What's in your bag ??

[Pete G.]

Just curious as to what ends up in others' shot pouches. Seems that no matter how I try to minimize I always end up with about 10 pounds of stuff. Sort of like my truck, but on a smaller scale.
Seems that I always can think of one more little thing. It is handy to have enough in a bag to just grab it up and head to the range, but seems like I always end up taking three or four rifles, which means same number of bags, horns, etc. Then there is the range rod, cleaning stuff, targets (don't forget staples for the staple gun), perhaps a proper shirt and/or hat...

I have sort of settled into the idea of a bag for the range and a smaller one for the hunt. Now what happens is that when I go to the hunting club , which also has the range, I end up taking two bags for every rifle!!! If this keeps up I may have to buy a trailer to pull behind.

[BrownBear]

I hope you're a bag maker!  

You're describing two different worlds for me.... range shooting and hunts. My range gear is built around a large "tackle box" of shooting supplies and tools. My bags are for hunting only, so I am real minimalist with them. If I was into trail walks and range competition I'd probably end up with a competition bag in addition to the tackle box, with the tackle box staying handy for refills and repairs.  But the hunting bag would remain inviolate. I'd use it at the range to practice for hunts, but hunts would remain front and center for its existence.  

And as for 10 pounds of gear? Yup. There's a law of physics about things spreading to fill available space.  Entropy, maybe? I keep my hunting bags small, for the specific reason that I want to avoid carrying too much. They tend to be large enough for my hand, plus a few extra balls, patching, lube and minimal repair tools, mostly ramrod tips-- roughly 6" x 6" with a 1" gusset in the bottom half. A knife and either a vent pick or strip of caps, plus the horn on the strap.  The horn and knife are small, so the whole setups look kind of kooky compared to what most folks carry. More like a playtoy for kids, but hey.  I'm a kid, too!

[Cory Joe Stewart]

OK, just so you know I recently moved, and have not actaully been out shooting in a bit.  The last time I had my bag on was a presentation for some 8th graders. 

So here is what is in my bag. 

I loading block made of curly maple, a brass compass that I cannot get the lid off of, a plastic baggie with .610 round ball, a elk skin bag with .600 round ball, a forged multi tool a friend made, a platic container with ear plugs, a bunch of patches scattered in the bottom, a strand of trade beads I used for the show and tell, a pewter spoon, my primer horn, and a buckeye chestnut. 

I have got to clean this thing out and get back on the range. 

Coryjoe

[El Lobo]

What's in my bag:

.490 round ball in an interior pocket
Pre-cut round patches in a Ted Cash pill box
Short starter
Vent pick on a lanyard
Powder measure on a lanyard
Priming horn on a neck loop
Turnscrew
Red shop rag
Earplugs

[Roger Fisher]

I take no bag for hunting - pockets suffice.

Trailwalks I use a primative belt bag (I dislike a bag hanging by a strap 'round my neck) short starter in a loop under the flap, patch knife in a slot inside corner of bag, enough balls for the walk in a finger accessible pocket inside side of bag, combo tool, xtra flint loose in bottom of the bag, strip of patching (which is then tucked under my belt, horn seperate. No cleaning patches. Primer round my neck. Measure in bag.

[KentSmith]

Hunting - Cowhide ball bag with 20 .490 balls, extra strips of patch material greased, small tin of grease, vent pick and brush on a small chain, powder measure on a wang of elk skin, small wallet with extra flints, piece of leather, cleaning jag and ball puller, turn screw.

Trekking - all the above with fire starter kit, a bar of lead, lead ladle and mould.

[roundball]

For the range, a large 'tackle box' with most of the used items right there at the shooting table with me...with a couple boxes of targets, tools, supplies, etc, in the truck.

Otherwise, with my main interest being shooting & hunting the Flintlock itself, I admit I am otherwise mostly a modern hunter wearing modern clothes.  I started out using a small belt bag, but eventually dedicated one large front pocket of an upland shooting vest that I already use as an overall equipment vest for hunting  (food, water, hat & gloves, flashlight, rain gear, etc) and the BP items I usually carry in that “possibles pocket” are:

A few powder charges / balls / patches
Short Starter / T-handle / Muzzle guide
Jag / Ball puller / Patch retriever
Spare vent liner / flints / leathers
Pan brush  / Pan primer


And...following the backpacker's credo "if I pack it in, I pack it out" I also carry a few ziploc bags set up as field cleaning kits with each bag containing:
>>Wet cleaning patches
>>Dry patches
>>Lubed patch
>>Foil wrapped alcohol wipe
>>Q-tip & Pipe cleaner
Cleaning up after a shot I stuff all the dirty mess back in it's bag and pack it out.
Maybe not traditional, but the right thing to do for those using the woods after us.

[Sequatchie Rifle]

In my Frank Barker pouch I carry 25 round .40 cal balls that I moulded, patches, some tow, a small tin holding a sail mending needle, extra flints, lubed patches for cleaning, flint and steel.  Inside attached to a rawhide lace is my antler powder measure and ball starter also made of antler and wood.  My vent pick and brush hang from a brass chain, the pick is secured by in a small sheath attached to the strap.  Also attached to the strap is a small "patch Knife". I found the knife in my grandmothers knife drawer and was told it had been in the family longer than anyone can remember.

[Campchair]

An old Kit Ravenshear (now deceased) capper if I have my percussion gun, a percussion cap tin of crisco-based patch lube, a ball screw (for unloading) , a breech plug brush (for cleaning) , a cap box with spare caps, 10-15 extra  balls, a small stiff brush, spare nipple pick (in strap) , loading block (in strap), a turnscrew/nipple wrench/mainspring vise combo tool I made that will fit all the screws on my rifle, a folding knife for cutting patches on the loading block, spare nipple if I'm going to be gone for a while, and a pair of hand-forged pliers.  My "Day Bag" is about 8" X 10". The day horn is very small, holds about 20 charges for a .54Cal.. Hunting knife is in a sheath on the back of the bag. I wear it very high so it doesn't "flop" when walking. I also hunt with a .58 Cal. Enfield 2-band (Hey, my Confederate ancestors carried and used them; makes it "American" in my heart, anyway. Besides, they were made at Enfield on American machinery!!). I carry the regulation Federal cartridge box, sling removed, belt carry,  with 20 rounds of paper cartridges, regulation musket cap box, both on a repro period belt. Combo tool in the little pouch in the front of the cartridge box. Deer fall and don't get up when the .58 Minie connects. 70Gr. FFg. charge

Sold both my .54 Cal. flint, and my .54 Cal. Green River Rifleworks Trade Rifle. Currently trying to get up enough dough up to get another flint .52 / .54. Also building a .45 Cal. sideslapper half-stock Southern Rifle, later period percussion.  Campchair

[Frank Barker]

Sequatchie....Looks like you're good to go. A well organized pouch and a place for everything. I bet you were a sharp troop. HUH