Strapped Ball Bags

[Smokey Plainsman]

Hi

Guys ever since reading The Muzzle Loading Cap Lock Rifle by author Ned Roberts, I’ve been interested in the style of ball or bullet pouches fashioned with a strap for carrying across the body. Here is Ned Roberts with such a pouch, this photo dating back to the 1930s or early 1940s:



The pouch in this photo is written to be from the 1860s or 1870s, so is period correct for the late caplock era. Now you may be asking yourself, “why not just carry the balls in the shooting pouch?” Well, this is addressed in the book. Mr. Roberts cites that some shooters and hunters had a decided preference for the separate bullet pouch as that if the man happened to stumble, the balls would be less likely to spill out of the shooting pouch and all over the earth.

As far as carrying a similar shaped bullet pouch in the main hunting bag, as I’ve done many times in the past, I’ll have to say that I now much prefer carrying one of these strapped bullet pouches. This is for a few reasons, but first, here is one I made from a normal strap-less one:



I simply drilled two holes through the thick doubled seems of the pouch and used braided hemp cordage to lash it to a 1/8” leather thong. As mentioned above, I will not be going back to carrying a ball bag inside the hunting pouch. My reasons are that it’s one less thing to fumble through in the main pouch, helps to distribute the weight of the gear across the entire body, and the stopper can be left undone and a ball retrieved very quickly with the left hand (I carry the ball bag on my left side, shooting pouch and horn on the right) which makes for a quicker and more ergonomic reload. The weight of the bag keeps it steady beneath the arm and it did not complicate moving through brush in the slightest.

I like the way it looks, too. This is just a little thought experiment and I’m glad I decided to try it out. Turns out I really love a separate strapped ball bag. Guys, give it a try. One more way to skin a cat and just figured you guys might be interested. Thanks!

-Smokey

[RoaringBull]

Smokey I have in the past carried a metal powder flask covered in leather and on a strap in that same way. To me it was easier as well.

[Clark Badgett]

For the life of me, I can not imagine how loading from two sides of the body is more ergonomic than from a single area.

[MuskratMike]

Great photo, but I to do not like wearing them on the outside (either on a strap, on my belt or attached to the outside of the bag. It's too much weight bouncing around. This is just one "Muskrat's" opinion.

[Brokennock]

Hi Smokey, I've followed a few threads you have involving your ball bag with shoulder strap and I have a question. not a criticism or judgement, as I like how that turned out and I'm glad it seems to work for you,  just a question. Have you walked much/far, gone on a trek, or, like my club, a long walk in to your shooting range, while wearing this over one shoulder and your horn and main bag over the other?

The reason I ask is that while I hunt and trek I find that my bag and horn worn off my left shoulder and hanging under my right arm (up high so I can trap them with my arm if need be and they don't get interfered with by the ground if I sit) the straps don't bother me, don't even notice them. As soon as I add another bag or item on a single strap off my right shoulder and hanging to my left, the straps bother my neck, coming in on it from both sides, where they cross in the middle gets fiddly if I need something stashed in the folds of my hunting shirt, and the crossed straps interfere with eachother when I need to move a bag or the horn for use. Have you had any of these issues? Did you find a "fix" for them?

**Fixed underline problem tdg**

[G. Elsenbeck]

Mike, am sending you a PM.Gary

[Brokennock]

Hi Smokey, I've followed a few threads you have involving your ball bag with shoulder strap and I have a question. not a criticism or judgement, as I like how that turned out and I'm glad it seems to work for you,  just a question. Have you walked much/far, gone on a trek, or, like my club, a long walk in to your shooting range, while wearing this over one shoulder and your horn and main bag over the other?

The reason I ask is that while I hunt and trek I find that my bag and horn worn off my left shoulder and hanging under my right arm (up high so I can trap them with my arm if need be and they don't get interfered with by the ground if I sit) the straps don't bother me, don't even notice them. As soon as I add another bag or item on a single strap off my right shoulder and hanging to my left, the straps bother my neck, coming in on it from both sides, where they cross in the middle gets fiddly if I need something stashed in the folds of my hunting shirt, and the crossed straps interfere with eachother when I need to move a bag or the horn for use. Have you had any of these issues? Did you find a "fix" for them?

Okay, I've tried 3x to remove the underline from everything except the word "not" where the underline starts, I give up. "NOT" is supposed to be the only word underlined.

[Bob McBride]

Hi Smokey, I've followed a few threads you have involving your ball bag with shoulder strap and I have a question. not a criticism or judgement, as I like how that turned out and I'm glad it seems to work for you,  just a question. Have you walked much/far, gone on a trek, or, like my club, a long walk in to your shooting range, while wearing this over one shoulder and your horn and main bag over the other?

The reason I ask is that while I hunt and trek I find that my bag and horn worn off my left shoulder and hanging under my right arm (up high so I can trap them with my arm if need be and they don't get interfered with by the ground if I sit) the straps don't bother me, don't even notice them. As soon as I add another bag or item on a single strap off my right shoulder and hanging to my left, the straps bother my neck, coming in on it from both sides, where they cross in the middle gets fiddly if I need something stashed in the folds of my hunting shirt, and the crossed straps interfere with eachother when I need to move a bag or the horn for use. Have you had any of these issues? Did you find a "fix" for them?

Okay, I've tried 3x to remove the underline from everything except the word "not" where the underline starts, I give up. "NOT" is supposed to be the only word underlined.

It is.

[Brokennock]

Hi Smokey, I've followed a few threads you have involving your ball bag with shoulder strap and I have a question. not a criticism or judgement, as I like how that turned out and I'm glad it seems to work for you,  just a question. Have you walked much/far, gone on a trek, or, like my club, a long walk in to your shooting range, while wearing this over one shoulder and your horn and main bag over the other?

