I can't wear a gunbelt.

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R.W.Dale

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OK guys convince me its the belt and I will give another "gun belt" a shot.

Here's the deal! On everyones recommendations as to how important an actual gun belt is I bought a tagua brand 1.5" 42" black leather gunbelt. Its rigid as can be and works out to be the right length after adding a hole to the inside for my 35"ish waist.

The problem is I can't stand to use it compared to my India made dollar store belt. Its stiff uncomfortable and worse of all it makes all my guns, holsters and accessories stick out and print 10x worse. Instead of conforming to my body the belts stiffness just makes things stick out more. And with my iwb holsters the clips wont fit over this monstrosity.

I'm quite comfortable with my supple belt sinched down carrying either a s&w 60-18 in a bell charter oak paddle holster or a g26 in a iwb Parker, should I change? Do I need to give a gunbelt a second look? Or are the guys recommending stiffer belts just not accounting for how different folks are built.

6'-2" 190lbs in my case

posted via mobile device.
 
If your dollar store belt is working well and you really don't like how the stiffer belt is working or not working with your holsters stick with what you like and with what works. I'd say the last thing anyone wants or needs is a piece of gear that you are uncomfortable with.
 
Allow me to caveat my last post. The less expensive belt may not hold up as long as the more expensive leather belts, which may be the trade off for being comfortable with your equipment.
 
The less expensive belt may not hold up as long as the more expensive leather belts, which may be the trade off for being comfortable with your equipment.
Click to expand...

See how long the cheap belt lasts with a few pounds of gun hanging on it daily.
 
I'm quite comfortable with my supple belt sinched down carrying either a s&w 60-18 in a bell charter oak paddle holster or a g26 in a iwb Parker, should I change? Do I need to give a gunbelt a second look? Or are the guys recommending stiffer belts just not accounting for how different folks are built.
Click to expand...

There ya go. It works for you, it's cheap and uh ... what's more to say?
I use a relatively stiff Columbia belt, myself, but I mean ... if it works for you why would you go with some forum advice from someone who isn't carrying your gun on your frame?

Universal advice is rarely as universal as people make it out to be.
 
I think what is going on here is, you have a stiff straight-cut gun belt, and you haven't worn it enough for it to break in and assume the natural curve of a well used soft belt.

A Contour cut HD gun belt is cut on a curve already to asume the natural shape of your body.
http://www.usgalco.com/HolsterP3.asp?ProductID=1625&CatalogID=255

You might try wetting it damp with water and wearing it until it drys out.
That should allow it to assume the curved shape that is more comfortable.

rc
 
I've not noticed a big (or any with some pistols) advantage wearing a thick 1 1/2" belt over a 1 1/4" department store belt when carrying OWB, but usually wear the "gun" belt when carrying. ( 5'-11" 195 lbs.)

Some of the "belts" for sale now look as though they may split if you sneeze wrong while bending.( VERY BAD when carrying)
If normal belts were still made as they were years ago, gun belts wouldn't be nearly as desired.
 
Is this the belt you have?
http://www.taguagunleather.com/new/plain-belt-p52

It's possible you don't have a good example of a gun belt for an accurate assessment. In the general "you get what you pay for" way of thinking, this is a $40 retail belt which you probably found somewhere for even less. Generally, this is about half the cost of typical leather gun belt.

You may want to try...

The Beltman
http://thebeltman.net/

A&G Custom Leather
http://www.agcustomgunleather.com/

Milt Sparks. They put the pre-curve on their belts.
http://www.miltsparks.com/

High Noon
http://www.highnoonholsters.com/Pro.../Magazine_Carriers/Pocket_Holsters/belts.html

If cost is an issue an you don't mind nylon...

The Wilderness Tactical
http://www.thewilderness.com/storepinnacle/index.php?p=catalog&parent=142&pg=1

On the other hand, the two pistols you are carrying are so small you could probably get away without even wearing a belt. When you start carrying a 1911 or S&W N-frame you'll really need a gun belt.
 
R.W.Dale said:
OK guys convince me its the belt and I will give another "gun belt" a shot.

