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Posted: 2/20/2026 8:12:45 AM EDT
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By hodgescl: No idea what it’s called but I have a surplus kit with a coated wire pull through and a bunch of little brushes and hooks. Looks like a nylon hockey puck. Whatever works! I like Boresnakes but I know if you get an obstruction or squib, you really need a stiff rod (no put intended  ) to assist in clearing it. I've seen some guys tape or use Ranger Bands to secure rod sections along their MLOK railed handguards. It's a little too heavy to carry on my second line, but I do have that breakdown rod in my ruck for that purpose. I think one of the more important but simple items, is the painters can opener. The "BreechTool", and some multitools (ala the Leatherman MUT) have that capability, but I've found the simple painters can opener can get dummy corded and slipped right into my yoke/harness and by my pace beads. Very easy and fast to access. I've seen broken stocks with people trying to shotgun their bolt open (happens with my FAL if I get underpowered ammo). ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: Weapons field maintenance. There was a video of an Air Force SERE instructor who used cotton balls soaked in WD40 for both equipment maintenance and fire starting. That sounded interesting. I've been going through a bunch of stuff and putting together a dedicated weapons maintenance kit for my Line 2 kit and a complimentary kit in my ruck. The only thing I forgot to show here was a small baggy of spare parts for the AR (extra bolt, firing pin, a few cotter pins, a couple extractors/pins/springs, and a buffer tube detent and spring (one of the few failures I've experienced was a sheered buffer tube retaining pin and it really buggered up my AR during training). Having a rigid cleaning rod handy, you can attach one to the rifle (which I done), but there's also a pretty good Pro Shot Emergency Cleaning Rod, which is a good, compact design. It's little too heavy to keep in my second line gear and the rifle mounted rod is probably a better idea. For me, it's simple maintenance on rifle and handgun. Running your rifle suppressed (even with low backpressure cans) get make a mess in some rifles. That said, if want it compact, a small cleaning brush, Boresnake, small rag and bottle lube can pretty much handle it. Otis still has great compact kits as well. I've recently picked up the BreechTool, so we'll see how that works out. The old school method was cutting an angled part of a metal clothes hanger (looks like a candy cane) and flatten both ends to look like a screwdriver. Perfect to get into nooks and crannies on a rifle. The BreechTool just reminds me of a more expensive modern version of that. I really like the (sadly discontinued) S&W "punch" pen, but it's not used much for this type of kit and I may replace it with a Lens Pen. The painters can opener makes a great emergency bolt extraction tool on your second line... https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/18e760d0-32e5-4c01-a148-b32f008ae295.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" target="_blank">https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/18e760d0-32e5-4c01-a148-b32f008ae295.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/1ab64f53-0677-4bfe-bed2-eff2ca21c08d.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" target="_blank">https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/1ab64f53-0677-4bfe-bed2-eff2ca21c08d.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/c55b7c32-77f0-4e12-8137-69615051c2ba.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" target="_blank">https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/c55b7c32-77f0-4e12-8137-69615051c2ba.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/4f03ea1f-303a-4f27-82e5-2b40d2dcc840.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" target="_blank">https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/4f03ea1f-303a-4f27-82e5-2b40d2dcc840.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/c34e7609-efb7-4f39-8034-979213a023b1.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" target="_blank">https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/c34e7609-efb7-4f39-8034-979213a023b1.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/df8966df-149f-4ef2-ae96-5d08880061f1.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" target="_blank">https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/df8966df-149f-4ef2-ae96-5d08880061f1.