Best gun snakes according to redditors

Congrats and welcome to the Mauser club! You picked a decent rifle for your first. This one's been refinished, but I have yet to see a 1916 in original condition that doesn't look like it was dug up out of a mud puddle, and this is a shooter, so that's probably for the best.


So before you buy anything else, you'll want to get your range kit together, starting with a cleaning kit. This youtuber has the most in depth range kit video I've seen, but his setup is geared towards black powder rifles.


For a cleaning kit, you'll want patches, a bore snake, and a cleaning rod. I suggest going to Walmart for these to start. You will also probably want a cleaning solvent with a copper solvent in it.


You'll also want a gunsmith's screwdriver kit. These have a different bit that's meant to prevent the screws from stripping out.


For a shooting rest, I really like how compact the rest from that video.


For a spotting scope, you can spend hundreds of dollars on a piece of shit. Something like this celestron is what I use. A pure refractory telescope in that price range won't work very well unless it's incredibly sunny.


If you want to get into reloading, the cheapest and most space efficient way is with the Lee hand press. You would still need a case trimmer, dies, and some other stuff. It takes some research to figure out exactly what you want.


And finally, you'll want to figure out how to carry all this stuff as efficiently as possible. There is a tendency to have all kinds of cases and stuff you have to drag out to the range. The best thing you can do is to figure out how to get all this stuff in a range dedicated backpack, which is why I linked the video.


I also recommend that channel. He's not the easiest to watch, but I have yet to find a channel that is as thorough or as knowledgeable in one rifle as this gentleman. His favorite, as far as I can tell, is the P53 enfield.

Not sure if it's the best price around but here's some stuff I've found:

Hoppes #9

SWFA scope, full price though

100 round ammo boxes

shooting steel

tripod target

Harris Bipod

bore snakes

and knives of course

That's pretty expensive for the three of them.

9mm for 3$:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H9X9N7M/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1


223 for 2.45:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GWZ56U6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

12GA for 6$:
https://www.amazon.com/WMN-TRULYSTEP-Cleaner-Caliber-Shotgun-Cleaning/dp/B00YYUJ40Y/ref=pd_sim_200_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00YYUJ440&pd_rd_r=299WKHNCG4FC3SYC0CMB&pd_rd_w=QG8GY&pd_rd_wg=qCVJD&refRID=299WKHNCG4FC3SYC0CMB&th=1&psc=1

All of these have free shipping, they just make take a week or so. You can definitely find the 12GA one cheaper as well, but the one I bought is OOS right now so I couldn't link it.

My advice? Go to a range that has as many of these on rental as you can find, and give them all a test drive. Then pick whichever one feels best for you. I'd say they're all solid firearms, and you'd be good with any of them from a pure quality perspective.

edit to answer the last question:

> Also, what should I buy with the pistol? Cleaning tools, oil, etc...

Extra magazines...always recommended. As for cleaning tools and oil, anything off the shelf will be fine. I personally like a bore snake for cleaning the barrel and chamber, a nylon and brass bristle brush (toothbrush style) for everything else, and a cotton rag (old T-shirt). If you don't get the bore snake, you'll probably want a rod/wire with an appropriately sized bore brush and the other adapter that allows you to run a cotton patch down the barrel.

Whoever invented these is a genius. I have not used a rod and brush combo since I got those for all of the calibers that I shoot.

Maybe parts of it, depends what's in the kit.

Any bore brush / bore snake /chamber brush / etc will be too small.

I'm a big fan of bore snakes, they're cheap and work well: https://amazon.com/Nuoya001-Cleaning-cleaner-7-62MM-Pistol/dp/B00GMXASGA

Here's some of the things that are good to have on hand. A lot of it is newer since I'm replacing things I did not care for. Most, if not all, can be found on Amazon. Its a little list but hardly scratches the surface of crap that you can accumulate.

For shooting:

• Eye pro - Best to have a case and alternate lenses are nice for indoor and outdoor range time. The most basic of eyewear will run you $20+ at ranges so get it ahead of time.
  
