View Full Version : Otis Cleaning Kit
zippygaloo
11-15-08, 22:24
I bought an Otis Deluxe Law Enforcement Cleaning kit. The kit itself has a lot of components and for that I really like it, but using their flexible wire rod with their patches was less than desirable. Here's what went wrong.
1. For starters their darn patches are impossible to pinch/get small enough to fit through the bore of my 5.56mm AR15. Every single attempt produced a patch that was more like a "fat nub" at the slotted tip and not even close to fitting. If you attempt to make a patch by referencing the 5.56mm position on the patch according to the arrow in the photo of the included instruction manual, it creates a patch that is too big.
2. After the first slot is used the patch completely falls apart because pulling it through the slotted tip causes the patch to fray. Using them six times doesn't seem possible, at least in terms of how mine looked after a single use.
3. Here's the kicker! As I was pulling a patch through the bore, it TORE FROM THE SLOTTED TIP AND LEFT ITSELF INSIDE THE BORE! What a &%$#@! nightmare. The kit includes a "obstruction remover" but it was impossible to use in this case because the cable did nothing but bend. Needless to say the flexible cable and obstruction remover didn't get the stuck patch out. I had to resort to an 20 year old Outer's aluminum cleaning kit rod made for a .257 Roberts caliber. I got it out with that, but I knowing my luck I probably damaged my chrome bore.
I already own the kit so I had better figure out a way to get this thing to work for me especially the patches and clearing stuck patches, etc. Anyone have a suggestion outside of the Otis instructional videos on youtube (which by the way make it look too easy)?
Are you using the Small Caliber M16 Cleaning Patches (http://www.otisgun.com/cgistore/store.cgi?page=/new/product.html&setup=1&ida=76&idp=3&his=0|5|3&cart_id=4436340.5668)? You push the slotted tip into one of the three slots in the patch, then with the slotted tip facing vertically up, fold a tip of the patch at the far end and instert it into the slot, pull through. You should have a cone of patch that you can drop some solvent on / Hoppe's 9 whatever, push the other end through the chamber and pull through from the muzzle end with the t-handle.
edit: the first patch after shooting gets pretty dirty so only pull this one through once. The later patches you can use more than once, fliping it over, using other slots, etc.
I avoid the kits and purchase each component separately because you're paying for stuff you just won't use.
buckshot1220
11-15-08, 23:07
I stopped using those patches long ago. Just use whatever you used before, cut to size and go for it. I also don't use there "All in one oil/cleaner/protectant/last thing you'll ever buy tube of well...whatever it is." I do love the cable and being able to easily go chamber to muzzle repeatedly without unscrewing the brush. Don't give up on the kit, the cable is a great system and the components pack nicely in the circular case, if we have the same exact kit (mine isn't the LE, it's all rifle/shotgun).
BORESNAKE:
How does the boresnake work? Do you soak it in solvent and then run it thorugh the bore? Thanks.
BORESNAKE:
How does the boresnake work? Do you soak it in solvent and then run it thorugh the bore? Thanks.
Boresnakes are excellent for general purpose cleaning on the bore very fast and very thorough. I prefer to soak the barrel with solvent and them run a boresnake through several times and finish with a light oil. I use them on my precision AR and my precision bolt gun all the time to excellent effect.
DIRT DRAGGER!
If you don't know how to trim patches, it makes me question your knowledge of how a boresnake works.
Cameron
thopkins22
11-15-08, 23:37
If you don't know how to trim patches, it makes me question your knowledge of how a boresnake works.
LOL ZING! I've never had a problem using otis cables and patches, other than the first time when I did it wrong and pulled the big side through.
I use boresnakes on my .22lr pistols and rifles to great effect...I don't know why I don't use them in my centerfire stuff. Just wash them occasionally.
whatever happened to good ol' rod and push plug? aluminum rod, nylon plug, extra long .22 brush and a bendy-twisty chamber brush... and some tooth brushes i filed the handles down to a point for scraping. i bet i can clean my rifles as fast and as thoroughly as anyone with their fancy shmancy high-speed-ranger-snake-delta-bar-cowboy-hooah-stick shit!
you wear out the brushes pretty quick.. but they're like $1.50 at GI Joes.
so long as you deburr your gear you can run it back and forth through your bore all day long. no need to untwist shit every pass.
I use a Dewey one piece rod when I am back home or in the shop. Other than that I use a MILSPEC cleaning kit and it works like it should.
thopkins22
11-16-08, 01:21
whatever happened to good ol' rod and push plug?
Plenty of solid reasons to have a solid rod...I think the Otis kits are so popular because they can be tossed in a backpack or shooting bag(at least that's why I bought mine.)
