Possibles bag, hard or soft?

[Brokennock]

"I don't put anything in my possibles bag that does not pertain to loading and tending to my rifle. Other items go somewhere else."

THIS.

Yes, but no.
Then it isn't a "possible bag/pouch" is it? It's a shot pouch......
But this stupid "possibles bag" thing will never die will it...

 

[Mike in FL]

Mine is elk. About 30 years old by now. Nothing in it but what loads and cares for one rifle. Other stuff goes in a canvas bag.

 

[Mad L]

I don't know, personally I like to put my mess kit and possibly anything else I need for a trek in my Possibles bag.
I keep my loading and basic maintenance kit in my Riffle bag.
I hate getting PBJ on my RBs.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

Shooting pouch, soft hide.

Bag for other stuff at camp (repair kit, sewing kit, little bible, journal, small knife, etc) mine is buffalo leather.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

SOFT!
Hard bags leave spaces and gaps, and IF you're like me, something will end up in one of those areas and start a rattlin' just when you're trying very very hard to quietly move slowly through the woods, and spook the deer. It never fails.

LD

 

[flconch53]

ooooh I deplore the term "possibles bag". It is a shot bag or shot pouch or hunting bag or hunting pouch, or maybe rifle bag, etc. To say "possibles bag" to me is like scraping your fingernails down a chalk board. AAAAH
LOL hehehe. No offense intended. I'm just getting more and more crotchy in my old age, and rebelling against a world where I don't belong but am forced to reside. But I really doubt that "possibles bag" was a true historic term. I think it was invented in the 20th century, possibly by film makers.
Yeah, I'm on a crusade. Get rid of that term!

But, anyway, who says a shot pouch has to be made of leather? Downsize a haversack slightly and you have a shot pouch.
As a lifelong hunter, prone to crawl through thickets on my hands and knees, and sometimes taking off on a dead run jumping over logs and rocks for one reason or another (when I was young), I sure do not want a stiff, open bag. Things get lost that way.
I have three bags; each goes with my three primary hunting arms. Percussion and flintlock rifles and flintlock fowler. Two are fairly soft leather. The other, my fowler bag, is canvas. All of them have button closures. I can work the single button with one hand while not looking. Inside, I have the various items in specific locations. I can find what I want just by the feel of it. I made all of my bags myself. One of them is now over 30 years old, and still going strong.

Now that you brought it up I don't refer to a shooting or rifle bag as a possibles bag. A possibles bag is for everything else you might need. Flint and steel sharpening stone etc

 

[Rancocas]

Now that you brought it up I don't refer to a shooting or rifle bag as a possibles bag. A possibles bag is for everything else you might need. Flint and steel sharpening stone etc

Nope. What you describe is a haversack. No such thing as a !*/&#!

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I prefer hard so my gummy bears don’t get squished.

 

[WonkyEye]

I started with a hard leather bag, didn't like it one bit. It was noisy, the flap was a pain, and it slid around. I made my own with a veg tan sheep skin, flesh side out. It's thin, strong, the texture makes it want to stick to my clothes instead of sliding around, it collapses flat and holds the contents so they don't rattle. I've been very happy with it, I only wish I had added an extra inch of depth to it.

 

[Dave Marsh]

If you have one on the too stiff side is there a way to soften it up?

 

[WALT53]

If you have one on the too stiff side is there a way to soften it up.

If you have one on the too stiff side is there a way to soften it up?

Neats foot oil might soften it up for you ,a couple coats .

 

[Mad L]

If you have one on the too stiff side is there a way to soften it up?

Depends on the leather it is made of, how thick, and how soft you want it, And how much work your willing to do.
'Work' it, twist it, beat it, fold it, work it some more.
Get yourself a 2x4 post and rub it back and forth, like softening a hide.
Use something like the Pine leather Conditioner I have mentioned in past threads (the liquid not the paste) and work more.

 

[Mad L]

https://www.montanapitchblend.com/products

 

[smoothshooter]

Getting ready to pick up new possibles bag, any preference to hard bag vs soft leather? What is your reason for preference. Appreciate your view

I like medium soft.
Whatever you do, get one that the top edges of the flap not only covers the opening but actually overhangs on each end by at least an inch; and more is better.
The wider flay will do a better job of keeping precipitation out l,’and your accessories in if the bag lays or is dropped on it’s side.