what type of leather

[Jimkennedy]

For all of you that make shooting bags. What type of leather works best. Im new to leather work, however I would like to try to make a shooting bag. My plan is to antique it some once its done. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks FlatlanderKansas.

 

[Chris Hayes]

I use 5-6oz leather. I feel since we doin't carry our shooting bags we don't need the thicker leather for it to stand up to abuse. My bags aren't fashioned after any in paticular, just what I want. After I sew them I soak them in warm water to turn them right side out. then I apply the stain I want. After it sits for a few days I then use Redwing mink oil in the can and put it on my propane single burner stove and heat the can slowly till it's almost smokin. I then use a natural bristle paint brush to apply the mink oil and use a diaper to buff after it solidifies. It should have an already aged look to it then use will give it the right patina

 

[David W.]

I use veg tanned leather 5~6 oz.

 

[David W.]

Oops! I use 4~5 oz veg tanned, or 5~6 oz oil tanned.

 

[Little Wattsy]

I looked around the internet for cheap and it worked just great... :wink:

 

[SpottedBull]

I use 2-3 oz veg tan...thin and durable and easy to work with.

 

[AWsaddles]

I like 5 oz oil tan. It is usually a bit softer bag. Depends on the style you want

 

[seleach]

I am new to leather work as well, but I can make one recommendation that has really helped me to get started. T.C. Albert's book "Recreating the 18th Century Hunting Pouch" is the next best thing to having your own personal instructor. He shows the basic tools he uses, the text and pictures are spot on - no filler. It has a nice little pictorial section on historic bags and full size templates you can use and modify to make a few different pouches. OBTW, a section of the step-by-step instructions includes how to 'age' a pouch as well.

More to the point of your question, he starts out by talking about the type and weight of leather (his preference is veg tanned and 3-4oz or 4-5oz which is a little harder to work).

 

[Jimkennedy]

Thanks for all the help. I will check out the book
Flatlanderkansas