleaning kit as I think it should be able to handle all three calibers I am looking at?

Thanks!

 

[Deathrawt]

I’d get a one piece carbon fiber cleaning rod and the jag you need for the caliber for your rifle
And patches for the jag
I’m not a huge fan of bore snakes but lots like and use them
Get a good solvent and gun oil like G96 or Ballistol
Prob wouldn’t hurt to get a small bottle of a solvent for copper fouling too
Wipe out and patch out are good cleaners for really dirty bores like what military surplus rifles oftentimes have

 

[Counsel]

I’d get a one piece carbon fiber cleaning rod and the jag you need for the caliber for your rifle
And patches for the jag
I’m not a huge fan of bore snakes but lots like and use them
Get a good solvent and gun oil like G96 or Ballistol
Prob wouldn’t hurt to get a small bottle of a solvent for copper fouling too
Wipe out and patch out are good cleaners for really dirty bores like what military surplus rifles oftentimes have

Thanks!

I just googled G96 and Ballistol, is the expectation that G96/ballistol oils, cleans and acts as a solvent? For example G96 in the description says it does CLP and no solvent needed. Does that mean it acts as a solvent too?

When would I know I need to use a copper solvent?

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

Buy once, cry once.

A lot of us have our favourite from-my-cold-dead-hands most trusted solvents. Mine are Hoppes ("hoppies" like a bunny) and Remington. Everyone will tell you why theirs is perfect and the others are dishwater.

I was raised with genuine British Parker Hale rods, brushes and jags. Unfortunately, they are not common anymore. Good thing! My decades old ones are still going strong. Vinyl coated rods with ball bearing handles. The last equivalents I saw were Dewey.

I have a boresnake but seldom use it. The whole idea is to pull the crud out the muzzle, but the cord will rub on the crown of the barrel. The British army issued coarse cotton pull throughs for the Lee Enfields, and after enough Privates had pulled enough miles of cordage over enough barrels, they identified a use pattern called cord wear. Same principle applies to private guns if you aren't pulling straight out.

 

[OkayShooter]

Buy a 1 piece rod. They're not that $$$$.

Bore snake I stopped using them. Had one snap and left my rifle un serviceable while in theatre. Lucky I had a spare rifle. But only use them on pistols or shotguns now. Easier to remove when they break.

If you dont pull exactly straight. It will catch on muzzle devices and fray then snap.

Shotguns due to the plastic wads and shot cups. You really need a rod to scrub. I still use a multi piece rod. But I lock tite as one.

No such thing as the perfect 1 kit.

 

[Deathrawt]

Thanks!

I just googled G96 and Ballistol, is the expectation that G96/ballistol oils, cleans and acts as a solvent? For example G96 in the description says it does CLP and no solvent needed. Does that mean it acts as a solvent too?

When would I know I need to use a copper solvent?

If you lose the accuracy the rifle had and after a normal cleaning it doesn’t come back that could mean you have copper fouling
The only way to see for sure though is to use a bore scope
As for the G96 and Ballistol yes they are marketed as a “do all” clean and lube product