AR15 Gun Cleaning Kits Reviews & Recommendations

Best AR15 Gun Cleaning Kits of 2023

Publushed by:

Mathew R Reed

Last updated:

Best Overall: FIREGEAR Gun Cleaning Kit

Short summary

The FIREGEAR Gun Cleaning Kit is a clear winner for us. Why? It’s affordable, high-quality, and comes with a complete set of tools.

We think this is the best gun cleaning kit for AR-15s because the tools that come with it allow it to clean a variety of hunting rifles, handguns, and shotguns. Beginners and long-time gun owners will also find it very easy to use.

The kit includes cleaning rods, jags, slotted tips, adapters, wire brushes, utility brushes, and muzzle guards. There are 6 cleaning rods in total and they’re all made of CNC precision-machined solid brass. Three of the rods are for .17 to .270 caliber rifles while the remaining 3 are for .30 and over caliber rifles, pistols, shotguns, and muzzleloaders. The powder jag is for .50 caliber guns.

The wire brushes are made of bronze while the utility brushes for cleaning your magazine are made of brass, nylon, and copper. Other tools like the jags and slotted tips are made of nylon plastic.

You also get cotton bore mops, cleaning patches, and polishing cloths for complete cleaning.
Since most of the tools are made of brass (softer than the metal used in guns), we can use them on our firearms without worrying about scratches.

Each purchase also comes with a set of 30 and 50-milliliter bottles that can be used to store any oil or lubricator. This reduces the need to add more tools to your hunting bag. The bottles are of good quality and provide a good seal that prevents any liquids from leaking while in storage.

The carrying case has compartments that allow easy storage and makes missing tools easily visible. The total weight of the kit is around 2.7 pounds so those looking for a lighter kit may want to pass on this option.

FIREGEAR makes all the replacement parts so anytime you’re out of a cleaning patch or accidentally break your rod, you can easily replace it and buy another. The fact that it comes with a lifetime warranty only boosts our confidence that this is a solid cleaning kit that will last a good while.

Quick Facts

  • Number of items: 62
  • Material: Nylon, nylon plastic, brass, copper, and bronze
  • Weight: 2.7 pounds

Pros

  • Universal application
  • Great value for money
  • Tightly sealed bottles
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Tool replacements available

Cons

  • Does not include lubricant
  • Takes up lots of space

Runner Up: GLORYFIRE Gun Cleaning Kit

Short summary

GLORYFIRE offers an all-in-one cleaning kit for AR15s, rifles, shotguns, handguns, and pistols. However, its best feature is the option to use either a cleaning rod or a rope.

Among the gun cleaning kits listed here, GLORYFIRE is the most complete AR gun cleaning kit. To begin with, it includes all the essential tools for cleaning your gun when you’re out on a hunting trip. The tools include cleaning rods, bore brushes, cleaning brushes, slotted tips, adapters, and some extra tools.

The jags, slotted tips, adapters, and bore brush bristles are all made of brass. There are 8 reinforced rods and they come with attached T-handles. The extra tools include a set of brushes and cleaning picks that are made to clean hard-to-reach parts.

One of the features we liked about the brushes is they are double-ended and come in brass, nylon, and aluminum. These materials aren’t too rough on guns and are very handy when you want to give your firearms a thorough cleaning.

Let’s move on to the cleaning ropes. There are two thin ropes included with every purchase that you can use to clean your barrel instead of rods. The cables are aircraft-grade and come with thread connectors that attach to the T-handles.

GLORYFIRE also has a chamber flag that allows you to clean your gun safely. Other useful additions are cotton mops, cleaning patches, and cotton swabs.
One of the drawbacks is the carrying case. We found it a tad too flimsy and think that it may give out after a few uses. The way the tools are organized isn’t that great either, especially once you’ve seen other options available on the market.

What you definitely won’t find in other kits is the set of lens cleaning tools that GLORYFIRE has. These include a lens brush, lens cloth, and a microfiber gun cloth. Adding to the protection of your gun are three muzzle guards that go into the cleaning rods. They protect your crown from damage while you’re using the cleaning rods.

Together, all these tools weigh 3.74 pounds. While it may not seem that heavy at first, you’ll start feeling the load once you have to carry it around for hours on a hunting expedition.
Similar to FIREGEAR, GLORYFIRE also makes replacements for all its tools so replacing missing rods and adapters won’t be your biggest concern.

Overall, the kit is a must-buy for beginners. We’re loving the list of things we don’t need to buy separately because of it. However, that doesn’t mean more experienced firearms enthusiasts won’t love this kit. The wide range of applications it offers is simply too great to ignore.

