Reasonable priced gun belt for big ol' boys

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Quoheleth

Quoheleth

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I had been thinking of getting the 48" Bianchi B26 belt (http://www.opticsplanet.net/bianchi-b26-professional-belt-1-5-plain-black-19462.html) as a gun belt. It's reasonably priced ($35) and folks seem to like them - maybe not the best, but decent, especially for the price.

But I didn't think of the need to add 2" for IWB carry. No Bianchi belt reaches 50". So, I need another recommendation from all you big ol' boys - what do you use for a gun belt? It needs to be a dress belt, 1.5" wide, brass is preferable to stainless buckle. I'll get a weekend/casual belt later. I would like to keep it in the sub-$50 if possible. I'm looking at a CompTac holster ($80) and really want to keep the total package under the $125 range. CompTac has their own belt, but it's $75. Beltman is in that ballpark, too.

If I have to go custom leather because of my size, I'll suck it up (so to speak) and do it. But, if I can go with a more economy-based model, I'm all ears.

Thanks,
Q
 
Might take a look at www.ubgholsters.com. Nate does very nice work in a reasonable amount of time and has access to some jumbo sized cows for belts for us who need them bigger at no extra charge. His belt and "Canute" for my 1911 work great.
 
I went with Beltman, you get a great belt for the money.
I think CrossBreed Holsters makes a belt comparable for a bit less as well.

Failing that, I see Amish-made thick single layer leather belts at gunshows and in work-wear shops ... I have one of them and it is almost adequate for the task of holding up a pistol. Perhaps find one of those and start pinchingg pennies to order a better belt?
 
How about going to a shoe repair guy and getting an "Expansion Insert" installed. Of course this would be custom type work and might cost a few $$$.

Ralph
 
The 5.11 leather belt won't last forever, but will hold up long enough to satisfy your budget requirments. I got one for free with a pair of 5.11 pants from LApolicegear (also a great place to order from, good pricing).


If you can expand your budget a bit more, then Ted Blocker makes excellent belts in your size. I just brought one, 46" tan "J" belt, in stock, shipped right away, and I love it. Many of his belts seem to be about $55 plus 2 for each inch over 46 inches.

I will never, ever, buy another Walmart $10 belt even for just regular wear. A good gunbelt serves just fine as a dress belt and I can order leather ones over the length I need and drill extra holes if necessary.
 
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I have the Wilderness Instructor belt (actually a "Cabelas" branded copy, albeit decent quality). I'm not entirely sure they come in "big boy" sizes, but for 20 bucks, it does what I need it to do far better than any other belt I've owned (no belts were purchased primarily for CC aside from the instructor, but after trying out my "normal" belts compared to the Instructor, I realized just how ill-suited the rest were fro carry purposes. The instructor belt supports the weapon much better, and pulls it closer to the body it seems, making concealment much easier)
 
I just bought 2 of the Wilderness Instructor belts - great in my book. They make them to fit and they deliver fast. You pay a bit extra for large sizes, but it's worth it to get a belt that fits well...
 
Thanks for the newest posts. The 5.11 isn't going to work - I need a dress belt for work & Sundays. I found a nice heavy leather "Dickies" belt that will work for very casual casual wear - $15 or so - but I need something that looks OK with professional office attire.

Simply rugged looks pretty good. I'll check out Ted Blocker. Also saw that CompTac now carries a belt as well. Not quite as dressy as I hope to find, but sometimes beggers can't be choosers, ya know?

Wal-Mart belts are good for one thing: you're in a town on business, far from home, and while dressing you realize you left your good belt at home in the closet. A Walmart is nearby and you find an acceptable "leather" belt for $15.00. Then, and only then, is a WM belt acceptable.

Q
 
Question on the 5.11 dress belts. Do they actually look like a belt you would wear into a boardroom? Some of these gunbelts look highly functional...if I were a cop. I understand thicker = stiffer = better for holding the weapon, but there is also a certain professional look I must maintain.

Call me a snob, if you must; however, professional dress is also a must.

The closer the belt looks like this: http://www.bulmangunleather.com/belts.html -- but without the $120 tag -- the better off I'll be.

Q
 
To me, the black one looks OK. Couldn't tell you about the brown or other colors. Almost as thick as my regular gunbelt, but not quite.

I'd say it approximates the look of that as far as the picture of the Bulman goes. Honestly, your best bet is to see it in person and decide for yourself.

Notice that both the 5.11 and Bulman belts have the stitching on the edges.

I understand what you are seeking, but you have certain requirements on a limited budget.
 
Avenger29, thanks. Yes...it's the restrictions and limitations that take the fun out of most things, isn't it? I'll try the 5.11 and see what it looks like. It's at a low enough price point that it gets me in the gun-belt "door" and will give me time to save towards the nicer looking Bulman (or other) belt later in the fall.

Thanks to all. Hope this helps some other big ol' boy who's also looking for a new belt.

Q
 
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