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds Everything looks nice and clean because (it is!) my regular cleaning kit is a large bag. I do have some Otis kits, but even when I deployed, I often had my own cleaning kit in a tough box and not on my person or in my ruck. Missions (for me) were never more than a day, back in time for evening chow at the worst or weather delayed and held over for a night or early morning convoy pickup. So kit lovers, what's your field maintenance kit and do you have anything for your Second Line Kit, or just your ruck? ROCK6 This is of interest to me. I have a couple of OTIS kits + a few extra do-dads for my personal field gear use, and put together basic cleaning kits (based on the base USGI cleaning kits) for each rifle if other people end up using them. I'm also putting together a 'portable basic gunsmithing' setup, with the extra bells and whistles for long-term gun maintenance. I'm wanting to minimize the size and weight of my field cleaning kit that goes on my 2nd line gear, and a bigger, more robust one that goes in my ruck. I already have the OTIS kits to work off of, along with a few other bits and pieces. Trying to figure out what else I want to add / replace. 1. What is the little rod thingy in the first pic? 2. What are the tools in the 2nd pic? a. The one on the far right with the little rod parts - is that the cleaning rod? b. The one with the dental pick c. The one that kinda looks like a pen meets a kubaton d. The greyish one and the octapus armed ones to the right of the kubaton e. The blue and black one 3. What is the multicam pouch? Edit: Bonus question - where'd you get the paint can opener? It looks like it has a bottle opener on it to. Anyone make a titanium one? I also need to get a few more boresnakes. Any suggestions on a good place to get some for 5.56 rifles in bulk? (ie, like 5 or 10 of them at a time) They don't have to be name brand ones as long as they are decent quality. |
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: Whatever works! I like Boresnakes but I know if you get an obstruction or squib, you really need a stiff rod (no put intended ) to assist in clearing it. I've seen some guys tape or use Ranger Bands to secure rod sections along their MLOK railed handguards. It's a little too heavy to carry on my second line, but I do have that breakdown rod in my ruck for that purpose. I think one of the more important but simple items, is the painters can opener. The "BreechTool", and some multitools (ala the Leatherman MUT) have that capability, but I've found the simple painters can opener can get dummy corded and slipped right into my yoke/harness and by my pace beads. Very easy and fast to access. I've seen broken stocks with people trying to shotgun their bolt open (happens with my FAL if I get underpowered ammo). ROCK6 I've got a really nice, smaller length sectioned cleaning rod, no idea where I got it. It breaks down to about 2/3 the length of the USGI ones, and is lighter and comes in a minimalist cordura sleeve that barely fits just the rod. It's the tits for an emergency obstruction clearing rod, and light and small enough to carry on my 2nd line. I wish I could find one like it again, I'd order a couple more and put one in each of my sets of personal gear. I've seen guys put a USGI cleaning rod, broken down, on their plate carrier, up under the velcro that holds the plate in place. It's there for clearing obstructions and such, not for regular cleaning. Doesn't help with belt kits or (most) chest rigs (you could put one down in the bottom of a Tactical Tailor MAV for instance) That paint can opener is also great for using to pry stuff in general. |
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Originally Posted By hodgescl: No idea what it’s called but I have a surplus kit with a coated wire pull through and a bunch of little brushes and hooks. Looks like a nylon hockey puck. That's probably an OTIS. During GWOT you could get those kits for cheap on ebay, practically new. |
I love a good double entendre.
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Shaw Concepts Re-Up Bandolier, one bandolier for 6.5 CM, the other for 5.56. 3 or 4 rifle mags, one spare pistol mag, and the cleaning/maintenance kit. Cleaning/maintenance kit: -spare parts (firing pin, FP retaining pin, extractor, extractor spring, ext. detent for XCRs; complete bolt, FP, FP cotter pin for AR) -any relevant hex wrenches -screwdriver (small Stihl chainsaw driver) -sectional cleaning rod -bore brush -patch jag -motor oil (10w40- I have a quart and nothing else to use it on other than firearms.) -grease (Magnalube I use on everything, in M1/M14-style grease pots). -patches, rag -nitrile gloves -trash bag I shoot suppressed exclusively with the relevant firearms, so gloves, rags, and trash bag are important. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: This is of interest to me. I have a couple of OTIS kits + a few extra do-dads for my personal field gear use, and put together basic cleaning kits (based on the base USGI cleaning kits) for each rifle if other people end up using them. I'm also putting together a 'portable basic gunsmithing' setup, with the extra bells and whistles for long-term gun maintenance. I'm wanting to minimize the size and weight of my field cleaning kit that goes on my 2nd line gear, and a bigger, more robust one that goes in my ruck. I already have the OTIS kits to work off of, along with a few other bits and pieces. Trying to figure out what else I want to add / replace. 