What is in your "possibles" bag?

[crm3006]

All of the old (and smart) mountain men carried a "possibles" pouch, mostly to keep some extra powder, wads, bullets or balls handy, in case of need. Sometimes, a little jerky, or pemmican, and extra, smaller knife, and even, accounts say, sometimes a Bible, or writing materials.
Today, we are not nearly so far ranging or self reliant as those men such as Jim Bridger, Hugh Glass, Jedediah Smith, or John Coulter, but we still need a few possibles on our day or even week long hunts. What do you carry as "possibles"?

[PigHunter]

Good topic.

The majority of what I carry goes in and attached to a backpack.
> Safety / 1st Aid kit
> Field dressing kit
> Toilet kit
> Shelter kit including tarp (or poncho), cordage, and tent pegs
> Fire making kit including folding saw
> Warm clothes, hand warmers
> Hand-held optics
> Flashlight or headlamp
> Hearing protection
> Trail marking kit
> Water bottle (stainless steel)
> Food
> Spare keys
> Waterproof notepad and pencil
> Suppressor paperwork
> Three-legged stool
> Padded seat
> Compass

I like 6-pocket pants and some items go there.
> Keys
> Wallet
> Pocket knife
> Cell phone
> Loaded rifle mag (spare)
> Pen light

I like shirts with two pockets and other items go in those.
> Map / WMA permit
> Cough drops
> Soft lens cloth for wiping glasses and scope

On my belt
> Fixed blade knife
> Revolver

On my wrist
> Garmin GPS

[jhjimbo]

Good topic.

The majority of what I carry goes in and attached to a backpack.
> Safety / 1st Aid kit
> Field dressing kit
> Toilet kit
> Shelter kit including tarp (or poncho), cordage, and tent pegs
> Fire making kit including folding saw
> Warm clothes, hand warmers
> Hand-held optics
> Flashlight or headlamp
> Hearing protection
> Trail marking kit
> Water bottle (stainless steel)
> Food
> Spare keys
> Waterproof notepad and pencil
> Suppressor paperwork
> Three-legged stool
> Padded seat
> Compass

I like 6-pocket pants and some items go there.
> Keys
> Wallet
> Pocket knife
> Cell phone
> Loaded rifle mag (spare)
> Pen light

I like shirts with two pockets and other items go in those.
> Map / WMA permit
> Cough drops
> Soft lens cloth for wiping glasses and scope

On my belt
> Fixed blade knife
> Revolver

On my wrist
> Garmin GPS

The possible bag is for the ML. Extra nipple, nipple wrench, etc.

[PigHunter]

The possible bag is for the ML. Extra nipple, nipple wrench, etc.

Well, in that case this is what I carry when hunting with the electronic ignition ML:

> Powder flask with loose Triple Seven
> Powder measure set for 100 grains
> 240gr Hornady XTP bullets in sabots
> Ball Starter
> Hex tool for removing the stock
> Stubby slot screwdriver for installing the battery
> Extra 9V battery
> 1/4-inch ratchet and socket for removing the breach plug
> High temp thread grease
> Cleaning jag that attaches to the ramrod
> Cleaning patches

[fitch270]

Well, in that case this is what I carry when hunting with the electronic ignition ML:

> Powder flask with loose Triple Seven
> Powder measure set for 100 grains
> 240gr Hornady XTP bullets in sabots
> Ball Starter
> Hex tool for removing the stock
> Stubby slot screwdriver for installing the battery
> Extra 9V battery
> 1/4-inch ratchet and socket for removing the breach plug
> High temp thread grease
> Cleaning jag that attaches to the ramrod
> Cleaning patches

Have you ever considered using speedloaders? Keeps loading in the field much simpler.

[FirstBubba]

Have you ever considered using speedloaders? Keeps loading in the field much simpler.

Where's the fun in that? LOL!

My "possibles" bag is for my black powder rifles.

Powder (horn)
Patch (sabot)
Ball (bullet)
Primers
extra nipple
nipple wrench
cleaning patches
Bore Butter
Tools to disassemble
and
Tools to do minor field repairs.

Requisite cleaning tools:
cleaning jag
patch puller
bullet puller

Pretty much the same stuff for my inline except add a "dog bone" priming tool.

