Getting it stiff

[chriswjx]

No, not the blue pills.

I've just acquired an original Croots loaders bag for not much money, in well used condition and it's currently getting a bit of TLC.

One area of bother though is the cartridge pockets. The leather there has gone all soft and floppy. I plan to stick cut up tubes from empty cartridges in all the pockets anyway, which should help keep their shape somewhat.

But is there anything else I can do (easily) to help stiffen up the leather for those pockets? Someone suggested some time with a hairdryer with some dud cartridges in the pockets to set the shape - would this work?

Cheers,

Chris

 

[DavyG]

 

[enfieldspares]

I think they are floppy for the reason that they grip (the cartridge they are holding) the better. And when empty flatten so as to make the bag less "big".

Surely the need for speed is in extracting cartridges from the loops not putting cartridges into the loops? I have found that a stiff loop that keeps its form as a cylinder will over time lose its ability to keep a cartridge in place unless it was made over tight when new. In your fine bag form follows function. I'd ask...does it work?

And as each loop is designed to hold two cartridges I cannot see how it can be made other than it is made. Elsewise you are looking at what would resemble in shape the McDonald's "M" which I don't think would work at all and would simply add width to each twin loop so that the bag carried only four sets of loops in each row.

What say Croots, the makers? And how does it work for you? Does it keep the cartridges in without them falling out? Does it release easily and without effort the cartridges when you as the loader, or gun, grasp them?

 

[chriswjx]

I think they are floppy for the reason that they grip (the cartridge they are holding) the better. And when empty flatten so as to make the bag less "big".

Surely the need for speed is in extracting cartridges from the loops not putting cartridges into the loops? I have found that a stiff loop that keeps its form as a cylinder will over time lose its ability to keep a cartridge in place unless it was made over tight when new. In your fine bag form follows function. I'd ask...does it work?

And as each loop is designed to hold two cartridges I cannot see how it can be made other than it is made. Elsewise you are looking at what would resemble in shape the McDonald's "M" which I don't think would work at all and would simply add width to each twin loop so that the bag carried only four sets of loops in each row.

What say Croots, the makers? And how does it work for you? Does it keep the cartridges in without them falling out? Does it release easily and without effort the cartridges when you as the loader, or gun, grasp them?

Cartridge grip is good, but it's more to have a little bit more firmness in putting fresh pairs in. At the moment, it's almost a bit of a song and dance to wiggle it in.

My Exmoor bag is much much easier with a bit more stiffness to the leather. Not enough that it stops gripping the cartridges, but just enough to make it a jolly to put fresh pairs back in mid drive. The loops are just a bit more rigid, certainly not "M" shaped or anything, just more stiff.

Croots have not been contacted yet, as I only received the bag yesterday. But will be calling on Monday as I do want to see if they'd swap out the embossed plate on the front so I can have my initials on it.

Its just quite noticeable that the rest of the bag's leather is firm with still plenty of give, but the pockets are like soggy biscuits. Fair enough if that's how Croots have designed it, but I've used my Exmoor now for the last 2 seasons and still use it for bigger days. Bought this one for smaller days, and would like to try and at least make it closer to what my muscle memory expects.

 

[enfieldspares]

This advice is for "guns" rather than "loaders". But I hope it helps any and all that might visit the thread?

I only have Brady bags, three in pigskin, that came from Powell's when they were on Carr's Lane. Two x 100 size - in which I put seventy five cartridges) and one x 5 size. And old pigskin bag is a joy and old cowhide bag is a sorry thing.

As a "gun" I load from my pocket and follow Robert Churchill's advice. That is to shake your pocket (or bag) and gravity will make the cartridges align lead end down, brass end up. That way when I go to take a cartridge from my pocket I almost always am able to get hold of them by the brass end. And when I go to replenish my pocket from my bag, ditto. I wear my bag to and from my peg but never when actually shooting.

If a walking gun I wear a modern cartridge belt to top up my pockets and the cartridge bag stays on the gun bus. Modern made from nylon and with a plastic push in type buckle is the way to go. Old school belts of anyone's make with a brass buckle risk scratching or gouging the butt of your gun.

If using either of my self-opening side by side guns I load from the left pocket with the left had. If using my AYA guns or my late father's Clarke I load with the right hand from the right pocket as these are normal boxlock ejectors. But it pays to learn to load with either hand as sometimes there is a benefit.

Thank you for posting your pictures. It does look a fine bag. Having your initials is always a good idea. It stops others "confusing" their lesser quality bags with yours and "accidentally" going home with yours.

 

[chriswjx]

Thank you for posting your pictures. It does look a fine bag. Having your initials is always a good idea. It stops others "confusing" their lesser quality bags with yours and "accidentally" going home with yours.

Or in the case of my Exmoor, it helps make sure I don't go home with someone else's identical bag.

(And considering a close friend of mine ordered the other one of these Croots bags the eBay chap had - that will be a problem going forward too.)

For reference, this is how the pockets sit on my Exmoor. Much more open and smoother filling.