Quick Facts

  • Number of items: 79
  • Material: Brass, Nylon, and Aluminum
  • Weight: 3.74 pounds

Pros

  • Good quality
  • Wide range of applications
  • All-inclusive kit
  • Comes with a chamber flag

Cons

  • Flimsy carrying case
  • Heavy
  • Costly
  • Solvents not included

Alternative: Gun Cleaning Kit Elite Designed

Short summary

Another gun cleaning kit that’s popular among gun enthusiasts is this gun cleaning kit which is another product from GLORYFIRE. We’re loving the durable construction and the selection of essential tools that come in a quality carrying case.

It carries the same standard tools that most industry gun cleaning kits have, however, it’s more expensive than the rest. Its list of tools includes adapters, muzzle guards, cotton mops, an empty oil bottle, slotted tips, and jags.

Like the first GLORYFIRE kit we reviewed, it comes with dual-sided brushes for cleaning hard-to-reach areas of your gun. Brushes come in three varieties, namely nylon, brass, and iron. There are 8 reinforced cleaning rods that are attached to a T-handle. Four of these rods are for .30 caliber large rifles and pistols.

The remaining 4 rods are for .17 to .270 caliber rifles and pistols. Other tools included in the kit are a chamber flag, aluminum core brass brushes, an empty oil bottle, and fabric patches made from 100% cotton.

With all these high-quality essential and extra tools, the kit is impressive. It has a durable and sturdy build that looks like it will hold up during your hunting trips. We also liked that accessories and calibers are labeled for easy recognition and organization.

If you think this Elite Designed kit is no different than the first GLORYFIRE kit we featured, think again. It may be more expensive but because of the higher quality of its tools and case, we think it’s worth the extra dollars.

Quick Facts

  • Number of items: 63
  • Material: Brass, Nylon, Iron, and Aluminum
  • Weight: 3.371 pounds

Pros

  • Versatile gun cleaning kit
  • Labeled slots
  • Quality tools and case
  • Easy to store and organize

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Heavy

Alternative: iunio Universal Gun Cleaning Kit

Short summary

Are you looking for a cleaning kit that you can use to clean your collection of firearms? Then this iunio Universal Gun Cleaning Kit may just be what you’re looking for.

For starters, the kit comes with a gun cleaning mat which no other kit on this list has. You can carry the mat in the case and use it to protect your gun’s finish as well as the surface of any furniture where you decide to do your cleaning.

Then there is the user guide for professionals and beginners. The kit also includes two (empty) bottles for storing your oil and lubricator. Besides these little additions, iunio has all the essential tools in the required calibers for cleaning guns. There are cleaning rods, bore brushes, slotted tips, adapters, and jags. With the exception of the bronze bore brushes, everything else is made of brass.

Other essential cleaning supplies that are included are 9 cotton mops, 3 muzzle guards, 3 utility brushes, 4 polishing cloths, and 100 cleaning patches. The utility brushes in this toolkit are made of brass, stainless steel, and nylon.

The carrying case also looks like it’s made of much better quality than others on the market. With all these features, little else is needed, however, the kit also comes with a lifetime warranty. You get all this at such an attractive price. This isn’t on the list of the best AR15 gun cleaning kits for nothing!

Quick Facts

  • Number of items: 63
  • Material: Brass, Bronze, Nylon, and Stainless Steel
  • Weight: 3.54 pounds

Pros

  • All-in-one gun cleaning kit
  • Oil bottles included
  • Cleaning mat included
  • User guide included
  • Great value for money
  • Suitable for professionals and beginners

Cons

  • Tool slots aren’t labeled

Alternative: BOOSTEADY Gun Cleaning Kit Pro

Short summary

The BOOSTEADY kit might be the last on our list and the smallest one too, but it isn’t one to take lightly.

Compact and lightweight, this toolkit contains 13 items only. If you’re confused about why you should buy a toolkit with only 13 tools, you’re missing the point. While other kits will boast a long list of tools and cleaning supplies, the BOOSTEADY impresses with its small list.

The kit comes with bore brushes, cleaning mops, cleaning patches, chamber brushes, slotted tips, cleaning rods, picks, T-handles, and double-end brushes. It also includes a single nylon brush for a 7.62 bore size. These tools work for 7.62 mm and .223/5.56 guns. They accommodate all differences in barrel weight, length, caliber as well as gas and piston operating systems.

The cleaning rods, bore brushes, and slotted tips are all made of brass. The chamber brushes have stainless steel at their base and brass bristles on their tips. The brass bristles are for cleaning the chamber whereas the steel bristles are for cleaning the locking lug area.

