Clean Sweep For The Holidays

by
posted on December 4, 2013
CLB_F.jpg

Gun folks are finicky. Don’t take my word for it, consider the following topics guaranteed to stir range debate: 1911 vs. polymer; 9 mm vs. .45 ACP; striker fired vs. hammer; bolt-action vs. semi-auto; mil vs. MOA; fiber optic vs. tritium; odd or even groove count; blued, stainless, anodized or parkerized; gas impingement vs. piston; and who really put the ram in the rama lama ding dong.

Those strong opinions carry over into the gear they use. If your gift comes down squarely on the wrong side of the fence-and almost no shooters sit on a fence-it will collect dust in a closet until the family’s annual yard sale.

Take heart, though, the answer is easier than figuring out the lyrics to Barry Mann’s tune. Guns need cleaning. And, if you pick an easily transported range-bag system, it won’t be eyed with contempt like great aunt May’s annual soap-on-a-rope package.

KleenBore has some awesome complete kits designed for shooting-bag storage, but my favorite is the CPT-U Universal. It comes with Break-Free CLP, brushes, mops, cleaning cable, patches and stores in its zippered, molded-nylon 4x6x2-inch case. It works for most handguns, rifles and shotguns, and mine is currently on duty with an ROTC cadet. Having all of the gear together in one easily deployed unit is a big advantage, according to him. Any shooter on your list will appreciate the same convenience.

If they have an AR, consider Gunslick Pro AR-Rifle Pull-Thru Cleaning Kits. They come with cable, jags, patches, chamber guide, scraper, rod, brushes and Ultra-Care solution and two kits are available-.308 Win. and .223 Rem. The gear stores neatly in a zippered-nylon pouch that keeps those small items from disappearing.

Perhaps the person on your list is a harder case to crack, so to speak. If so, consider the M-Pro 7 Advanced Small Arms Cleaning Kit. It comes with all the essential cleaning gear for 5.56 mm, 7.62 NATO and 9 mm firearms, but is available in a hard-sided polymer case. A molle-attachable nylon version seeing use in combat is also available. If it’s good enough for those on the front line of freedom, it’s sure to put a smile on your recreational marksman’s face.

Perhaps nothing here caught your fancy. If so, take a look at AmericanRifleman.org’s holiday buying guide. There are many good ideas there. But, guns need cleaning and that takes supplies-which makes any of these a good choice for that hard-to-buy-for person on  your list. So sit back, toss down a THOR Tactical Energy drink, and enjoy the “dip da dip da dips” of last-minute-buying panic.

Latest

KelTec SUB2000 GEN3 Folding PCC
KelTec SUB2000 GEN3 Folding PCC

Wringing Out The KelTec SUB2000 GEN3 Folding PCC

With a rotating fore-end assembly, Kellgren's latest SUB2000 positively advances the design yet retains the classic appeal of the brand's legendary pistol-caliber carbine.

The Armed Citizen® Nov. 4, 2024

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Suppressor Sales Setting Records

Nearly 2.2 million suppressors were purchased by law-abiding citizens from May 2021 through July 2024, according to figures compiled by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).

Preview: Underdog Glasses

Sunglasses are often misplaced, forgotten and lost, so Underdog resolves such dilemmas with its clip-on lenses.

New For 2024: Century Arms BFT74 & BFT556

Century Arms expanded its AK-style BFT rifle line in 2024 with two new models chambered for 5.56 NATO and 5.45x39 mm, respectively.

Preview: Armaspec SRS AR-15 Kit

This Armaspec upgrade to the AR-15’s standard buffer and spring includes a trio of interchangeable buffer weights that allow the user to tune it to his or her rifle/load.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.