cleaning "patch"

[gunhawk]

 Here's something I have tried for barrel cleaning after shooting:  instead of a regular  3 inch circular Hoppe's, Gunslick, or other  commercial gun cleaning patch for barrel cleaning  I have used dusting cloths I cut into a "patch."
I cut the dusting cloth into either about a 3 inch circular patch, or roughly 4 inch square size and then run that down the barrel. Its a tough material that I find works pretty well. You can cut 6 or more  patches out of a single dusting cloth.
Happy shooting, and happy cleaning !

[flintboomer]

You can also cut up old cotton socks into patches. They soak up a lot of fowling, but you need to use a jag that is one size smaller than normal because of the thickness.

[Watauga]

Good Idea gunhawk  I make them out of old T shirts. I will have to give dusting cloths a try...

[gjdenison]

Baby diaper flannel makes a great cleaning patch.

[Hanshi]

Flannel and similar stuff make superior cleaning patches and the cheaper the better.  I've bought flannel baby blankets at the thrift store for peanuts.

[William]

I buy 100% cotton flannel at the local fabric store by the yard and it takes a long time for me to use it all. Just a cut patch dampened with rubbing alcohol removes a great deal of powder fouling and also takes away any leftover oil when you are just beginning your shooting session.

[graybear]

Like William, I buy flannel by the yard @ the fabric store. I cut it into strips and roll it up and put it into small ziplock bags. I carry it in my shooting box so I always have it when I go to the range or when my brother and I go to the western part of the state for early muzzle loader season. I also carry a strip in my shooting bag so when I take a shot in the field I can run a damp patch down the bore until I get back to the cabin or home to clean. Cut them as needed and use alcohol pads for removing oil before going shooting or hunting. I use Ballistisol & water for cleaning and straight Ballistisol for oiling the metalwork and wiping down the wood. Most of the time I cut 2" strips ( .32 -. 50 cal) but I also cut 3" strips for the big boys ( .54 -.62 cal plus my 12 ga.)   

[William]

I will add that after cleaning, a flannel patch with a few drops of Barricade applied to it will evenly spread the oil in the bore.

[Winter Hawk]

+1 on flannel.  I use the worn out nighties my Sweetie throws in the rag box.  Rip into 2 - 3 inch strips, then cut into squares and then  into zip lock bags.  I DO ensure that they are not the flannel nighties she is still wearing.  It saves a lot of hate and discontent in our marriage!

[DandJofAZ]

Same-O Same-O   Flannel new or used.

[Mad Irish Jack ODonnell]

I buy cotton long underwear that have the little pocket pattern to it. Those pockets grab the cruddy residue and clean the bbl great,. and you can find them at Goodwill, St Vincent DePaul, or any thrift shops around; just have to search.

[Hanshi]

I don't use my old socks for cleaning; that would be a good way to rust up a bore in seconds. 

I use old t-shirts, cotton rags and flannel.  Another thing I use are those super absorbent cloths that used to be advertised on TV.  They are thick and "flannel like" and usually require a smaller jag. 

[hotfxr]

You don't want an open flame around Hanshi's old socks, believe me.
I was given several pieces of thin denim material (don't ask) and found them to be excellent bore cleaners. The denim cuts right through that barrel crud and leaves my barrels shiny and happy.   

[DandJofAZ]

Baby diaper flannel makes a great cleaning patch.

Hope you're not using disposable diapers you pick up along the side of the road.

[Hanshi]

I'll use a wide variety of cloth for cleaning but prefer the thicker stuff, flannel, denim, etc.  And ignore hotfxr's open flame warning; only twice was there an explosion and then only because I didn't leave the socks in the sun for the usual two weeks, just 5 days instead.  I lose a lot of socks since I'm clumsy and drop them a lot.  And too often they will shatter.