Cleaning patch tightness?

[BillK01]

Am I the only person who has a heckuva time with .223 size cleaning patches being too darn tight? I recently bought a bag of 1000 Southern Bloomer brand .223 cleaning patches for our AR's and end up having cut a small strip off every single one or I cannot push the rod through the bore. It's not a huge deal to snip that little strip off each one but wow is it annoying.

Can anyone recommend another brand that works right out of the bag without cutting? I'm also using a BoreTech .223 jag but I don't think it's the problem as other jags I have don't help either.

Thanks!

 

[rck281]

You kind of have to fit the patch to the jag. If you have a large supply of patches, you might want to consider reducing the diameter of the jag a small amount. You really don't want the patch to be extremely tight or it squeezes out the solvent. You want the patch just tight enough to leave some solvent behind and yet push out the crud.

 

[oneyeopn]

another great patch is the Otis small round cleaning patches. The same patches that come with the Otis Military Cleaning Kits. They are 2" but the way they are designed to be used they aren't to tight.

 

[Nevada Ed]

You can use a jag or a slot tip for patches but as mentioned........
Patches come in all sizes, thickness and materials and need to be "Fitted" to your equipment for "Best" results.

Jags of brass, plastic and alum. might have a different over all outside diameter and a little emery cloth or sand paper might fix the problem.................

Good luck.

 

[Maddmax]

Use the slot tip works the best for push or pull. Better yet go with OTIS.

 

[rck281]

I agree that the Otis makes a very good patch. I really don't care for the slot tip unless it's plastic. I just don't like the idea of the metal tip rubbing against the barrel. I realize it is not nearly abrasive as a bullet going down the barrel but it just doesn't seem like a good idea. I also don't like to pull a patch back into the barrel. I have always pushed the patch through the barrel and let it drop off. Just my way of cleaning. Probably left over from my benchrest days. I use Sinclair or ProShot patches.

 

[MichiganScott]

Buy a .20 caliber jag. I find that I usually end up using the jag sized for one caliber less that I'm cleaning.

 

[Waywatcher]

I buy a couple yards of white flannel from the fabric store and cut my own patches as I need them.

Much much cheaper, and they're always just the size I need.

 

[gm272gs]

I didn't even know they made .223-sized patches.

I use .22-sized patches. They work fine. I'm also quite a cheapskate, and cut up old white T-shirts while I'm watching TV. I can't remember when I last bought a package of pre-made patches.

 

[rtquig]

I stick with a bore snake and it cleans fine. It is a tight pull.

 

[oneyeopn]

I also use a boresnake....I havent used my one piece rod or the flexible rod in my Otis kit since I got my boresnakes. I have one for all of my rifle calibers....as they say 3 passes and your done. My boresnakes also go out shooting with me quick and easy clean.

 

[Kadonny]

I also use a boresnake....I havent used my one piece rod or the flexible rod in my Otis kit since I got my boresnakes. I have one for all of my rifle calibers....as they say 3 passes and your done. My boresnakes also go out shooting with me quick and easy clean.

So you solvent it? I love my Boresnake for my shotguns for a quick clean, but if I really want a deep clean I use a brush or jag with sovent and patches. I'll put some very light CLP on it, but I can't see that really doing a great clean job.

 

[Bat Guano]

Brownell's sells GI patches in both .30 and .223 calibers. I use a GI steel rod with an action guide. KISS principle.

 

[S&WNUT]

I agree that the Otis makes a very good patch. I really don't care for the slot tip unless it's plastic. I just don't like the idea of the metal tip rubbing against the barrel. I realize it is not nearly abrasive as a bullet going down the barrel but it just doesn't seem like a good idea. I also don't like to pull a patch back into the barrel. I have always pushed the patch through the barrel and let it drop off. Just my way of cleaning. Probably left over from my benchrest days. I use Sinclair or ProShot patches.

I also use Sinclair or Proshot (only) a big difference in a quality patch. The only thing I can add is if it is to tight off set the jag from the center of the patch.

 

[kennyb]

another vote for pro shot patches

 

[rojodiablo]

Am I the only person who has a heckuva time with .223 size cleaning patches being too darn tight?

Thanks!

There is nothing I can say that will not get me in trouble with the mods after I thought about this for a few seconds......


So all I can say is: I defer to the others and the bore snakes.
That's as close as I can get to touching this one!!!

 

[rtquig]

So you solvent it? I love my Boresnake for my shotguns for a quick clean, but if I really want a deep clean I use a brush or jag with sovent and patches. I'll put some very light CLP on it, but I can't see that really doing a great clean job.

I use the boresnake with a generous amount of ClP. After 3 runs through with the boresnake it is very clean. Again, I only run between 120-150 rounds a session through the MP.

 

[BillK01]

Well I figured it out!

Here's the offending patches...

And here's the back of the package I never looked at...

So I guess the old RTFM addage applies here!

Thanks for all the replies and recommendations.

Bill