fisher_of_man wrote:Lightning...03Lightningrocks wrote:
Not that I am trying to get anyone upset here, but the holster is what holds the gun. The belt is what holds the holster. Maybe I should clear one issue up. The belt I am talking about is made from cowhide and they are fairly firm belts. they are just as thick as the high dollar belts. I agree about not using a flimsy belt. The belt simply puts pressure on the outside of the pants, thus pushing against the holster. You are only going to tighten the belt so much before it starts cutting into your waist and getting uncomfortable. I am wondering how any belt can be tightened so much as to break under the pressure before it starts cutting your waist in half. I can tighten a no name belt just as tight as i can a fashion designer belt.
To each his own...I'll admit to buying items as fashion statements. But I have to say that I have run, moved furniture, built fences and fell down my stairs a few months back. My pistol never came out of the holster and the holster never fell out of my pants or dislodged from the belt.
Maybe it would be a different story if I used an outside the waist band holster, but I can't say much on that since I only carry inside the waist band or ankle holster.
Like I said....I'm not knocking you guys for buying expensive belts, I am honestly trying to find out if there is any legitimate reason for it. I have no doubt they are purtier.....
I've never carried before...still in the process of getting my CHL, but here are my reasons for wanting a good belt:
1) good construction - you can by a thick belt just about anywhere. However, the gun belts (as I understand it) are two pieces of leather that are sewn together with the grain of the hide going in oppposite directions. As I understand it, the two pieces with opp direction provide a more sturdy (and durable) belt. this gives it somewhat of a "plywood" effect. Eventually any single layer leather belt will sag, but the dual leather gun belts because of the "plywood effect" won't...or you'll get many more years out of them than you would a normal belt. also, because of the way they are made, they don't have the vertical floppiness some belts have - keeping your gun and holster in close and tight where it belongs.
2) from what I understand because of the dual leather and the stiffness, you don't have to "cinch" up the belt at much as you would a single layer belt. because the construction of the belt holds up the gun...not the constriction of the belt around your waist.
3) as with any tool....one more suited to the job usually works better, has better results, and eliminates much of the headache along the way. I think that will be the case with a good gun belt too. when you start loading up stuff on your belt, a good belt that distributes the weight, can take the abuse, and was designed to carry it will make your whole experience much more enjoyable.
I've heard a bunch of people say...."you don't want to buy a $500 - $1500 gun, a $100 holster and give all that a foundation of a $10 belt". I don't know that spending more money is always the answer...but I do think that the foundation for the whole rig is something you want to get right.l I'm sure it makes more of a difference OWB than IWB because with IWB, your pants, belt, body, etc help hold the holster/gun in place. if your wal-mart belt works, then by all means, don't change. I just don't want to create a belt drawer trying to "get it right". anything I have ever gotten that is specifically customized to the purpose it was intended for "usually" works better and last longer...I'm hoping thats the case with a good gun belt....
just my thoughts...and not any actually carry experience to back it up...but after all my reading thru many forums...I've decided it would be best for me to get a good belt from the start.
FOM
I was of the same opinion when I first started carrying. I had a cheap wal-mart belt (cowhide, like yours), and didn't see any problem. I started off carrying a PA-63 IWB, which is a pretty light gun. I then moved to the Hi-Power, and didn't see why I needed a better belt. After a while, I realized that I really had to cinch down the belt to keep my weapon oriented, and even then I sometimes had to adjust it.
On longtooth's recommendation, I ordered a belt from The Beltman, and it made a HUGE difference, though I didn't realize how much my previous belt was lacking until I got the gun belt. I didn't have to tighten the belt much, and what was even better, it just sort of rode there on its own. The belts keep the shape, and I realized that when I went to the restroom and dropped my pants, the gun and holster didn't flop over, as it did with my regular belt, Rather than belt tension on the holster keeping it upright, it was the inherent stiffness of the belt itself that kept it upright, meaning there was much less pull outwards from the gun and holster, and the weight of the gun is spread out over your entire belt line, rather than just the area where the gun rides. Need for adjustment of the holster is now minimal, and if I happen to carry the PA-63, it stays put and plumb much better then the old belt ever did. Seriously, it's a great investment, and the belts look really nice. I've had it for almost a year and a half, and it's still going strong.
For the record, mine is a 1 1/2" black bullhide belt, with the stiffener. I got the stiffener because my gun is full-sized and heavy. It may or may not make a difference (I only have the one belt), but I figured I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. It's a relatively inexpensive option, so I went ahead and got it. Some day I'm going to get one of the fancy ones for more dressy occasions.