Bandolier

A bandolier or a bandoleer is a pocketed belt for holding ammunition. It was usually slung sash-style over the shoulder, with the ammunition pockets across the midriff and chest. In its original form, it was common issue to soldiers from the 16th century to the 18th century, and contained either pre-packed chargers, small containers of wood, metal or cloth containing the measured amount of gunpowder for a single shot with a muzzle-loading muskets or other guns, or early forms of cartridges also containing a ball. It might also carry other accessories for shooting, or grenades. Any bag worn in the same style may also be described as a bandolier bag; equally ammunition holding pocketed belts worn round the waist may also be called bandoliers.

A somewhat different form of the bandolier came into use in the 19th century when it held more modern types of cased cartridges and hand grenades. Bandoliers are now less common due to the use of magazines and belt-fed firearms, though extra ammunition belts are often carried around the body like a bandolier. They are, however, still often used with shotguns, as shotgun shells can easily be stored in traditionally-designed bandoliers. In fact, some aftermarket shotgun slings are designed in a similar fashion to traditional bandoliers, albeit with a far more limited capacity.

Bandolier (disambiguation)

A bandolier is a pocketed belt for holding ammunition.

Bandolier may also refer to:

See also

Bandolier (journal)

Bandolier was an independent healthcare journal about evidence-based healthcare, written by Oxford University scientists. It was started in 1994 and the National Health Service paid for its distribution to all doctors in the UK until 2002. Publication of the printed version ceased in 2007. New material was published online through 2010. Publication ceased in 2010.

The NHS Executive and National electronic Library for Health continue with some support for the electronic site.

See also

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