[PigHunter]

Have you ever considered using speedloaders? Keeps loading in the field much simpler.

Yep, used speed loaders with Pyrodex pellets for my percussion ML. Haven't tried it with loose powder.

[fitch270]

Yep, used speed loaders with Pyrodex pellets for my percussion ML. Haven't tried it with loose powder.

I've always used them with loose Pryodex but will be switching over to Blackhorn 209 which is also a powder. Handy to have 3-5 premeasured and ready to go. Never have had one spill or get contaminated.

[Milldawg]

Way to much to list. When I finally get some time to hunt again I’m sliming my pack down. Ounces equal pounds equal pain.

[PigHunter]

Way to much to list. When I finally get some time to hunt again I’m sliming my pack down. Ounces equal pounds equal pain.

Agreed, I go back and forth on this. However, I hunt public land alone and often a mile walk from the vehicle. Or, I'm a three mile canoe paddle into a swamp. If something happens, I'm the only one there to deal with it. A repair on the spot or quick first aid can keep me hunting.

If unexpected weather comes along or for some reason I've got to spend the night, there's shelter. If I can't make it out on my own, rescue could be up to a 24 hour wait, depending on cell phone coverage.

Finally, I'm prepared to help another hunter if they are hurt. Like you said, ounces add up and there's a cost to being ready for events unlikely to happen.

[jhjimbo]

Agreed, I go back and forth on this. However, I hunt public land alone and often a mile walk from the vehicle. Or, I'm a three mile canoe paddle into a swamp. If something happens, I'm the only one there to deal with it. A repair on the spot or quick first aid can keep me hunting.

If unexpected weather comes along or for some reason I've got to spend the night, there's shelter. If I can't make it out on my own, rescue could be up to a 24 hour wait, depending on cell phone coverage.

Finally, I'm prepared to help another hunter if they are hurt. Like you said, ounces add up and there's a cost to being ready for events unlikely to happen.

Does Huntress know your hunt locations ?

Do you know how to find your max ML charge ?

I have not done this with Black Powder or Pyrodex. People say the old timers would start adding powder and shooting over fresh snow, when available. When they started to see the unburned kernels on the snow, they know they reached the max.

[crm3006]

From jhjimbo: "Do you know how to find your max ML charge ?"

Have you still got the manual that came with your ML? I just use the provided table. However, I have found that patched round balls shoot with more accuracy slightly under max charge, and Minie´ balls shoot well at the max recommended charge. I don't care to push the maximum very much, even though my LH TC Renegade has a very heavy barrel.

[Amflyer]

Do you know how to find your max ML charge ?

Increase your load by 5 grains per shot. When your rifle explodes in your hands, back off by 5 grains. Easy!

[PigHunter]

Does Huntress know your hunt locations ?

Do you know how to find your max ML charge ?

I have not done this with Black Powder or Pyrodex. People say the old timers would start adding powder and shooting over fresh snow, when available. When they started to see the unburned kernels on the snow, they know they reached the max.

PigHuntress can't hardly find her way around town without using a GPS. So, she will need to enlist help if I disappear.

The night before a hunt, I show her a map marked where I plan to go along with a couple back-up locations. I leave that map attached to the refrigerator. When I park the 4x4 or land the canoe, I take a screen-shot of my phone's map showing the spot and email that to her as an attachment. I'll add a note something like this, "Parking here along Forest Road 7xx and will be hunting the valley to the north, about a half mile in".

Jim, both of my muzzleloaders came with manuals indicating 150 grain maximum loads. I've found 100 grains is more accurate and the deer have always dropped with through and through shots.

[FirstBubba]

Does Huntress know your hunt locations ?

Do you know how to find your max ML charge ?

I have not done this with Black Powder or Pyrodex. People say the old timers would start adding powder and shooting over fresh snow, when available. When they started to see the unburned kernels on the snow, they know they reached the max.

True black powder (GOEX FFFg) doesn't "burn" like smokeless powder. It "detonates".

I have a '73 T/C Hawken .50 and a '77 T/C Renegade .54.
At that time, true black powder was not that hard to obtain.
Both rifles came with instructions to NEVER exceed 120 grains (volume, not weight) as a maximum charge of FFg black powder.