  
• Indoor ear pro - Same as eye pro... These ran me $35+tax when I decided to double up on my outdoor ear pro at the range. Plenty comfortable!
  
  
• Outdoor ear pro - Muffs can be hot outside, especially in the middle of summer, but luckily you often won't need to same level of protection. It can also be nice if your muffs get in the way of a good cheek weld on a stock. I've tried regular ear plugs and the Surefire plugs but nothing beats something form-fitted to your ear especially for marathon shooting events. Couple with muffs for more protection. These are still pretty new to me but I'm happy with them so far. Easy to form and make a noticeable after a while.
  
  
• Targets - Splatter targets are amazing when youre working on marksmanship. You can easily see your hits from a distance and the contrast makes it easier for spotters to see your latest shot if you're looking through glass. These will also run you a significant premium if you buy at the range. Splatterburst targets are cheaper than Dirty Bird and, IMHO, more visible in indoor (darker) ranges. They're a great size up close for handguns and out to 70-100 yards for rifles. For plinking, just get the cheapest paper targets the range offers. You likely won't see your hits from a distance but, at that point, you probably don't really care.
  
  
  Cleaning:
  
  
• Some good solvent - You can spend a long time scraping carbon. Good solvent will let you wipe it off with a rag. Breakfree CLP, in my experience, leads to more of the former.
  
  
• Some lubricant - Opinions vary from person to person. I used to use Breakfree CLP as a lubricant all the time but there were certain sources indicating that it, like Frog-lube, is less than ideal in different ways. Slip won out among the bunches but I honestly couldn't tell you why. It was something regarding organic/synthetic compositions and temperatures coupled with anecdotal shit. Good one to Google if you're interested.
  
  
• Some brushes - Good for detail cleaning that a rag wont handle. White brush is also fantastic for clearing crap out of the seams of an XBox controller.
  
  
• Cleaning kit - I don't use it as much since I tried boresnakes but there are some good tools in here. Its compact since you use a cable to pull brushes but that means its no good for clearing jams. I'd get it again if I felt I needed a full kit but, again, I rarely use it.
  
  
• Boresnakes - I remember people hating these (again, don't remember why) so I ignored them for the longest time. They're compact and make cleaning your barrel a breeze... Epic-ly better than running a small patch down your barrel. Almost entirely replaced my cleaning kit for most post-range cleaning. They have a small wire brush portion which you can floss back and forth with shorter barrels, too. Coupled with a good solvent, these fucking rock.
  
  
• Nylon brushes - If you end up needing to run brushes down your barrel, it's probably good to not scratch the shit out of it. This was an impulsive buy but I don't regret giving Otis another $9 for their awesome products.
  
  
  Everything else:
  
  
• Thread locker - If you get a collection going, there's a good chance you'll be playing with screws quite a bit. Lock down scope rings, set screws on sights, etc.
  
  
• Anti-Seize - Completely necessary if you have multiple chokes for a shotgun and/or ever intend to use them.

Get a bore snake, it will save you quite a bit of time. Also avoid pistol grips with no stock, unless you value style over effectiveness.

Buy yourself a decent bolt action .22 or a shotgun, a good 3-5" fixed blade knife, a blaze orange hat or vest, and a decent little first aid kit (don't forget a tourniquet).


Step 1: Take a hunters safety/education class.

Some states have classes exclusively for adults. This will give you some basic, but good info on gun/bow safety and state laws pertaining to hunting. In addition, they should have pamphlets that will outline the different hunting seasons, game animals, invasive species, and state/federal hunting areas.

These classes might also help you meet some more experienced folks who could bring you along or offer some valuable advice.


Step 2: Learn how to use your gear.

Your ability with your gear can mean the difference between success and failure on the hunt--and in some cases life and death (especially pertaining to your med kit).

Let's start with the rifle. I like bolt action .22's. You can get a very accurate gun and learn how to use it for very little money. Using a bolt action .22 with iron sights forces the shooter to learn the fundamentals of marksmanship, building a solid foundation for the future.

I like the Savage MkII and the Ruger American.

With either rifle I'd recommend adding a peep sight and a regular 2 point sling.
Both are accurate and inexpensive rifles that you can shoot day in and day out for years.

