Questions regarding possibles bags...

So I recently ordered a possibles bag from TOW and while it is a fine bag and appears well made and rugged I have 2 possible issues...

1) I think it may be too large. Even after looking at a ruler to figure out the size I was looking for what I received seems rather large.

2) The strap is too long. When it's on my body the top of the bag sits in line with my belt line. I thought about trying to shorten the strap but think I'd have trouble puttin it around my body if I did.

Seriously, between the strap and the size of the bag it looks like I'm wearing a purse. I dunno, I'm a newb to the world of traditional muzzleloaders and I may be overthinking this... Am I? What size bags do you carry? And where on your body does it sit?

Thanks in advance.

I have several different sizes depending on what I might be doing. My two main bags are fairly large. While I don't always have a lot in them, I like the room for stashing some candy bars, apples, or whatever if I'm out all day on stand.

I'm sure everyone has their preference as to where their bag rides on them, but I like the top of my bag at about belt level if not even an inch or so lower. I have long gangly arms, so I like it low enough I don't have to raise my arm a lot to get into it. Doesn't yours have some kind of adjustment on the strap? Either a buckle or if more primitive, holes that are laced and can be adjusted by which set of holes get lined up and laced together?

As I'm getting more into traditional clothing I'm finding that they didn't seem to have much for pockets...hence why men carried a purse...err..ahh..shooting bag. :wink: :grin:

I can adjust it to make it longer, but not shorter.

Sooter76 said:

I can adjust it to make it longer, but not shorter.

Click to expand...

If it's the kind with holes and lacing, just figure out where you want it, punch another set or two of holes and re-lace.

Which specific bag did you get?

I am an advocate of smaller is better when it comes to shooting bags. I have a bag for each gun and it holds nothing but what is needed to shoot that gun & to change a flint. It is a lot easier to find stuff that you need when you do not have to rummage thru a lot of stuff that you do not need. Some tend to use their bags as "man purses" with car keys, cell phones, snacks, watches, compasses, fire starter kits, etc., etc. - which all belong in a knapsack, market wallet, snapsack, haversack or anywhere other than in the shooting bag. Many bags are made with adjustable straps (laced or buckle) which can be a help when switching from summer to winter clothing layers. There is a past poll on how various members like to carry their bags (right side, left side, how high etc. For me, I try to have the bag just low enough to be able to get my hand in & high enough to hold shut with my elbow if need be. My bags run from about 6"x 7" to 7"x 8".

PS - some use "possible bag" interchangeably with "shooting bag" others define possible bag as a gear bag having nothing to do with shooting but holding your fire kit, tools, seasonings, sewing kit, candle, etc - all the stuff that you might "possibly" need.

I'm in the small bag crowd, too, though when I first started out I needed a big one to pack all the junk I thought I needed to carry. As I've spent more and more time in the field, I've kept paring back what I carry. Now I prefer bags that are just big enough to reach my hand into, then close my hand into a fist (like I'm grabbing something), then withdraw my hand without it hanging up. Pretty danged small, and they're hard to find that small if you're buying rather than making, as I do for all of mine.

As for the strap length? I'm twisting and turning and stooping in really rough country, and I've found the best strap length for me nestles the bag pretty high, up where I can squeeze it against my body with my elbow any time I don't want it swinging around. I agree that extra holes in the strap would fix all.

This one...
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/423/3/BAG-WOOD-BF

That's a big one all right, like the others say 8x8 is a plenty large bag.
Track is pretty easy to deal with, if you ship it back they'll credit you for another purchase,, :idunno:

I don't know what kind of weather you hunt in, you need to remember, with winter clothes on, that long strap will shorten up getting around heavier clothing. Nice part of a larger bag is you can carry all your possibles stuff and a extra pair of gloves, or a scarf, or neck gaiter, 1-2 bottles of water, and as mentioned candy bars or fruit for energy when you drag that deer out. Hit the wrong reply should have been to Sooter76 not Necchi. DANNY :redface:

One thing to watch for, is whether or not a bag has what's called a "gusset," basically an extra strip of leather sewn in between the front and back panels.

Gussets make bags "thicker," if you will, so they hold more stuff even in smaller bags. Bags that are merely reversed have to be bigger overall to hold more stuff. A big bag with a gusset is about right for parking a Volkswagon! :wink:

The gusseted 6" x 6" bags I like hold all I need to support a day's shooting and then some. With the gusset, they're not so prone to grabbing back when I try to pull my fist out of them. If I had to compare a gusseted 6x6 bag easily holds as much as an 8x8 reversed bag.

BrownBear said:

The gusseted 6" x 6" bags I like hold all I need to support a day's shooting and then some.

Click to expand...

Truth that.

I make mine no bigger than 8x8 no bigger. Do have one that is 6x6 that goes with my Bean mt rifle that works great for a day of wabbit chasing.

I too have a bag by "The Leatherman" with that strap. Not that particular bag but the strap is the same. It is too long for me as well, even with winter clothes. And I like my bag to hang so the middle of it (top to bottom) is about elbow high. I put the bag on and lifted it to where I could pin it to my side with my elbow then had a friend take up the excess fabric of the strap and safety pin it. This formed a "tab" or flap of folded material which I then folded over and pinned back to the strap.

I do seem to remember reading about an original that was pretty small. The interesting thing I found was that one end of the strap attached to the bag by means of a button sewn to the bag. The strap length could be altered by using different button holes in the strap.

That is a nice bag from TOW, but much larger than I prefer. I, too, have long arms/legs, and like my bag to hang a little lower than most folks. I have found that when I'm out wandering around the prairies or mountains (no, I've never been lost, but I have been confused for a day or two at a time) that I wear a leather belt that holds my bag tight against me around the waist. This belt also supports my knife and fire-starting bag. A woven sash would also work, in lieu of a leather belt.

Don't be confused by 'shooting' bags that seem small. There is a difference between a shooting (or bullet) pouch used when on the edge of the frontier and a day-bag used by those in the settlements that went out just to hunt for the day. There are stories about some that often only carried what they thought they needed for a day in their pockets, often right up into the 1930s.

TOW is letting me tade the bag in... I'm essentially going with the same style but 9x8 (closest i can find to the 8x8 that most seem to recommend) which is about the size of my hand spread. I figure that'll suit me much better...

I'm just the opposite, I prefer a slightly larger bag . I have a large hand and I also want a bag big enough that I don't have to dig around and pull things out from under one another. Plus since I shoot a smoothbore I'm carrying shot, balls and the wads to go with. For me a 10 x 10 is just right.

For my smoothbore,my possibles is 8x10 which lets me go afield with plenty of the necessary for a couple/three days out :wink:

Shooting bag on the left and haversack/possibles bag on the right

You'll be more comfortable with the bag, on the left side (if you are right handed). You more than likely carry your rifle in your right hand, and it will be out of the way, when you come up to shoot. Also, easier to reach into the bag on the left. When you carry it with a horn, knife, and are wearing some period clothing and hat, you'll also feel more comfortable with the look. Us old guys, don't let it bother us, people would be surprised, if we weren't carrying a long rifle.
I like the bag, to look aged, which makes it look a little more natural.

looks like the strap on my bag. it was to long to suit me so I just took up some slack on the strap by doubling it in a couple of loops and stitched it across the ends of the folds. I didn't want to cut it for two reasons, one I can lengthen it later if I want and 2 the weave is stronger than my sewing ability. I know this is kinda late but hope it helps.

creek