Ruger GP-100 6" belt and holster rig?

[Panzerschwein]

Hey everyone, I've been using a cheap Blackhawk brand nylon holster from Wal-Mart for my 6" GP-100 for the past six months. It's been a good holster but I don't like the retention strap as it is slow to use. I have to grab the strap and pull it open, then grab the revolver grip to draw. Very slow. It's this same holster save mine is for a 6" gun and I am right handed:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/12...e-double-action-revolver-4-barrel-nylon-black

I'm ready to step up and get a real holster. Not only that, but I've had the revolver holster and a speedloader pouch simply looped through my normal jeans belt. It works, but I keep hearing I need a dedicated outside the pants gun belt, or at least a sturdy belt designed to work for jeans that will also be good for a holster.

I'm not at all an expert on holsters or gun belts. I need some help in finding both a solid belt of some sort to hold the holstered revolver and a speedloader pouch. Also I need to find a good holster for my 6" GP-100. I would much prefer a hip holster, no shoulder or chest rigs. I would prefer a thumb-snap but am open to other ideas for retention. I'm right handed. I would greatly prefer a closed bottom holster for outdoor use. Not too picky about materials used, I just want a quality piece that's rugged and that I could depend on in a fight.

Basically I'm looking for a duty or police-style holster for a big 6" Ruger revolver, and a belt to support both it and my dual speedloader pouch (an HKS dual-pouch w/ 2" belt loop). Thanks for the help in advance!

 

[Charlie Horse]

Found these 2

Just looking around I found these...

http://www.safariland.com/DutyGear/product.aspx?pid=5187
http://holsterfinder.safariland.com/HolsterSeries/Details/10135

I'm partial to their synthetic holsters, because the lining on mine has saved the finish on my G35. I like the brown leather Bianchi too.

 

[bainter1212]

As for belts......I really like the two Bullhide belts I have. Serious, no nonsense for sure. Check out their clearance page for the best deals bullhidebelts.com

As far as holsters go......a lot of LGS's will have a "holster bin" full of old belts and holsters. At my local store, the majority of those holsters are for large revolvers. I have been known to bring in a gun and find a holster for it out of that bin. I have found a couple of great buys that way in fact.

 

[JTQ]

Just about every quality holster maker will also offer a good gun belt (I'm not talking about BlackHawk). Think Milt Sparks, Mitch Rosen, Alessi, Kramer, etc.

A 1.5" belt is the most versatile. It will fit through most belt loops on your pants, and is the default loop width for most holsters. Also look for a dual layer belt. That will be more rigid and support your gun better than a single layer belt.

As a baseline, relatively inexpensive and casual belt, The Wilderness Tactical makes an excellent belt. They are the industry standard for this type of belt and very popular with those carrying a gun. Get either the 5-stitch or CSM model. http://www.thewilderness.com/tactical-belts/

If you prefer leather these two are very well respected on the gun forums.

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

The Beltman http://www.thebeltman.net

There are also a handful of leather makers on the forum that may chime in with help.

A popular source for leather for many of the Ruger guys, is Simply Rugged. You should be able to find just about whatever you want for pretty reasonable price. http://www.simplyrugged.com

 

[rayban]

I agree with those who tell you that you should have a dedicated belt for this size gun.
I don't think you would like carrying it on your pants belt for long. I would suggest a 2" wide (at least) x 1/4" thick.
Also, I don't believe any type of retention strap is needed for this size gun. With the weight of it, plus the 6" bbl....with a proper fitting holster, gravity would provide all the retention you would need.....unless you are prone to going upside-down at times.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Sweet Thx guys I'm looking into the belts and holsters. I want to try the Bull Hide belts. They look nice!

 

[el indio]

I agree with rayban. Check randjsp.com