What do you use for cleaning patches?

[slowr1der]

In the past, I've always just bought cotton cleaning patches from a local gun store. However, I read that many guys on a muzzle loading forum I visit have started buying flannel fabric and cutting it to size. I was using shotgun sized patches for my muzzle loader and paying $19 for 500 cotton ones. The flannel ones cut up would cost me $14 for 570 so while not a ton cheaper, it's several dollars cheaper. I like the cotton patches better, but I'd rather save money.

That being said, it's gotten me wondering if I should just cut this flannel up for my rifles too, or if the cotton cleaning patches are better. What do you all use?

 

[rcmodel]

I use GI surplus .22 & .30 cal cotton patches I got a lifetime supply of way back when the gett'n was good.

Cutting your own patches is certainly a cheap alternative if you do a good job of it and cut them all the right size.

Too big can cause you all kinds of grief if you get one stuck in the bore.

Cotton flannel is good, but my all time favorite gun rags come from an old "Chami cloth" hunting shirt!!

That's some real good rags or patches right there!

rc

 

[HOWARD J]

I am with rcmodel--I still have thousands of 30 cal military patches
about 50 #'s of rags & some store purchased patches.

 

[slowr1der]

Where the heck did you guys get those things?

 

[HOWARD J]

WW2 & Nam surplus..................
I got mine--let's say ----------gun shows

 

[jkingrph]

I have used paper towels cut up as cleaning patches. The Scot shop towels work very well.

My sister turned me onto a small roll up cutting board, it's a thin polymer, that acutally rolls up, and a rotary knife or scissor for fabric cutting. I then got some flannel type cloth, and could put it on the cuttin board 8-10 layers thick, and run that rotary knife over it and cut a lot of patches very fast.

 

[o Unforgiven o]

I have never understood cleaning patches, I don't think they are effective and just a waste of time IMO. I have always used bore mops as they actually fit into the bore snug and have a lot more surface area and are reusable to boot'. To me using a patch unless doubled up or thick patches is like dragging a towel by the corner over you car to dry it.

Bore snakes also are better than the old rod and brush system IMO as well.

 

[Geno]

For my 30 caliber rifles, I use a 30 caliber cleaning brush, with a cotton patch (store bought) wrapped around the brush. I follow that up with a zag and an appropriate sized patch.

Geno

 

[briansmithwins]

I have never understood cleaning patches, I don't think they are effective and just a waste of time IMO.

I'd suggest your patches aren't tight enough. I cut my own patches and like them so they can just be pulled thru the bore. When they are that tight I've gotten metal fouling out with just the patch. You can run a much tighter patch when pulling as opposed to pushing.

Never really had much use for bore mops. They get dirty too fast and I've never liked pushing fouling a dirt back and forth in the bore.

BSW

 

[AK103K]

I dont like the bore mops either. They really dont clean, just get the loose stuff out.

I use mostly "Southern Bloomer" patches of the appropriate size for what I'm cleaning. When used with a brass "jag", they do a very good and thorough job, with little waste of patches. Without the jags, they really arent much better than a mop.

My buddy used to work in a gun shop and would bring home the "packing" used by Hoppes products. What it was was the left over cut out material they made the patches with. Same stuff, just somewhat irregular and you had to cut it out. Never had to pay for patches then, and miss it now.

 

[janobles14]

cut up old Tshirts have always done quite well for me. You can get them for .50-$1 at a thrift store. each shirt give hundreds of patches and i just cut to size.

 

[inherentical]

I use Southern Bloomer patches, too. I don't have the time to cut patches to size myself.

 

[Dionysusigma]

T-shirts, paper towels for less-critical areas.

People actually buy patches?

 

[hirundo82]

When my undershirts get too many holes in them, I cut them up for patches. I used to buy patches, but haven't done so in years. Most of the cloth patches seem to be undershirt fabric (cotton, about the same thickness) anyhow.

 

[Quickdraw Limpsalot]

I have never understood cleaning patches, I don't think they are effective and just a waste of time IMO. I have always used bore mops as they actually fit into the bore snug and have a lot more surface area and are reusable to boot'. To me using a patch unless doubled up or thick patches is like dragging a towel by the corner over you car to dry it.

Then you're doing it wrong. Use a quality brass jag and a snugly fitting patch a few times and you'll ditch that mop in a hurry.

 

[zxcvbob]

I have never understood cleaning patches

Me neither; I just throw them away when they get dirty. One can take this "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" thing too far.

 

[deputy tom]

My old T-shirts.tom.

 

[jcwit]

I have never understood cleaning patches, I don't think they are effective and just a waste of time IMO. I have always used bore mops as they actually fit into the bore snug and have a lot more surface area and are reusable to boot'. To me using a patch unless doubled up or thick patches is like dragging a towel by the corner over you car to dry it.

Bore snakes also are better than the old rod and brush system IMO as well.

OK, that must by why the most accurate shooters out there "bench rest guys" are wasting their time using patches and not using bore snakes.

I use heavy flannel available from Wally World, be careful and buy cotten and not synthetic. I cut it to size depending on the caliber.

 

[slowr1der]

Those Southern Bloomer patches are what I was using, and I loved them, but they just got too expensive which is why I'm trying to cut my own off.

BTW, when buying flannel is synthetic bad, or just not as good?

 

[HspncElvis]

At Walmart I saw a bag of cleaning rags (forgot material's name) with all the other gun cleaning supplies. I believe it was going for $5 or so. Maybe less. They any good?

 

[jcwit]

BTW, when buying flannel is synthetic bad, or just not as good?

The cotton holds the liquid cleaners better IMO. Just happens to be what I like. I tried some synthetic a while back and the jag just pushed right thru, but it wasn't a lost cause as it turned out to be the best polishing cloth ever for waxing my cars.

Yes I was using the correct caliber jag for the rifle.

 

[Tom609]

Old worn flannel sheets are the best. Very absorbent and you can get a buttload of patches from one set.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Try this....www.brownells.com/.aspx/cid=0/k=patches/t=P/ksubmit=y/Products/All/search=patches

 

[WNTFW]

"you can get a buttload of patches from one set."

K96771,
I would have gone with "Sheatload".

 

[PedalBiker]

I use old T shirts too. I get them from work, from races and even from the in-laws.

I do buy latex gloves now. After losing a bunch of skin off my fingers I decided they were worth it. Hoppes #9 isn't too bad, but some of the new copper solvents do a number on my skin.