Hard to push patch through barrel

[jays]

Hi guys,

I bought some .308 pre-cut patches and it's pretty hard to push the patch through the barrel. Before when cutting my own I had them so there was contact in the barrel but you could pretty smoothly move the rod back and forth.

I'm using the loop kind of attachment for the cleaning rod and run the patch out the muzzle and back. With the pre-cut patches I have to hold the rifle with one hand and use a real firm grip to bring the patch through which I hadn't needed before, sometimes it's firm enough to stop mid-push and I have to give it a real push to finish it off.

Are these too tight? Or have I been cutting them too small before?

Thanks guys.

[Noisydad]

Probably to big on the outside dimensions but still needs to be reasonably firm so that that cloth is pushed right into the grooves.

[tom604]

dry or wet? i find the dry patches a bit harder to push through, and you should need a good grip to push through(don"t bend the rod)

[Shotfox]

The pre cut patches from Tera Gun etc are generally cut larger than required and there sometimes there is a need to trim them down.This is because they cover a calibre range rather than calibre specific. I tend to leave my cut patches in the cleaning soloution in a herb jar with a tight lid so they are ready to go at any time. If you have tight patches make sure your cleaning rod is one piece otherwise you will bend it where it joins together. Invest in a good cleaning rod as I am speaking from experiance.

[jays]

dry or wet? i find the dry patches a bit harder to push through, and you should need a good grip to push through(don"t bend the rod)

Just wet so far. Solvent and oil.

Will run a dry patch through before the next shoot but haven't done that yet.

[Seconds]

A little resistance is normal.

As long as your not forced to push so far your bending the rod and pressing it hard along the rifling while working it, it should be all good.

[Rocker]

You could always try switching to a jag instead of the loop as well.

Spreads the patch more evenly instead of a lump of cloth on 2 sides like the loops can do and get stuck with.

[Patrol66]

Ditto on the jag. Not a big fan of the loop style. I find the jag gives a better clean / lube. I too have to trim pre cut patches down at times

[The Brass]

Ditto on the jag. Not a big fan of the loop style. I find the jag gives a better clean / lube.

+1

I was using the loops to start but have switch to jag ages ago. Should have done it from the beginning.

More forgiving on patch sizes and a better clean. Most noticeably on my blued barrels which takes more work than the stainless to get the copper off of.

Switch to a jag.

[headspace]

I cut my patches from that 4x2 stuff in a big roll that the military use. I only use a jag and never pull it back through the muzzle, too much chance of crown damage. There needs to be a certain amount of resistance other wise the job isn't getting done right. Brush first then patch.
JD

[Jack V]

I do it the cheap and easy way , Wrap style jag and a Big roll of chux towelling from Bunnings . Tear the squares lengthways into about 20 mm wide strips.

The good part is you can adjust the patch tension with more or less overlap on the wrap . Loose patch for washing out , applying oil or grease , tighter for cleaning out solvent .

If your bore is dry it will be harder to push a tight patch. If you have used moly coated bullets it will be very hard in a dry bore .

[jays]

I picked up a jag bit today and trimmed a little off the edge of the patches and ran a few through.

Much better!

Just as clean as far as I can tell

Thanks to all for their replies.