a bore snake is a handy tool for a simple lazy cleaning of your barrel. CLP is the most preferred recommended cleaner lubricant and protect-ant for the ar platform. Many swear by slips and copper solvents and you may want to try some of these things out at some point just be careful about mixing cleaners and lubes you can get some bad chemical reactions. I find that a bore brush, chamber brush, plastic jags, patches, clp, paper towels or gun towel, and q tips are all you need to pretty fully detail an ar. They sell pipe cleaners for your gas tube but most recommend against cleaning your gas tube as do I more likely to get stuff stuck in there and it cleans itself when you fire but, pipe cleaners can come in handy for detailing your bcg. There are lots of videos out there do some googling. The ar can run quite dirty but doesn't like to be too dry. Cleaning frequency varies depending on barrel chrome lined requires far less cleaning where as steel takes a little more elbow grease and wears more evenly with regular cleaning especially when new.

I don't get too fancy when cleaning an AR. Here's the stuff I use most:

3-piece brass cleaning rod w/ a patch holder tip
pistol cleaning rod with a chamber brush
patches
CLP
Q-tips
plastic- and bronze-bristle cleaning brushes (like a toothbrush, not a bore brush)
couple of old white t-shirts (one for laying the gun on, one for wiping crud off)

You don't need to get super-complicated when it comes to cleaning. Learn how to properly clean and lube it using basic stuff, and then decide down the road if more specialized lubes, cleaners, and tools are a good idea for you.There's a lot of stuff out there you can spend money on, but that's money that could be better spent on ammo, mags, and training.

I just got what was available locally so i didn't have to pay shipping i don't think there's much difference in any of the tools break free makes clp I'm sure something like midwayusa would have more than you could ever want to clean with.

Sounds good man! I'll have to go check out what my Walmart has and whatever they don't have I'll check for when I pick up my AR from the store and see if they have the rest of the stuff there. Thanks

Okay thank you. I will make sure to get myself a chamber brush. Are they all the same with steel bristles or do I have to make sure to get one with steel bristles on it?

AR15 Basic Cleaning Kit

Nope,I only use the USGI kit for field needs at the range,hunting etc..But I do consider them a good starter kit on a budget and a must have item which will cover all the bases if needed,to include pistol cleaning.
I would get one of the Brownells 8-36 to 8-32 adapters(comes 2 per pack) and keep/use with the kit so you can use commercial thread brushes..

Like QUIB pictured above I also use a coated one piece rod at home on the work bench....specifically Dewey.I also have bore guides,Dewey chamber/lug recess tools etc. which I use at home on the work bench.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/389149/dewey-1-piece-cleaning-rod-22-to-26-caliber-36-nylon-coated-8-x-36-thread

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/599467/possum-hollow-bore-guide-19-ar-15-556mm-nato-223-remington

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/163348/dewey-rifle-lug-recess-and-chamber-cleaning-kit-ar-15-223-caliber

Ive got one of the MTM Range Boxes I mentioned previously packed with all the items I use,which is considerable being that I shoot several different types of rifles to include mil-surp and precision bolt guns,and several different pistol calibers as well.Which by the way the Dewey AR chamber/lug recess cleaning kit rod doubles as a pistol rod.

I think that proper maintenance comes with common sense and experience.I know there are folks who have been taught bad practices,but there is more than enough information available online and in vidoes for folks to learn proper techniques and break bad habits,or not.Knowledge is a great thing no matter what you're trying to do correctly.So if you are spending the time running down quality kit to work with,then there should be time spent in the study of how to properly use said kit.

Personally Ive never ruined a barrel or anything else by properly cleaning in the last 30+ years.Im still shooting guns I had in the 70's that have seen no ill effects,and I clean a gun pretty well.So I don't fully understand how some folks ruin the stuff that they do.
I don't practice white glove clean and Im not trying to pass some silly institutional inspection thats based on submissive techniques more than anything else.I like to think clean enough,is good enough.Example:
http://www.armalite.com/images/Tech%20Notes/Tech%20Note%2029,%20Rifle%20Cleaning,%2099.04.pdf

As far as bore brushes,a good quality brass core phosphor bronze bore brush will not harm a bore if properly used,especially hard chromed.
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1281/Product/-SPECIAL-LINE-trade-BRASS-CORE-BORE-BRUSH
And by properly means used by hand,not spun on a drill motor or otherwise.

The sectional USGI rods,if used per the TM -10 with a little care will not harm a bore either.Start ham fisting like you are cleaning a sewer drain blockage and yeah look to have some trouble soon.Good example is the sectional rod QUIB pictured above.Don't know for sure,but I suspect he has used it......don't see much finish wear on the rod sections which is the way it should be and means it ain't washing the bore/leade/muzzle due to proper technique.

I rely mainly on the chemistry of the products I use to do the work for me,and do not rely heavily on mechanical action.Mechanical action is used in addition to aid penetration of the cleaners whether it is CLP or solvent,and removal of softened deposits.Its not a primary function in my routine and should not be in anyone elses.

For cleaners,I remain very traditional and specific.Solvents.... I use Hoppe's No.9 90% of the time.For copper I prefer Sweets 7.62 or BoreTech Benchrest Blend.And I flush the bores with a patch of isopropyl alcohol after using solvents,dry patch and oil before storage.
Never tried any of the foaming cleaners and have no plans to.

The majority of my cleaning is done with a CLP product,and there are a few I like.I clean my weapons after every use,and with that my needed cleaning time/effort is limited as a result.CLP cleans before,during and after use giving a head start on the whole process.In otherwords I don't have layers of funk built up in any of my guns.....and never seen a spec of rust.

That said,I have seen a bunch of folks firearms bores/parts/guns ruined by lack of,or poor maintenance practices allowing corrosion.Which IMHO is the most common damage seen beyond home gunsmithing by the overzealous types.

YMMV

Yeah you'll find buying the individual items tailored to your personal preference will be the best way to build yourself a dedicated bench kit.I listed the stuff I like which I have found to work for me.I mean even a a selection of a jag may have special meaning for you.So do some research and shopping and build your kit as you like it.

There you go young warrior. USGI cleaning kit, some q-tips, some CLP or even some Rem-oil and and some old t-shirts and you are good to go. There is a reason Sarge said to clean your rifle after every use.