Cleaning a shotgun is a little different from cleaning other firearms. They don’t need to be cleaned as often as rifles but in order for them to keep their longevity, it’s important to clean them well after firing them each time.
In this guide, we’ll look at the best shotgun cleaning kits and we have tested all of them, so I can tell you with certainty that they do the job well. You want to pay attention to the cleaning rods when looking for a good kit because a lot of the times they are garbage.
There are four different gauges that we will be looking at and if you have only one of these gauges then it may be best to just purchase a kit for that gauge. If you have shotguns in different gauges, then we would recommend buying a kit that includes all the gauges, so that you can clean each one separately.
Real Avid – Shotgun Cleaning Kit (12 & 20 Gauge)
As you can see this shotgun cleaning kit has more than just shotgun cleaning tools. This kit comes with 9 cleaning brushes, cleaning swab and cleaning jag for a variety of different firearms.
It’s one of the only kits that comes with what you need to clean your shotgun. The Otis system is all right but a bit overpriced and comes with less, which is why I prefer the real avid products.
The hard case is really nicely designed and has had very few complaints, which is rare. Most people tend to hate the cheap gun cleaning cases but this one is bulletproof.
I’m a big fan of the real avid phosphor bronze brushes and if you ask me they’re the best you can find. This kit not only cleans most shotguns but is designed for a number of different calibers.
Calibers Include: .17 – .45 cal., 20 gauge & 12 gauge
The universal coated steel cables designed by real avid work really well. It took me a minute to get the hang of it but it works just as well as most cleaning rods and Otis has another similar flexible rod that I like as well.
This kit also comes with two shotgun gun cleaning mops for the 12 and 20 gauge. These are really great and will remove just about everything from your shotgun barrel in a couple of passes.
Overall, it’s probably the best shotgun cleaning kit you can get for the price. Not only do you get supplies to clean your 12 gauge but it comes with what you’ll need to clean about 99% of handguns and rifles. Many folks say that it’s the best choice within a budget if your brushes wear quickly.
However, some others have noted that even though this gun cleaning kit comes with the right tools to clean most guns and is of high quality, they don’t fit the standard Bisley rod. This might make it a deal breaker for some customers.
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Hoppe’s – 12 Gauge Shotgun Cleaning Kit – Under $10
If you’re looking for an all-in-one shotgun cleaning kit, then Hoppe’s makes the perfect one. For this price you can’t complain. You get a bottle of lubricant and bore cleaner, which alone cost about $10 but you also get an aluminum cleaning rod and a few attachments.
If you don’t have a shotgun kit then I would recommend this one for sure. Keep in mind that it’s only designed for 12 gauge shotguns and you can purchase brush attachments for other size gauges for a few dollars.
Overall, you get what you pay for. The kit is small but gets the job done and comes with some of the best gun cleaning solvent. Hoppe’s is built its reputation on its cleaning solvent and bore snakes.
While there are some better shotgun kits out there, if you’re on a budget then this is the one.
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Hoppe’s No. 9 – Shotgun Cleaning Kit Addon
Hoppes makes this small 6 piece kit for 12 / 16 / 20 / 28 gauge shotguns. Cleaning with this kit is very simply and all you need is a good amount of gun cleaning solvent to soak your barrel. After your barrel is sufficiently lubricated you can clean your shotgun in four easy steps:
Tornado Brush – First, connect the tornado brush pictured on the far right to your cleaning rod and scrub the inside of your barrel. Do this for several passes.
Bronze Brush – Soak your barrel again with your favorite CLP and then use the bronze brush repeating the same process of the tornado brush.
Cleaning Swab – Spray CLP again and use the cotton swab brush the same way you used the hard brushes and then you’re done. You want to repeat this process until the cleaning swab comes out white.
Cleaning Jag – The final step is not mandatory but if you want to really clean your shotgun you’re going to want to use a jag. They only cost a couple of dollars and are definitely worth the investment. You basically put a cotton patch on the tip of the jag and repeat the same process as above. The jag holds the patches perfect in place. There are many different jag sizes to choose from, so be sure to select the right size.
When you’re cleaning your shotgun, the last thing you want is for your cleaning rod to either break or damage the inside of your barrel. This is why we highly recommend building your own Shotgun cleaning kit.
