What cleaning kit for Colt M4

[nellis]

I have a Colt M4 .22LR and want to buy a cleaning kit for it. I have read all sorts of reviews etc and still not sure which to buy. I would prefer to clean from the chamber to barrel end and so obviously prefer a flexible cleaning rod. Read stories about bore-snakes breaking etc and the Otis kit having issues.

Can someone please recommend something that they use personally (not one that they know someone else has used!) as I need to get one ASAP.

[saddler]

A tin of Kroil and my lasses toothbrush...

[Individual]

Boresnake.

Used one on my .223 for ages.

No issues as yet.



ETA - sign01 just noticed this is a .22 rimfire thread
........I don't bother cleaning the barrel on my .22 AR as I think it's a waste of time.

[techguy]

I very very occasionally run a bore snake through my .22 AR. But not very often. In fact, I don't think I have at all this year.. and it gets shot usually weekly.

The chamber, and bolt assembly are what should be cleaned most often. Also, either don't lube it at all, or just rub the metal parts with clean slightly oily fingers. .22RF is a really dirty round, and oil just gums the action up and bolt.

Hope that helps!

[BamBam]

I use a 22 bore brush bent at 90 degrees to clean the chamber, an old toothbrush to clean out any debris and the very occasional pull through from a boresnake.
Very light smear of froglube on bolt rails. I clean my rimfire semi-autos every 2000 rounds or so, whether they need it or not.

[ovenpaa]

I have never had an issue with an Otis cleaning system however like Boresnakes there are probably many dubious copies around these days.

[Dangermouse]

If you look in eBay for SA80 / L85 for cleaning kits you can pick up a full new one, minus oil, for around £10. Worth it for the brushes alone. Mine was brand new, great bargain.

DM

[dromia]

Been using the Otis system for decades with nary a problem.

I spilt cleaner on my old foam insert case which degraded it but I got one of the new cases with the plastic retainers for the jags etc. but the system has worked fine just use Eds red rather than their expensive oil.

They do a dedicated AR set if I remember correctly.

Never heard of any issues with the Otis system, what have you heard?

[nellis]

Been using the Otis system for decades with nary a problem.

I spilt cleaner on my old foam insert case which degraded it but I got one of the new cases with the plastic retainers for the jags etc. but the system has worked fine just use Eds red rather than their expensive oil.

They do a dedicated AR set if I remember correctly.

Never heard of any issues with the Otis system, what have you heard?

Read a couple of reports of the patches getting stuck and one of the cable parting company with the brass end-fitting

[dromia]

I suspect that they are operator error, the wrong patch fitting and brute strength over common sense can lead to stuck patches with any system, never had a cable failure but on occasion when not paying attention I have had the jag unscrew on me in the barrel, just pushed the cable back in and screwed it back on. Both issues are common to all cleaning regimes using patches and jags. If it was cable failure then Otis would replace and removing the patch and jag should be fairly easy so long as it wasn't folded too tight for the bore in the first place.

Like all tools use as advertised and you won't go wrong.

Be careful of what you read on the internet and even be more careful of that which you choose to believe a multiplicity of opinions do not make facts.