Okay, so its oft repeated that the best thing for a good carry is a good belt. So what makes a good gun belt. I'm not looking for examples of, but what are the qualities that make a belt a good gun belt. Thanks.
What makes a good belt
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I'll be following this thread because I am curious myself.
To the best of my knowledge though, gun belts should not flip or sag due to the weight of a pistol and mags.
To the best of my knowledge though, gun belts should not flip or sag due to the weight of a pistol and mags.
Tough and sturdy, you don’t want it to bend or flex under the weight of your gun. I know you don’t want examples but blade tec makes a hybrid belt of leather and kydex. Don’t think of it as the thing that holds up your pants. A good sturdy belt will transfer the weight of your weapon 360 degrees around your body, not just on where the weapon is (which will cause pinch points). This will make it much more comfortable to carry and is just as important as a quality holster (maybe more so).
In regards to an all-leather gun belt, the benchmark seems to be, two layers of quality leather, glued and stitched together. 1-1/2" wide x 1/4" in thickness.
1-1/4" wide will work too, and a gun belt doesn't have to be 1/4" thick...but it's what most look for in a leather belt.
1-1/4" wide will work too, and a gun belt doesn't have to be 1/4" thick...but it's what most look for in a leather belt.
a "good" gun belt should also include the intended holster. So, for myself as an example, I like double thick belts for OWB carry and I'm okay with single layer belts for IWB carry. I like the slots on the holster to be the same length as the belt's width.
I like the belt and holster to be very stiff, in general.
But, some holster slots don't allow a double wide leather belt. I've owned at least one cross draw holster that functioned really well with a thin dress belt alone. I discovered a thin slot at the top of the belt slot where the belt locked into the holster.
I want the butt of the gun to sit in tight.
I like the belt and holster to be very stiff, in general.
But, some holster slots don't allow a double wide leather belt. I've owned at least one cross draw holster that functioned really well with a thin dress belt alone. I discovered a thin slot at the top of the belt slot where the belt locked into the holster.
I want the butt of the gun to sit in tight.
Steel. I usually just use a uniform/garrison belt but a really good gunbelt usually has a length of steel sandwiched between the two pieces of leather.
I'm a student of the holster and belt makers. I've never heard this. Is there an emoticon missing that would have indicated humor?
Thanks for the link. My horizon's have been opened.
Some users of polymer inserts
The Beltman http://thebeltman.net/
High Noon http://www.highnoonholsters.com/Product_Line/Rock_Steady_Belts_/rock_steady_belts_.html
A&G Custom Leather http://www.agcustomgunleather.com/
Comp-Tac http://www.comp-tac.com/product_info.php?products_id=43
The Wilderness Tactical CSM Instructor belt http://www.thewilderness.com/storepinnacle/index.php?p=product&id=2309&parent=142
^
I hear you.. this guy's just up the street or so so I've been using him as the occasion warrants. He makes good and custom stuff for fair for quite a while now.
I hear you.. this guy's just up the street or so so I've been using him as the occasion warrants. He makes good and custom stuff for fair for quite a while now.
Mr.510
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The most important thing that makes a good gun belt is vertical stiffness. By this I mean the belt should be as difficult to bend up and down as physically possible. There is no such thing as too stiff in this direction. The stiffer the belt the more comfortable it will be with a gun hanging on it. The second most important thing is resistance to twisting. This matters because the belt has to be flexible to conform to the circumference of your body, but if it's able to twist out of a vertical position it's effectively not very stiff vertically anymore. I highly recommend a belt with a Kydex insert stitched between two layers of leather or nylon webbing.
I was not aware of the spring steel reinforced belts either. In theory you could have a belt that's stiffer and thinner by using a steel insert rather than plastic.
I was not aware of the spring steel reinforced belts either. In theory you could have a belt that's stiffer and thinner by using a steel insert rather than plastic.
I knew that there was a certain percentage of the market that would not be satisfied with a belt until they could wrap a strap of steel around them.....
No doubt it's the ultimate in stiffness, but the point I most often discuss with folks is, just how stiff does a gun belt have to be to do it's job?
For civilian CC, if the belt does not eventually conform to ones body contour (check those "s" curves in you leather belt), it will be pretty uncomfortable trying to wear it all day, unless you're built just right for it......and judging from the sizes of the majority of the belts I make, most are not built just right for it.
No doubt it's the ultimate in stiffness, but the point I most often discuss with folks is, just how stiff does a gun belt have to be to do it's job?
For civilian CC, if the belt does not eventually conform to ones body contour (check those "s" curves in you leather belt), it will be pretty uncomfortable trying to wear it all day, unless you're built just right for it......and judging from the sizes of the majority of the belts I make, most are not built just right for it.
To be honest, I never knew they used plastic stiffeners in gunbelts. They've been using steel for a long time.
Straight or curved
How important is it to have a curved belt to better fit your body shape if you are wearing it down on the hip?
How important is it to have a curved belt to better fit your body shape if you are wearing it down on the hip?
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Cremony, thanks for the morning inspiration!
I have garrison-style web belts, belts with plastic or steel inserts, double-layer stitched leather, etc., but the best belts for me are a single layer of bridle leather 3/16-1/4" thick and 1-1/2" wide with a single tongue buckle attached by chicago screws.
Such belts are stiff and take a little breaking in, but once they take on my curve, they are superbly comfortable because they are part of me. The weight of a gun just fades way with such a belt.
I have garrison-style web belts, belts with plastic or steel inserts, double-layer stitched leather, etc., but the best belts for me are a single layer of bridle leather 3/16-1/4" thick and 1-1/2" wide with a single tongue buckle attached by chicago screws.
Such belts are stiff and take a little breaking in, but once they take on my curve, they are superbly comfortable because they are part of me. The weight of a gun just fades way with such a belt.
Whatever Beltman does works. They're stiff, yet comfortable, and easily carry the heaviest of my guns all day long.
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