Here's the deal! On everyones recommendations as to how important an actual gun belt is I bought a tagua brand 1.5" 42" black leather gunbelt. Its rigid as can be and works out to be the right length after adding a hole to the inside for my 35"ish waist.

The problem is I can't stand to use it compared to my India made dollar store belt. Its stiff uncomfortable and worse of all it makes all my guns, holsters and accessories stick out and print 10x worse. Instead of conforming to my body the belts stiffness just makes things stick out more. And with my iwb holsters the clips wont fit over this monstrosity.

I'm quite comfortable with my supple belt sinched down carrying either a s&w 60-18 in a bell charter oak paddle holster or a g26 in a iwb Parker, should I change? Do I need to give a gunbelt a second look? Or are the guys recommending stiffer belts just not accounting for how different folks are built.

6'-2" 190lbs in my case

posted via mobile device.
Click to expand...
Buy LCP with pocket holster and throw away the belt.
 
Warning about wetting the belt to conform to your body...to get it wet enough be prepared to have it show splotchy stains on it when it dries. It probably has a finish on it of some sort, and won't wet and dry evenly, so it will leave these stains.
That curve business isn't necessary, a straight cut belt will conform to your body soon enough if you just wear it enough to break it in.....all those other issues you're having will fix themselves in time too.
 
I carry a gun daily and do not wear a "gunbelt". I have 3 belts in rotation. They are simple, wide leather belts. I bought one at a Dollar General 8 years ago for 5 bucks when I was on a motorcycle trip and realized I had left home without a belt. I wore it nearly daily for about 6 years. I added the other two about 2 years ago when I bought some bling, bing big belt buckles. They also set me back 5 bucks each at a flea market. The flea market belts are new and I'd guess foreign made. Any of the three do a fine job holding anything from a aluminum snub up to my 4" Anaconda.
 
Exactly why do you need a "gunbelt"? The belts I've been using have come from Cavender's, J. C. Penny, Wilson Leather and my latest is a custom made double thick from a guy whose number I've lost. The first two or three on the list were 10 dollar cheapies that lasted about 5 years or so and did just fine. The custom made one was an experiment by him and I just happened to be the benefactor of that experiment. It seems to work okay so I'll see how long this one lasts.

And have you considered that it might be the holster and not the belt? I know that some of the holsters I've tried sit differently on my belt.
 
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Stick with what u got RW, if it's comfy and stays put, you got your belt. I've got nice issue belts, and they are plenty good for me. They probably wouldn't pass a "gun belt" spec, but whatever.
 
Go with what works for you. If your regular belt works, I don't see any reason to force yourself to wear something uncomfortable.
 
And with my iwb holsters the clips wont fit over this monstrosity.

carrying either a s&w 60-18 in a bell charter oak paddle holster or a g26 in a iwb Parker
Click to expand...

IWB and paddle holsters rely less on the stiffness of the belt than OWB (belt mounted) holsters. I can run an IWB with almost any belt, but an OWB flops outward and prints badly on anything but a gun belt (for me, anyway).
 
I purchased a belt from Bullhide about three months ago. It ran around $75 when I first got it I thought this thing is way to stiff. I didn't like the way it fit at first and was also worried about printing. IWB Kimber Stainless II comander in a Bianchi model 100 holster. However after a couple weeks of wearing the belt it just formed to my body and works like a champ.

For some reason today I put on my old dept store belt to do yard work. My god that thing sucks in comparison. My pants don't stay put, my knife sheath slips back and forth, and my gun sags low. I never realized how spoiled this new belt would make me. It took me a long time to bite the bullet and by a good gun belt but they are worth it.

http://www.bullhidebelts.com/Rich-Brown-Double-Stitched-BullHide-Belt_p_287.html

Also there is a member here that makes gun belts. From what I have seen he is fair priced and does good work.
 
R.W. Dale, I just posted this on a new thread, but I wore my Tagua belt all day doing yard work yesterday and it left a nasty black stain all around the top of my cargo shorts. Think I'll be looking for something else SOON.
 
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