Review: Otis Firearm Surface Prep
Otis Technology just introduced 4 cleaners, 3 lubricants, two protectants, and 2 CLPs. If you like to shoot a lot, there’s one product you should know about: The Otis Firearm Surface Prep.
The Otis Firearm Surface Prep is a powerful cleaner that comes in a 10 oz aerosol can (MSRP $11.99). It is a bio-based formula.
When I tested the Otis Firearm Surface Prep, I found that it could be sprayed on any type of debris buildup, and it was easily wiped off. I could blast it inside of a trigger assembly and allow the thin solvent to clear crud from between parts.
It’s a light solvent. The spray can be directed into an action, and it will flow out on its own. It works really well in areas that one can't reach. It isn’t particularly volatile, which is good because it gives you enough time to wipe it off, rather than drying quickly. It has a slight, almost unnoticeable, oily scent.
Every time I shoot, I fieldstrip whatever gun I’m using and clean it. I like to do this at the range so I can leave with a clean, loaded gun. A “field strip” cleaning means only taking the slide, recoil spring, and barrel apart. Rarely do shooters clean their guns by fully disassembling them.
Except for my Glocks, which get a full disassembly every couple of months, I hardly completely disassemble my guns more than twice a year. This means that I don't clean the moving parts of my fire control system very often.
What do most shooters do? Most shooters add a little lubricant down there, and ask a friend who knows how to disassemble the gun to do a once a year cleaning. The guys that do full disassembly know that this accumulated lubricant has been attracting dust, grit, and other stuff all this time.
If you are the kind of shooter that dumps lubricant down the action, do you use the same lubricant every time? Did you know that some products react with other products? Did you know that some lubricants “dry out” after a while? Did you know that the “clinging” feature on some lubricants will also tenaciously hold on to abrasive grit?
A periodic spray with Otis Firearm Surface Prep, followed by the same application of Otis Firearm Lubricant will keep the gun running smoothly.
Officer Lindsey Bertomen (ret.), Contributing Editor
Lindsey Bertomen is a retired police officer and retired military small arms trainer. He teaches criminal justice at Hartnell College in Salinas, California, where serves as a POST administrator and firearms instructor. He also teaches civilian firearms classes, enjoys fly fishing, martial arts, and mountain biking. His articles have appeared in print and online for over two decades.
