Otis Elite Gun Cleaning Kit (Select Your Style)

This review is for Otis Elte Universal Gun Cleaning Kit. This is an excellent comprehensive cleaning kit. There are only a few supplies that you may need that aren't already in this kit, depending on what you are cleaning. The first four pictures I attached are of the prior kit version, and the last four pictures are of the new version. Otis recently upgraded the bag and changed the brush cases. The prior version bag was just okay, and the zipper was awful. The new bag can stand up with the front open. This saves you working space and makes it easier to see your supplies. Also, the new bag has more compartments and makes it much easier to store your supplies with more room for additional supplies. I don't know which brush cases I liked more. The prior ones were 2-piece, round, took up just a little less space, held the brush centered in the base (bristles didn't touch the case), and slid into the elastic loops easier. The new cases are 1-piece, rectangular (no chance of rolling off a table), and are easier to see the size number when in the elastic loops (the numbers of the prior round tubes were often covered by the elastic loops). I also really like that these rectangular cases not only list the main caliber in large, visible, writing, but they also list in smaller writing all the calibers they work for. This is super convenient. This kit includes a convenient detachable tactical cleaning kit that you can throw into your bag or attached via MOLLE. Overall, this is one of the best kits out there.An important tip for using the Memory-Flex Cable cleaning system is to follow the directions. Step one is running a wet patch. Step two is running the brush. Step three is running a dry patch. You repeat these steps or the dry patch step as many times as needed to get a clean dry patch. A critical step is to make sure you not only use the right sized patch, but that you use the correct slots of the patch. You set the patch up differently based on the bore size. Not paying attention to this for the patches will cause you get a patch stuck in the barrel. Setting the patch up correctly for the right size is the only thing that has a learning curve to it. Once you get the patch setup correct though, you can use the same patch up to six times. This makes the Otis patch system the most economical one out there. Other than that, this is a good and efficient cleaning kit.I went the entire Otis cleaning system route, so I have this Otis Elite Universal Gun Cleaning Kit and the Otis Ripcord Pack, along with other cleaning accessories. I also have an MTM Case-Gard Rifle Range Box (which is the same box used in the Otis Range Box Universal Gun Cleaning Kit). I keep my bottles of chemicals, towels, and other various cleaning tools in the range box. The few extra cleaning tools I have purchased do fit in the Otis bag though. I just like storing bulk supplies in the MTM range box, and I use its gun forks. I had researched rod vs cord route, and what my research revealed is that you have to be very careful using cleaning rods. The ideal cleaning rod setup is one-piece carbon fiber rods with rotating handles, a bore guide, and a vise. That's a lot of large components to store or possibly travel with and requires a large work area. You should also unscrew the brush or jag after the pass before you remove the rod, and you still have to be careful that when you remove the rod you don't nick the crown. And, if you go the multi-piece rod sets, you have to be extra careful to not scratch or otherwise damage the barrel or crown. Then there is a huge debate on which metal is best of the multi-piece rods. I have a multi-piece rod that I will only use as a last resort if a barrel obstruction were to ever occur. So, ultimately this led me to going Otis Memory-Flex Cables and Otis Ripcords route. They seem to be an easier way of doing arguably the same level of cleaning. You do still need to be careful that you pull the cords/cables straight through and aren't pulling on an angle against the crown of the barrel, but it is very easy to pull the cords/cables through without issue. You also save time since you don't have to remove the brush or slotted tip (for holding patches) after every pass. You can just leave them on since you don't have to pull the cords/cables backwards out like you have to with the rods. Also, the Otis attachments work with both the Memory-Flex Cables and the Ripcords. Otis also offers a weighted obstruction remover for attaching to the Memory-Flex Cables to knock out barrel obstructions, but if that doesn't work you will most likely need to use a cleaning rod to push out the obstruction. Otis has posted a great video talking about the advantages of using a patch being pulled behind a cable versus being pushed by a rod. It was an interesting discussion with some good points. Overall, I am very happy that I went the Otis cleaning system route.On a side note:You get two stacks of 3" patches and one stack of 2" patches. All three stacks are in a single resealable plastic bag. You may want to get a second bag just for the 2" patches. It is a little annoying to have to take out multiple stacks of patches of the one you need is at the bottom of the bag. The smallest brushes and some additional attachments are in the small bag with the microfiber cloths. A plastic case really should have been included for them. I may get a tiny plastic case for them, or I may put them into the accessory case that has the cleaning rods. I also think I am going to make a laminated reference card for the patches. When you use the patches, you need to know which diameter patch to use, which pre-cut slot to use, and where to pinch the patch to make your fold for each of the different calibers. Currently, I find myself having to look this information up each time. For large calibers Otis says to double up the patches. This doesn't mean the second patch is unusable. You can swap the inner and outer patches to use the complete surfaces of both patches for cleaning. Also, they only include a tiny manual with just very minimal information in it. Otis does have some good online videos though, which is where I usually go for information.

