CAT Outdoors: The Gun Cleaning Kits and Tactical Gear You Need

Did you know there are 20 million AR-15 rifles in the US alone?

The AR-15 is one of the most popular weapons for Americans. It’s a reliable gun that is easy to purchase and shoot, but it has one big catch: it can be a hassle to clean. 

Two of the main issues when cleaning an AR-15 are the bolt tail and the recess of the locking lugs on the bolt carrier group. They require a toothbrush, cleaner, and a lot of patience. So in 2008, Sam Johnson from CAT Outdoors set out to fix this. 

He invented a single device that changed the AR-15 owners’ world forever: the CAT M4 tool. With this single tool, you can clean the bolt and firing pin with ease.

Things didn’t stop there. CAT Outdoors expanded to provide other cleaning tools, such as the Talon tool. It became a shop for gun enthusiasts to find all the best gun cleaning kits and tactical gear in one place.

CAT Outdoors products exist to simplify life for gun enthusiasts and professionals alike. You come for the CAT M4 tool and stay for the informative blogs.

Read on as we discuss why you should make CAT Outdoors your one-stop gun gear shop.

The CAT Outdoors Philosophy

The philosophy behind CAT Outdoors is that reliability should be a given. Guns serve as self-defense implements, and in a high-stress situation, they can make the difference between life and death.

CAT Outdoors is all about innovating your gear so it performs when you need it most. That’s why professionals from law enforcement to Navy SEALS rely on CAT Outdoors gun cleaning kits and tool because professionals know that good gear speaks for itself.

CAT Outdoors makes gear that withstands the test of time. These are tools that anyone can use by intuition and do their job to perfection every time. When you buy a CAT Outdoors tool, you’re buying it for life.

The experts at CAT Outdoors have been around the block. They know where to buy tactical gear, and have brought many of the best items to their site.

With that said, let’s talk about gun cleaning.

The Importance of Cleaning

Every blade needs its oil and whetstone. Warriors of old understood the importance of keeping their implements of war in perfect condition. At CAT Outdoors, we understand that nothing has changed.

Guns are high-precision instruments. Their makers design them to withstand high pressures and heat. They design them to take a lot of abuse and keep on functioning.

However, guns, like blades, need their “oil and whetstone” just the same. While they might last much longer than you do, their performance degrades when you don’t treat them right. All it takes is a bit of dirt and grime to throw off your accuracy, and failing to do regular cleaning can damage your rifle.

Let’s cover some of the main reasons to clean your gun.

Reasons to Clean Your Gun

You get it already, gun cleaning is important. But this should become a ritual that you perform on a regular basis. And CAT Outdoors has some of the best tools to make this process easier.

Provides Better Understanding of Your Weapon

Firearms are engineering marvels. They’ve come a long way from arquebuses and breech-loaded cannons. Seeing the engineering in action can give you a new appreciation for your weapon.

If you know how your weapon works on the inside, that makes it easier to understand it in the future. You can see which parts accumulate the most carbon build-up. You’ll know how to best clean it for optimal function in the future.

Increase the Lifespan of Your Weapon

Weapons can last for generations. If you take care of your firearm, there’s a chance you could pass it down to your children and they can pass it down to their children.

The two perennial problems of any firearm are rust and fouling. Guns accumulate carbon build-up whenever you fire them, even if you don’t use corrosive ammunition. Regular cleaning and lubrication prevent both of these issues.

Furthermore, dirty guns may fail to fire over time. They can have issues such as a failure to feed or a failure to eject. If you don’t clean your gun, you could be turning your weapon into a paperweight when it counts most.

Use CAT Outdoors Gun Cleaning Kits to Clean Your Weapons

CAT Outdoors all began with a single tool: the CAT M4 tool. But since then, it’s evolved to be a hub for all the essential gun cleaning tools. Let’s cover a few of the CAT Outdoors products you can use.

The CAT M4 Tool

The one that started it all, the CAT M4 allows you to clean your bolt carrier group with ease. 

One of the hardest parts to clean is the bolt tail. It has a curvature that makes it hard to scrape off the carbon buildup. With the CAT M4, you can do this in a few seconds with just a few twists.

You can slip the M4 tool into the BCG or slot the firing pin in the holder to scrape carbon buildup, too. Professionals often bring the CAT M4 into the field because it comes with a hex head that’s perfect for making adjustments. The CAT M4 can and should be an essential piece of your field inventory.

CAT Outdoors Talon Tool

The CAT M4’s twin also performs a dual function. First and foremost, it’s an easy way to clean the lugs that hold your bolt carrier group. You just slide the tool’s teeth into the lugs and twist to scrape away carbon buildup.

Brushes suck. It takes a lot of back-and-forth twisting to make sure you got the inside of all those lugs. The Talon tool allows you to clean all those lugs 8 times in a single rotation.

Furthermore, you can use the Talon to clean your chamber. Screw a bore brush into the end of the Talon and then use it as you would normally. Bore brush handles tend to twist and turn, so the Talon gives you a solid grip in the process.

