Where can you find a good gun belt and a versatile holster?

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Rusty Luck

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I am looking for a good gun belt to hold up my pants and gun but I honestly have no idea where to start or what would be a good price, suggestions? :eek:
I was also looking for a holster that can be worn IWB or OWB or some other variant. :confused:
Thanks for your input.
 
Belt: Wilderness Tactical (I just ordered one) (price is anywhere from $30-$90)

If you want a good IWB holster, it will not double as an OWB holster. Milt Sparks makes great IWB holsters, as does Crossbreed, Comptac, and many others that I don't have experience with.

For OWB, I like a Blackhawk Serpa Lvl II for polymer pistols. If I had a nicer handgun, it would go in a quality leather holster.

ETA: I would not recommend the Blackhawk for CC. OC, yes, but not CC. (I use my SERPA for OC on the farm)

As JTQ pointed out (and I don't know how I forgot it), Raven Concealment makes some highly recommended OWB CC holsters.
 
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In general, allaroundhunter's recommendation is pretty good about a multipurpose holster.

However, I would pick any of the following multipurpose holsters over the SERPA he recommends.

In kydex, Raven Concealment Phantom. IWB or OWB just by changing attachments.
http://www.ravenconcealment.com/

Simply Rugged Cuda. IWB or OWB, strong side or cross draw, and you can even wear it as a chest holster with the right attachments.
http://www.simplyrugged.com/cuda/

Pure Kustom BlackOPS. IWB or OWB.
http://www.purekustomholsters.com/

EDIT to add from another thread where you asked about gun belts. This is a better place for the info I posted over there.

Just about any holster maker will make a belt for you.

Belt only makers ...

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

The Beltman http://www.thebeltman.net/

Gibson Gunleather http://www.gibsongunleather.com/

if you'd prefer nylon

The Wilderness Tactical (sorry a link wasn't available when writing this)

Midway USA is a reseller, but you should be able to buy direct from The Wilderness Tactical, but their site is not available as I write this.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/252...tor-belt-nylon
 
There are more options for good belts and holsters than ever before. Unfortunately, there is a fair bit of stuff on the market that is less than ideal.

A good gun belt, by definition, must support the weight of the gun and accessories that we intend to hang off of it. They must be rigid from top to bottom. Most single strap leather or nylon belts will fold when you hang a gun on them. This is not a good thing. ;)

The Wilderness belts are great, moderately priced options. There are several good options in the $30 price range that are available from a number of sources. If you are OK with the nylon rigger's belt style, the 5.11 Trainer's Belt is a good choice. If you'd like a leather-looking belt, 5.11 and Blackhawk offer several options.

If you want a traditional leather gun belt, cost will be significantly higher running from around $80 up to several hundred for exotic leather, etc. Jim Spiedel at www.thebeltman.net offers some of the best belts out there.

For holsters, you really need to do some research and figure out what you think will work best before you start spending money. Check on the boards and see if there is a PassAround thread where folks pass around different holsters so that members can try them w/o having to pony up a bunch of money.

What gun are you looking to get a holster for? For a decent, inexpensive IWB holster, the Blade-Tech Phantom series is a great deal at $30. The definitive leather IWB holster is the Milt Sparks Summer Special. Brownells stocks some SSIIs for 1911s & Glocks for $100. Comp-Tac makes great gear and they are located in Houston.

When looking for a holster, I want five things in the design. If a holster is lacking in these area, I look elsewhere.

1) It must be made for the gun. The generic One Size Fits All/multiple guns are crap. Get a holster for the gun you are planning to carry. If it's not made for the gun, consistency goes all to hell.

2) It must cover the trigger guard. Yes, you can get your finger on the trigger faster when the the trigger guard is exposed. This is not a good thing.

3) It must mount rigidly to the belt. Consistency, again. If the holster moves side to side or up & down on the belt, you fight your gear before you ever get the gun in motion.

[These may seem 'commonsensical' but you'd be suprised.]

4) It must allow for a Full Firing Grip on the holstered gun. Consistency, again. You will shoot with the grip that you have. A suboptimal grip translates into suboptimal shooting. Obtaining a FFG prior to gun movement is critical.

5) It should remain open when the gun is removed. This supports reholstering. In most situations, this is not a huge deal. When it comes to working with the gun one handed, it is
 
Thanks Guys and JTQ I realized that and brought it over here but with the talk of how to make carrying more comfortable I got caught up.
 
Paul, good info, I have a crossbreed IWB holster for my sig 2022. I was looking for a holster that I can wear OWB when I am on my ranch and in the wilderness but would be (relatively) easy to put IWB if I had to go to town in a hurry for one reason or another. I was wanting a leather belt but nothing crazy or exotic. I was also wanting a magazine pouch if you have any suggestions. Thanks.
 
