Looking for a cleaning kit for your 9mm gun?
You probably already know that cleaning is an important part of maintaining your gun. Cleaning prevents malfunctions and ensures that the gun stays in top working condition for as long as possible.
You probably even know that a cleaning kit is the easiest way to get the cleaning supplies you need in a single convenient package.
What you may not be sure of is which cleaning kit you should get. Fortunately for you, that’s where we come in.
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about 9mm cleaning kits, from what you should expect them to include to the different types and how to choose the right one. And yes, we’ll of course recommend a few of our favorite 9mm cleaning kits too.
Now let’s get started.
Table Of Contents
Our Best 9mm Cleaning Kits
- Real Avid Gun Boss Pro Handgun Cleaning Kit (Our Top Pick)
- UTG 9mm Pistol Cleaning Kit (Best Budget)
- Otis Technology 9mm Pistol Cleaning Kit (Best High End)
- Allen Company Ruger Universal Handgun Cleaning Kit
- Hoppe’s No. 9 Cleaning Kit With Aluminum Rod, 9mm Pistol
What Are 9mm Cleaning Kits?
At a minimum, 9mm cleaning kits will almost always have a cleaning rod, a bore brush, a slotted tip, and at least a few cleaning patches. They often also contain a bore mop and jag. They may also contain other things, like detailing tools, and additional bore brush in a different material, and other items.
They generally do not include consumable cleaning supplies other than the cleaning patches, such as lubricant or gun cleaning solvent. They also typically won’t include a cleaning cloth for wiping down the outside of the gun, though it’s generally a good idea to have one.
9mm cleaning kits are typically intended for use with handguns, so if you’re looking for something for a 9mm pistol caliber carbine (PCC) you’ll want to check that the cleaning rod is long enough. If not, you’ll need to buy a different kit or buy a separate longer cleaning rod.
How Do 9mm Cleaning Kits Work?
You’ll use your 9mm cleaning kit is pretty much the same way you’d use any other cleaning kit.
Start by using the cleaning rod and a patch to apply solvent or CLP along the length of the bore. You may need to let it sit to break down any fouling.
Then use the bore brush to clean it. You’ll want to clean going in the direction from breech to muzzle if possible to protect the muzzle from damage. If you’re using a multi-caliber cleaning kit, be sure to select the correctly-sized bore brush.
Use a new cleaning patch to remove the gunk that you’ve loosened then send another fresh cleaning patch through the barrel. If it doesn’t come clean, switch back to the brush. Repeat this process until the patch is still clean after it goes through the barrel.
Follow up with a cleaning patch of protectant or CLP.
If you’re doing a deep clean, go ahead and clean the action, but your cleaning kit may or may not come with the supplies needed to do so.
Either way, finish up by using a cleaning cloth to wipe down the outside of the firearm.
What Are The Different Types Of 9mm Cleaning Kits?
Cleaning kits can be 9mm specific or a universal gun cleaning kit. A universal gun cleaning kit will include supplies for additional calibers other than 9mm. Universal cleaning kits can be universal for handguns, in which case they include other handgun calibers, or include rifle and/or shotgun calibers as well as handgun calibers.
Any of these styles is fine as long as it has the 9mm cleaning supplies you need. If you have a larger gun collection, a more universal kit may be the way to go so you have all of your cleaning supplies in one place.
If you have a smaller collection, however, using a more caliber limited kit will make sure you’re not spending money or using up space for gun cleaning supplies in calibers you don’t need.
In addition, there are also cleaning kits that use bore snakes instead of cleaning rods and bore brushes. Bore snakes are good for quick cleanings but you’ll need a cleaning rod for deep cleanings, so all of the 9mm cleaning kits we’re mentioning here use cleaning rods.
If you’re looking for a bore snake, check out the Best Boresnakes to Clean Your Guns.
What Do You Look For In The Best 9mm Cleaning Kit?
First and foremost, when choosing a 9mm cleaning kit you need to look at the quality of the items included. Make sure that all of the pieces included are made from durable materials. Make sure that they’re designed in a way that makes them effective for doing their job.
Also, consider what pieces the cleaning kit includes and how willing you are to buy other cleaning items separately.
If you want it to be a one-and-done kind of process, you’ll want to make sure the cleaning kit has everything you need. On the other hand, if you want to be able to do more customization or just don’t mind having to buy some things separately, you can go with a kit that’s just the basics.
Most, but not all, cleaning kits come with a case. If you’re already planning to transfer the supplies into another container, you don’t need to think about the case so much. If you’d like to be able to use the case the kit comes with, there are a few things to think about.
Is the case durable? Does it keep cleaning supplies orderly and accessible while cleaning? Does it have room for adding additional cleaning items?
If your case doesn’t provide much extra room, you may also want to consider putting it inside of a larger container along with the rest of your cleaning supplies.
Best 9mm Cleaning Kits Reviewed
Now let’s get to the kits.
