Gun Cleaning Patches

[charlesb]

I use the "Bag of Rags" sometimes seen in the paint department in hardware stores. What you get is a plastic bag full of clean white T-shirt material rags. - This is very inexpensive compared to buying patches or cutting up T-shirts.

I use a office-style paper cutter, the kind with the curved blade with a handle to cut the rags into 1" or 2" strips.

Then I cut the strips with scissors while cleaning. Different lengths folded for different thicknesses, as required.

Cut a 2" piece off of a 2" strip, then quarter that and you have four .22 patches, etc. etc.

Inexpensive, versatile, easy to use.

I would feel silly now, paying what they charge for pre-cut patches.

Un-cut, the "Bag of Rags" rags are very good for stock finishing projects, wiping a gun with oil, etc.. I always keep a couple of bags of them around the shop.

[greener]

Sounds like a good idea. I got a "deal" on a bag of patches years ago and have been cutting them down as needed with a pair of shears. I think I'll did through the box of rags we've been collecting for years and start into patch production.

[ruger22]

I stick to ready made. I noticed a long time ago that with Hoppe's patches for .35 caliber, you get 650 patches for six bucks (at Gander). With Hoppe's .22 patches, you only get 500 for the same price ? ? ? ? Makes no sense, since the .22s are a lot smaller.

Fine with me, as the .35 actually works better cleaning a .22 bore, and it also works with my .357 LCR. One patch size is all I need.