Like most shooters, we have a couple of boxes filled with assorted cleaning brushes and jags, all in various conditions. It has always been a guessing game to pick the right one for the correct firearm that we were cleaning. However, we made due, chalking it up to one of the minor inconveniences of cleaning our guns.

When we first set eyes on the Tipton jag and brush set, it was immediately apparent that this is what we should have been using all along. It comes with 13 nickel plated jags from 17 to 45 caliber (.17, .20, .22, .243/6mm, .25/6.5mm, .270/7mm, .30/.32, .338/8mm, .375, .40/.416, .44 and .45). The nickel plating is resistant to the most aggressive bore solvents, so that one does not get false blue stains indicating copper fouling. If you get a blue patch with a Tipton jag, you have copper fouling.

The 13 bore brushes come in the same sizes as the jags and have 20% more bristles than the standard brushes that you find in most sporting goods and big box stores. Unlike some of the cheap imports, the brush wire is firmly anchored through the coupler for greater strength. You can definitely tell the difference with these brushes when you run them down the bore. However, because of the increase in bristle density, we recommend using a one-piece cleaning rod and a bore guide.

The caliber markings are molded into the cases, so that you know exactly which brush/jag to pick. Both the jags and brushes come with 8-32 threads, with the exception of the .17 and .20 caliber that are 5-40 threads. The plastic boxes are just what have been needed for a long time. They can be snapped together for storage or carrying to the range, opened up to lay flat on your bench, or hung up on peg board. The set is almost perfect, but we would like to see the bore size etched on the shaft of each jag. Although it is not really necessary, we like our small tools to be labeled whenever possible. This comment is in no way meant to detract from the value or benefits of this set. With an MSRP of $39.99, the Tipton Jag & Brush set it is a good deal, especially when you consider that there are 26 pieces, plus the convenient cases.