Cleaning patches?

biggles

biggles

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"Patches, patches, we don't need no stinking Patches".

As a very newcomer to firearms I will say up front that I don't know a lot, anyway here goes.

The first ever rifle I fired & then cleaned was a Snider Enfield, bore = .577" & I use 3" square patches...because that is what the guy in the gunshop sold me.

Now I am getting into firing & cleaning Lee Enfield's with a much smaller bore should I be using a smaller patch?. I was looking at the last gun show & online & there seems to be a bewildering variety of sizes of patches.

Is the size of patch used based on the calibre/bore size?.

Peter (Burlington, Ontario)
 
Dude.....Biggles......Guy.....the easiest way to clean bores, especially a variety of bores is to use Shop Towel and just rip off the width/length you need. It is WAY cheaper than patches and you can over size the shop towel strips to clean better and more efficiently.
 
Well you can use the same sized patch, and have lots of fun when the cleaning rod gets stuck in the barrel:eek:

There are smaller size patches for .303 and even smaller ones for .22's
 
I use some mechanic's paper towel or shop towel (they're blue, and I can find some at Canadian Tire in the car parts section). Better than regular paper towel (resist tearing and no lint). I cut a bunch to size and I'm good for a long while.

Also I got a bore snake recently and that helps a lot (I usually start with the bore snake and use some patches / brush after).

Lou
 
Bore Snake

Louthpou,
do you put anything on the bore snake, or just use it dry?
Peter (Burlington, Ontario)

louthepou said:
I use some mechanic's paper towel or shop towel (they're blue, and I can find some at Canadian Tire in the car parts section). Better than regular paper towel (resist tearing and no lint). I cut a bunch to size and I'm good for a long while.

Also I got a bore snake recently and that helps a lot (I usually start with the bore snake and use some patches / brush after).

Lou
Click to expand...
 
Most gunshops should have bulk patches suitable for .30/.303 bores sized 1.75"x1.75". One of these patches can also but cut into four .22 patches.

Blue shop towels also work OK, but you have to take care not to tear through them if you use a jag instead of a slotted tip on your cleaning rod.
 
Go buy a yard or two of remnant cotton flannelette(think winter bed sheets) in a discount fabric shop and cut it into 2" x 4" pieces for .30 plus calibres. Half that size for .22's. Comes in 36" ad 60" wide. Cost you under $10 for several hundred. The colour doesn't matter.
 
sunray said:
Go buy a yard or two of remnant cotton flannelette(think winter bed sheets) in a discount fabric shop and cut it into 2" x 4" pieces for .30 plus calibres. Half that size for .22's. Comes in 36" ad 60" wide. Cost you under $10 for several hundred. The colour doesn't matter.
Click to expand...

+1! This is what I do. Go to Fabricland or Michael's. Even new white cotton flannelette is cheap, a couple of bucks a metre, even goes on sale once in a while. If you get one of those fabric cutting wheels and a cutting mat, it will be less work than cutting with scissors.
 
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