Cleaning patch size

[SanDiego619]

Hello,

I got some .223 cleaning patches but they are tiny little circles. When I run them through the barrel it seems like they are not compressed much so they don't wipe the barrel down very well. I am used to cutting patches off a long strip of cotton so they are tighter in the barrel when I pull them through.

Which one is better, a patch that is loose in the barrel or one that is squished inside and tighter? It seems like the larger patch would work better for pulling gunk out after the solvent, but there must be a reason the .223 patches are the size that they are.

[Scratch705]

i wrap my patch around my brush. i also use the synthetic fiber patches which i have noticed are thinner than typical twill or cotton patches.

when i use by twill patch, it is super tight and i have to tap the rod with a small rubber mallet to help push the patch through.

[SanDiego619]

i wrap my patch around my brush. i also use the synthetic fiber patches which i have noticed are thinner than typical twill or cotton patches.

when i use by twill patch, it is super tight and i have to tap the rod with a small rubber mallet to help push the patch through.

The brush trick is a good idea. I'll try that. Do you brush your barrel every time? I don't, I've just been running solvent through then a few patches to get the solvent out then a lubed patch to lube it. Are we supposed to brush em every time?

[Scratch705]

i use the brush cause i don't clean every time. to get the little flakes of carbon/lead/brass in the barrel that are really stuck out i typically have to brush.

i also only clean every 2 range trips with the specific firearms as i also don't take every firearm out with me with each range trip. i only take 4 guns each trip and i rarely take the same guns on the next trip. this way i get to rotate what guns i use and don't have "safe queens".

[General]

I use a patch over brush.

[bohoki]

round ones are jag patches the jag should be fairly thick using them with an eye would make them too small

[ar15barrels]

Hello,

I got some .223 cleaning patches but they are tiny little circles. When I run them through the barrel it seems like they are not compressed much so they don't wipe the barrel down very well. I am used to cutting patches off a long strip of cotton so they are tighter in the barrel when I pull them through.

Which one is better, a patch that is loose in the barrel or one that is squished inside and tighter? It seems like the larger patch would work better for pulling gunk out after the solvent, but there must be a reason the .223 patches are the size that they are.

Tighter fit is better.
The tiny patches might be for 22 rimfires which have tighter bores than centerfires.

[DrewTheBrave]

I've cleaned with two or three at a time in a pinch. Seems to work pretty well if that's all you have available.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[SanDiego619]

I've cleaned with two or three at a time in a pinch. Seems to work pretty well if that's all you have available.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

I'll do that to use em up, thanks for the tip

[Donk310]

I haven't used patches in YEARS. I gotta get me some patches. I am so out of the loop.

[SanDiego619]

I haven't used patches in YEARS. I gotta get me some patches. I am so out of the loop.

What do you use? Do you clean your bores?

[Usmc0844spare]

Also try using one of those Parker Hale jags where you wrap a rectangular patch around the circumference. Same concept as wrapping a patch around a bore brush I suppose.

Anyway, I noticed that those tend to get more gunk out than the pointy jags and patches, although it's a bit fiddly to get the patch size just right.

[Donk310]

What do you use? Do you clean your bores?

Yes. I've just been bore snaking them. I know they are not the best and it bootie-hurts a lot of people, but that's been my operation.

[Pofoo]

As you suspect, tight is better. I doubt that there is any "standard" size and that there are large differences in sizes. I have a bag of 1k that are too big that I have to trim off to use.

[SanDiego619]

Yes. I've just been bore snaking them. I know they are not the best and it bootie-hurts a lot of people, but that's been my operation.

I boresnake first, then do the stuff with patches. I didn't know boresnakes butthurt people, I think they might be snaking the wrong bore...