Customer Reviews

Otis M16 Soft Pack Cleaning System

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've heard so many great things about OTIS kits that I finally made up my mind to get one. I needed tools to clean my new S&W M&P15 anyway, so I figured I might as well buy one.

This kit contains almost everything you need to clean your rifle. I was disappointed when several of the tools I hoped to receive were not included; instead they are marketed as 'optional' per a leaflet in the manual. This comes with the patch jags, brushes, pull-through cable, bore inspector (piece of translucent plastic), patches, and a small bottle of Otis CLP. It is all nicely packaged in a heavy canvas zip-up that is easily mounted via belt-loop on the back. However, I was really hoping to have received the pin punches, brass carbon scraper, and chamber brush. For $40, these things should have been included in my opinion... especially because there are very viable 'Otis' knock-offs that contain what this kit does for about half the price!

Long story short, if you want the Otis name or don't feel you need the additional accessories, this is a really convenient little kit... but you will be paying a premium for it. In retrospect, I probably should have just spent the $10 additional to get the more robust 'Deluxe' kit that Otis markets, as it (probably) includes many more of the attachments and tools that I was hoping for!

I struggled for several weeks after buying my first AR-15 (Smith and Wesson M&P 15), trying to figure out WHAT I needed to properly clean my rifle. I looked at countless kits, read countless forum posts and how-to-guides. I eventually decided that getting a kit was NOT the way to go, and that it was better to buy individual pieces, in order to get higher quality parts, and only what you needed.
I priced up a full shopping cart on Amazon, featuring a carbon fiber, single piece cleaning rod, jag, chamber and bore brushes, etc. Then I looked at the total cost, and choked a bit. I did some more research, and realized there were STILL other things I needed as well.
After another day of playing with items and looking at totals, I realized that getting a well stocked kit may not be the worst way to start building a cleaning a collection. I was worried about spending money on superfluous parts that come with a lot of kits, and I was worried about getting lower quality parts that often come with kits. This kit, I can confidently say, mostly avoids both of those problems.
I bought this kit, plus the Otis brass scraper bit (complete with two brass rods, several scrapers, brushes, and picks), a 100-pack of Otis patches, Hoppe's Elite solvent, and Hoppe's gun grease (as well as some automatic transmission fluid from the local Advanced Auto store), and I have everything I need to clean and lube my rifle thoroughly, safely, and for much cheaper.
The kit comes with enough to get you started, but I'd REALLY recommend getting the Otis scrapper kit and some more patches. This has around 10 patches included with it. They say you can use them six times each . . . I've found that you can use them 2 - 4 times, depending on if it's your first pass through the barrel or not.
The kit avoids extra crap you don't need EXCEPT the orange flag/chamber obstruction (the orange plastic thing you see in the pictures) and an extra slotted tip (for attaching patches) and an extra obstruction remover / t-handle (for pushing through the barrel and then pulling out the patch).
The parts are all good to high quality. I wish the chamber brush were built like other chamber brushes, with the thinner head and a large base of bristles for the star lugs. Instead, it's a uniform size that has to compromise cleaning both. The bore brush is AOK. I really like the cleaning "rods," as they are flexible and all one piece, helping reduce the risk that you'll scrape or ruin your rifling in your barrel as you pass through it. In that sense, you get the benefit of an expensive carbon one-piece cleaning rod, and the easy of use of a bore snake, all for less money than either.
While this kit may not be as good as buying more expensive parts individually and making your own, it's a great place to start if you are looking to build a new cleaning kit for a new rifle, or need cleaning products on the go (it all fits really nicely in the small case provided). If you are looking to get cleaning supplies for your AR, and don't know where to start, get this, the Otis scraper kit, some extra patches, and cleaner and lubricant, and you'll be good to go. It will be quite some time before I feel like I need anything else to clean even the toughest parts of my rifle.

I have never used an Otis Cleaning System before but now that i have I really like it. I got this one for my bail out bag because it is so small but now that I have this one I am saving up for a full size kit that I can use on a regular basis.

I will take this with me to the range every time I go. You never know when you will need a quick clean. Instead of taking out your big cleaning kit just take this with you. Granted the wire will not be as nice as using a rod but hey, it is designed to be compact and it works great

Otis M16 Soft Pack Cleaning System is very useful at the range or other places when you need to give your Rifle a cleaning. It is also useful to remove stuck brass in chamber.....recommend to anyone.

has everything you need except chamber brush. odd that they didn't include on being a m16 cleaning kit and all. but, never the less a a good product.
i bought it along with Otis M-16 Chamber Brush and it has help up nice under heavy use.

I hadn't used the flexible pull through cleaners before, but I like it. I also like that you can use the patches 6 times each. Pretty basic kit, though. Packs up well.

I've dispensed with steel rods for cleaning barrels because rods present a risk for damaging barrels, plus they are cumbersome. OTIS presents a perfect way to safety and properly clean bores, more importantly, it presents a better method in cleaning a barrel. The OTIS system is easier to transport, a cleaning system in a little pack, it can be put in a hunting back pack. You can't beat OTIS, I swear by it.