Reproduction cleaning kits

Non-PSA Products AR15 Rifle and Pistol
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A while back I bought one of those cheapie M16-style reproduction cleaning kits because the rod is pretty decent, insofar as it is the right size to fit through a .223 caliber bore with a patch or brush, and the rod is pretty sturdy. Another reason—maybe this is kinda dumb—is because the kit fits in the A2 stock that I put on one of my ARs. I just think that’s pretty cool.

Anyway, I found out that the standard cleaning tips, like patch loop, brush, or cleaning jag, don’t fit on these cheapo kit rods because of the way the threads are made. The reproduction M16 kits in the green bags have recessed threads and the tips have extensions behind the thread and a shoulder.

At first I just thought a “real” M16 rod end was different and that the repro rod was “wrong.” Then I looked at some photos online of what are allegedly surplus or NOS M16 cleaning kits and the tips do look pretty much like the parts in the reproduction kit.

I’m starting to think that genuine M16 kits had this same style tip and that what I think is an old M16 rod end might not be?? No matter because we still learned that an AR -type cleaning kit might not work with the standard cleaning rod ends you get at the hardware store (assuming it’s not a woke hardware store and still has gun stuff. OMG, he used the word “gun” in print, right out in the open where children can see.)

The photo shows the difference that I noticed. The upper rod end is what I assume (perhaps incorrectly) is a real M16 one and it is shown with a standard cleaning tip that fits into it. The lower rod, with the cheap-looking paint, is the reproduction and it is shown with one of its special tips with that funky shoulder.

If you buy a reproduction M16 cleaning kit and decide to supplement it with some extra stuff, such as the nylon brush that I planned to include, you need to check the threads just to be sure the attachment you plan to add will actually work with the rod in the kit. The repro rod I have also has very loose and sloppy threads on the end piece and it’s a bit tricky to get the tip on without cross threading.

I guess I need to research the history of M16 cleaning kits now. :sunglasses:

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I have a kleen bore rod kit.
The small extension like you show on the left of your picture is a standard tool thread pitch. To use the chamber brush (military thread pitch with shoulder like the barrel brush in your image. I need to not use the extension adapter.

The slotted patch holder and all my other brushed fit the short extension.

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The military M16 cleaning kits had 8-36 threads. Commercial products use 8-32 threads.

From Brownell’s cleaning rod set description:

New production of the original, military issue ‘Cleaning Rod, Small Arms’ (NSN #1005-00-089-3994). Designed for the M16/AR-15’s and perfect for range kit or hunting pak. Fold-over handle. SPECS: 8-36 military thread. .204’ (5.2mm) dia. rod. 4 sections, each 7-3/8’ (18.7cm). Overall length, with Jag, 29’ (75.6cm). All parts steel. O.D. parkerized finish. Includes 8-36 to 8-32 adapter.

Brownells sells the 8-36 to 8-32 adapter separately.

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Great info thanks. That Chamber brush would work fine on the rod extension in my kit. Standard tips would not screw on. But now I’ve also learned from gc70’s post about the different threads. I need to take a very close look at that.

I have a one-piece cleaning rod also that has an adapter for some other thread size. Why on earth, for firearm cleaning tools, do we need to have so many different thread sizes? I just started looking at AK cleaning rods and now discovered there are a bunch of different metric threads on cleaning tools as well.

Next on my tool list are some thread gauges for diameter and pitch, SAE and Metric. Or make a sample board like they have at Home Despot. For really small sizes, that might be better.

Thanks for the enlightenment.

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Oh wow, thanks for that info. Never occurred to me that the thread pitches would be different. Now that I think about it, of course they would. :sunglasses:

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@sixpic
Some are some are not different thread pitch.

I also kerp a shotgun thread adapter in a few kits.