I have a confession to make. It took over a year after my wife gave me a drymate Gun Cleaning Pad as a Christmas present to understand its real value and utility.
You see, I am what can be charitably called Type A. My family and friends would go further and call my personality type insufferably anal. Whatever the term of choice, this personality bent makes me loathe to try out new things lest they reduce my efficiency.
Of course, this also means that it often takes me an extended period of time to discover how a new product, etc. might save me significant time and effort. Such was the case with my Christmas present.
I ignored the drymate Gun Cleaning Pad residing in my cleaning box until one day when I was at the range. I wanted to clean my rifles, but a heavy fog had rolled through and every surface was soaked.
I pulled out the pad with its waterproof backing, laid it on a semi-dry bench and cleaned my two firearms.
That was, in southern US terms, my come-to-Jesus moment about this wonderful product.
Since that forced epiphany, I have never gone to the range again without pulling the drymate out, laying it across a bench and using it to protect whatever firearm(s) I had with me.
It has been a great aid in keeping dings and scratches off of review guns – some of which are quite valuable, like the Model 1886 Reproduction pictured above.
It also protects whatever you put it on from gun oil, solvent and other fluids you may spill.
If the bottom of the pad gets wet it will dry quickly while hanging over a railing or chair. In fact, it’s machine-washable. If it gets too filthy, I can just pop it into a washing machine.
At 54 x 16 inches, the Pad will cushion the longest rifles and shotguns. But its design allows the user to also fold it into as small a space as needed for pistols and revolvers as well.
I just looked and the price on Amazon for the “rifle-sized” drymate is listed as $16.12. If my pad ever wears out — and that won’t be soon — I’ll immediately order another one.
I think it should read: …increase my efficiency.
No,he’s reluctant to try things which might reduce his efficiency while learning how to use them.
Ooops, need remedial reading lessons. Please ignore my previous comment.
Ed P. You made me look!! And, it could have easily been my mistake! Thanks, Mike
Aaaannnnd excuse my rush to respond, please 🙂
That Ruger .22 color-case hardened looks *sweet*…
**burnt and fire damaged**
FIFY
I’ll take the grips on it, though. Works of art.
” loathe to try out new things lest they reduce my efficiency.”
Oh, I know that feeling!
I was about to type “I’ll take that beautiful lever rifle”, but then I noticed the looks-like-burnt-in-a-fire Ruger. I recall reading the article on that pistol a couple of weeks ago. The author really seems to like the case hardened + wood stock/grip combo. Absolutely fabulous on the rifle; not so much on the pistol.
What were we talking about again? Oh yeah…I have cleaning mats already, but nice article.
OK. Did I miss something, or is my green spill proof pad, that I’ve had for years, just not cool cause it’s not in cammo?
With my eyesight I would need a pocketful of J.B.’s flashlights to find my LCP take down pin!
^^This^^
I like my solid black mat. Nothing gets lost on it.
I got started shooting 4 years ago, and went to Walmart (in CA) and picked a Remington cleaning mat, some Hoppe’s solvent and oil, a Winchester cleaning kit (rods, patch tip and brushes inside handle), and some cotton patches. And some 9mm ammo. Now that’s all gone. Because Walmart got politically correct.
That cheap mat has a nice plastic bottom and felt top and works fine. Though the felt does tend to snag on brushes or other sharp stuff.
Switch to bore snakes.
FAST!
And no damage from metal rods, or going the “wrong” way in semi-auto rifles.
Wash and hang to dry.
Yup, yup, yup. I made the switch last year and never looked back. All my “rod” kits are gone now. Even my squib clearing rods are of single lengths of polished steel, chamfered at the ends to avoid scratching the interior of the barrels.
i know where you can get felt for free.
An old bath towel has worked for me for 30 plus years. I guess young guys need something to spend their money on.
That rifle makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
I made my own mats out of a 2’x5′ all-weather rug I picked up at Home Depot. It has rubber backing so it won’t slide around. And the surface is a black, ribbed, tight cropped “outdoor rug” fabric of some kind. No issues whatsoever with spills and small parts don’t go rolling away due to the ribbing. Ended up getting a big brass grommet kit and punched grommet holes in the corners to hang them up. The one 2’x5′ rug made 4 mats: two rifle mats and two pistol mats. After the last 4 years of use there’s no appreciable wear on the mats so they should last a looooooong time. Total cost for the four mats: under $25. Only downside is they don’t roll / fold up well.
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