The cleaning picks are made of stainless steel while the double-ended brush is made of nylon.
Surprisingly, it’s sufficient if you’re looking for a lightweight gun cleaning tool kit. The case is compact and zippered to protect your tools and can easily accommodate an additional oil bottle if you wish.

With a lifetime guarantee, this is the best gun cleaning kit for those who need a no-fuss tool case. If you don’t like having many tools to keep track of, then this is surely the kit for you!

Quick Facts

  • Number of items: 13
  • Material: Nylon, Brass, and Stainless Steel
  • Weight: 0.8 pounds

Pros

  • Compact
  • Affordable
  • High-quality
  • Chamber brushes included
  • Lightweight
  • Lifetime guarantee

Cons

  • Oil and bottle not included
  • Not enough tools for a thorough cleaning

AR15 Gun Cleaning Kit FAQs

How often should you clean an AR15?

It depends on how often you use your rifle, the environments you use it in, the type of ammunition you use with it, how often you clean it, and the kind of cleaning you give it.

If you give your gun an in-depth cleaning and oiling, then keeping an annual cleaning schedule is recommended. If you use it often for hunting trips, then a cleanup after every use and another in-depth cleaning once or twice a year is a must. However, guns used for purposes such as making clay targets can be cleaned after a few rounds.

A common culprit for damage in these types of guns is debris and gunk that builds up after use. This build-up is the main cause of rust and corrosion. To avoid it from happening, try to look for debris buildup and clean your gun immediately when you spot any.

Moisture is another damaging factor. If you’re using your AR-15 in an environment with lots of moisture, then clean it after every use. For those using their guns for self-defense, there might not be many reasons to use your gun at all but you still need it to perform reliably. To ensure your AR-15 stays in shape, give it a good cleaning at least once a month.

An all-rounder kit that’ll take care of your in-depth cleaning needs is the FIREGEAR Gun Cleaning Kit. You may want a basic kit to carry on hunting trips that’ll keep an already clean gun in top shape. If that’s the case, then the BOOSTEADY Gun Cleaning Kit Pro is the one for you.

What gun cleaning kit does the military use?

The most common gun cleaning kits that the military uses include:

  • BrigadeQM M4 Universal Military Rifle & Pistol Cleaning Kit
  • Deluxe Military Cleaning Kit
  • Gun Boss AR 15 cleaning kit

Should I clean my AR15 before shooting?

Yes. All new guns should be cleaned first to ensure they are functional. This includes new guns that have yet to be used.

Essentially, guns are devices and any device needs to be in good shape to function properly. Guns that are not in good condition might lead to dangerous accidental discharges.

However, you may not need to clean your gun as often if it’s mostly kept in storage and if it’s cleaned before and after shooting.

Do you need to lube a new AR15?

Yes. The purpose of lubrication is to ensure the metal parts of the gun don’t corrode after coming in contact with other metals or solvents. This is a common practice when you’re using the gun often and cleaning it as well.

For a new AR-15, cleaning is a mandatory task. Since cleaning uses solvents, it should be followed by lubrication.

A lack of lubrication can make a dry gun malfunction and can even lead to stoppages. If you observe shiny marks on your gun, make sure to lubricate it at the soonest possible time.

Lubricating your firearm will help keep your gun operating smoothly for a long time. Here are some kits that are designed to keep your lubes and solvents in one place:

In Conclusion

Like all mechanical devices, a gun needs proper TLC — or should we say proper CLP? That’s cleaning, lubrication, and protection which your AR-15 surely needs.

No matter what type of firearm you have, it needs a quality cleaning kit. Choose one that contains all the cleaning tools you need so you can relax and confidently carry your gun on any hunting trip.

Reviewing the best gun cleaning kit AR 15 is not an easy task which is why we’ve listed them down to make selection easier. Whether you choose to go for the compact BOOSTEADY, the affordable FIREGEAR, or the all-inclusive iunio, you can count on having a safe and effective cleaning partner.

We hope our guide helped you choose the right cleaning kit for your AR-15. What AR-15 cleaning kit are you looking to get? Let us know in the comments below!

Resources:

4.8/5

FIREGEAR Gun Cleaning Kit

  • Suitable for beginners and professionals
  • Built to last materials
  • Carrying case design

Mathew R Reed

Mathew R Reed is a professional gun seller who runs a dedicated gun store in the suburbs of Oakland, CA. A hardcore hunting enthusiast since childhood, Reed has ample experience with guns and accessories. He is the founder of ArmorHoldings.com and creates some of the most helpful gun-buying guides and explainers. If not in the gun shop, you can find him on the nearest hiking trail or nearby hunting spot.