CCW-Do your really need a Gun Belt?

[Tough Guy Levi]

Howdy:

A resounding YES, you should purchase a belt that can't be twisted like a pretzel! An everyday belt will allow your holster to hang outward from your body because it flexes, your quality holster will shift its position constantly violating the needs of discretion and comfort. If you purchase a 1.5" width belt, loops/slots etc should hug belt width. If not, when you draw, there can be as much as an 1" or more of holster movement before firearm has begun to leave holster.

Recently I spent considerable time online seeking a quality Gun belt at a reasonable price. I sought a Gun belt website that was easy to negotiate with "kiss" ordering instructions plus belts that looked great. I also read many many website testimonials. Since I wear blue jeans quite a bit, I wanted a BLUE Gun belt. My color request culled most Gun belt website custom manufacturers except http://www.abetterbeltusa.com/ultimate-gun-belt/. This manufacturer's website/belt/quality/color met my criteria,

Owner Mike Pillsbury answered my phone call (281-414-1110). Mike said he could dye a 1.5" belt for me BUT he would send me a 5" belt sample prior to manufacturing one for me. I was impressed and when I received the sample (wow) I called Mike with the go ahead on my belt.

I've been wearing my Blue belt for some time and it meets all my requirements for CCW carry purposes. Prior to CCW carry (years ago), I usually wore a Blue Cole
Haan belt with jeans thus it was easy for me to compare it to my new A Better Belt USA. THERE "AIN'T" NO COMPARISON! Mike's belt is stiff yet very comfortable. Both my IWB/OWB holsters stay put, feel comfortable especially since my CCW firearms remain close to my body.

I showed my Blue belt to a fellow Villa Park (CA) Rotarian, a General Contractor who is leather knowledgeable. He too was impressed thus ordered a belt from Mike. He's in the CA Orange County Sheriff Department CCW seeking process but wants to wear his belt NOW since it's so good looking. It's a fashion statement for him now, a CCW quality leather platform in the near future. Oh, his belt purchase was also motivated (dah) since he picked up his Kahr P380 after it resided in an Orange Turners Outdoorsman (retail store) "jail" for 10 days (CA DOJ requirement). Upon my recommendation, he also purchased an (http://www.gungloveholsters.com/) IWB Tuckable Holster from Tom Allen. Quality and a reasonable priced holster I use for CCW my Kahr PM9/P380 handguns.

Tough Guy Levi
NRA Pistol Instructor/RSO
Orange, CA

[Pointblank]

I got my gun belts from crossbreed. They are very high quality.

[b4uqzme]

Great testimonial! A agree with all your criteria 'cept one: you'll never see me wearing a BLUE belt. :D I wear Daltech Bullbelts because a nearby LGS stocks them and they do the job right.

[Scarywoody]

I also use Daltech belts. I do use Remora holsters for IWB and that style holster requires no belt which is nice for summer shorts or sweat pants.

[kerby9mm]

Mine is from a gun show table. Black 1 1/2" one piece leather heavy duty buckle with 2 screws for the piece that holds the buckle. Hand made only $30. Next weekend I'm going to get a 1 3/4 one for my holsters that can take that size. I have never had a 2 piece leather one so I don't know if they are better but they cost a lot.

[windsearcher]

+1 for pointblank.... love my crossbreed belt. (Got it as a "second" to save some $$).

I will also say that as much as I like that belt, the "Amish Made" belt I got from ... um... "Hanks" I think.... on eBay is a very sturdy, thick one layer belt that does a great job for me on many days when I don't have the thick Crossbreed belt.

[codegeek]

I just got my first gun belt in from Tommy Theis. It gets a big [emoji106] from me.

[bandrich]

Since my old belt somehow shrunk I needed to find a new one. A member of another forum suggested a Boston Leather 1.5 inch from LA police gear. I got it and love it. Oh buy the way it was $22.00 including shipping. Could not be happier. Hope this one does not shrink.

[muggsy]

Since my old belt somehow shrunk I needed to find a new one. A member of another forum suggested a Boston Leather 1.5 inch from LA police gear. I got it and love it. Oh buy the way it was $22.00 including shipping. Could not be happier. Hope this one does not shrink.

Belts have a tendency to shrink with age. I noticed this two belt sizes ago. No manufacturer seems to be immune to this phenomenon. :)

[wyntrout]

I'm on my third Looper gun belt... lost a lot of weight... 35-40 pounds. I'm wearing a 34" now and just sold my 38" first one. I have the 36" one in reserve, but hope to never need it again.

I like the somewhat natural leather finish, solid brass buckle, and the triple layer construction with a Kydex insert for reinforcement. The first one never sagged like cheaper belts tend to do. It was still straight after a year or so of use.

I wouldn't mind a black one, but the brass buckle is nickel-plated.

A gun belt needs to be stiff and stay in place when you're wearing a concealed weapon, especially when you're drawing the weapon. The Loopers have been great with great quality and looks... and not expensive at $50 or so. I bought two of mine from Kahr and one at a gun show, I believe. Pix on the EDC post from several years ago: http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?14938-EDC-picture-thread&highlight=EDC%20Picture%20Thread

My first picture starts on page 6.

Here is one of the photos with my favorite carry... my Mag-na-ported P40. I carry the largest Kahr mag for a reload in a Kydex holder on the opposite side OWB. The later belts have 7 holes... three holes either side of the belt size giving you +/- 2 inches of adjustment.

