Cleaning patches?

[TrxR]

What size cleaning patches do you all use in your .22lr? Ive got a 20 cal rod on the recommendation from Dewey and am wondering if I should use .22 or .20 cal patches?

Thanks

 

[Steve3]

I read your post and went to my cleaning bench to see what I have been using. I have some 3/4 square from Dewey (listed as .17 Caliber). I have also been using some 1 inch square from Sinclair. Keep in mind you can always make them smaller with a pair of scissors and I do that with the 1 inch square (cut off corners). Keep in mind you may want to run a little solvent in the bore to perpetrate and if you use too tight a patch you will wring it all out.

I learned the hard way with a stuck patch - Go smaller and work your way up. Especially if you are new to a caliber.

I use the Dewey and Sinclair patches. Buy them in bulk, they don't go bad and the prices just keep going up. Scissors handy to trim them.

 

[Fotheringill]

Beware the Hoppe's patches now on the market. They are not the cotton ones you would expect.

Personally, I like round instead of square patches. I use a nylon brush (rifle length for the bore and pistol length for the chamber. After that, I use round 1 or 1 1/4" patches with either a PatchWorm or Otis puller.

As above, make sure the first run you do with either brush or patch is preceded by a penetrating oil (I really like Kroil, it will loosen up stuff the other oils won't touch).

Make sure you do a final run through with an absolutely pristine in composition patch to get rid of any and all threads left in the bore or chamber from prior run throughs.

 

[Outrider27]

Years ago I bought 2, 5000 patch bales of surplus GI .30 caliber cleaning patches, which are cloth and square. Don't know what their dimensions are, but I always took a pair of scissors and cut each square in half, then each half square in half. Those 4 quarters of a GI .30 caliber patch were always perfect for .22 barrels. 8) I still have part of one bale left....

I also make square patches, determining the best dimensions for each barrel and rod combination, using off-white color cotton flannel bought on sale by the yard at fabric stores or the fabric counter at stores like Wally World. I keep meaning to take a block of wood to use as an anvil and cut out round ones with an arc punch, but I never have gotten around to that.

 

[Fotheringill]

I THINK the .30 cal patches are 1 3/4 x 1 3/4.

 

[Steve3]

Outrider - I like your idea, thanks !

 

[Outrider27]

I THINK the .30 cal patches are 1 3/4 x 1 3/4.

Operating off my own best memory of their size, I would have bet that was correct. Turns out we were both wrong. I just went down to the basement and grabbed a few of them and measured 6: call it 2 3/8", +/- 1/16".

Steve3, glad if it helps.

Mike

 

[BigDMT]

Years ago I bought 2, 5000 patch bales of surplus GI .30 caliber cleaning patches, which are cloth and square. Don't know what their dimensions are, but I always took a pair of scissors and cut each square in half, then each half square in half. Those 4 quarters of a GI .30 caliber patch were always perfect for .22 barrels. 8) I still have part of one bale left....

I also make square patches, determining the best dimensions for each barrel and rod combination, using off-white color cotton flannel bought on sale by the yard at fabric stores or the fabric counter at stores like Wally World. I keep meaning to take a block of wood to use as an anvil and cut out round ones with an arc punch, but I never have gotten around to that.

+1 on scissors.

2" square patches and sharp scissors allow me to clean everything from 20 cal to 44 cal and even 12 gauge in my collection. I double up two 2" for my 12 gauge shotgun barrels

 

[Steve3]

For shotguns I put a patch over an old worn out 12 gauge brush.

 

[tjtjwdad]

- For 20 cal I use Pro-Shot 1 1/8 square or rounds with a Pro-Shot Jag.
- For 22 & 6mm, I can use the above but I really like the USGI patches.

IIRC, the large USGI patches are for 45 cal. The work on 30 cals with Parker-Hale jag but can be on the snug side.

 

[kawzak]

If you want to make your own patches out of-say an old white tee shirt -do this. Ask a contractor or buy an old 7/8"or 1"hole saw for a drill from a garage sale. Remove the center drill bit . Use a grinder and spin the hole saw in the drill and grind off the old teeth off the hole saw at an angle. Now you have a razor sharp, round tube that you can use on a folded up white tee shirt and cut 20 or so round circles at a time. I have done this with matress ticking for Black powder rifles in various calibers, ( just use bigger hole saws you modify). Be careful you don't get material wrapped up around the modified hole saw, you can twist your wrist or worse. I assume NO responsibility if you get hurt. I never have had a problem. try on material you fold a couple of times untill you get the idea.