Best of all, the Talon is portable and can fold it up and keep it on hand like the CAT M4.

If you love the Talon and the CAT M4, why not get both? This combo not only saves you money, but it also gives you a nice pouch to store your two new best friends. Slap the velcro pouch onto your tactical rig and you’re good to go.

Ballistol FlexClean Gun Snake

Cleaning the inside of the barrel can be troublesome. That’s because a lot of tools use scratchy brushes that can mar the delicate rifling which can reduce the lifespan of a firearm. 

The Ballistol gun snake solves this by providing a simple solution to cleaning your barrel rifling. You slip one weighted end into the breach until it pokes out the muzzle. Then you tug the snake through.

That’s it! The Ballistol FlexClean uses rubber balls that clean fouling without damaging the rifling. This is a lifetime tool as long as you wash it after every use, it will serve you well for many years.

1911 Barrel Bushing Wrench

Users of the famed 1911 pistol will know that when cleaning it, you could get hit in the face with the spring. 

Using this 1911 Lynx tool, you can pin down that recoil spring so it doesn’t go flying out, which you can do in seconds. 1911 fans will quickly discover that this is an essential piece to their gun cleaning ritual.

Ballistol Oil

The German Army contracted this oil at the beginning of the last century, and it’s still in use today. Ballistol is a legendary substance that gun owners love for good reason.

It’s hard to find any downsides to Ballistol because it cleans, lubricates, and protects firearms. Not only that, it doesn’t cause harm to wood or leather (not including suede).

Furthermore, Ballistol is safe for your skin. It’s not carcinogenic, and it has no negative effects on the environment. This miracle oil is in use even by manufacturers such as Coca-Cola.

Ballistol is the sort of oil you can trust to keep your gun lubricated for weeks or months on end. Between cleanings, this oil won’t gum up on residue or cause friction between components.

CAT Outdoors only promotes the best products. Ballistol has withstood the test of time and is the go-to for any cleaning or maintenance.

CAT Outdoors Tactical Gear

Some of CAT Outdoors’ most popular items are the gun cleaning kits, but we do provide tactical tools. The discerning gun owner knows that something as simple as a quality triglide or a cam buckle can make all the difference.

Triglide Buckles

Whether you need to replace a rifle sling or a backpack buckle, this is one of the best triglides in the business. It’s cheap, reliable, and made in the USA.

The CAT Outdoors triglide gives excellent grip and makes adjustments easily with any fabric. You can rely on one of these triglides for years to come.

Rifle Slings

Although discontinued, you can still get a quality rifle sling for a great sale. 

A good sling not only holds your weapon, but allows easy adjustments. In the field, you can go from patrolling to lining up a shot in the blink of an eye. A sling that allows you to make that adjustment in a cinch.

These rifle slings are patriot-made. You’re guaranteed to get an implement that will hold your rifle through thick and thin.

CAT Outdoors Cam Buckle

When a triglide doesn’t cut it, you need a quick adjust, spring loaded cam buckle which allows you to continue to make adjustments in one direction without the fabric feeding backward. The moment you need to switch directions, you depress the latch.

These are high-quality cam buckles that are 100% berry compliant. You can use them for anything from rifle slings to camping equipment. 

AR15 ErgoSure Grip

The grip of your weapon is more important than you might think. Your breathing and pulse all affect your shooting. It only makes sense that a solid grip gives you proper control of your weapon.

You can expect to find yourself in all conditions when shooting. You want to be sure you have a hold on your weapon in rain or snow.

The AR-15 ErgoSure Grip is CAT Outdoors’ preferred AR-15 grip. It’s ergonomic, adapts to the web of your hand, and won’t slip or slide in wet or oily conditions.

You can install a new grip in just a few seconds. The AR-15 is an adaptable platform that allows you to mix and match whatever parts you need. Getting the ErgoSure Grip will upgrade your shooting experience.

CBRN Gas Mask Filter

You may have noticed a common theme by now when it comes to CAT Outdoors. We’re all about emergency preparedness, we have gear that works in any situation. A gas mask is yet another component of your stay-safe strategy.

Chemicals, no matter the kind, can be harmful causing serious injury or death, so it always pays to be prepared. CBRN gas masks protect you from hazardous chemicals, including radioactive iodine.

What causes this filter to stand out from all the rest is its impressive shelf life. The CBRN filter can last for 20 years. This mask is a great addition to the stock of the doomsday preppers among you.

Get Your Tactical Gear From CAT Outdoors

We’ve only scratched the surface, CAT Outdoors has a long list of tactical gear and gun cleaning kits. You’re sure to find the tool you’re looking for.

Remember, a gun owner’s weapon has to be ready for any situation. Check out our article on some of the best gear for gun enthusiasts. 

Justin Trump

Justin Trump is the managing editor and owner of CAT Outdoors. The son of a Vietnam veteran, he’s a Certified Glock Armorer, an avid gun enthusiast and 2A advocate. He holds two firearm patents for the CAT M4 and Talon tools. When not managing CAT Outdoors, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, rooting for Michigan sports teams, and serving his church.