1. What is the little rod thingy in the first pic? 2. What are the tools in the 2nd pic? a. The one on the far right with the little rod parts - is that the cleaning rod? b. The one with the dental pick c. The one that kinda looks like a pen meets a kubaton d. The greyish one and the octapus armed ones to the right of the kubaton e. The blue and black one 3. What is the multicam pouch? Edit: Bonus question - where'd you get the paint can opener? It looks like it has a bottle opener on it to. Anyone make a titanium one? I also need to get a few more boresnakes. Any suggestions on a good place to get some for 5.56 rifles in bulk? (ie, like 5 or 10 of them at a time) They don't have to be name brand ones as long as they are decent quality. @marnsdorff Damn bro, making me do work on a Friday afternoon! The rod system is from ProShot and is what they call an ECR "Emergency Cleaning Rod". It's simply a regular rod in a convenient package set up to clear a bore, but can use standard tips. https://www.proshotproducts.com/ECR--Emergency-Cleaning-Rod_p_1230.html Expensive Multitasker tool (has the dental pick tool). I had some credit with Dead Air and bought a couple (gave one to my son). It's really well laid out and compact for what it is, oh and it's a hex bit tool as well (takes hex bits): https://multitaskertools.com/twist/ Inexpensive, but a quality pistol cleaning tool. It can also pair with pull through snakes or cables with how the handle is designed: Gunmaster Pistol Cleaning Kit The British designed breech cleaning tool. Pretty cool, sold by Brownells (found out afterwards). They have a minimalist version, but they're work quite well for what they're designed to do: BreechTool I honestly haven't used this tool yet, but it does work as intended. Not a necessity, but really gets after carbon built up spots on the AR bolt/bolt carrier. CAT M4 Bolt Carrier Carbon Scraper Tool Another British design and well thought out. I really just like the form-factor and design: https://taskforcemilitary.com/products/weapon-cleaning-kit-wallet-multicam Can't recall who made the "kubaton". It was for 1911's and is polymer but just helps with light prying without marring. There are similar ones: 1911 tool Sorry if I make your wallet lighter!  ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
A small update. I really like the (now discontinued) S&W "punch pen" tool, but it's not something I see if that necessary in a field kit; a small range kit is where it will go). I replaced it with a lens pen as I have a likelier need to clean optics, PVS14, thermal or binocular/monocular lenses. I will again say I'm pretty impressed with the Multitasker Twist tool/pen. I need to go through my kit and make sure I have all the correct hex bit sizes I need. While the painters can opener is seen here, I actually have one attached to my PLCE fighting kit harness for easier access. Also, I don't really need to nifty little Ti cleaning tool as the 10-8 Performance Tool (link for @marnsdorff) is more than adequate for what I need. The only addition will likely be a chamber brush.     For the ruck, this is the expanded kit. I'm still trying to right size it and make it more complimentary than a stand-alone kit. The ProShot ECR will stretch out to 32 inches, pretty big. While I really like it, I don't need a rod quite that long. On the plus side, it also adapts to all the standard (8/32") screw tips and their awesome T-handle.       Oh, a couple other compact filed kits I've had sitting around:     Again, I think all you really need is a boresnake, lube and small brush. The BreechTool is a good, compact multitool, and if you're able to add a few rods to your kit (for bore obstrucitons), you can get the brush tip to handle those big-debris cleaning tasks. ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Video popped up in my YouTube feed that showed a product relevant to this thread. Rescue Rod Nothing fancy, although they charge you a fancy price for it. Basically a single picatinny rail cover with a hole for attaching a rod. In the past, I’ve just used Ranger bands to hold a rod to the side of my rifle, but this gives a cleaner look/option I guess. I’d be more prone to be a buyer of this if it was $10 for a pair. |
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Originally Posted By cap6888: Video popped up in my YouTube feed that showed a product relevant to this thread. Rescue Rod Nothing fancy, although they charge you a fancy price for it. Basically a single picatinny rail cover with a hole for attaching a rod. In the past, I’ve just used Ranger bands to hold a rod to the side of my rifle, but this gives a cleaner look/option I guess. I’d be more prone to be a buyer of this if it was $10 for a pair. I got that video as well lol |