You should be able to find a range with at least 50 yards to sight in (aka zero) your rifle. If you need guidance here, there are plenty of online resources, however, you'd do better to ask an experienced shooter for a hand. Be sure to use the same ammo for zero and hunting.

For shotguns you can't beat the versatility of a Remington 870 or Mossberg 500. Get either gun in 12 or 20 gauge. The beauty of these two is that you are always a simple barrel change away from being able to shoot birdshot (birds small game) or slugs (everything else).

With a good .22 and a good shotgun, you should be able to hunt most wild game in North America. There are better calibers and rifles for specific hunting applications but those two will do it all.

What I don't recommend for hunting rifles/shotguns and why:

1 I don't like scopes (at first). Forcing yourself to learn on iron sights means you develop a firm foundation in the fundamentals. I remember wanting a scope for my .22 so bad, so my dad made me a deal. I had to kill 100 red squirrels or starlings and 10 groundhogs before he'd let me add a scope. It took me the better part of a summer to accomplish this but I walked away from that summer being able to put lead on just about anything within 150 yards of that little rifle.

2 I don't like autoloaders (at first). Simply because shooting a bolt gun means you have one, maybe two shots to get the job done. You learn to make ever shot count. Once you are proficient, go wild.

3 I don't like tactical/tacticool rifles for beginners or really hunting for that matter. They are usuallly auto loaders (see #2), heavier, and more expensive. You don't feel so bad taking your $230 Savage through brambles, tripping over roots and dropping it, or leaning it up against a rusty fence post. If you don't trust me, look at what the professional hunters use.

Extras: buy a quality, brass rod cleaning kit and some decent gun oil (or CLP) for deep cleans. Keep a [Bore Snake](.22 .223 .25 CAL Bore Snake Cleaner Kit Cord Rope Brass https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JKSNVTK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_XRfGzbN7P8Z58) in an extra pocket for the times you get dirt or debris in the barrel.


Get yourself a good knife. I always have my pocket knife (a CRKT M21-02G) and a skinner when I'm hunting.

For a pocket knife use what suits you. For a skinner I really like knives like the Schrade Old Timer 158 for general skinning and this blade from Ontario Knife.

You also need a good way to keep your knives sharp. I've had a lot of luck with the. [Lansky System](Lansky Deluxe 5-Stone Sharpening System https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000B8IEA4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_85fGzbBRJDH6K).


Last, please get yourself a decent med kit. Too many people have died in the woods due to a knife accident or gun accident that could have been easily treated.

You can easily make yourself a basic kit or buy one like [this](Ever Ready First Aid Meditac Tactical Trauma IFAK Kit with Trauma Pack Quickclot and Israeli Bandage in Molle Pouch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GAAMS2M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_iagGzb76NGQZJ) pre-made.

This kit has everything you need except for a tourniquet like [this](Tourniquet - (Black) Recon Medical Gen 3 Mil-Spec Kevlar Metal Windlass Aluminum Lightweight First Aid Tactical Swat Medic Pre-Hospital Life Saving Hemorrhage Control Registration Card (1 Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ETMVQOI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fcgGzbSAMKAWS) and an Israeli Bandage like [this](Ever Ready Bandage Battle Dressing First Aid Compression Bandage, 6 Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003DPVERM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_1cgGzb9C9H5WP).

You can learn to use all this stuff over the course of an hour via YouTube. You would do better to find a nurse, paramedic, or Navy Corpsman to give you a crash course in the use of the contents of your IFAK. If you can find a Corpsman, they are probably the best for this kind of thing. Lots of good tips and tricks for field use...plus you can pay them in beer.

Don't forget to add extras like any medication you might need, chapstick, Bayer aspirin (good for headaches and heart attacks), a little tube of antibacterial ointment, and a couple fabric bandages.

If you won't carry this on your person, keep it in your vehicle.

For good practice I like squirrel and rabbit hunting. Makes you consider a lot about safety, a lot about taking only the good shots, plus they are easy to clean and good to eat.


Last learn how to use what you kill.

