Painter's rag as patch for shotgun?

[bigbearbear]

I shoot just about every weekend and I like to keep my shotgun clean when I put it away, its a habit of mine. The only problem is, even though I use paper towels where possible, the barrel still use up quite a number of patches.

I ran into this bag of "Painter's Rag" sold at Home Depot, they sell them by the pound. About $11 for a 4 pound bag. They also have a 8 pound bag for $20. Has anyone used these for cleaning their shotguns? Any issues with them? They looked just like normal patch cloth to me except they come in bigger pieces, just need to cut them up a little I think.

Thanks.

[Ritchie8719]

They will work fine if you cannot find the very best rag ever made, a cloth diaper.

Loose fibers can be a concern, according to some, but if you swab with oil at the end of cleaning I don't think it is an issue.

[P5Ret]

Old t-shirts or socks always work for me. Especially since I always seem to have an odd number of socks.

[aippi]

I use only AI&P Tactical Cleaning Patches. I get them at Wal-mart, they are called Paper Towels.

[bigbearbear]

I use only AI&P Tactical Cleaning Patches. I get them at Wal-mart, they are called Paper Towels.

Ah! I need to order some of those from your web site.

I use those blue ones from the automotive section of Walmart or Lowes on most places of the shotgun. However, they tend to rip a little easily because I use my bore brush as a jag. So for the bore I like using cloth instead.

Come to think of it, I should go get myself a proper jag. Do you use one with paper towel? If so, can you tell me which one do you use? Thanks.

[Tom-ADC]

Buy a Tico Tool and be done with it.

[aippi]

I don't use any bore brush or jag or anything like that. I simply stretch a pad of steel wool over a wooden dowel and run it through the barrel. My barrels look like mirrors inside. A client present in the shop looked down the barrel that was going on his weapon and stated that he didn't know 870 were chrome lined. I showed him the wooden dowel. For really filthy barrels I put the dowel in my drill and spin it through.

[f308gt4]

I used to use one of my wife's (unused) tampons to clean the barrel of my shotgun. I forget where I got that tip from. It actually worked fine. Now, I just use a boresnake.

[bigbearbear]

I don't use any bore brush or jag or anything like that. I simply stretch a pad of steel wool over a wooden dowel and run it through the barrel. My barrels look like mirrors inside. A client present in the shop looked down the barrel that was going on his weapon and stated that he didn't know 870 were chrome lined. I showed him the wooden dowel. For really filthy barrels I put the dowel in my drill and spin it through.

This is interesting, can you tell me what sized wooden dowel will work for 12 gauge barrels?

[wjc]

Orchard Supply sells bags of cut up t-shirts.

I use those to clean my shotguns.

[ysr_racer]

A bore snake and a squirt of your favorite lube is all you need.

[Tom-ADC]

I don't use any bore brush or jag or anything like that. I simply stretch a pad of steel wool over a wooden dowel and run it through the barrel. My barrels look like mirrors inside. A client present in the shop looked down the barrel that was going on his weapon and stated that he didn't know 870 were chrome lined. I showed him the wooden dowel. For really filthy barrels I put the dowel in my drill and spin it through.

Maybe if the barrel was gummed up bad I'd try this but after every shoot I don't think so, the Tico works and it's gentle.

[aippi]

Steel wool can not hurt the barrel and simply pulls all the mess out of it. I do it any time I shoot as I don't know when that weapon is going out again (I have more then one) and I don't want residue sitting there for what could be months. Smooth bore barrels do not need any chemicals to keep them clean. I will spend my money on ammo not a bunch of bottles of some mess they have marketed for something that is not needed. Been cleaning barrels like this for 35 years. Worked then, works now. Those wooden dowels in the pictures on my web site are all over 7 years old and a package of steel wool can last an average shooter a couple years. See, more money for ammo.

[bigbearbear]

A quick update on this. After the shoot this morning, I tried out the painter's rag and they work better than I expected. The typical cleaning patch for 12 gauge shotgun is really a little too small, with this painter's rag, I can cut a larger and longer piece and ram it through the bore wrapped around my bore brush.

It seems to get all the carbon out quicker than when I was using the typical cleaning patch. I believe this is because with a larger and longer strip of cloth, it fits the bore much more snugly and that really helps.

The AI&P Tactical method seems interesting too, I'll try getting a couple of 7/16th wooden dowel and try it out. For those interested, here's the procedure and how it looks like (can't you make the picture larger JD?): http://www.aiptactical.com/Page_2.html

[trapperjohn]

I used to use patches, then bore snakes...now I just use a Tico Tool right after shooting, while the crud is still fresh. Five or six twisting passes and the bores are as clean as if I spent ten minutes futzing with the rod and patches. Last pass out with the Tico Tool I use the "mop" they provide, coated with some Rem Oil, and the barrels are pristine. The Tool cleans the chokes just as well as the barrels, but about every fourth or fifth outing, I pull the chokes, clean the threads, and re-oil lightly.

Why spend more time on anything else to get equivalent results?