Favorite way to carry shot?

[BillinOregon]

Fellas and gals, I am looking for traditional ways to carry shot in the field, which lets out film cans, speedloaders, shot cups made with post-it notes, and other such modernisms. A shot horn would be too noisy, I'm thinking. I have made a couple of small shot bags, and they are OK. I'm also thinking of making a shot snake with Irish head. Also considering making up some Eley-style cartridges of shot packed in bone dust and wrapped in paper and wire. What have you found practical and comfortable for an ML shotgun hunt?

 

[bezoar]

Shot snake sounds like the best idea, the Ely-type cartridge with bone dust sounds like a really good health hazard in the modern world of mad cow.

 

[musketman]

Shot snake sounds like the best idea,

I agree...

If you do use a shot pouch, be sure to carry a dipper to scoop out the shot when needed, a dipper can be made from an antler tip and a wooden handle...

 

[Rebel]

I like my Irish Style shot flask. Carry it attached to my belt on the left side. Easy to get to, and out of the way. Also easy to dispense shot from. Just be sure to snap the head back in tight when you replace it.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

I made up a shot snake, liked it so well I then made up a powder snake. Sure nice to have ease of access to both and they are out of the way until needed.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I use a shot snake with an Irish head. I made the "mistake" of fashioning it out of heavy stiff leather, and it tends to poke out and grab stuff as I move through thickets. Someday I'll make one out of thinner leather, maybe. The haversack keeps it in place and I usually lug that along anymore (every outing a "mini-trek").

I also have a couple shot bags that I carry if I'm not planning much shooting. My favorite has a stopper for the leather neck that is a, antler section hollowed out to measure 1-1/8 oz shot. I stick it in opening-down. This makes it possible to pull, charge & pour very quickly.

If you're going to be going with paper cartridges, treat yourself to a belly box. They are THE way to go for protection and convenience.

 

[RussB]

I like my Irish Style shot flask. Carry it attached to my belt on the left side. Easy to get to, and out of the way. Also easy to dispense shot from. Just be sure to snap the head back in tight when you replace it.

Before I went to the "enclosed shot cup" I used an Irish bag all the time, It has the measurer in the cap.

However, that enclosed shot cup allows you to cary a dozen or so...or however many you want, ready to drop down the barrel.

Just a thought....

Russ

 

[Rebel]

Yea, i made up some of them recently. Now all i need to do is get out and find a place to shoot them and try them out.

 

[sir henry]

I've always used an irish shot bag but lately I've been using a belly box (cartridge Box) roll my shot in telephone book paper and carry wasp nest in the back of the box great for hunting and quick reloads, powder, nest, rolled shot holds a nice pattern and I feel it pretty pc. :imo:

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Hey RussB, how do you use that cartridge? It seems that if the wads were a tight fit (as they should be) then trying to shove them past the muzzle by pushing on the shot column would surely burst the paper. :: ::

 

[Jack Walker]

I made myself a small white shot horn that hangs from my belt. Of all the ways I have tried, this is the most accessable and convennient way for me. :m2c:

 

[RussB]

Hey RussB, how do you use that cartridge? It seems that if the wads were a tight fit (as they should be) then trying to shove them past the muzzle by pushing on the shot column would surely burst the paper. :: ::

Joe...The bore diameter on my 16ga. is .668.
Circle Fly has two sizes of .16ga wads, I forget right off what the sizes are, but I use the smaller size with the "shot bag", and the larger size with the Irish bag, where I just pour the shot in the barrel, over a cushion wad.

With the smaller card wad, it takes one (1) wrap with the brown paper and that brings the "shot cartridge" dia. up to about .664 ~ .666....... anyway, it is a pretty "tight fit". I hold the "shot bag" with my two fingers, and a thumb on the side as I push the "shot bag" down, just below the muzzle, then I tear the "paper tag" off the end exposing the shot, I then place two (2) over shot wads over that.

It is not as tight as the larger size cushion wad, which I can not get get down the barrel after wrapping with 1 roll of paper.

If I leave that twisted paper tag on the end, the shot bag is not dependable on opening up. By not tearing that tag, I get a very irregular pattern. One particular pattern made me think oa half-gallon milk box on it's side. :hmm: I think it was Musketman that said I could use it for a "Dangerous Game Load"...and you probably could.

I shoot a full 1.5 to 1.75oz load in front of 82~84gr FFg...about a 3 dram equiv. and it is a great 30 / 35yd load on Grouse, and Chuckar.

They are really not as fragile as you might think.
However, when I try to make a complete "Shot shell Bag", with powder on one end, shot on the other, I have problems. I need a stronger paper, and a lot more practice.
Several, here on the forum, said I need "butcher" paper. But I tried that, and it was a mess, only got a couple of shots out of about a dozen attempts.
I've never done a complete "shot cartridge" with any success.

Hope this helps a bit. It seems practice, and paper is the secret, if such can be said, and brown paper lunch bags is the best I've found......so far.

Russ

 

[Joel Lehman]

I use a shot snake made by The Leatherman with an Irish head. It has a wide woven jute carring strap that make carrying the shot very comfortable.

 

About 35 yrs. ago I started to do all my grouse hunting with a muzzleloading double shotgun. I used the English style head on my shotbag, it's very quick,and adjustable

 

[Dave K]

I use a English style head on a 4lb.shot flask. I like it best for me. When I hunt there is a shot flask and over shot cards in the left pocket and the right pocket has a powder flask (w/measure) and the cushions and over powder cards. I can load pretty quick. Capper or primer hanging from my neck.

 

[Newtoflints]

That's the same problem I'm having with post-it notes for shot cups. I'm using them in my DP Indian trade musket (20 guage).

I'm using Circle fly wads from TOW, There so tight I can barley get them started without bustin' the cup

I'm going to try some "phone book" pages. it's a lot thinner paper. I'll let you know how it turns out.

ALSO, there is not suspose to be a choke to my barrel, but when I tried shooting shot without a cup, the over shot card fit fine but was obviously to small when seated, the first time I tilted the barrel downward, out came all of my shot.
Maybe some smaller cards got mixed in my bag of 20 guage over shot cards..... or maybe I should just use a nitro card instead.

This is the first time I've tried to shoot shot. I'm probally just doing something wrong though.

NewtoFlints,
Mike

 

Ok, here's a probably dumb question:

What is a "shot snake" and how does it look like? :huh:Is it a leather/fabric tube that holds shot? Any photos of the "nozzle"? I may make one...
Thanks

 

[bovey]

Here are a couple at TOW...

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/categories...Num=FLASK-SNAKE

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/categories...ASK-SNAKE-IRISH

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/categories...tNum=BAG-FOWLER