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Posted: 3/7/2012 7:41:44 PM EDT
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Anyone have experience with one of these? Prefer the "cable" vs. the rod.
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I bought the Otis M16 Cleaning kit. It includes the basic cleaning kit only. I also bought the Otis Brass Scraper set and have added to my M16 cleaning kit. If you buy one be sure you read the instructions on putting a cleaning patch on. It is different compared to a normal cleaning kit. I really prefer the cable compared to a cleaning rod myself.
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I could never get into them. It's cool that they managed to pack a cleaning kit into a tiny little pouch, but it doesn't really matter. Cleaning is an administrative function. I prefer to have a proper cleaning kit with a cleaning rod to clean my rifle once I'm back in the rear. G.I. cleaning kits are my #1. |
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It's a good kit for the field with out havin got carry a rod or segments in your pack, but a rod is so much easier to use on the bench at home.
I had a bore snake line break while it iwas in my barrel. Had a hell of a time getting it out. Otis kit uses standard brushes and tips. The kit I got included an adapter for military threaded stuff. |
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for those using the GI kit, does yours sound like it rubs hard in the barrel? i used one i have yrs ago but it sounded rough on the bore so i never used it again. If it wont hurt any i could make this my field kit since i already have it. I always pull mine through, I never push it. If you pull only, the bore brush or patch will serve to self-center the rod. Pushing will allow the rod to flex and contact the bore. |
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for those using the GI kit, does yours sound like it rubs hard in the barrel? i used one i have yrs ago but it sounded rough on the bore so i never used it again. If it wont hurt any i could make this my field kit since i already have it. Hard chrome beats mild steel. Just watch your crown, but thats also true with the Otis kit. |
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I got one, love the thing, its compact and gets the job done adequately, great for in the field, at the range, classes, out on a trip etc.. I still use a rod and other cleaning supplies at home when I want to do a real thorough job, but for practicality and portability its right on. |
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I was sceptical when I first looked at their stuff. A friend of mine bugged me to try his and I thought it was great. For rifles and handguns, I haven't used anything since. I still use a boresnake for my shotguns but that's just my preference. I don't use their solvent/oil, "O85 Ultra Bore". It's Hoppes No. 9 and RemOil for me. |
| I don't mind pull throughs- I use a G3 kit on my .30 cal. rifles- but the Otis is not something I'd go out of my way for. I bought an M-Pro 7 kit a couple of weeks ago to get me a 5.56 cleaning kit and standardize the rest of my equipment around, and I have to say that I am really pleased with it. Much cheaper than the Otis, too. |
| I have an Otis m16/m4 kit and I find it to be really useful and easy to use. It has everything needed to clean your ar in one little pouch, the bore the chamber and the bcg. It also came with a brush and spray for cleaning optics. I got mine for $25 off eBay new in wrapper, with the NSN sticker. For that price it's pretty hard to beat. |
| My unit got issued them a while back and they're pretty decent especially during deployments because of the portability. They fit easily into a cargo pocket and come with some pretty useful scraper tools and picks and the like. And as others said, the flexible brush and patch snake thing is nice for at the range or in the field. However, they're kind of expensive due to all the specialized pieces and stuff it comes with, and it doesn't offer a whole lot over your standard 20-30 dollar cleaning kit besides what I mentioned above. |
| I have an Otis kit and I think it's great. In my experience it cleans just as well as a rod. Since you're pulling patches/brushes through the bore you don't have to worry about damaging your rifling or the crown, as long as you take a little care. I'll never use a rod again. |
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I could never get into them. It's cool that they managed to pack a cleaning kit into a tiny little pouch, but it doesn't really matter. Cleaning is an administrative function. I prefer to have a proper cleaning kit with a cleaning rod to clean my rifle once I'm back in the rear. G.I. cleaning kits are my #1. Personally, I can't stand them. I work as a contract armorer at a major mobilization site, and I can't tell you how many rifles or M4's have come in with the cable with a patch or brush stuck in the barrel. We have to remove the barrel from the upper receiver, and basically beat the hell out of it to get them out. Usually, it is piss poor instruction on how to use the kit...people not cutting down or putting the patch in the right spot for the 5.56mm barrel. You'd be amazed at some of the crap I've seen and helped try to fix. Sometimes it's a new barrel, and sometimes we do succeed in getting it cleared. I still use and recommend the steel rod kits the military issued, I've never seen 1 of those come in the shop stuck in a barrel. On the other hand, it's a neat idea, and if I used them, I'd throw away the patches that come with the kit and use only the issue 5.56mm patches for said barrel. That seems to be 95% of the problems we see with the OTIS kits, they seem to issue these to troops without sitting down and explaining or having class on how to use them properly. Hope this helps somehow in the discussion. 
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I have a friend with contact at Otis. It is a great company.
I don't like the cable system. It is too complicated to be handy. I tried it for a while and now just use a bore snake. The bore snake does not require assembly or special patches and such. For heavy cleaning needs I use a one piece rod. I hate GI kits they are hell on a barrel. They should be used for knocking out stuck cases in the field and that is it. |
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I hate GI kits they are hell on a barrel. They should be used for knocking out stuck cases in the field and that is it. If used properly, they can't harm a barrel. I was trained to never push a cleaning rod through a barrel...pull it through only. When pulled through, the rod doesn't bow and is self-centered in the bore. I've been using the issue kits for decades and haven't seen any damage caused from them. All of my full stock rifles have them in the buttstock. And there's probably a half dozen or so of the field kits around here. I even find myself using them when I'm cleaning at the bench too. Old habits, I suppose. But used properly they're fine for the task, and will last a lifetime. |
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Quoted:
I could never get into them. It's cool that they managed to pack a cleaning kit into a tiny little pouch, but it doesn't really matter. Cleaning is an administrative function. I prefer to have a proper cleaning kit with a cleaning rod to clean my rifle once I'm back in the rear. G.I. cleaning kits are my #1. Personally, I can't stand them. I work as a contract armorer at a major mobilization site, and I can't tell you how many rifles or M4's have come in with the cable with a patch or brush stuck in the barrel. We have to remove the barrel from the upper receiver, and basically beat the hell out of it to get them out. Usually, it is piss poor instruction on how to use the kit...people not cutting down or putting the patch in the right spot for the 5.56mm barrel. You'd be amazed at some of the crap I've seen and helped try to fix. Sometimes it's a new barrel, and sometimes we do succeed in getting it cleared. I still use and recommend the steel rod kits the military issued, I've never seen 1 of those come in the shop stuck in a barrel. On the other hand, it's a neat idea, and if I used them, I'd throw away the patches that come with the kit and use only the issue 5.56mm patches for said barrel. That seems to be 95% of the problems we see with the OTIS kits, they seem to issue these to troops without sitting down and explaining or having class on how to use them properly. Hope this helps somehow in the discussion. I couldn't agree more with both of you. 
I purchased an expensive Otis kit, tried it once and immediately went back a G.I. style kit. In theory it's a decent concept but I found it very difficult to work with. |
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