Shop Towel Patches?

[NY Yankee]

Do you use the "blue shop towel" paper towels as patches? I'm told they work well and saves on buying patches. Also, How do you get patches to fit tightly in large bores like 12 and 10 ga? I have been wrapping patches over under sized brushes to use like a jag. Not quite the handiest thing to do.

 

[Bob529]

I've never heard of using the blue shop towels but sounds like it might work. I buy those a case at at time so I always have plenty.

 

[troy fairweather]

Never used shop towels, best to have something that can't tare easily, old white t shirts work great and cheap, can use colored but like white best. Use a Scissor and cut out any size patch you need.

 

[Jim Watson]

I do. Sometimes doubled. But I usually finish with a cloth patch.

 

[Mizar]

Almost everything works as a field expedient bore patch - paper napkins, shop towels, toilet paper (scented and unscented)... You name it. Although, as already mentioned, an old fashioned cotton cloth patch is hard to beat.

 

[Jim Watson]

A friend's wife is a quilter. A yard of flannel and a few minutes with her cutting board generates a lot of patches.

 

[Chuck R.]

I use them for the 1st couple patches when cleaning a shotgun barrel.

For that they work pretty well.

 

[Otto]

A friend's wife is a quilter. A yard of flannel and a few minutes with her cutting board generates a lot of patches.

I cut my own out of flannel as well. Tee shirt fabric is second best.

 

[bearcreek]

I go to Goodwill or Salvation Army and buy sheets or t shirts. Cheapest way, by far, to get shop rags/gun cleaning rags.

 

[EMC45]

I’ve cut a few t shirts up years back. Still using them. I use blue shop towels as well for cleanup, wipe down and shotgun bores.

 

[Walkalong]

Do you use the "blue shop towel" paper towels as patches? I'm told they work well and saves on buying patches. Also, How do you get patches to fit tightly in large bores like 12 and 10 ga? I have been wrapping patches over under sized brushes to use like a jag. Not quite the handiest thing to do.

I'm as cheap as most anyone, but I buy patches, just too much trouble. I save money in other areas.

 

[Ranger99]

Any paper towels will possibly leave
small shreds of towel and fibers in
the bore. Unless your eyesight is
excellent and you'd be able to see
anything left behind, I'd skip the paper
towels for bore cleaning except for
maybe an emergency expedient

A big bag of cotton bore cleaning
patches are relatively inexpensive
and a bargain IMO

 

[nettlle]

I'm pretty cheap also but I started buying patches a long time ago. They do a good job and save a lot of time. A bag of 1000 patches lasts a long time.

 

[74man]

I use a 12 ga. bore mop on my shotgun, I bought about a dozen back when everything was less expensive.

 

[Lo-Profile]

I use the round makeup removers my wife buys for shotguns. Thicker and don't leave any unwanted fibers anywhere.
I use tico tools between cleanings to remove most of the carbon deposits.

 

[JDeere]

I like to save money but a bag of 1000 patches is less than 10 bucks. I spend my time doing something other than creating patches...

 

[JohnKSa]

Been using paper towel pieces as patches for years now. The better quality paper towels work--the cheap ones tear too easily. The blue shop versions are best, but I find that the normal Bounty paper towels are adequate and we always have those on hand so no need to pay extra for the blue ones.

I tear off a piece, fold it over and put it on the jag--if it's still too loose, I fold it again.

 

[mjsdwash]

only patches I've used for 10 years. Great for black powder.