If you are hunting varmits, that is one thing. I shoot invasive species (when legal), and varmits that are causing a nuisance and that is reason enough for me.

If you are hunting anything else for exclusively for sport, please use it. You can use some of the books referenced earlier to learn about skinning and field dressing. I like to watch shows like Meat Eater, to learn better ways to use the meat I've harvested. Once you get into cooking game meat, you will wonder why you ever went to the store for meat.

Just don't forget that hunting is about stewardship and learning. It's a lifelong pursuit that is very rewarding.

Always be safe, always be ethical, always be responsible, always have fun.

Edit: If you ever find yourself in south central or southwest Michigan, I can help you with anything I've outlined above. I'm a lifelong hunter, a lifelong shooter, a small arms instructor in the military, a certified combat lifesaver, and a decent game cook.

He's right about the bore snake definitely check that out. You can find them on Amazon for a better price than you see in stores/online

http://www.amazon.com/Hoppes-24011-BoreSnake-Cleaner-22--223/dp/B0000C50K3/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415661560&sr=8-1&keywords=bore+snake

You can get super cheap boresnakes here. I have 2 and they work fine. They do ship from China though so it takes a little to get here.

I picked up a 30 cal bore snake, worked wonders definitely better than a cleaning rod IMO ! as for oil i use CLP cheap and effective i used it in iraq on all my weapons and never had a problem.

http://www.amazon.com/Break-Free-Cleaner-Lubricant-Preservative-Squeeze/dp/B0050GW7KU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405864235&sr=8-1&keywords=clp

http://www.amazon.com/Cleaning-Green-Snake-7-62MM-Pistol/dp/B00GMXASGA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405864314&sr=8-1&keywords=bore+snake+30+cal

http://www.amazon.com/M-Pro-Sided-Tactical-Cleaning-Black/dp/B002CTCFTQ/ref=sr_1_48?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1410762717&sr=1-48&keywords=cleaning+kit

http://www.amazon.com/Hoppes-BoreSnake-Cleaner-Choose-Caliber/dp/B004DPJPV8/ref=pd_sim_sg_10?ie=UTF8&refRID=05M04WYT0TVAT23E7G6E

http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-Micro-Tactical-Folder/dp/B006YBW82C/ref=sr_1_5?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1410763379&sr=1-5&keywords=cold+steel+lawman

http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-American-Lawman-Handle/dp/B0015U73I6/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=1-1&keywords=cold+steel+law+man

http://www.amazon.com/Leatherman-831548-Rebar-w-Standard/dp/B005KSWIBQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1410764666&sr=1-2&keywords=leatherman+rebar

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WEG8P0/ref=twister_B007QOEXNI

http://www.amazon.com/Neutron-2C-Flood-Cree-Flashlight/dp/B004UH12W4/ref=sr_1_20?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1410764914&sr=1-20&keywords=thrunite

http://www.amazon.com/Olight-Tactcial-Flashlight-Batteries-Lumentac/dp/B00KANR6KO/ref=sr_1_10?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1410764992&sr=1-10&keywords=olight+m10

http://www.amazon.com/Winchester-Deluxe-Shooters-Bag-Holds/dp/B00EQ7U3KU/ref=sr_1_20?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1410763558&sr=1-20&keywords=range+bag

http://www.amazon.com/TekMat-11-Inch-17-Inch-Handgun-Cleaning/dp/B0036N9A3G/ref=sr_1_5?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=1-5&keywords=gun+mat

http://www.amazon.com/ATD-Tools-8760-Stainless-Magnetic/dp/B000OUZCUE/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1410764144&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=magnet+parts+bowl

Knives, cleaning gear, and flashlights are never unwelcome gifts for gun/weapon nerds. I linked you a bunch of decent tools that would make great gift ideas. Some more affordable than others. Get him a couple really nice things for like 40-50 each or a bunch of little affordable things and toss them in a 20 dollar range bag.

What you have is fine.

I personally use CLP for cleaning and lubrication. I put a very thin layer of Tetra grease on the rails.

