Irish Shot Bag Q.

[The Baron]

Hello all!

I was looking at a very sweet possibles bag from TOTW, called the "gentleman's fowler" bag. I thought "Hmmm... I'm a gentleman, and a fowler :redthumb. So, I am very tempted, since my current possibles bag is an army surplus should pack (I'm jsut getting into this BP thing!). Anyway, the bag has a sort of built in Irish shot bag. I have no experience with shot bags. Do they throw a measured load of shot? I like the thought of not fumbling in the bag for my little film cannister of shot :shake:, but I'm hesitant to spend the $ with never having the chance to see a shot bag in real life.

Anybody use an Irish shot bag? Anybody have this particular bag?

 

I use a shot snake with an Irish charger head on it. IMO it's the answer. I have several shot bags with the English charger head and they work very well also but I much prefer the Irish one. The nice thing about the irish design is that the measuring scoop is renmoveable. You pull it out of the shot bag and it contains a metered amount of shot and you pour it down the barrel. The english ones, you have to lift the whole bag over the barrel to dispense the shot charge. They both have three settings for shot charges. I have modified both types to throw smaller charges than they were originaly intended but the Irish is much easier to do if you want a smaller charge than the lowest setting. I can't comment on the practicality of the shot snake being attached to the bag but as far as useing the Irish charger goes, (as Tony the tiger says) Theeeeeeeey'rrrrre great!. The down side is you could lose the scoop :boohoo:

 

[pepperbelly]

I have never seen a shot bag either, but Cody's description and the possibility of losing the scoop made me think.
Cody, how big is the scoop? I reload for smokeless, modern calibers and have seen something that may help. Lee reloading makes powder measure scoops. I think they are called Lee Dippers. You just dip into the powder instead of weighing.
I'm not sure if it will help, but it might be worth checking into. You can get different size scoops for different shot charges.
The dippers may not hold enough, but they might.
Jim

 

[Rebel]

I use an Irish flask. The scoop can be lost if you don't make sure to get it back in all the way. It has a little flat spring that holds it that has a notch in it that clicks into place. I really like mine. I carry it on my belt out of the way. The spout is approx 3" long and 1" in diameter, so it isn't a litte tiny thing to find if you drop it. Mine asjusts for 1 oz, 1 1/8 os and 1 1/4 oz of shot.

 

[B.Habermehl]

I know several people who use the Irish shot chargers. They all like them, But to a man they have drilled the removable charger and have added a string or lanyard to it to prevent loss. BJH

 

[adkmountainken]

i just bought a couple great shot bags from Greg at www.tangle-foot.com he makes a brain tanned bag with a wooden shot measuring cap that is beautifull!! his prices are great as well. i have 3 of his nags and swear by them. check out his site, i'm sure you will find what you want there.
Ken

 

[Bob J]

I love the Irish Shot Bag. Picked up the one made by Pedersoli in a gun shop for $25.00 - it had never been used! Tag on it said $55.00 and I just asked the guy what he'd take and he said make an offer.

 

[mowolf]

I use an Irish shot bag and it is a great improvement over the film canisters I used to use. Bought at Bass Pro Shop Outlet in Springfield, MO for $15.

Waya

 

[The Baron]

Thanks for the thoughts guys!

B. Habermehl - that's a great tip. I think I am going to try one of those bags, and will definitely make that improvement ('cause losing stuff sucks!).

 

[Deadeye]

I also like the Irish system best. You can buy just the
dispenser and put it on whatever container you like. I put mine on a horn and carry it on my left side with my powder
horn and bag on the right. works for me.

 

[flaming canvas]

I know several people who use the Irish shot chargers. They all like them, But to a man they have drilled the removable charger and have added a string or lanyard to it to prevent loss. BJH

I hadn't done that, but now that you mention it. . . .

 

[Dave K]

Gosh, I feel left out. I wouldn't be without my English style! Too many years, too used to it. :imo:

 

[The Baron]

What's the difference between the two Dave? I saw from the Dixie catalogue that the English style has kind of a spring loaded lever, but the description wasn't too clear. I'm open to discussions of advantages/disadvantages of both, since I'm new to all of this.

 

[Rebel]

Baron, the Irish style has a removeable shot measurer spout and the English one you have to hold the whole flask over the barrel to pour the shot. I like the Irish style. The only thing with the Irish is you have to be sure and get the spout back in all the way or you could loose it. Unless you do like someone here suggested and drill a hole in it for a leather thong to hold it.

 

I also prefer the Irish Measure to the English one. You must be careful not to lose the cup- attaching it with a thong is a good idea.
: I have used the Irish Measure (& the English one) on both flask and shot snake. The snake is most comfortable for carrying, but I prefer the flask for hunting as it's less clumsy, in a net pouch, on a shoulder strap, hung measure down on the opposite side as my hunting bag & powder flask or horn, whichever I'm using at the time.