RE: English or Irish?
I really can not recommend anything to you Robert. I use shot tubes. I pre measure out and carry about six tubes with me when I bird hunt. I never yet needed more then that. They fit in a coat pocket and are easy to use.
I looked at the shot bags on October Country.. very nice. I did not see a picture of the English version, but the Irish version looked pretty simple. That brass nose is a measure. You measure out how much you want and dump right from the bag... Although it looks like a lot of shot to carry in the field, that does not mean you have to fill it all the way up.
I think a person could make themselves one of them. Something for me to think on. All I would need is the brass measure, some epoxy glue, and leather, even an old leatherjacket... I wonder if I could make one out of an old leather hunting boot. Being a pack rat.. I never throw anything away and probably have a few of them somewhere around here.