dashootist
Member
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- Feb 8, 2010
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- 551
What cleaning patches do cheap-skate shooter use? I've been using the $6-bag of cotton patches from Wallymart, but is there a cheaper and better alternative?
cleaning patches
- Thread starter dashootist
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ScratchnDent
Member
I cut up old t-shirts.
CoRoMo
Member
T-shirt
For my .50 Knight, I cut up an old shirts. I saw a discarded Camel Cigarettes t-shirt on the ground one time at the range, but actually, what I was looking at was a few hundred free cotton patches.
For my .50 Knight, I cut up an old shirts. I saw a discarded Camel Cigarettes t-shirt on the ground one time at the range, but actually, what I was looking at was a few hundred free cotton patches.
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The Bushmaster
Member
"...cut up old t-shirts"...Yup...
jnyork
Member
You can really put out a LOT of patches using the fabric cutter wheel your wife uses to cut her quilting fabric, or just go buy one at Wallyworld.
Better yet, just go to Brownells and buy the bulk packs, 500 or 1000 to the pack, of patches designed to do the job. Get the .22 rimfire and some of the .30 caliber USGI patches, you can use a pair of scissors to cut a few of these to size for any other caliber as you need them. Works great for me.
Better yet, just go to Brownells and buy the bulk packs, 500 or 1000 to the pack, of patches designed to do the job. Get the .22 rimfire and some of the .30 caliber USGI patches, you can use a pair of scissors to cut a few of these to size for any other caliber as you need them. Works great for me.
jnyork
Member
Hey, oldgold,
Looks like we were typing the same reply at the same time.
Great minds think alike.
Looks like we were typing the same reply at the same time.
Great minds think alike.
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MinnMooney
Member
WOW !! Are you guys ever cheap....... or just goofy.
At 1/2 cents to 2 cents each, how much do you save after buying a material cutting machine - or even your time?
I'm only kidding. I have been known to do some fairly anal stuff myself... but this ain't one of 'em. I buy patches.
At 1/2 cents to 2 cents each, how much do you save after buying a material cutting machine - or even your time?
I'm only kidding. I have been known to do some fairly anal stuff myself... but this ain't one of 'em. I buy patches.
jcwit
member
Why count your time? Are you making money when off work? I cut my own patches, I'm retired, cutting patches is just another aspect of this hobby.
Artiz
Member
I use Blue shop towels.
CoRoMo
Member
This.
I have t-shirts that need to be disposed of. I have time on my hands. I'm also very careful with my money. I do, what I don't need to pay someone else to do. That's why I reload, make our tortillas by hand, I build my own out-buildings, we can our own jelly, vegetables and fruits, I'll finish our basement, change my own oil, hunt for and process our meat, make our own salsa, troubleshoot my computer problems, repair our automobiles, mow my lawn myself, built our fence, grow our own vegetable garden, make our meals at home, etc.
And I still find time to go shooting!
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FWIW - used to use those. Unless something's changed and the bag is marked cotton they ain't cotton. When using them before they were so non-absorbent as to be almost useless.
100% cotton - that's the way to go. Ain't cheap though.
stchman
Member
Gun shows are the best place to get cheap patches.
Gun shows are rip offs for firearms and ammo, but not cleaning supplies.
I got 1000 round .30 caliber style patches for $6.50. That's $0.0065 per patch. I can cut those in 4s to use for .22 rifles/pistols.
The square .30 caliber style Winchester patches from Walmart work better for cutting into .22 squares.
Gun shows are rip offs for firearms and ammo, but not cleaning supplies.
I got 1000 round .30 caliber style patches for $6.50. That's $0.0065 per patch. I can cut those in 4s to use for .22 rifles/pistols.
The square .30 caliber style Winchester patches from Walmart work better for cutting into .22 squares.
Tinpig
Member
Old cotton T-shirts...there is nothing softer and more absorbent.
I can cut accurate-size patches for any caliber I'm cleaning in seconds. I also wrap all my handguns in old cotton shirts and T-shirts so they don't bump in storage or on the way to the range. I also cut up old cotton shirts, T-shirts, and towels for cleaning rags.
I can cut accurate-size patches for any caliber I'm cleaning in seconds. I also wrap all my handguns in old cotton shirts and T-shirts so they don't bump in storage or on the way to the range. I also cut up old cotton shirts, T-shirts, and towels for cleaning rags.
yeti
Member
I just assumed everyone else did the same too. Not like old ripped T shirts are good for much else.
Carl N. Brown
Member
Southern Bloomer Mfg. Co., Bristol, TN, made bloomers (white cotton underwear) for the women's prison system. They started cutting up their left over material as gun cleaning patches. Pretty reasonable prices at the local gun shows.
oneounceload
member
I prefer cotton flannel patches - they're not THAT expensive compared to the gun. Sometimes it pays to do it right.
oldbear
Member
I buy patches they are really not that expensive, I do though cut up old T-shirts to be used as wipe/oil rags.
Now my best cleaning tip, old cotton sweat sox. Keep one in the range bag, when I'm done shooting slide my hand into sox and wipe revolver down with it. Takes about 30 seconds and does a decent job of removing the surface crud until I can get home and do a proper cleaning
Now my best cleaning tip, old cotton sweat sox. Keep one in the range bag, when I'm done shooting slide my hand into sox and wipe revolver down with it. Takes about 30 seconds and does a decent job of removing the surface crud until I can get home and do a proper cleaning
Hatterasguy
Member
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- Jan 4, 2010
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- 1,604
I buy bulk packs from Dewey. Usualy I need to add them to meet the minimum order requirement. They are cheap, couple bucks for 1k.
When I used to scrub barrels with patches-I actually cut up old white athletic socks. They work BETTER than plain old cotton t-shirts as they have woven fiber balls on them that seem to really cut through the crud.
I don't scrub barrels anymore (use an electronic cleaner now) so I only need 2 patches when I clean a barrel. One to wipe out the crud left by the electronic cleaner, and the 2nd to lightly oil the bore for storage.
For you that have not tried them, give a sock a chance. I think you will be impressed with the results as compared to a T-shirt.
I don't scrub barrels anymore (use an electronic cleaner now) so I only need 2 patches when I clean a barrel. One to wipe out the crud left by the electronic cleaner, and the 2nd to lightly oil the bore for storage.
For you that have not tried them, give a sock a chance. I think you will be impressed with the results as compared to a T-shirt.
Hillbillyz
Member
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- May 30, 2009
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- 259
Just like oldgold said rotowheel and mat can zip out patches very quickly. For raw material check rummage sales. A set of flannel sheets for a dollar or 2 and you're set for years. Same thing if you don't have t shirts a couple bucks worth of used ones at a sale keeps you well supplied.
Ronsch
Member
I like old t-shirts as well. The really nice thing is that I can cut them big enough to fit into my shotgun bores like a tight fitting mop and really swab those out well, usually with only one or two passes after the bristle brush....
hank327
Member
I cut up old cotton t-shirts and I occasionally stop by the fabric store and buy a couple of square square yards of 100% white cotton flannel. The flannel doesn't cost much and lasts a long time. I cut my patches to the size I need with a pair of scissors. Yeah, it's a little slow but I'm not in a hurry. I also buy 100% cotton pillow ticking from the fabric store to use as patching material for my round ball shooting muzzleloading longrifles. I've never seen another guy in the fabric store but I know there's others like me as a lady working there once said to me, "You're going to use this to clean guns aren't you?"
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