One thing I would invest in is a boresnake. They make cleaning the barrel easy as hell.

http://www.amazon.com/Hoppes-BoreSnake-Revolver-Cleaner-Caliber/dp/B004DPGM1O

Is it good enough? Yes. I personally prefer a Bore Snake, some bore cleaner, and Rem Oil.

Link to correct one

Its the one marked 24015 .308, 30-30, .30-06, .300, .303 Caliber, 7.62mm in case that loads weird...

Also, for the love of god please learn what caliber rifle you shoot before you put the wrong cartridge in and injure yourself or someone near you...

Buy a .30 boresnake (https://www.amazon.com/Hoppes-24014-BoreSnake-Cleaner-Caliber/dp/B000H6J72E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485056675&sr=8-1&keywords=rifle%2Bboresnake&th=1&psc=1) for cleaning the barrel instead of using patches and the original cleaning rod.

If you haven't taken the bolt apart once to clean the cosmoline out of the firing pin channel, you definitely need to do that. If the firing pin doesn't move freely when you shake the bolt then it hasn't been cleaned. Punch in "disassemble sks bolt" on Youtube and watch how to do it right, it's not really difficult but it's better to watch it the first time so you don't screw something up.

For storage, you can just keep it in a gun sock. Don't keep it in a case with foam or you risk moisture getting trapped against your rifle and eventually rusting it.

Cleaning kits are not one-size-fits-all. You will need to buy a .17 cleaning kit or boresnake. Just grab a Boresnake (Hoppes' #24010) and be done with it.

My favorite lube/cleaner

https://www.amazon.com/Ballistol-Non-Aerosol-Friendly-Multi-Purpose-Lubricant/dp/B00ZAPMCHE

This isn't a bad little cleaning kit, I keep it in my shotgun bag. Same kit multiple names it's sold under.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072B9PY7G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXP9V3L/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B01LXP9V3L&pd_rd_wg=Xr5wR&pd_rd_r=X1CKHD2DGJVKANW5C6YF&pd_rd_w=HmqzB

I also have a boresnake.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000C50S8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

By no means is this what you have to have. If you look around the Ballistol is highly liked for firearms, it has always worked wonders for me. I always clean my guns everytime I shoot them, personal preference.

Sure it's not melted plastic? I would definitely buy a bore snake and run it through a few times before doing anything else.

one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Hoppes-24035-BoreSnake-Shotgun-Cleaner/dp/B0000C50S8

select 12 GA

Neither. A dry boresnake. Or are we getting our lines crossed?

One of these things.

Go with a Bore Snake. Makes life much easier. My .22 caliber one works fine on my 30-30 and Mosin.

$90 is great compared to the price of new production 7.62x54R.

The price of surplus rounds is about .20 cents a round where as with new production which it's .55 cents a round.

However the rounds I listed are surplus which means they do require you do clean the bolt face after every range trip to prevent the corrosive salts from damaging your gun.

The mosin actually comes with a rod attach to the bottom of the gun for cleaning, but it doesn't go all the way through the barrel. I personally use a bore snake to clean out the barrel of my rifle.

However you don't need to clean out the barrel of your rifle after every range trip with surplus ammo, just the bolt face and surrounding areas

I like the magpul flip up sites.

https://www.magpul.com/firearms-accessories/sights/see-all

A cheap magwell might be nice to see how you like them:

https://armaspec.com/product/magwell-grip/

Lancer mags are nice:

https://lancer-systems.com/awc/advanced-warfighter-magazines/

A red dot is a must have, lots of options and budget ranges, so pick your flavor.

A good trigger is nice, no idea what kind of trigger you like, but the obvious go to are the geissele:

https://geissele.com/rifle-parts/lower-parts/triggers.html

I've become a fan of the boresnake:

https://www.amazon.com/Hoppes-Boresnake-M-16-22-Caliber/dp/B0000C50K3/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1550425188&sr=8-3&keywords=hoppes+bore+snake+223

The strike industry charging handles are nice:

https://www.primaryarms.com/strike-industries-arch-ar15-charging-handle-extended-latch

May want to pick up a Boresnake. They're very helpful.

Alright, basic .22 LR rifle cleaning is really simple.