The reason I ask is that while I hunt and trek I find that my bag and horn worn off my left shoulder and hanging under my right arm (up high so I can trap them with my arm if need be and they don't get interfered with by the ground if I sit) the straps don't bother me, don't even notice them. As soon as I add another bag or item on a single strap off my right shoulder and hanging to my left, the straps bother my neck, coming in on it from both sides, where they cross in the middle gets fiddly if I need something stashed in the folds of my hunting shirt, and the crossed straps interfere with eachother when I need to move a bag or the horn for use. Have you had any of these issues? Did you find a "fix" for them?

Okay, I've tried 3x to remove the underline from everything except the word "not" where the underline starts, I give up. "NOT" is supposed to be the only word underlined.

It is.

Thanks, I'm glad everyone else is seeing it correctly. Weird.

[Dennis Glazener]

I fixed your problem but you need to fo a re-fresh to see the corrected version.
Dennis

[smokinbuck]

I have to agree with Brokennock. I've even been known to carry my ball (the lead ones) loose in the bottom of my shooting bag. Saves space inside, easy to grab one.

[Brokennock]

I fixed your problem but you need to fo a re-fresh to see the corrected version.
Dennis

Thank you.

[John SMOthermon]

Hi Smokey, I've followed a few threads you have involving your ball bag with shoulder strap and I have a question. not a criticism or judgement, as I like how that turned out and I'm glad it seems to work for you,  just a question. Have you walked much/far, gone on a trek, or, like my club, a long walk in to your shooting range, while wearing this over one shoulder and your horn and main bag over the other?

The reason I ask is that while I hunt and trek I find that my bag and horn worn off my left shoulder and hanging under my right arm (up high so I can trap them with my arm if need be and they don't get interfered with by the ground if I sit) the straps don't bother me, don't even notice them. As soon as I add another bag or item on a single strap off my right shoulder and hanging to my left, the straps bother my neck, coming in on it from both sides, where they cross in the middle gets fiddly if I need something stashed in the folds of my hunting shirt, and the crossed straps interfere with eachother when I need to move a bag or the horn for use. Have you had any of these issues? Did you find a "fix" for them?

**Fixed underline problem tdg**

Broken, I’ve had similar issues before myself.

Here’s what I do now, when wearing my shooting pouch and horn they are on my right side/ hip.

My shot pouch now contains my short starter/wooden crab mallet, a small roll of patch material for cleaning and a small bottle of cleaning solution/ alcohol.

My flint wallet with extra flints , knapper, ball puller, turn screw and worm is in the shot pouch as well.

My round balls and small tin containing pre cut / pre lubed patches are carried in my belt pouch on my left side, near where a front pocket on jeans would be located. The roundballs are just loose in the bottom of the bag.

The other bag I carry is my haversack which is carried on my left side, hanging slightly too the rear which allows easy access to my belt pouch.

I put the haversack on first, then my shooting pouch and powder horn on top of the shooting pouch.

This arrangement allows my horn too move freely, making pouring powder in my measure easier.

I mainly use this configuration on woods walks and for all day hunting trips.

My haversack contains the usual compass , water container, cows knee, food , and a small first aid kit ...  just for those “things that happen on the trail”...  ie.... flint cuts and minor scrapes, burns and scratches.

Attaching a button/ strap too the back of your bag ...
Tucking the button under your belt / sash , helps alleviate swinging/ movement while in use.

This was a tip I picked up here a few years back....

[Smokey Plainsman]

Hi Smokey, I've followed a few threads you have involving your ball bag with shoulder strap and I have a question. not a criticism or judgement, as I like how that turned out and I'm glad it seems to work for you,  just a question. Have you walked much/far, gone on a trek, or, like my club, a long walk in to your shooting range, while wearing this over one shoulder and your horn and main bag over the other?

The reason I ask is that while I hunt and trek I find that my bag and horn worn off my left shoulder and hanging under my right arm (up high so I can trap them with my arm if need be and they don't get interfered with by the ground if I sit) the straps don't bother me, don't even notice them. As soon as I add another bag or item on a single strap off my right shoulder and hanging to my left, the straps bother my neck, coming in on it from both sides, where they cross in the middle gets fiddly if I need something stashed in the folds of my hunting shirt, and the crossed straps interfere with eachother when I need to move a bag or the horn for use. Have you had any of these issues? Did you find a "fix" for them?

**Fixed underline problem tdg**

I put on the ball bag first so it is under the strap of the shooting pouch and horn. I’ve walked maybe a mile total through sagebrush here in Nevada and it is working very well for me.

[hanshi]

I don't like carrying ball pouches/bags on a separate strap around my neck.  I prefer to carry ammo in the shooting bag.  But I have made a few with strap accommodations and attached said straps to them just for, well, the heck of it.  Here's one in this photo of assorted junk.

[Mike from OK]

I don't like carrying ball pouches/bags on a separate strap around my neck.  I prefer to carry ammo in the shooting bag.  But I have made a few with strap accommodations and attached said straps to them just for, well, the heck of it.  Here's one in this photo of assorted junk.

"Junk" he calls it. Lol

Mike

[Crow Boy]

Hey Smokey, 

First off, that's one heck of a squirrel rifle in the photo! With the coat and collar, there's little chance our gentleman squirrel hunter would have issues with straps chafing the neck.  I like your comment about using the left hand to extract a ball while loading.  It's worth taking the concept into the field to see how it works. 

Thanks for sharing.

-Phil