Whether you need 9 mm cleaning patches to clean your carry weapon or a variety of different sizes to help you maintain your entire collection, getting absorbent, high-quality patches ensures your firearms are clean and ready for use. Even though most gun cleaning patches are made of cotton, they differ from standard towels, cloths, and other rags because they leave minimal residue on the surface. This is particularly important for weapons, as any debris in the components can lead to ammo malfunctions and misfires. If you're looking to upgrade your gun cleaning kit, here are some answers to common questions to help you decide what to get.
You should only use patches that are specifically made for cleaning weapons. Specialized gun cleaning patches are made so that they don't leave cotton fibers inside your firearms. They are also soft enough to not scratch the sensitive components or damage the rifling of the barrel, ensuring your weapons remain in top condition. On the other hand, paper towels, old shirts, and other cotton rags can be too abrasive on the metal, damaging it and potentially allowing rust to form.
Yes, the size of the patch makes a difference in how effective it is. Since some calibers are much larger than others, smaller patches won't work as well in large-caliber weapons, or vice versa. For example, 9 mm cleaning patches would not be effective for a rifle chambered in .223, as the 9 mm patches are made for wider barrels. In this case, it would be difficult to push the patch through, taking you long to clean the weapon and potentially damaging the barrel.
While cleaning patches help you remove moisture and debris from your weapon, you will likely need more to actually clean the components thoroughly. One of the top items that many enthusiasts use is known as CLP, which stands for Cleaner, Lubricant, and Preservative. This is a 3-in-1 liquid that you can apply to your gun cleaning patches and use on all the components to remove debris, lubricate sensitive parts, and protect them from moisture and carbon damage. Adding some CLP to your gun cleaning kit is an easy, effective way to keep your weapons in the best condition possible.
We have a wide variety of cleaning patches available for many calibers here at OpticsPlanet. Check out some of our top brands, including Southern Bloomer, Hoppe's 9, and Slip 2000. If you need to stock up on ammo for your next range trip, we also have tons of in-stock options, including 9 mm ammo and .223/5.56 ammo.