Shotgun Shell Holder for 120 Film

Hi all! I'm looking forward to Summer, and backpacking, and traveling light, and looking for a way to avoid having a pocket full of 120 film when I go shooting. It's fine in jacket weather, but I don't want them getting all sweaty in the heat, nor do I want to carry another bag for my film.

 

As I was cleaning out my basement, I came across an old 12 gauge shot shell bag from when I used to shoot skeet. It didn't quite fit my film, but it wasn't too far off. Does anyone know how the size of 120 film compares to 10 or 8 gauge shotgun shells?

 

I ask because while I could buy a 120 film holder to put on my strap, it would look like I was carrying around shells - and in today's climate especially, I don't want to make myself any more noticeable. But I could probably find a 10 or 8 gauge case that attaches with molle webbing, and stick that on the bag I'm already carrying.

 

And no, the irony of using a firearms product to look LESS like I'm carrying firearms isn't lost on me.

 

Thanks for any help you guys can provide!

Shotgun shell - Wikipedia

 

12 ga is 0.73", while 10 ga is 0.78". That might be enough to make the difference. However the pocket are over 3"deep, which might make it hard to retrieve you film without removing the jacket or pouch and inverting it. 10 ga is the larges shell in current use. 8 ga went away with commercial waterfoul hunting in the late 19th century.

8 ga went away with commercial waterfoul hunting in the late 19th century.

 

8ga has come back into some limited use with the requirement for using non-toxic shot on migratory birds. Basically, folks are finding that they need to step up a bore size to allow them to pack the same "punch" or at least get a comparable weight of steel shot vs. lead. Physics come into play with the fact with the same size shell in steel vs. lead, you can either have the same size pellet but a lot less mass, or move up a shot size to get the same weight but consequently need a larger shell for the same mass of shot. 3" 12 gauge is now considered a minimum for certain types of hunting(where 2 3/4" was fine with lead) but its even more effective to move up to 10 gauge, and the guys who used 10 gauge before need 8 gauge. If I hunted duck or other birds where non-toxic shot is required, I'd be out of luck with my preferred 16 ga.

 

All of that aside, 8 gauge is still very much a specialty product, and you likely will have a harder time finding things like cartridge belts for it vs. 10 gauge or the ubiquitous 12 gauge.

 

With that said, to the OP, have you tried elastic 12 ga. slings?

Huh, shows you what I know. Explains why I'm having a hard time finding 8 or 10 gauge stuff online. And while 120 film cases are easy to find, good luck finding one that holds more than 4 rolls and isn't a handmade leather thing.

 

I only shoot once or twice a month, but when I go out I usually shoot 6-12 rolls. It would be nice to be able to quickly see how many exposed vs. unexposed rolls I have without taking them out and counting every time, or dedicating two separate pockets in my bag. I was thinking about a product like this: 10 Round Shotgun Shell Holder Folding Ammo Bag Hunting Bullet Holder Shell Pouch Bullets Bag Shell Pouch Bullet Pouch Online with $10.15/Piece on Happyfish958's Store | DHgate.com .

 

I have elastic shot holders on my skeet bag, and I can jam a roll in there - but I have to really struggle with it. There's a fair distance between the openings though; if they were close like in the linked item, I couldn't get them all in there. Maybe I should take a roll down to a sporting goods shop and try a few things. Maybe somebody makes a looser one?

PVC, Pipe caps, glue, elastic, strapping of various kinds and some rivets.

There are elastic shell holders which might be useful, depending on the spacing. Some have a Velco back for easy mounting on a stock or vest. However I would be reluctant to store film in a fashion which put pressure on the sides, which can cause fogging. A better solution would be a belt pack which holds them loosely. These are used by hunters and for competition. There are also photographic belt packs for film. I have a couple with partitions to separate exposed from unexposed film. They hold at least a dozen rolls of 120.

 

According to TSA regulations, firearms and ammunition with a bore size larger than .75" cannot be carried by air in checked baggage. 10 ga is just over the limit. You can't board a plane with an empty holster or magazine either, and I suspect a shell carrier would be subject to similar scrutiny. You can always drive (or walk), but even that might be risky in the Northeast or the Left Coast.

The only good thing about old Soviet made 120 film, was that it came in black bakelite screw-top containers. Otherwise the film itself was a load of cr*p!

 

I have a Lowepro film case. It's cylindrical like a lens case, but has a push-through top that you can just stuff exposed film into, without fear of it falling out again or getting fogged. When you want access to the film it unzips down the side. I estimate you'd get at least 10 rolls of 120 into it.

 

I'd be wary of anything like an ammo belt that leaves one end of the film open to light. 120 film fogs far to easily if it's even slightly loosely wound. A small roll of kitchen foil allows it to be quickly wrapped up light-tight, and helps keep it cool too.

the film itself was a load of cr*p!

I see the old prejudice against Commie photographic supplies still persists for some reason....

 

To settle the issue forever, here is an example of some Soviet film made before the end of the Union in the early 90s:

 

George Seurat might have loved this film (Tso 100). For more of this exciting story see

TsO 100 M Soviet slide film (re)shot in a Zenit ET

if the holder is leather, soak it in water, force fit dowels a bit larger than your film in each holder and let it dry.

I make cases for 120 film using two 35mm film tubs, by cutting the bottom off one, pushing the other into it, and taping over the join..

"I see the old prejudice against Commie photographic supplies still persists for some reason.... "

 

Prejudice? Certainly not. Otherwise I'd never have bought the stuff and tried it in the first place. But oversized grain, ortho sensitivity and high contrast just aren't what I look for in a medium speed and supposedly panchromatic film. I used the word cr*p as shorthand for the above failings you've now forced me to list.

 

I quite liked my Leningrad and Werra cameras. I only sold the Leningrad because its clockwork motor drive was tempting me to use too much film.

 

OTOH, the Kiev60 I bought was another pile of cr*p. I could list its many faults in another 10 paragraphs if you like?

You might have some success with choke tube holders. They're generally the same diameter as the shotgun barrel exterior diameter, which runs around 7/8". Diameter of the spool ends of 120 film is around 7/8" also. There are also choke tube holders which take the form of a zippered case with elastic bands in them.

 

Just a thought.

You could put your film in a prescription bottle. I reuse the ones I get for small parts and microfiber cloth, and I just tested them, they are watertight and will hold a roll of 120 in its original wrapper. People may think your a drug dealer though. Link