One thing comes to mind here. KISS
Here's the photo instructions in the guide that was included with my kit.
1. Try pinching where it says 5.56MM and look at the size of patch you end up with. It won't fit through my AR15 5.56MM barrel?
2. Why is 5.56MM listed next to .25 Cal? I thought .223 and 5.56MM bores are one in the same? Shouldn't .22 Cal and 5.56MM be listed together? I'm confused.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/3034341546_818d9a50fd.jpg
Cagemonkey
11-16-08, 08:05
I use my otis just to clean my barrel. Regular 6mm to .270 patches work fine. The otis patches work OK but are expensive and cumbersome. After that, make sure you have a good chamber brush and rod combo. Brownells sells some nice chamber cleaning kits.
My vote as well for a good one piece rod. Use the Boresnake for the lever guns and some .22 handguns.
Zippygaloo--check the slotted tip, make sure it's the .22 one
Bore brush on a Dewey coated rod for a few scrubbing passes. Then a patch or three until mostly clean. Then several passes with the Boresnake once the main dirt has been removed. Viola'.
Try the position for the .22
Putting it next to .25 is probably a typo. I've never had any problems with the Otis kits other than people losing parts out of mine, or forgetting they belonged to me.
I bought an Otis Deluxe Law Enforcement Cleaning kit and it has been nothing but a complete nightmare using it with my AR. The kit itself has a lot of components and for that I really like it, but using their flexible wire rod with their dreadful patches was less than desirable. Here's what went wrong.
1. For starters their darn patches are impossible to pinch/get small enough to fit through the bore of my 5.56mm AR15. Every single attempt produced a patch that was more like a "fat nub" at the slotted tip and not even close to fitting. If you attempt to make a patch by referencing the 5.56mm position on the patch according to the arrow in the photo of the included instruction manual, it creates a patch that is too big.
2. After the first slot is used the patch completely falls apart because pulling it through the slotted tip causes the patch to fray. Using them six times doesn't seem possible, at least in terms of how mine looked after a single use.
3. Here's the kicker! As I was pulling a patch through the bore, it TORE FROM THE SLOTTED TIP AND LEFT ITSELF INSIDE THE BORE! What a &%$#@! nightmare. The kit includes a "obstruction remover" but it was impossible to use in this case because the cable did nothing but bend. Needless to say the flexible cable and obstruction remover didn't get the stuck patch out. I had to resort to an 20 year old Outer's aluminum cleaning kit rod made for a .257 Roberts caliber. I got it out with that, but I knowing my luck I probably damaged my chrome bore.
I already own the kit so I had better figure out a way to get this thing to work for me especially the patches and clearing stuck patches, etc. Anyone have a suggestion outside of the Otis instructional videos on youtube (which by the way make it look too easy)?
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u78/unreal030_/you_re-doing-it-wrong.jpg
Seriously, it's not that hard. I've used my OTIS kit on and off for a few years now. Once you get the hang of it, it's simple. Now you just have to get the hang of it. ;)
It should not replace your one-piece rod, but rather IMHO it's something you can throw in your bugout bag for a pretty doggone decent cleaning kit under non-"back-at-home" circumstances.
I've used only the Otis kits for all my rifles for several years. I don't use rods anymore at all, except to scrub out a filthy M1 bore. I also only use the standard Otis patches with the Otis cables. Never a problem.
Skip
Failure2Stop
11-16-08, 14:11
I haven't had any problems with the Otis Kit, and most of my buddies think they are the cat's meow. I think that they are acceptable, and use them pretty often when not doing a detailed cleaning (which has become more then infrequent :eek:).
I still keep three or four sections of GI rod (that sounds really ghey) in my pack in case of an obstructed bore or torn case rim.
BORESNAKE:
How does the boresnake work? Do you soak it in solvent and then run it thorugh the bore? Thanks.
You never ever try pulling a dry Boresnake through your bbl. Trust me you don't want it stuck half way through your bbl.
I soak mine in Breakfree CLP and it never gets stuck. But I really hardly use it unless at range or where I don't have my sweet J Dewey coated Rod.;)
Jay Cunningham
11-16-08, 15:19
I haven't had any problems with the Otis Kit, and most of my buddies think they are the cat's meow. I think that they are acceptable, and use them pretty often when not doing a detailed cleaning (which has become more then infrequent :eek:).
I still keep three or four sections of GI rod (that sounds really ghey) in my pack in case of an obstructed bore or torn case rim.
lol
The sectional rod is good to have for unexpected stuck stuff.