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I just use the usgi kits. Rods, tips, patches, oil, gp brush, rag and I add a .45 brush. I keep spare bolts with new gas rings, retainer, pin, and firing pin in the stocks of my 20" rifles but need to grab another setup for my kit for guns without rifle stocks. I need to find a good pouch for those spare I have. |
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Originally Posted By 03RN: I just use the usgi kits. Rods, tips, patches, oil, gp brush, rag and I add a .45 brush. I keep spare bolts with new gas rings, retainer, pin, and firing pin in the stocks of my 20" rifles but need to grab another setup for my kit for guns without rifle stocks. I need to find a good pouch for those spare I have. Yea, nothing wrong with a basic USGI kit (with a couple extra things added to them) That's why I threw together one for each of my rifles, in addition to my two gucci ones. |
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I carry 0w20 synthetic for lube. Rigid cleaning rod, brush, jag, jag with nipple cut off (ram), patches. BCG in a sock, sock is also cleaning rag. Sock can also hold parts, so they dont get lost on the ground. Only failure last year at training events was a complete failure of an FRT (Atrius). Jammed (blank fire), at night, under nods. Went to mortar rifle, and the whole arm thing got bent to shit and the rifle was down for good. So i guess i would have needed a whole trigger group to fix it. |
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Originally Posted By cap6888: Video popped up in my YouTube feed that showed a product relevant to this thread. Rescue Rod Nothing fancy, although they charge you a fancy price for it. Basically a single picatinny rail cover with a hole for attaching a rod. In the past, I’ve just used Ranger bands to hold a rod to the side of my rifle, but this gives a cleaner look/option I guess. I’d be more prone to be a buyer of this if it was $10 for a pair. Those look to be 3D printed. I'm sure we have some members that would be glad to print some for a reasonable fee. Here it is. https://www.printables.com/model/855461-picatinny-cleaning-rod-holder |
I love a good double entendre.
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Originally Posted By WillieTangoFox: Only failure last year at training events was a complete failure of an FRT (Atrius). Jammed (blank fire), at night, under nods. Went to mortar rifle, and the whole arm thing got bent to shit and the rifle was down for good. So i guess i would have needed a whole trigger group to fix it. Failures are the condundrum and if you find a thread in ARFCOM on AR15 "failures" you'll get dozens to the point many think carry a spare rifle (or two) is the only answer. I don't think failures are that common with quality components and a well tested rifle. That said, I had the buffer retaining pin have the small nipple shear off and holy fuck was that a nightmare as the spring blocked the AR from opening and I had to us a buffer tube/castle nut wrench to remove the who stock assembly to just break the rifle down. Simple easy fix with a buffer retaining pin, but much more (PITA) needed to fix it. I had a bolt hold open break on me and while it sucked, the rifle was still fully operational. What I really saw throughout my career were lost cotter pins, extractor retaining pins or springs when troopers were at least trying to do weapons maintenance in the field. Those losses will make youre weapon not go bang. The basics are the basics, I just think there are some new options to make doing those basics a little easier, a little more compact, or make one tool do dual purpose. ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: Failures are the condundrum and if you find a thread in ARFCOM on AR15 "failures" you'll get dozens to the point many think carry a spare rifle (or two) is the only answer. I don't think failures are that common with quality components and a well tested rifle. That said, I had the buffer retaining pin have the small nipple shear off and holy fuck was that a nightmare as the spring blocked the AR from opening and I had to us a buffer tube/castle nut wrench to remove the who stock assembly to just break the rifle down. Simple easy fix with a buffer retaining pin, but much more (PITA) needed to fix it. I had a bolt hold open break on me and while it sucked, the rifle was still fully operational. What I really saw throughout my career were lost cotter pins, extractor retaining pins or springs when troopers were at least trying to do weapons maintenance in the field. Those losses will make youre weapon not go bang. The basics are the basics, I just think there are some new options to make doing those basics a little easier, a little more compact, or make one tool do dual purpose. ROCK6 A spare bolt and a couple of spare pins and springs fixes a WORLD of problems that might arise on AR's. |