Rusty,

For a mag pouch, I'd go with the Comp-Tac single mag pouch. It is a clip-on/paddle style, tension adjustable, kydex pouch that covers enough of the mag to retain it but not so much that it impedes access.

If you prefer a belt loop style, Josh Kobelson makes a very nice, trim pouch.

My EDC is a Double Deep Concealment Special leather IWB made by The Leather Arsenal and a mag pouch made by Josh.
 
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Okay. A good gunbelt is paramount for good concealed carry (it holds it tight against the body, doesn't flex, etc.). The best you can get for the money has to be Milt Sparks. They do spectacular work, but expect to wait. I have two VM2's, both made from horsehide, one for a G27 and one for a G29. I plan on getting another holster from them soon too. I'd have gotten their belt, it is superb, but I got one from a local leathersmith at a gunshow. You want a double thick leather belt, not sure about how the laminated ones work but they seem stiff.

Milt Sparks can get you going with the whole rig for under $300 shipped (depending on your choice of holster and belt, it could be closer to just over $200!) and you won't find better gear for the price, I promise that. The holster alone is about $125, really a steal, they were selling for 3-4 times that on Ebay so you didn't have to wait! But they put an end to that, they really look out for their customers. Their ethics are far and above most American businesses. Mitch Rosen makes some nicer stuff it seems, but it costs more and it is really just cosmetics save their thin line. Milt Sparks, to me, is like the company that makes the Corvette and sells it at Camaro prices.

The ONLY bad thing I've ever heard about Milt Sparks is that orders take a long time, and a complaint I have is that a lot of their products are tailored for 1911's (but not all, and the VM2 is legendary for its quality, price, and service). So in that case, my recommendation is to still get the Milt Sparks rig, but also get a Blackhawk Serpa lvl2 for the meantime. Nice plastic holster for the price, I love mine and still use it for the range. Bladetech makes some nice kydex holster, a HUGE range of them which is nice, but I have issues with their belt loops and the buttons in particular. Their Nano is very thin though, but I had to take a saw, file, dremel, and JB weld to modify it to fit my 340PD just right and not have the buttons constantly open. For the price, it wasn't worth it. It cost $60, for just $40 more and a little time I could have had a Milt Sparks, or for a little more, a Mitch Rosen Workman.

I'm not a big fan of Galco, I don't like mass produced holsters --plus a Galco holster costs almost as much as a Milt Sparks but is nowhere near the quality, it is obvious. However, their gunbelts aren't that bad at all. May be better than the one I have, but mine is made from real soft leather that is two thick pieces sewn together. It is real soft and flexible, but it absolutely will not fold --that is the most important thing to look for in a gunbelt.

Also consider the width of the belt. The thicker ones work better, but they might not fit all your loops. The middle width might work better. I think mine is 1.5". Consider too that not all 1.5" belts will fit all 1.5" loops! So if you get your belt from the same folks that make the holster, you can assured it will fit. Again, Milt Sparks will do this right.

Finally, think of your holster and belt like optics on a rifle. You don't get cheap optics and put them on a superb rifle and expect it to be phenomenal. Likewise, don't get a cheap holster and Walmart belt and expect it to conceal well and be comfortable. A lot of us wasted a lot of money trying holsters to get the right one, so take this info for what it is worth. Getting the right rig can make carry more comfortable and concealed than your car keys in your pocket. No joke.
 
Rusty, you're in Houston right? Carter Country on I-10 will wobble your holster-lovin' mind. Try stuff on, pay cash, save yourself shipping. I DO like Milt Sparks, Blackhawk (especially their Tactical Belts), Bladetec, Crossbreed (Supertuc Delux). There's another good shop on Veterans Pky, but the name escapes me right now. And go eat breakfast at The Fountainview Cafe (on Fountain View, between Westheimer & San Felipe near The Galleria). Tell Steve Drayer (owner) that Omar LaFong sent ya'! :cool:
 
Thanks guys I found a guy in Humble who is making me a custom belt with oak leaves for a great price, still debating on the holster, I like the Simply Rugged Cuda.
 
Response to Rusty's holster search

We have all been there at some time or another; looking for that “perfect” belt and holster. Your best holster will be based upon personal daily lifestyle requirements including; comfort, ease of concealment, dress requirements and physical activities involving sitting, bending twisting etc. You may also need to consider purchasing larger trousers or concealment clothing.
Be sure and look at the whole picture when selecting a concealed carry holster.
My favorite rig is a, one of a kind, patented strut holster available at www.stealthdefenseholsters.com
Its’ the most comfortable IWB style holster available with no need for larger trousers or special clothing.
A couple of articles that may help you decide: http://www.stealthdefenseholsters.com/Articles.html?entry=concealed-carry-sense-nonsense
http://www.stealthdefenseholsters.com/Articles.html?entry=concealed-holster-choices
 
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