1. Real Avid Gun Boss Pro Handgun Cleaning Kit (Our Top Pick)
Our overall top pick is the Real Avid Gun Boss Pro Handgun Cleaning Kit. It’s a multi-caliber cleaning kit with phosphor bronze brushes and jags for .22 to .45 ACP handguns.
The multi-functional T-handle makes it easy to swivel the cleaning rod and can be used as a detailing handle thanks to the threaded receiver. The kit also includes a 2 piece brass rod, small and large slotted tips, 25 cleaning patches, and a case.
Pros
- The sturdy case has a pegboard hole and a kickstand
- Both slotted tips, which are best for pulling solvent through your bore, and jags, which are best for using cleaning patches to remove fouling and apply protective oil
- Multiple calibers
Cons
- Unnecessary pieces if you don’t need anything other than 9mm
- Not much room for additional items
Buy The Real Avid Gun Boss Pro Handgun Cleaning Kit On Amazon
2. UTG 9mm Pistol Cleaning Kit (Best Budget)
For an affordable, compact gun cleaning kit, it’s hard to top the UTG 9mm Pistol Cleaning Kit.
It includes a copper cleaning rod, copper slotted tip, cotton bore mop, and two bore brushes, one with bronze bristles and one with nylon bristles, all in a small case. It’s certainly not a complete cleaning kit, but it’s a good option for tossing in your range bag for a quick clean before you pack your gun up.
Pros
- Affordable pricing
- Cotton bore mop makes it easy to swab the inside of the bore to remove any excess cleaning products
- Two different bore brushes
Cons
- No patches
- Not detailing tools
Buy The UTG 9mm Pistol Cleaning Kit On Amazon
3. Otis Technology 9mm Pistol Cleaning Kit (Best High End)
The Otis Technology 9mm Pistol Cleaning Kit is more expensive, but it’s also the most thorough cleaning kit on this list.
In addition to the basic attachments like a bore brush, bore mop, and slotted tip, the kit also includes a bunch of extra useful attachments like cleaning brushes, picks, a scraper, obstruction removers, and a pin punch.
All attachments can be used with either the Memory-Flex cleaning cable or the rod handle.
The kit also includes extras like a bottle of CLP, a T-handle, a chamber flag, cleaning patches, and the clamshell case.
Pros
- Compact despite the many pieces
- Memory-Flex cleaning cable allows for thorough bore cleaning without removing the barrel or risking damage to the muzzle
- Comes with a lot of useful extras
Cons
- Expensive
- Not a ton of room for adding extras of your own
Buy The Otis Technology 9mm Pistol Cleaning Kit On Amazon
4. Allen Company Ruger Universal Handgun Cleaning Kit
The Allen Company Ruger Universal Handgun Cleaning Kit is great if your 9mm is just one in a collection of handguns. It includes parts for cleaning handguns in .380 ACP, .357 Magnum, .38 Special, 9mm, 10mm, .40 caliber, .44 Magnum, and .45 ACP.
It includes the basics like a cleaning rod, bore brushes, jags, bore mops, cleaning patches, and a slotted tip and adapter. One other thing it has the most cleaning kits don’t is a muzzle guard, which is great since you can’t usually clean a pistol barrel from breech to muzzle with a cleaning rod without removing the barrel entirely.
Pros
- Pieces for cleaning a range of handgun calibers
- Comes with a muzzle guard
- An excellent value for the versatility and number of pieces included
Cons
- Unnecessary pieces if you don’t need anything other than 9mm
Buy The Allen Company Ruger Universal Handgun Cleaning Kit On Amazon
5. Hoppe’s No. 9 Cleaning Kit With Aluminum Rod, 9mm Pistol
The Hoppe’s No. 9 Cleaning Kit with Aluminum Rod for 9mm pistols is another great affordable cleaning kit. It includes your basic cleaning supplies, like a cleaning rod, bore brush, slotted tip, jag, and cleaning patches. However, it also includes Gun Bore Cleaner and Lubricating Oil, so it’s actually ready to use right out of the box.
Everything comes in a plastic case with a tray to keep things organized. The tray is pretty flimsy though and boxes already keep the patches and tips orderly, so I suggest removing the tray to make more space for other items.
Pros
- No unnecessary extra pieces
- Case leaves plenty of room for your other cleaning items
- Comes with Hoppe’s Gun Bore Cleaner and Hoppe’s Lubricating Oil
Cons
- The tray inside the case is not very sturdy, but removing it provides a lot of room for extras while boxes keep patches and cleaning rod tips organized
- No detailing tools
Buy The Hoppe’s No. 9 Cleaning Kit With Aluminum Rod, 9mm Pistol On Amazon
Final Thoughts On 9mm Cleaning Kits
Those are our top picks for the best 9mm cleaning kits. They’re all great options, so just choose the one that best fits your needs and budget.
Then actually use it! Cleaning is essential for keeping your gun in the best possible condition so it continues to be reliable for decades to come.
And don’t forget to stock up on the important consumable supplies like gun cleaning patches, gun cleaning solvent, and gun oil so you always have them when you need them. If you’re not sure what to get, the guides we’ve just linked to will help you make your decision.