Best patches or patch preference for cleaning

[nipster]

For years I had just bought bulk 100% cotton cloth fabric from a place that sells fabric to ladies who sew and cut them to size, but got lazy recently and started buying pre-cut patches from places like Midway.

I have been less than impressed with the quality of some of the ones I have bought, as they "come apart" rather easily compared to my bulk cloth. Seemed to leave fiber and lint all over the gun which I hate. I also tried synthetic patches, but they didnt seem to do as good of a job, but were MUCH cleaner.

Does anyone have recommendations on a "patch of choice"?

 

[everReady Rob]

I do basically what you use to do. Cut up old tee/sweat shirts that have been washed so many times they go to the rag bag. Repeated washing takes care of the lint & die problem.

Works for me, but then I'm a tight-wad.

 

[special44]

I have used the Bulk Cleaning Patches for years as sold by
Brownell's, with complete satisfaction, however, I've also used
many old T-shirts as well.

 

[chief38]

Brownell's Brand of cotton patches are EXCELLENT! Their Military spec. .30 caliber ones are quite good for the Carbine, Garand and for .38/.357 special revolvers and Carbines. Their HD #5 large 3 1/2" (shotgun) are great for all Shotguns as as well as .45 acp & .45 LC. Their quality is about the best there is these days, and the prices while higher than we would like, are reasonable for the times we live in.

Chief38

 

[Titegroups]

Buy a bore snake and forget the patches for the most part.

 

[nipster]

Buy a bore snake and forget the patches for the most part.

Not a fan of bore snakes for revolvers.

Thanks everyone for the advice, I will try Brownells stuff. I have to place an order there for something else anyway soon.

The last batch I bought was made by Bore Tech, and was awful.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I've tried a few different types of patches, including cotton ones, and right now I prefer bulk square synthetic patches. Every cotton patch I've tried frays and leaves lint everywhere. I've tried cut-up old cotton T-shirts and had the same problem.

I may try something else in the future, but for now I'll stick with the bulk square synthetic patches. No real brand preference, though.

 

[Cpt. Obvious]

I've been using Tipton brand patches for a while now, they are pretty nice. Like Continental said, cotton patches can leave lint and frays, but I haven't found the problem to be so annoying. Think I got the Tipton patches from midway.

 

[ogilvyspecial]

I've been using Tipton brand patches for a while now, they are pretty nice. Like Continental said, cotton patches can leave lint and frays, but I haven't found the problem to be so annoying. Think I got the Tipton patches from midway.

I don't find it that annoying either but then I use a can of air, like the type used to blow dust out of electronics, as part of my cleaning kit.

In addition to blowing off/out lint & stray fibers it also blows lube into hard to reach areas.

With that said, I always make sure I blow lint/ fibers off of the gun, not into it, and do so first before moving on to the lube role of the canned air.

 

[tomcatt51]

I have .22, 38/357, .44, and .45's. After going thru many types/brands of patches what's on my bench is Hoppe's .22 to .270 and .270 to .35 caliber patches and Brownell's #3 round patches 1 3/4".

 

[chief38]

Bore snakes are good for a superficial Field cleanings or between sessions close together, but lack the ability to really clean the barrel & cylinder properly IMHO. If you think the Bore Snake does a good job, re-clean your gun using a bronze bore brush followed up with solvent soaked patches, then see how much the Bore Snake left behind.

Chief38

 

[kennyb]

i have had great luck with pro shot patches in all sizes

 

[Steve in Vermont]

i have had great luck with pro shot patches in all sizes

I'll second that. I buy 2" squares for .38 and for .22 the 3" (cut them into 1" squares). I also use a Bore Snake for the .38, in the field, when the bore/cylinders need a quick clean.

 

[nipster]

Thanks, most enlightening.

 

[brucev]

For years I had just bought bulk 100% cotton cloth fabric from a place that sells fabric to ladies who sew and cut them to size, but got lazy recently and started buying pre-cut patches from places like Midway.

I have been less than impressed with the quality of some of the ones I have bought, as they "come apart" rather easily compared to my bulk cloth. Seemed to leave fiber and lint all over the gun which I hate. I also tried synthetic patches, but they didnt seem to do as good of a job, but were MUCH cleaner.

Does anyone have recommendations on a "patch of choice"?

I have had very good results using the standard type G.I. 2x2 inch square cleaning patches commonly sold at gun shows, etc. The are sufficiently large enough for cleaning both rifles and handguns using the correct size jag. HTH.

 

[trulyapostolic]

Used Sinclair's patches for years.

 

[one eye joe]

Brownell's Brand of cotton patches are EXCELLENT! Their Military spec. .30 caliber ones are quite good for the Carbine, Garand and for .38/.357 special revolvers and Carbines. Their HD #5 large 3 1/2" (shotgun) are great for all Shotguns as as well as .45 acp & .45 LC. Their quality is about the best there is these days, and the prices while higher than we would like, are reasonable for the times we live in.

Chief38

I agree, Chief38. They are the best.....

 

[TSQUARED]

Personally I remove all the crud witha bronze brush and then use a good grade paperr towel (cut to size) with either Hoppes #9 or CLP Break Free to remove the loosened crud.

 

[Marksman]

I worked in Browning Arms Company's gunsmithing shop many years ago. All they used were .30 Cal. G.I. patches, wrap them around a brass brush on the diagonal and clean away. Best way I've found to clean a bore with JB Compound. .30 Cal. patches are big enough to allow two uses, unwrap and rewrap with clean side out. The nap on the flannel holds solvent/cleaning compound well and does a good job of removing crud from the bore.

 

[larry8]

I found an old bed sheet cut to size works well and doesn't leave as much lint behind.