In general, cleaning a gun can be as easy or as complicated as you want it to be.

Get a Boresnake. Select the .22 caliber one.

Take it with you when you shoot. Once you're done shooting for the day, run the bore snake through the barrel a couple of times (from the breech to the muzzle). This will help get some of the gunk out of the barrel.

If you want to get your barrel cleaner, spray or pour some solvent down the barrel and then run the bore snake through it.

The best way to get a barrel extremely (and unnecessarily) clean is to get something like Montana X-Treme bore solvent, apply some to a cloth patch, and run the patch through the barrel on a cleaning jag with a one piece rod. Let it soak for about 20 minutes, and then maybe run another couple of soaked patched through. Then, run a copper brush through the bore on a one piece cleaning rod a few times (making sure to only go from the breech to the muzzle), and then run another patch through it. The patch should come out blue, from the copper you've scrubbed out. Then, you can soak a patch with some copper solvent and run that through a few times. Let it soak. Scrub the barrel again with a copper brush and then push patches through the barrel until they come out white as fresh snow. Apply a super small amount of oil to a patch and run that through the barrel. Then, one last clean patch. There's literally no reason to clean a barrel that thoroughly, but that is the way to get basically everything out of it.

For detailed cleaning of the bolt and action, watch a youtube video on how to disassemble the bolt assembly. Do that, soak everything in solvent for a few minutes, and then scrub everything that's dirty with a toothbrush until the grime is loosened up. Then, wipe everything off with an old cut up sock or t-shirt. Repeat as needed, until everything is clean. Apply a super light coat of oil to any part that moves or rubs against another part. You may want to apply oil to the surface of the firearm to prevent surface rust.

is this a good bore snake? Are there even bad ones?

Depends if were talking just any normal gun not surplus ammo, I typically put bit of oil down the barrel and run a bore snake through it repeatedly. Works well on a mosin shooting non corrosive.

http://www.amazon.com/Hoppes-24011-BoreSnake-Rifle-Cleaner/dp/B0000C50K3/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382451527&sr=8-1&keywords=bore+snake

As for size a Mosin is 7.62 MM or .297 so a .30-30 or for a .308 round will work. Since 7mm .280 - .270 tend to be to small. Need to make sure any gun powder is removed from the breech, and bolt face using bit of hoppes or oil and a brush, I use a old tooth brush. Then Once a year she gets the strip down deep clean.

Now for corrosive ammo that stuffs a bit more nasty, windex or lots of hoppes, in the reciever, strip the bolt, again cleaned well with windex, hoppes, water or anything to help neutralize the primer corrosive salts. Use my bore brush to help knock any loose powder and primer salts out. Once I think its fairly clean can see down the barrel and no powder residue and my nice rifling, time to oil that girl up. Patches with oil through the bore, rub oil into the breech, bolt, reassemble the bolt and then the yearly tear down regardless of if I've shot corrosive or non. If its going to say sit in the gun safe for extended period of time like winter I might leave a heaver coat of oil on it.

Okay forget the “kit” (pre-made) and build your own. For what you have, this is my suggestion:

Buy a .22 boresnake this will cover your .22, 223, and a few other calibers (like 5.45x39 if you choose to get an AK74 in the future). Use this for a quick clean after a day at the range. You could also pick one up for other calibers as well for a quick clean.

Buy a few one piece cleaning rods . I prefer Dewey one piece brass rods with the handles. Probably a shortish one for your .45 and long shotgun rod for the 12gauge. For the .22 and .223 I’d get a stainless model just because it’s slightly harder to bend with it being such a small diameter.

Next get a jag kit . You will need to purchase the 12gauge jag separately.

Buy some cotton swabs to use with the jags/cleaning rods. I haven’t found any that I’ve been happy with where price & quality meet so just try some that look decent. Maybe someone else will chirp in & help me out here.

You could also grab a few brushes that would thread into your cleaning rods. I never end up using them since I can get most everything out with the jags.

Ballistol this is the best (obviously this is a personal opinion but I love the stuff).