I've never had a problem with my Otis kit. I do need to get a sectional rod to travel with, though. Incidentally the only time I've ever gotten a patch stuck was with a regular rod.
I typically use the boresnake first, and then finish up with the Otis kit since it's easier to tell when it's clean. I also made a makeshift pistol patch puller out of t-shirt pieces and knotted paracord when I forgot my kit, once ;)
Otis Kits shouldn't be kicking your ass this bad. I like them; they work.
As far as a bore snake goes, I use them on chrome lined barrels because lets face it- it doesn't need to shine. I would only use them in a precision barrel if it was an emergency of some sort...using a bore snake is like wiping your ass with dirty toilet paper.
Cagemonkey
11-16-08, 19:23
Dave L. I agree with what you say. I especially like the part about wiping with dirty toilet paper. Got a good laugh out of it. Good luck and stay safe.
You have to be careful of how big of a knot you make with the otis patches. I got one stuck the first time I used an otis kit. To get it out, I had to tie the cable in a knot around a post and pull on the upper's carry handle.
I've heard stories of the .22 boresnake breaking (on TOS) and getting stuck in AR barrels. Mine is very tight, so I don't normally use it. I love boresnakes for pistols, tho, and my AK. I have 4 different calibers of them.
I was given one of the Otis kits. Played with it a bit and then tossed it back into the cabinet where it remains. Playing origami with patches just didn't appeal. I'll stay with the old milspec rod or a Dewey with a guide.
JFS/Booniepacker makes a very small flex rod setup for field cleaning for a fraction of the price. For a pullthrough I just use a piece of .060 weedwhacker line. It doesn't get much cheaper or lighter than that.
I saw Otis' booth at the NRA exhibits in '06. They sure know how to promote themselves and their product, but IMHO it's overrated. There seem to be more cleaning-related products for sale than women's cosmetics sometimes. :p
I bought an Otis Deluxe Law Enforcement Cleaning kit and it has been nothing but a complete nightmare using it with my AR. The kit itself has a lot of components and for that I really like it, but using their flexible wire rod with their dreadful patches was less than desirable. Here's what went wrong.
1. For starters their darn patches are impossible to pinch/get small enough to fit through the bore of my 5.56mm AR15. Every single attempt produced a patch that was more like a "fat nub" at the slotted tip and not even close to fitting. If you attempt to make a patch by referencing the 5.56mm position on the patch according to the arrow in the photo of the included instruction manual, it creates a patch that is too big.
2. After the first slot is used the patch completely falls apart because pulling it through the slotted tip causes the patch to fray. Using them six times doesn't seem possible, at least in terms of how mine looked after a single use.
3. Here's the kicker! As I was pulling a patch through the bore, it TORE FROM THE SLOTTED TIP AND LEFT ITSELF INSIDE THE BORE! What a &%$#@! nightmare. The kit includes a "obstruction remover" but it was impossible to use in this case because the cable did nothing but bend. Needless to say the flexible cable and obstruction remover didn't get the stuck patch out. I had to resort to an 20 year old Outer's aluminum cleaning kit rod made for a .257 Roberts caliber. I got it out with that, but I knowing my luck I probably damaged my chrome bore.
I already own the kit so I had better figure out a way to get this thing to work for me especially the patches and clearing stuck patches, etc. Anyone have a suggestion outside of the Otis instructional videos on youtube (which by the way make it look too easy)?
I have been using my OTIS kit for years and never had a problem. Though I have also started using boresnakes and have developed a liking to them as well.
I haven't had any problems with the Otis Kit, and most of my buddies think they are the cat's meow. I think that they are acceptable, and use them pretty often when not doing a detailed cleaning (which has become more then infrequent :eek:).
I still keep three or four sections of GI rod (that sounds really ghey) in my pack in case of an obstructed bore or torn case rim.
Meow:D
I was given one of the Otis kits. Played with it a bit and then tossed it back into the cabinet where it remains. Playing origami with patches just didn't appeal. I'll stay with the old milspec rod or a Dewey with a guide.
JFS/Booniepacker makes a very small flex rod setup for field cleaning for a fraction of the price. For a pullthrough I just use a piece of .060 weedwhacker line. It doesn't get much cheaper or lighter than that.
I saw Otis' booth at the NRA exhibits in '06. They sure know how to promote themselves and their product, but IMHO it's overrated. There seem to be more cleaning-related products for sale than women's cosmetics sometimes. :p
Just make sure that barb you make on the end doesn't break---especially when it's half way through a new .22 match barrel on your 10-22!
...that's some funny shit...http://emoticons4u.com/smoking/rauch06.gif
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.