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Real Avid – Gun Boss Shotgun Cleaning Kit
As you can see this shotgun cleaning kit only consist of a few components. A Cleaning brush, cleaning swab and a cleaning jag.
The 7 piece cleaning rod in this kit is a bit ridiculous and if you’re cleaning a shotgun it’s certainly not fun to put together 7 pieces of rod and then take apart all 7 pieces when you’re done.
The 7 piece rods have also been known to easily bend or break and that’s why a carbon fiber cleaning rod is ideal for lengths of more than 30”.
You’ll find that most of the shotgun cleaning kits come with horrible cleaning rods.
When you’re cleaning your shotgun, the last thing you want is for your cleaning rod to either break or damage the inside of your barrel. This is why we highly recommend building your own Shotgun cleaning kit.
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Tipton – Carbon Fiber Cleaning Rod
Gun cleaning kits are usually designed to be used for a variety of guns. If you only have a couple of shotguns with the same gauge, then what we recommend is buying the brushes and cleaning swabs for that particular gauge.
You want to use the best cleaning rods you can, so that you don’t damage the inner barrel of your shotgun.
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Pro-Shot Products Jags
If you already own a gun cleaning rod then you can simply attach of these brushes to your rod. If your rod is not long enough to clean your shotgun barrel you’re going to need a longer rod. For cleaning shotguns, the ideal cleaning rod is a carbon fiber rod. The cotton flannel patches will also have to be bought individually.
Common lengths of shotgun barrels are 24,26,28 or 30 inches
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Tipton Shotgun Bronze Bore Brush (Pack of 3)
If you need to remove a lot of built up carbon on an older shotgun then a bronze brush with stronger bristles will be required. The Tipton brushes are heavy-duty brushes that are designed to remove built up carbon in the barrel.
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Conclusion
Cleaning a shotgun is a bit easier than most firearms. In this case it’s a better idea to build your own shotgun cleaning kit. Most cleaning kits do not come with a good enough cleaning rod and that’s why many people complain about shotgun cleaning kits.
As we mentioned before, you really want to use a one piece cleaning rod when cleaning a shotgun. A universal gun cleaning kit may be a better option because you get more cleaning brushes at a similar price.
When you start using three-piece cleaning rods they tend to easily bend and then you will run the risk of damaging the inside of your barrel.
Shotgun Cleaning Tips
Several veteran shooters will never clean their shotguns and use them as they are. Because of the large spread of shotguns, you can sacrifice a bit on reliability and precision of the gun. However, cleaning your shotgun is advised, and a dirty shotgun can sometimes be unsafe. When it comes to gun safety, you shouldn’t be cutting corners.
Follow The Instructions
Shotguns come in different types, and if you have a pump or an auto loading shotgun, you might have a difficult time in the beginning figuring out how to go about it. Following the instructions on the manual will make your job much easier.
Types of Oils
You can’t use the same type of oil on the wood and metal used in a shotgun. The gun oil that goes on the metal parts of the gun is designed specifically to handle heat and residue, and using this on wood will just lead to accumulation of contaminants that will make your gun dirtier with each use.
Moisture
Moisture is metal’s worst enemy, and since most of the working parts in your gun are made out of metal, you need to ensure that it doesn’t get eaten up by rust. Oiling the metal before storing it and after a few uses will prevent moisture from getting into your gun and drying up the metal.
Replacing Your Oils
Every time you apply a coat of oil on your gun (and wipe off the excess), you need to keep in mind that the oil will not just disappear into thin air. You have to not only oil your shotgun at regular intervals but also strip off the older layers and apply a new layer. This will ensure that there’s no grease collection on or in your gun.
The Bottom Line
The good thing about shotguns is that cleaning them doesn’t have to be as much effort as cleaning other guns. It’s suggested that you clean your shotgun after every 200 rounds, which is much better than what you have to do with other guns.
However, the cleaning experience is much different, which means that you need a proper shotgun cleaning kit to go with your shooting.
We hope that this article has helped you make an informed decision about which of the best shotgun cleaning kits mentioned above is the right fit for you. If you’re interested in similar topics about gun maintenance, Gun Cleaning HQ has a number of articles, reviews, and buying guides that you should definitely check out!
