Barrel cleaning patch material?

[nettlle]

I recently ordered a small amount of white flannel that is too thin for my liking. And I think the (expensive) pre-cut material sold as gun patches of better quality. Does anyone buy material in bulk for gun cleaning and if so where is a good place to get it and what did you order?

 

[SDGlock23]

I bought a ton of patches years ago, kind of cloth like. But oddly I don't think I've used up one single patch over the past year, the method is, keep one patch dirty, like black, for going in right after the solvent and brush, then another patch that's kept pretty dirty but not as dirty, then after that another patch that's only moderately dirty and then one that's fairly clean. Usually just prior to the relatively clean patch I run a bore snake through it. I haven't used up a patch in probably several years, it's crazy.

 

[Ranger99]

I use the cut patches sold everywhere in the
bulk plastic bag from Southern Bloomer (?)
that look to be scraps from manufacturing
tighty whitey drawers. They work well and
are decent priced
JMHO- trying to cut my own takes up too
much of my valuable time compared to
buying a bag and getting the cleaning
chore over and done

 

[MatrixReality]

I don’t buy patches. Old, cotton t-shirts work great. Sharp scissors, and I cut them various sizes for different calibers

 

[Old_Grouch]

Burlap, or something similar is what works best for me. It seems that the softer, smoother, more supple materials are less effective.

 

[Seymour380]

I don’t buy patches. Old, cotton t-shirts work great. Sharp scissors, and I cut them various sizes for different calibers

My policy too.

 

[nettlle]

I don't buy patches either (yet). Bulk material is cheaper than T-shirts. I am wearing out patches faster than wearing out T-shirts.

 

[MEHavey]

white flannel that is too thin for my liking.

Simply double (or fold to quarter) to fit to desired friction.

.

 

[GBExpat]

A two decades ago I discovered Southern Bloomers (mentioned by Ranger99 in Post#3) cleaning patches and, over a couple of years created a small stockpile (as is my wont). IMO, an excellent product.

In my ~60 years of cleaning firearms I have also used old t-shirt material, flannel, cotton rope and, one of my faves, old-style cloth diapers.

Last year(?) I scored a 1000st case of German milsurp cleaning wicks (Waffen Reinigungsdochte). I have found them to be handy. Easier than cutting up my length of cotton rope (that I bought ~10 years ago for this purpose) into ~6" lengths.

 

[John Joseph]

I find surplus GI patches are the most efficient with flannel on one side, "tooth" on the other

 

[trackskippy]

Walmart. 3 yards of heavy white or light blue, etc cotton flannel usually costs me about $8. Get roughly the same number of 2x2 patches as you get in a big bag of Southern Bloomers or similar that goes for $18 or so.

 

[ThomasT]

I don’t buy patches. Old, cotton t-shirts work great. Sharp scissors, and I cut them various sizes for different calibers

Thats what I do. I save my old ragged T-Shirts. I also save my old flannel winter shirts. I cut the buttons off of them and then cut the panels from the lining. I admit to being frugal. (cheap)

 

[cfullgraf]

Simply double (or fold to quarter) to fit to desired friction.

.

I do this as well.

I get cut patches from Sinclair International. They have many different sizes but they are probably more expensive than bulk material.

When it comes to cutting cleaning patches, I’m lazy.

I use old tee shirt material when I’ve been oiling Garand stocks.

 

[Bazoo]

I use pre cut, I use t short material. Use it all. A woven cotton, like what muzzleloader patches are made from is my favorite. I don't know what it's called though.

 

[Jonesy814]

Years ago for a few years my wife and I did a tie-dye T shirt craft day at a church camp. She heat pressed the logo on then When camp came I lead the project. To do the transfers they should be washed once, then again after before dying. We ended up with a couple dozen extra shirts with about a 3”x 4” logo on the chest. I cut that out and made patches. A few shirts were 4x. You get a lot of patches. Once or twice washed is perfect since it gets loose fuzz and whatever off them, but they are thick like new. By the time mine wear out enough to turn to patches they are pretty thin.

 

[Thomasss]

Go to a resale or thrift store and buy a flannel bed sheet for a couple of bucks. Flannel is highly absorbent and cut it whatever size you need. Makes great patches for any gun including muzzleloaders.

 

[Atavar]

Old cotton tshirts cut fine with one of those guillotine paper cutters too. Saves some time.
Also those rolling cutters on a green cutting board from your wife’s craft room works great!

 

[JohnKSa]

The blue "shop-towel" paper towels can be torn to size and make good patches. I've even had good luck using regular paper towels for patches as long as they're good quality/not too flimsy and you are careful getting them started.

I usually tear a piece off and fold it in half. You'll get a feel very quickly for what size they need to be.

It has been years (probably even decades) since I've used anything other than paper towels for patches.

 

[bdickens]

I just buy gun cleaning patches. I got about 300,000 other things I'd rather be doing than cutting up little pieces of flannel.

 

[Zygodactyl]

I've used T-shirts, Southern Bloomer, flannel and paper towels. Now I just buy gun patches in bulk when they are on sale. Now that I'm older, time is too valuable to spend it on cutting patches.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I use the big packs of pre cut Hoppes branded ones. They sell them for smaller and larger calibers. I have both but use the larger caliber ones about 10:1.

 

[lightman]

I buy patches in bags of 500 to 1000 at a time. I don't want to take the time of cutting up material for patches. Most of my cleaning supplies come from Sinclair.

 

[gyp_c2]

Old work stuff, jacket, overall, coverall type material.
Use heavy duty cutters, or bring the big scissors.

 

[trackskippy]

LOL. The way some people talk, youd think cutting patches was a hard days work.

Unless youre overly anal, it literally only takes a few minutes.

 

[mcb]

Craftsman's Handi-Cut will turn an old T-shirt into a heap of patches fast with minimal effort.