In response to a query in the contemporary accoutrements section I'm posting some examples of original ball/shot pouches. It would seem the greatest point of distinction isn't the bag itself but the spout material. All these are American and 19th century in age. From left to right the spouts are made from the following:
1. "Recycled" glass bottleneck (blown with applied lip) early to mid nineteenth century
2. Thick walled tube of leather around which bag leather is sewn and wrapped (still contains shot roughly 7 1/2 size)
3. Crudely whittled wood spout (still contains shot roughly 7 1/2 to 6 size) Note original stopper of wadded up paper
4. Lead or pewter tube and cork stopper
5. Finely shaped wood (possibly turned) and wood stopper
I've also seen a few originals that had spouts turned from bone or antler.
Joe