Best AR-15 Cleaning Kits

A good kit makes cleaning your AR-15 much easier. Over the years, I’ve used many cleaning kits, from general gun kits to specific ones like those listed below. Like with most things, I prefer to keep my cleaning kits simple. So, I kept my picks for the best AR-15 cleaning kit as basic as possible, except for the last one (keep reading to find out why)!

Best Overall - REAL AVID Gun Boss Pro Pack - AR-15 Cleaning Kit

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Trusted brand
• Quality parts
• Interchangeable pieces
• Compact travel case
• Everything has its place
• Reasonably priced

Cons

• Doesn’t include gun cleaner or oil

Why I Chose It

The REAL AVID Gun Boss AR-15 kit is perfect for bench work and range days because it has almost everything you need, is compact, and keeps all the pieces organized.

REAL AVID is known for quality gun cleaning products and tools, so you can trust that this kit will last a long time. The steel rods are great because they won’t bend and scratch your barrel as you shove them down the end to clean out all the debris.

I also love that the brushes are all interchangeable. I’ve owned kits that required adapters to use a specific brush or bristle and it was a pain in the butt. Not so with the Gun Boss AR-15 kit. Another thing that I appreciate about this kit is the straight and angle cleaning picks. Dirt and carbon always manage to get into hard-to-reach places, and these picks are perfect for cleaning out every nook and cranny so your AR always stays presentable.

The compact travel case is great because it’ll fit in your range bag, is weather-resistant, and secures everything in place. I’ve had cleaning kits where all the pieces get mixed up at the bottom of the box when you turn it a certain way, and it was stupidly inconvenient. On the other hand, this kit holds everything in its spot no matter how you hold the case.

However, the biggest drawback (especially if you’re just learning how to clean an AR-15) is that this kit doesn’t come with any cleaner or oil. If you’ve been cleaning guns for any time, this isn’t a big deal because you can just toss in your favorite gun cleaner and lube and keep going.

Despite this minor inconvenience, the REAL AVID Gun Boss AR-15 kit is the best cleaning kit for your AR-15, and I wouldn’t hesitate to grab one.

Best Budget-Friendly Option - Funpower Canvas Rifle Cleaning Kit

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Compact
• Interchangeable pieces

Cons

• Bare essentials

Why I Chose It

This gun cleaning kit is perfect for tight budgets because it is compact and will keep your AR clean enough to perform without draining your wallet.

It’s a 10-piece kit, so you only get the bare essentials, but this makes it more compact and easily fits your range bag or grip. The bristles and the patch holder are interchangeable on the rods, so you don’t have to worry about losing an adapter.

I appreciate that it has a small reusable bottle for your CLP, so you can leave the bigger bottles at home.

This kit will get the job done for a quick field cleaning on a tight budget, but for a deep cleaning, it will leave you wanting because it doesn’t have enough tools.

Best Range Option - Otis Technology I-MOD Defender Series

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Trusted brand
• Compact
• Interchangeable pieces
• Everything you need for a breech to muzzle clean

Cons

• Expensive

Why I Chose It

Otis has an outstanding reputation among the firearms community for quality gun cleaning products, including this I-MOD Defender Series .223/5.56mm kit. It comes in a compact case and includes everything you need for a fast field cleaning.

This kit keeps things simple with interchangeable parts, but my favorite things about it are the Ripcord that quickly cleans the barrel with a single pull and the Memory-Flex cables used for the Breech-to-Muzzle clean. Don’t worry if you prefer using rods; the Otis I-MOD kit comes with them too.

It also comes with a 0.5-oz BIO CLP tube, so you won’t need to buy gun lube or cleaner initially.

However, many shooters are shocked at the price for this kit because it’s more expensive than any of the others on the list, but it also offers things that the others don’t.

If I were looking for a range cleaning kit, the Otis I-MOD Defender Series would be the first one I would consider.

Honorable Mention - GuardTech Plus AR-15 Cleaning Kit

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Reasonably priced
• Complete cleaning system
• Multiple case options
• Compact
• Interchangeable parts (with an adapter)

Cons

• Plastic cases will break
• Brass rods
• Lacks lube and oil

Why I Chose It

I must mention the GuardTech Plus AR-15 kit because it’s reasonably priced and has almost everything you need to ensure your AR continues operating flawlessly.

It’s a small thing, but I like that you have multiple case options. I prefer to avoid the plastic ones because I always break them, but all the cases are compact and will easily fit in a drawer or your range bag.

As with the others, all the tips (brushes, bristles, and patch holder) are interchangeable, but some will need the provided adapter to attach to the rods.

Many shooters don’t like the brass rods because they’re more likely to bend and scratch your barrel, so that is something to be aware of as you’re shoving the bristles down the barrel. It also doesn’t come with any gun lube or cleaner, so you’ll have to buy some to ensure a thorough cleaning.

Honorable Mention - Pro-Shot AR-15 Superior Cleaning Kit

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Trusted brand
• Comes with everything you need
• Compact
• Interchangeable tips
• Stainless rods

Cons

• Plastic case
• Doesn’t secure
• A little on the pricey side

Why I Chose It

Pro-Shot is another brand many shooters get their gun cleaning tools and supplies from (myself included) because of the positive reputation it has developed over the years. I love this kit because it has everything you need in a compact case that fits in a drawer.

I appreciate that all the tips are interchangeable, without needing an adapter, and the rods are stainless (less likely to bend and scratch your barrel).

However, as I’ve mentioned, I’m not a fan of plastic cases because they break. This case also doesn’t secure all the pieces so they can move around a little inside it. The last downside is that this is more costly than most others on the list, but it offers some stuff that most others don’t.

If I were looking for an excellent starter gun cleaning kit, this one would be near the top of my list because I use many of Pro-Shot’s products in my kit.

Honorable Mention - Build Your Own

Pros & Cons

• You get exactly what you need and only what you need
• Can be less expensive (especially when you purchase in bulk)

• Inconvenient

Why I Chose It

After purchasing and using multiple kits, I’ve found that I prefer to build my own (much like my ARs). This allows me to get the best deals on supplies and tools and only get what I need, so I don’t have a lot of extra stuff junking up my gun room.

The biggest drawback is the inconvenience of searching for and purchasing everything separately. However, it’s not that big of a deal when you know what you need.

Here’s what’s in my (and other TFB writers) kit currently:

• Heavy-Duty Plastic Bag/Small Fabric Case
• M-Pro 7 Gun Cleaner & Oil
• Pro-Shot Cleaning Patches & Swabs
• Steel Rods & Handle
• .22-Caliber Bore Snake
• .22-Caliber Chamber Bristles & Brush/Mop
• Cleaning Patch Holder
• Picks
• Otis Brushes/Toothbrush
• Micro-Fiber Rags

Parting Shots

Purchasing one of the best AR-15 cleaning kits above or building your own will help ensure your AR-15 operates at peak performance at home or the gun range. The great thing about the AR platform is its simplicity, including cleaning it. There’s no need to overcomplicate it with an obnoxious cleaning kit, so give one of the kits above a try today.

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