I really like those kit, it has pretty much every single cleaning tool you could ever need. The carry case is well designed and well organized.

Just a good kit

I wonderful gun cleaning kit. My husband loves it. I highly recommend it. It was a good price and full of every thing you need. Best of all Made in USA! I highly recommend this product.

Being a slight newbee to serious shooting (prior military experience and have shot before but not frequently and not with my own weapons) I was looking for a comprehensive enough cleaning kit so that I didn't have to buy the essentials in a piecemeal fashion. That being said, this kit does contain the basics. There are however a few aspects of the kit I'm not fond of.The various cables for pistol and rifle and sizes for small to larger calibers in conjunction with the different brushes/slotted tips and threads for small to large calibers is cumbersome and confusing (as can be understood by the complexity of this sentence). Trying to figure out which cable works with which brush/slotted tip is not intuitive (a color coding system would be vastly more helpful). Albeit it's nice having the flexibility of cables/brushes/slotted tip to fit nearly every gun, it's just not a very straightforward thing to actually use them routinely. Additionally, getting a good grip on the cables to pull them through various barrels is difficult so it would've been nice if Otis had included a sufficiently sized and ergonomically appropriate handle to attach to all the cables. I do like the cable method of cleaning just not the complex combination of 6-ish cables, 23-ish brushes, and 4-ish slotted tips.The included orange chamber flags (total x2) that are in the large and small tactical kits are too long and inflexible for nearly all semi auto pistols (can't get into the chamber) and are too small for rifles since they easily slip out.The bag that all this stuff is in is compact, but secreting all the little cables, brushes, cleaning patches, etc.. into and out of all the little nooks and crannies makes using the kit routinely tedious and cumbersome. To that end I've since purchased a Plano 797 box to put it all into (plus my extra complimenting items). Yes, the Plano 797 is supposed to be for fishing, but it's perfect for holding bottles of solvents/oils upright in the side compartments and all the cleaning patches, cotton swabs, little jags/brushes, chamber flags, etc... plus room to grow.The small tactical range kit that's included is nice to put in the range bag for those just-in-case moments when a little cleaning is necessary, but again it's not the cleaning kit I'd prefer to use routinely for the same reasons that I described above. Nor would the tactical range kit, I believe, afford a thorough top-to-bottom cleaning of the weapon at the range. It would however be able to sufficiently clean a heavily gummed up gun that was jamming, etc...As I said, this kit is a basic starting point and I've since purchased additional items to complement it: jags, cleaning rods (carbon fiber for home and brass collapsable rods for the range bag), 6-inch cotton swabs, Otis's Receiver Brush Variety Pack, a bore guide, better yellow flexible chamber flags that work with pistols and rifles (.22-.50) labeled for AR-15 from Sinclair International (Not available on Amazon), Hoppe's #9 solvent, Hoppe's lubricating oil, Hoppe's gun grease, Hoppe's Elite gun cleaner, a few Hoppe's Silicone cleaning cloths, and a Plano box (#797) to put everything in. Also my range bag is a MaxPedition Sabercat Versipack.This kit would be "worth" it's cost if it included a few of the extra essential items which I've listed above. In hindsight I might've instead purchased a larger kit that was more comprehensive.

A must have for the gun enthusiast