*embarassed* Is there a "special trick" for prepping small-caliber Otis patches?

[Green Lantern]

I got my AR-15 lower yesterday (WOO HOO!) and naturally "got to know it" a bit yesterday afternoon. Then took it down for cleaning.

I had ordered in some Otis components (rod, obstruction remover, slotted tip, patches, brush) to use for cleaning. I fixed up the patch just like it said in the literature, soaked it and the barrel with CLP, and pulled it through...

It got stuck, a few inches into the barrel. With a little more CLP and a lot of tapping, I was able to get it back out...

Luckily, I had also ordered in an army-style kit with "traditional" rods to use for cleaning the barrel. I'm just trying to figure out folding one of those Otis patches to make it fit!

Part of me thinks I MIGHT not have been pulling hard enough. Don't think my obstruction remover came with a T-handle. But just looking at a (dry) patch on the tip I tried to fix up this morning, I don't think it can manage to fit a .223 bore...

Any "Otis vets" care to help out the poor noob?

 

[308win]

you should have received a "t" handle with the cable (the "t" handle is a brass colored rod about 4" long); the "t" handle fits into the non-threaded cable end (the one with the hole)

go to the Otis site and download the instructions. Shows you how to use the multi-caliber Otis patches. I usually use the .25 hole for my 223; gives a nice snug fit. Occasionally I will use the .30 hole for .223; you have to pull it thru because it is SNUG.

 

[whitetiger7654]

When I use mine on any caliber gun. I put the patch on the give it a good tug. Once or twice the patch has come off. That quick tug will save you a lot of headache.

 

[Ari]

In the past I've cut my patches in half for smaller calibers. but now I use a bore snake and nothing more.

 

[ArmedBear]

Boresnakes seem to do the trick for me. Copper solvent occasionally on my centerfire rifles.

I have an Otis, but I don't usually use it exactly as instructed. It's a neat little toolkit, though.

 

[Futuristic]

Check out their Site for Instructions

The otis website,

http://www.otisgun.com

has nice instructions, available as either PDFs, or as Videos, that tell/show you specifically how to 'pinch' the patch for each caliber that you need to clean.

You shouldn't need the T-Bar, I almost never use mine unless I have screwed up and made a WAY Oversize patch.

I hardly ever use a regular rod these days, the Otis cable and patches are just so convenient. And since you can use each patch at least twice, possibly as many as six times, they are even reasonably economical.

Good Luck.

Futuristic

 

[Dienekes]

Learned on the GI equipment in 1966 and still using it today. The only change is to use a piece of .060 weedwhacker line for a pullthrough. The price was right and it does the job.

I was given an Otis kit a few years ago. Pretty much a triumph of hype over utility as far as I can see. Booniepacker has the equivalent setup in a much simpler kit for a fraction of the price.

Just sent the Otis off to my daughter. She may like it; she may not. I won't miss it.

 

[Happyshooter]

You have the choose the position of the "fold" looser. It will make sense when you are doing it.