A few old toothbrushes for any nasty grim you come across

A big pack of Q-tips (that brand, other brands leave tons of fuzzies )

Old rags

This is my routine: run a cotton swab soaked in Ballistol down the barrel & let soak -> wipe off any major dirt & debris with an old rag then with Q-tips & toothbrush if necessary (break down firearms far as needed for adequate cleaning) -> clean dirty areas with a Ballistol soaked Q-tip then follow up with dry Q-tips and rags -> run two dry cotton swabs down the barrel one after the other -> if last patch comes out clean then that’s done, if not do one wet & two dry again -> if all is well & clean you can reassemble (ensure there is no Q-tip fuzz stuck anywhere) & you’re done.

If this was extremely basic & you are far above this little guide, I am sorry. I did not search for the absolute lowest prices so the links provided are simply a quick reference. Hopefully some of this is helpful

TLDR: Boresnakes, one piece cleaning rods, jags, optional brushes, cotton patches, Ballistol, Q-tips, toothbrush, rags, then I gave my cleaning routine.

I use a viper bore snake, Real Avid bcg tool, Ballistol, Slip 2000, qtips, and old t-shirts.

Your dad may have meant it's been trued up to the receiver to make it shoot straighter. What that means is the gun has been worked on so everything is 100% straight and in line.

It's funny that one of these popped up because I was taking one apart on Monday for gunsmithing school. Granted, that was a straight Savage 99, and yours looks like a newer Savage 99C or F without the witness hole cut out on the left side of the receiver and has a tang safety. Not sure how much different it would be as opposed to the original one. Does that one have a helical magazine inside? I cannot recall.

Either way, if you want to get into the guts of the gun, you're gonna have to unscrew the butt plate, then unscrew the buttstock with a long flathead screw driver, and take it off. This will expose the internals for cleaning. I wouldn't fully disassemble the internals because they can be kind of a bear to put back together if you're inexperienced.

As for cleaning the barrel, since you cannot clean back to front with a cleaning rod (the back of the receiver slopes down so you can't get a straight rod down it), I would use a bore snake in it, like this one here. It'll make cleaning easier and won't damage your rifling.

a Boresnake, too

It had some inside the receiver. The rifles are imported from Russia direct from Saiga and the Izhmash factory so there was a little cosmoline in it. This is the bore snake I use. I use the 22 cal one. It's very tight to run through but works fine.

As far as ammo is concerned, it depends what he shoots - $60 is probably not going to get you much although I'm sure he'd appreciate it.

Ammo can "hamper" full of of cleaning supplies, gun socks & cleaning mats?

e.g.
http://www.amazon.com/Tipton-Polymer-Gun-Cleaning-Picks/dp/B0048KGFHU

http://www.amazon.com/Break-Free-Cleaner-Lubricant-Preservative-Squeeze/dp/B0050GW7KU

http://www.amazon.com/Break-Free-Cleaner-Lubricant-Preservative-Aerosol/dp/B0050GW73C

http://www.amazon.com/Allen-Company-Knit-Gun-Sock/dp/B00014ZY0Q

http://www.amazon.com/Hoppes-24020-BoreSnake-Cleaner-Caliber/dp/B0014VQ6TI

http://www.amazon.com/MTM-AC-11-Ammo-Can/dp/B003ISKM9K

http://www.amazon.com/TekMat-11-Inch-17-Inch-Handgun-Cleaning/dp/B0036N9A3G

http://www.amazon.com/TekMat-12-Inch-36-Inch-Cleaning-Imprint/dp/B0036N474S

Use this every time you go to the range, use it frequently

• Bore snake - Use this every time you go to the range, use it frequently
  
  
• Ballistol or Solvent (Hoppes 9)+oil (Hoppes oil is fine too)
  
  
• Q-Tips
  
  
• Paper towels
  
  Every once in long while, several hundred rounds, go through and do a deep clean to remove copper and whatnot:
  
  
• Brass jags
  
• Patches
  
• Single piece rod. My preference is in the longest length you can get.
  
• Bore guide
  
• Sweets copper solvent
  
  That's it for me.

Storage: Get a cheap plano case and trigger lock on amazon.
Cleaning: Get a bore snake and Hoppes no. 9.