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/wyntrout/Every%20Day%20Carry%2009202012/IMG_3259_zpsdea06ce1.jpg

Wynn :)

[wyntrout]

Belts have a tendency to shrink with age. I noticed this two belt sizes ago. No manufacturer seems to be immune to this phenomenon. :)

I've noticed that, too, so I kept my 36" Looper gun belt as a backup to my 34" one. I did sell my 38" one this past weekend at the gun show... got $29 back on the $50 it cost me. I had considered cutting it down. I could use a 33" now. The extra bit gets too long and gets in the way of my phone holder to the left of my buckle.

Wynn :)

[muggsy]

I've noticed that my belts seem to shrink much more quickly over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Has anyone done any research on this seemingly explainable variance in dimensions? I'm thinking of requesting that a bit of elastic be added to my next belt to solve this problem. :)

[bandrich]

I'm on my third Looper gun belt... lost a lot of weight... 35-40 pounds. I'm wearing a 34" now and just sold my 38" first one. I have the 36" one in reserve, but hope to never need it again.

how did you do the weight loss thing Wyntrout? Doc says loose 10 pounds of ugly fat and I refuse to cut off my head. Just sayin.

[Bill K]

No! Not really. Whether you need a gun belt or not depends on how/where (e.g. ankle vs OWB) and what (e.g. P3AT vs 1911 Gov.) you CC.

[Longitude Zero]

One word Galco.

[CPTKILLER]

Maybe.

[TheMightyLevon]

I've never found it essential -- I bought a fairly thick/heavy belt from Walmart for about $12, and it's held all of my firearms perfectly. Granted, a Taurus snub nose revolver and now my new K9 aren't the heaviest pistols around.. But for smaller CC guns I don't find the extra expense necessary.

[Alfonse]

The short answer is nope, you can survive without one. But, if you carry anyway where your waistband is carrying the weight, pocket, IWB, on the belt, etc., once you try a gun belt, you won't go without one. A good gun belt just doesn't stretch. With some physiques, a belt can't hold up pants anyway, in that case you might want good suspenders.

[McE]

Really depends on what you carry.
For the most part, a good leather belt is a good leather belt. There is no 'gun-carry-grade' leather. Although, horsehide is best if you want a quality leather belt that works well for carry.
Only reason to really look for a belt labeled as a carry belt is if it has features not ordinary to leather belts, such as kydex inserts or whatever.

Due to a personal style choice where I will never wear a belt that uses the standard frame and prong style buckle, and that's basically the only buckle style carry belts come in, I do not use a carry-specific belt. All of my leather belts are up to the task, however, so again the short answer is no, you do not need a gun-carry-specific belt.

[Ljutic]

I own 6 gun belts for competition, but never feel compelled to wear one when I carry AIWB with a Remora. It holds the XDs 3.3 45 just fine sans a belt.

[stevec5ws6]

Some non gun belts are just fine... I am used to pants a size too big ( just a 44 instead of 42. gives me more room to move with longer legs, and room for my Kahr between my fat and my belt. so even if the gun isn't IWB i need a belt to keep them up without looking like a homie.

I have a pretty stylish belt by fat back tactical. it's a lot like a normal belt but velcro adjustable, and quick release... nice stiff nylon and holds up really well... you don't HAVE to have it. any good stiff solid belt will do... but I'd recommend trying one meant to fit a holster and hold it's weight up... sometimes you get lucky with regular belts but not often.

[el_presidente]

Not to derail things, but I pocket carry a CM9 with a regular belt all the time without problems. I would use a gun belt for IWB though without a doubt.

[DXTAC]

I use two 5.11 carry belts, one leather and one nylonish one I don't care too much for. I tried a quality leather belt and it rolled over too much. Spend the $$ and get a good carry belt.


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[dirtengineer]

No.

[TheTman]

I use a Dickies work belt, it works just fine for IWB holsters, which is all I usually carry. Much less expensive than a "Gun" belt. But if I were carrying OWB, I'd want a better Gun belt.

[kenemoore]

Yes, even IWB, if you carry a heavy piece, in my case a 1911. If a PM9 or similar, no, do not weigh enough to make a difference.

[TD2K]

Absolutely, makes a TON of difference if you carry a decent sized pistol. It keeps the gun tight against you, so it doesn't feel like it's going to pull away from you and fall off. Helps with concealment, too.

I love the belts made by Looper Leather (Flashbang hoslter parent company) here in OKC. They are quality USA made belts, have kydex sewn in between the leather layers. I've bought 2 "Alcatraz" style belts in the last 5 years, and that's only because I lost weight had HAD to get a smaller one, it didn't wear out. Well worth the money.
http://www.kahrtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=12911&stc=1
http://flashbangstore.com/t/belts

[wyntrout]

I stepped down in sizes of my Looper belts as I lost weight, going from 38" to 36" to 34". I bought a 32" as well, but I think that I was too optimistic with the smaller size, especially when I have to stuff a CrossBreed Minituck and my P40... or my G30S in the AG holster inside my pants and the belt!:rolleyes: That smaller one will stay in the container. I just like to eat and drink too much and don't do anything to make my waist get smaller!

Wynn :)

[happypuppy]

It depends on what your carrying. For myself around 20 ounces is the cut off. If it's around that most any belt will work. Much over it will sag.

[SlowBurn]

"Need" ?
I carry in my pocket, so don't really need it but if not in dress slacks I like to wear a gun belt. Its more comfortable even with a light pistol.

[Bobshouse]

The difference with a gun belt is like day and night. The gun belt seems to distribute the weight of the load equally all around the waist. I couldn't believe the difference when I got my gun belt. It definitely helped me carry my Glock 30 more comfortably and more often.

One thing...it is a really thick (about 1/4") and stiff belt, don't expect to roll it up and stick in in the dresser drawer..lol.

Mine was made by thebeltman.net, I've had it for about 10 years and it still stiff as new. He has sizing instructions on his website.