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: Failures are the condundrum and if you find a thread in ARFCOM on AR15 "failures" you'll get dozens to the point many think carry a spare rifle (or two) is the only answer. I don't think failures are that common with quality components and a well tested rifle. That said, I had the buffer retaining pin have the small nipple shear off and holy fuck was that a nightmare as the spring blocked the AR from opening and I had to us a buffer tube/castle nut wrench to remove the who stock assembly to just break the rifle down. Simple easy fix with a buffer retaining pin, but much more (PITA) needed to fix it. I had a bolt hold open break on me and while it sucked, the rifle was still fully operational. What I really saw throughout my career were lost cotter pins, extractor retaining pins or springs when troopers were at least trying to do weapons maintenance in the field. Those losses will make youre weapon not go bang. The basics are the basics, I just think there are some new options to make doing those basics a little easier, a little more compact, or make one tool do dual purpose. ROCK6 Originally Posted By ROCK6: Originally Posted By WillieTangoFox: Only failure last year at training events was a complete failure of an FRT (Atrius). Jammed (blank fire), at night, under nods. Went to mortar rifle, and the whole arm thing got bent to shit and the rifle was down for good. So i guess i would have needed a whole trigger group to fix it. Failures are the condundrum and if you find a thread in ARFCOM on AR15 "failures" you'll get dozens to the point many think carry a spare rifle (or two) is the only answer. I don't think failures are that common with quality components and a well tested rifle. That said, I had the buffer retaining pin have the small nipple shear off and holy fuck was that a nightmare as the spring blocked the AR from opening and I had to us a buffer tube/castle nut wrench to remove the who stock assembly to just break the rifle down. Simple easy fix with a buffer retaining pin, but much more (PITA) needed to fix it. I had a bolt hold open break on me and while it sucked, the rifle was still fully operational. What I really saw throughout my career were lost cotter pins, extractor retaining pins or springs when troopers were at least trying to do weapons maintenance in the field. Those losses will make youre weapon not go bang. The basics are the basics, I just think there are some new options to make doing those basics a little easier, a little more compact, or make one tool do dual purpose. ROCK6 Yeah, most problems can be avoided by using quality known good equipment. The 2025 training schedule pretty much showed FRT devices are toys, but you dont know until you break things. Lol |
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Originally Posted By trails-end: Those look to be 3D printed. I'm sure we have some members that would be glad to print some for a reasonable fee. Here it is. https://www.printables.com/model/855461-picatinny-cleaning-rod-holder I was given one of the black hills designs and it broke putting it on. These are a really fast print. 
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Originally Posted By AbleArcher: I was given one of the black hills designs and it broke putting it on. These are a really fast print. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/188236/1000021428-3719737.jpg Interested in printing some out? For a fee of course. |
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Originally Posted By AbleArcher: I was given one of the black hills designs and it broke putting it on. These are a really fast print. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/188236/1000021428-3719737.jpg FCD and some others make sectional cleaning rods that fit inside a sopmod stock. They don’t fit an SLS stock, unfortunately. The multitasker that tucks inside the sopmod buttpad is kinda nice, too. The 1/2” wrench on it is less than ideal, but it can suffice in a pinch. |
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Originally Posted By sandboxmedic: I'm just glad to see I'm not the only geek who paints their paint can openers and puts shrink tubing on them. Originally Posted By sandboxmedic: I'm just glad to see I'm not the only geek who paints their paint can openers and puts shrink tubing on them. Yeah, a little OCD, but they are pretty "shiny" if exposed on your kit. Plus shrink tubing or wrapping them in something like Monkey Tape makes them much easier to handle. Originally Posted By rb889: FCD and some others make sectional cleaning rods that fit inside a sopmod stock. They don’t fit an SLS stock, unfortunately. The multitasker that tucks inside the sopmod buttpad is kinda nice, too. The 1/2” wrench on it is less than ideal, but it can suffice in a pinch. Yeah, the Multitasker M:4 is about the smallest form-factor for a castle nut wrench. Yes, I've had a (poorly) staked castle nut walk back on me, so I do like the idea of having a (smaller) field castle nut wrench. There are other options as Fix-It-Sticks has a hex version and there are some smaller, single purpose versions. ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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