MidSouth Shooters SupplyTitan ReloadingLee PrecisionRotoMetals2
Load DataWidenersReloading EverythingPBcastco
Inline Fabrication Repackbox
Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: Otis cleaning Kit

  1. #1
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Lenore, WV
    Posts
    2,840

    Otis cleaning Kit

    I would like opinions on the Otis cleaning system. I like the idea because it is compact and you can clean lever action and semi-auto rifles through the breech. What are your opinions?

  2. #2
    Moderator Emeritus


    georgerkahn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    South of the (Canada) border
    Posts
    3,049
    I used this for years as the "poster child" in my Hunter Safety (firearms) classes, and pretty much use nothing other than this, myself. My amendment to the kit, however, is I am not thrilled with the Otis brand bore cleaner -- instead I use Butches Bore Shine. (And, follow with Butches Gun Oil; then a wipe-down with G96.) Readily carried, with fairly inexpensive for rather high quality brushes; their patches with the holes cut in for perfect sizing (I still recall the embarrassment to me of getting a G I patch STUCK!!! in a Garand barrel at a match before I "discovered" the Otis System); and one real plus is that the calibre is imprinted on each brush -- sure making selection easy! Added, Otis is based in the Finger Lake region of New York State; and, is a very huge supporter of our persons in uniform.
    As you've no doubt gathered by now -- they have my vote!!!
    geo
    Last edited by georgerkahn; 03-02-2020 at 08:39 PM.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    2,487
    My experience with them is limited. I did buy a kit last year for .17 and on the first pull the end came off the cord and I had to push it out with a rod. I took it back to where I got it and got my money back. I'm not a fan.

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master

    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Northwest Ohio
    Posts
    14,420
    I have one in my high power stool (and the wifes) I use them a lot. Mine are the true otis brand and have never gave any issues. I have even pushed stuck bullets out with mine. You put the "solid tip" on and just start tapping with it and it slowly pushes the bullet back out the way it came. If you ever get the chance to see the factory demonstration its very informative

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
    metricmonkeywrench's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    1,107
    +1 as well. I have a true milspec version for 5.56 that was given to me by one of the boys fresh back from the sandbox. The long cable was wrecked. A call to Otis and a pic of the bad cable netted me a replacement no questions asked. I added a .38 pistol and .30 cal rifle brush along the way to cover all of my field cleaning needs.

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Posts
    5,271
    Got 'em / like 'em. Now that I hear what georgerkahn has to say about 'em, I like 'em even more.

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master



    M-Tecs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    9,441
    Odd man out here. I have a couple for emergency cleaning. I keep one in my HighPower shooting stood and in my hunting kits. Doesn't come close to a good one piece cleaning rod.
    2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

    "Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point."
    – Amber Veal

    "The Highest form of ignorance is when your reject something you don't know anything about".
    - Wayne Dyer

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    Rick Hodges's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Taylor, Michigan
    Posts
    1,421
    I'm not a fan....carry a home made pull through when hunting. Piece of .095" weed whacker string with a through bored jag held in with a melted ball of the string end as an emergency tool. For routine use give me a real cleaning rod.

  9. #9
    Moderator Emeritus


    MrWolf's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    NE West Virginia
    Posts
    4,849
    Keep one in my range bag. My first DPMS barrel I followed their recommended break in. Made it easy.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master

    Hickok's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    High mountains of WV
    Posts
    3,403
    I like the Otis. Works quick and easy. Real handy.

    But for the real "clean up" I still use the rods, brushes, Sweet's 7.62 (If needed with jacketed bullets), and Mobil 1 oil.
    Maker of Silver Boolits for Werewolf hunting

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    480
    I love Otis cleaning tools and use them almost exclusively. Their solvent/CLP isn't that great, though, IMO. I use Mpro7 and occasionally Bore Tech for solvents and Corrosion-X as lube/preservative.

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    S.E. Michigan
    Posts
    414
    Rods for cleaning at home

    Otis Kit in the Jeep for range or other places near the Jeep

    Weedwhacker/Boresnake kit in my Possibles kit when hunting.


    Many cleaning methods have a use in specific cases. If I only had to own one, it would be the Otis. But I have used it only 3 times in 5 years.

  13. #13
    Vendor Sponsor

    W.R.Buchanan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Ojai CA
    Posts
    9,871
    These are some of the best thought cleaning kits ever made. You can clean just about anything with one. But the real kicker is that they are compact go anywhere tools that work well and don't take up much space. I have one in my Range Bag, and I use it on my Carbines and guns with fixed barrels that you can't get a direct shot at the bore.

    I still use Rods in the shop, but everywhere else I use the Otis Kit. It was not cheap I think I paid $68 for it.

    I monitor all the Govt Procurement sites and you'd be surprised how many of these kits they sell to the Govt., and the Govt isn't getting any kind of a Quantity Discount either. Full pop+ due to the paperwork.

    I saw a solicitation last December for 45,000 of their kits. And it was essentially a Sole Source Contract, IE: nobody else could bid on it. $3,060,000 !!!

    Randy
    "It's not how well you do what you know how to do,,,It's how well you do what you DON'T know how to do!"
    www.buchananprecisionmachine.com

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Posts
    510
    georgerkahn, I think Otis is in Lewis county, NY. Lowville I believe.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    1,125
    For emergency field use only. If you want to clean a gun, get good cleaning equipment.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Posts
    2,377
    For regular cleaning at home regular rods and brushes. To run some wet patches at the range I bought a couple of the Swiss K-31 and STG 57 kits. Rods are short sections with brass fittings at each joint, brushes, mirror, and a few other goodies. Cost was $5 each. Bought the brass adaptors to go from the metric threads to standard U.S. threads used by all American cleaning supply mfgr's. Small plastic squeeze bottle with Hoppes and some patches and all fit in a 30 round G.I. ar pouch.The brass fittings are about an inch long at each end so no steel contacts the inside of the barrel. If I have to run patches through a semi auto just run the rod down the bore and when it exits the chamber screw on the brush. I wet the patch. Funny thing about fouling here in Louisiana,seems with the heat and humidity fouling gets like a rock. Very hard to run even doing the first pass of a wet patch. So took to doing that at the range first. This way at home the solvent has had time softening up the powder fouling. Frank

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check