Otis Elite Gun Cleaning Kit (Select Your Style)

UPDATED REVIEW: I previously left a 2-star review (which is below) after my initial impression of this cleaning kit. After using it more and contacting Otis, I'd like to update the review with 5-stars. I contacted Otis and they were more than happy to replace the brass rod for free. I understand that the (brass) rod is not strong, which is meant to not damage the firearm. Not because it's cheaply made. As far as the lint of the Otis patches, I stopped using them to wipe down rougher outside surfaces of the firearm parts (such as outer surface of bolt carrier). They're perfectly fine for bore cleaning. To be honest, I admit that I have not used any patches made by other companies so I really can't do a direct comparison as far as the lint goes. However, after researching a little more, it seems like Otis patches leave behind less lint compared to other patches out there. Otis also informed me that the instructions were included inside the smaller round black case and indeed they were neatly folded in there. Otis recommended that I use the small caliber patch (which are included) for my AR cleaning instead of the all-caliber patches. All caliber patches are okay to use but there is a higher chance of user error by using this patch compared to the small caliber patch. I started using the small caliber patch and have had no problems with cleaning my AR-15. This Otis Elite cleaning system is a great value for the money. I considered buying a cheaper Otis kit at first (like the 3 Gun or Law Enforcement kit), but after doing the math, the Otis Elite kit was a better value. You get WAY more brushes, more Otis patches, extra bore reflector/flag, more CLP (not that I really use them but they are provided), Lens/Optics cleaning kit, gun wiping cloth, full size nylon brush, more memory flex cables, and a big case to hold everything neatly. All the extra items add up quickly if purchased separately. FYI, it's almost $10 just for the 100 Otis patches. I admit that I was a bit frustrated with the patch getting stuck previously and having to drive to a gunsmith to get it removed. I was a bit harsh with my previous review of this product. I no longer have any problems with the kit now. It cleans all the firearms that I own, is easy to use, and Otis has great customer service. I'd definitely recommend this product if you want a complete cleaning system for all your firearms. OLD REVIEW: I had high hopes for this Otis Elite Cleaning System. It was very disappointing. I wish I can return it and just buy a nice cleaning rod system. The Otis patches are horrible to work with. There were no instructions in the package on how to use the patches. I had to look up online to figure out how to use it. Even after watching their videos, I had one patch get stuck so hard inside my AR15's bolt carrier that I had to take it to a gunsmith to get the patch removed. Due to trying to get the patch out, one of the brass rod piece that was included with the cleaning kit is slightly bent. Otis patches leave behind a TON of lint on your gun as well. I thought they would be a lot higher quality compared to the cheaper patches considering the price. I would probably never purchase another Otis product. This is a great do-it-all CHEAP quality cleaning kit if you don't own any gun cleaning products. For the rest, you're much better off purchasing higher quality parts separately.

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.

This is an awesome full top to bottom cleaning kit for both pistols and rifles. Otis has delivered great value for putting together a kit like this for people who have a little of everything and need to have their cleaning kits be flexible, versatile, heavy duty and effective at cleaning. 100% recommended.

this is a great kit, but one has to know what one is doing and what one needs before committing to the price. this thing has brushes for calibres and gauges i will likely never own. there is not nearly enough clp to go around. the soft case is not appropriate for someone not in the field 24-7. the hamburger case is useless to me, again because i am not in the field with multiple calibres to clean. so... d.b. sorted out the casual shooter case issue neatly, and in exactly the fashion i had imagined- a three tray plano box that will accommodate all the extra cleaning crap one will ultimately require (sweets bore solvent, birchwood casey gun scrubber, b.c. silicone gun cloth, more clp, et cetera). i liked his arrangement and used his photos as a sort of template to sort my kit (obviously with variations and the inevitability that the whole thing will change with time). thanks for the photos, by the way, daniel. the hamburger case became the can to hold the patches, the big soft case is now protecting a carbine lower and a float tube (future project), and any brushes that do not get used for guns i own will likely be employed or donated for the purposes of friends, if not applied to wholly other non-gun purposes. this kit is going to fill some middle ground that exists between bore snakes (i keep one for every bore in the field, and each bore gets snaked at the end of the shooting day before the gun gets cased up), and one piece rods, which are the only real way to properly clean any precision bore. fortunately, i am not a benchrest shooter. if i can get a decent breech to bore cleaning out of the otis gear, i won't need to break down the firearm further than necessary to also clean the receiver and chamber. put another way, this kit is not the end all for firearms cleaning, but it is absolutely the shiznit (as they say in "the hood") if you know what you are buying and know what you require. if you are in the field or theatre all day, every day, i can only imagine that this kit would be your portable armorer. i wouldn't want to be in an hmmwv without one- i'd likely add a forty mike mike kit for a mark 19, and double up on 5.56, 7.62, 9mm, .45, and .50 brushes, and maybe chuck the rest of the non applicable stuff at the motorpool guys for swabbing oil galleys, or whatever. that would create extra space in the field bag for spare chamber brushes, carbon scrapers, lube cans (well, maybe not lube cans), more patches, porn... you get the picture. the folks that offer one star reviews and complain about the lack of functionality of, the incompleteness of, or the excesses of the kit, clearly do not know firearms, or firearms cleaning and maintenance from their oversized pieholes. this is a great kit, and worth every penny- but you've got to know what you are doing, and what you need, before you drop a hundred bucks and start bitching about the product. seriously- cleaning, lubricating, and preserving liquids are consumables- does anyone think there will be a lifetime supply in ANY kit? ADDENDUM, 1 MAY 2013: i scored a beretta 92a1 a couple of weeks ago, and discovered that this soft case holds it and the factory speedloader, several spare magazines in the elastic loops (the bigger elastic loops- the smaller ones are too tight), a bore snake and small can of clp in the outside pocket, as well as a couple of boxes of range ammo, all very neatly. i just got a free pistol rug!

