Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Revolvers > S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961
o

Notices

S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-21-2012, 11:45 AM
roadhog96 roadhog96 is offline
Member
Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches  
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: CT
Posts: 173
Likes: 51
Liked 36 Times in 23 Posts
Default Best size and brand bore patches

What's the best size patch, round or square, and brand of patches for your 38 special? Not all patches are created equal. Ive seen some real poor quality, thin, frayed end junk locally. Something thats 100% flannel cotton, absorbent and that don't fall apart would be what Im looking for unless you know of something better.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-21-2012, 11:59 AM
-db-'s Avatar
-db- -db- is offline
US Veteran
Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches  
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: MI
Posts: 4,569
Likes: 13,995
Liked 5,918 Times in 1,761 Posts
Default

Best? Find a big scrap piece of flannel and put your wife to work with some scissors while she watches TV. A couple nights of that and I've got enough patches to last for years, if not decades. It's hard to beat free, and you can cut them any size or shape you want.

Here's one of three gallon-sized bags I got out of an old flannel sheet.


Last edited by -db-; 01-21-2012 at 12:09 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-21-2012, 12:16 PM
Bat Guano Bat Guano is offline
Member
Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches  
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 3,260
Likes: 1,224
Liked 2,526 Times in 1,043 Posts
Default

GI .30 caliber patches. Brownell's.

Most commercial patches are garbage.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-21-2012, 01:17 PM
arc2x4 arc2x4 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 125
Likes: 2
Liked 30 Times in 11 Posts
Default

I buy the elcheapo cotton offcut patches at walmart they come in a cammo pack and they are offcuts from underwear manufacturing. I then cut them to size a few at a time as I need them. They are cheap, lint free and a $1.99 pack lasts a long time. For .22lr patches I buy the cleanbore .22-.25 caliber 1000 pack for about $7.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-21-2012, 01:34 PM
29aholic 29aholic is offline
Banned
Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches  
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Bolivar, MO
Posts: 6,360
Likes: 3,558
Liked 3,241 Times in 1,099 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bat Guano View Post
GI .30 caliber patches. Brownell's.

Most commercial patches are garbage.
Just what I was going to say
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-21-2012, 10:07 PM
Nightowl's Avatar
Nightowl Nightowl is offline
SWCA Member
Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches  
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Warrensburg, MO USA
Posts: 5,404
Likes: 2,841
Liked 3,294 Times in 1,688 Posts
Default

I've bought Pro Shot when I found them at gun shows or sometimes in a retail store. Brownells most of the time. Both 100% cotton I get the 2 1/4 size mostly, that fits from .38-.45.
__________________
Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-22-2012, 06:07 AM
chief38's Avatar
chief38 chief38 is offline
Member
Best size and brand bore patches  
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,759
Likes: 7,836
Liked 25,615 Times in 8,661 Posts
Default

Brownell's HD and Military patches are superior IMHO. Buy 'em by the thousand count bag and you will save a great deal. Their 30 Calibre Mil spec patches are GREAT for 38/357 and their large 3" x 3" HD- #5 patches are GREAT for shotguns, 45 acp, 45 Colt, 45-70, and similar.

Chief38
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-22-2012, 09:16 AM
Marksman Marksman is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Indiana USA
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 3
Liked 186 Times in 100 Posts
Default

I have used GI .30 caliber patches for years, I wrap them on the diagonal around a bronze bore brush one caliber smaller than the gun I am cleaning. Really does a great job when using JB compound & Kroil. For quick clean-up in the field or at the range I like to use a Boresnake.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-22-2012, 10:14 AM
jrd1976 jrd1976 is offline
SWCA Member
Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches  
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 704
Likes: 63
Liked 321 Times in 138 Posts
Default

I too like the ProShot patches.

Before I begin cleaning, I put some patches in an old medicine bottle and add a small amount of cleaning solution. (Hoppes #9 for handguns; Boretech Eliminator for rifles).

By the time I get out the other stuff and disassemble the firearm, the patches are thoroughly saturated.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-22-2012, 12:07 PM
Muley Gil Muley Gil is online now
US Veteran
Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches  
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: The SW Va Blue Ridge
Posts: 17,473
Likes: 88,960
Liked 24,781 Times in 8,482 Posts
Default

The only patches I buy are for .22 rimfires and I get whatever Wal-Mart has on the shelf.

For everything else, and I own guns that range from .32 up to .58 and .69 muzzleloaders, I use the GI patches sold in bulk.
__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 01-23-2012, 04:54 PM
roadhog96 roadhog96 is offline
Member
Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches  
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: CT
Posts: 173
Likes: 51
Liked 36 Times in 23 Posts
Default

I think I'll have to agree with most of you, Brownell's HD and Military patches look like the best only question is, there for a .30 cal. Will these fit the .38 special barrel properly. Some sites I checked out recommended a 1 3/4" patch and others said a 2 1/4" patch.
Does anyone know what the proper size is for .38 special.
I don't want to make this a bigger issue than it should be but i wouldnt think they can all be the right one for the job. After all there is a reason why they make so many different sizes.

Last edited by roadhog96; 01-23-2012 at 05:01 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 01-23-2012, 05:38 PM
CptCurl's Avatar
CptCurl CptCurl is offline
SWCA Member
Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches  
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Fincastle, VA
Posts: 1,596
Likes: 2,879
Liked 6,282 Times in 910 Posts
Default

Bore patches are not very technical. I would wager that most people make their own out of rags.

I shoot a lot and do a lot of gun cleaning. Most often I make bore patches by cutting up paper towels into squares of approximately 1 1/4". I do this by folding and cutting the paper towels, and I use one of the tougher brands such as Bounty.

Like I say, not rocket science. You probably are fretting over this a bit much.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 01-23-2012, 05:43 PM
arjay's Avatar
arjay arjay is online now
Member
Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches Best size and brand bore patches  
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Colorado
Posts: 15,082
Likes: 91,553
Liked 26,243 Times in 8,376 Posts
Default

Cotton or a little wad of paper towel work well.Seems like most of the pre cut patches are synthetic and worthless.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 01-24-2012, 03:55 PM
arc2x4 arc2x4 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 125
Likes: 2
Liked 30 Times in 11 Posts
Default

The Brownells mil spec and HD patches I found on searching were $30-$46 per thousand for 2.25" patches. Way too expensive.
Were there some others I missed?
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
22lr, brownells, colt, commercial, military

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Bore size 38 S&W? H Richard S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 42 02-11-2019 01:20 PM
Bore Size for Model 32 (38 S & W) ? scha S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 1 08-20-2009 06:11 PM
Odd 629 bore size: sizing question jumping frog Reloading 5 03-28-2009 08:01 PM
627 38 Super Bore Size? lrjet S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 7 11-24-2008 07:44 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:37 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)