Perfect everything I need for multiple calibers.

This is a great product. I hate cleaning my guns. On top of that I have so many odd ball setups that it could be difficult to get what I need. I have tried the bore snakes and I like them for ease of use and I still take them to the range when I know I am going to go though 300-800 rounds, just in case it needs cleaned out a little, but I don't know how clean it gets them for a good cleaning. I also keep the bore snakes around because they are much easier and effective then cotton patches. This kit will do much of what I need to do. Most of my guns (shotguns, rifle, and pistols are covered. If they were not covers the nice thing is the threads are a common size so I can buy and use others. The brushes that are supplied are high quality and have not have any problems with bending like other brands, part of this is probably because they are pulled not pushed on a regular basis, but they do seem to be built a little stronger. I can put the brushes that I need in the smaller included case and take just what I need to the range. It has extra tools which are helpful especially for semi autos. I know I can hear the people terrified of change "but what about a rod, I have to have a rod otherwise my gun won't be clean, the rod that isn't supposed to touch the barrel and makes it magically cleaner than anything else every could!!!!" You can still buy this kit people and if you need your magic cleaning wand you can still use the brushes that come with kit and put on a rod and feel better about it. If I am going to knock this kit over anything it would be the nylon case if comes in. It appears that the nylon otis buys is the same price as gold because is case is grossly undersized from the get go. But I didn't buy it for the nylon case and I have my kit in a tackle box now which is much better, not to mention more versatile.

Great all inclusive cleaning kit!

I have been shooting guns for most of my life and I have never tried an Otis product. I have always used the cheap screw together rods and square patches. After listening to a couple of gunsmiths at a gun show discuss the mistakes most people make when cleaning their guns, I started reading about gun care products. Its hard to believe anything you hear or read anymore because everyone will write or say anything about everything for the right amount of money. (These two guys were talking to each other, not selling anything, that's what sparked my curiosity.) I like the fact that the cables are coated and the ends are made of brass. This is a breech to muzzle cleaning system which pulls the powder residue and debris out of the muzzle instead of pushing it towards the firing pin and slide mechanism. Duh, never thought about that! The patches have slots in them and fit into the slotted tips in a way that makes them larger and harder to pull through the barrel. There is a perfect circle of dirt on the patch that indicates that the entire barrel was cleaned from breech to muzzle instead of having to twist the old square patches back and forth to try and cover the entire barrel. Each patch can be reused up to six times. Otis has instructional videos on how to use the system on their webpage for you to watch that are very helpful. This particular system is designed to maintain all rifles from .17 to .50 caliber, pistols from .17 to .50 caliber, shotguns from .410 to 12/10 gauge, and all inline muzzleloaders. It comes with bronze bore and chamber cleaning brushes, six flexible cleaning rods, a nylon receiver brush, T-handle bars, slotted tips, obstruction removers, small and large Patch Savers, a bore reflector/flag safety, small caliber and all-caliber 100-percent cotton patches, two 5-ounce tubes of Otis bore solvent, optics spray cleaner and optics cleaning tissues all in a nylon zippered storage case. They have different systems available for different categories of guns if you don't need the Elite system. I am very happy with my decision to purchase this item and I currently have a bunch of old rod style cleaning kits for sale - cheap.