Introduction to casting your own bullets

If you spend some time reading most any popular shooting or handgun bulletin, you’ll probably come across a post or question asking about gun belts. Having carried concealed for over 15 years, and owned a gun store that specialized in concealed carry for a number of years, I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard questions about gun belts.

Typically, the questions will center around the following issues:

#1 – Is a gunbelt really needed, and why?

#2 – What’s wrong with my belt from _________? where the blank is usually filled in with Wal-Mart, Sears, or some other similar store.

Both questions are valid, and the answers may alter the way you think about gun belts.

Let’s look at each question individually.

“Do I really need a gun belt?” – If you carry a pistol or shoot a handgun on a regular basis, then the short answer is yes.. We’ll get into why you need one later in this article.

“Well what’s wrong with my belt from _________?” – Nothing at all. I’m sure it does a fine job of holding up your pants, carrying your cell phone, etc. The problem here is that it’s not designed to be a gun belt. Most belts from a department store are designed as a standard belt for your pants. This means that they are usually a single ply piece of leather Unfortunately, no matter how it’s produced, single ply leather will stretch out over time. The stretching is even more noticeable under the burden of a loaded handgun and/or other related gear (mag carrier, light carrier, etc.).

A true gun belt will be specifically designed to support the added weight of all that gear. Most all true gun belts will be made from two strips of leather so that they are noticeably thicker and stronger than a typical belt.

As such, a true gun belt has the following features:

* It won’t stretch like a standard belt will over time. The two strips of leather will resist stretching far better than just one strip.

* The added thickness and additional strength will bear the weight of the gear without sagging or rolling over under the weight. Rolling over occurs when the belt lacks rigidity, and the belt actually turns over or splays away from the body due to the weight of gear.

* Provides a solid foundation so the holster and other related gear will perform to its fullest potential.

While all the points listed above are significant, pay especially close attention to the point about supplying a firm foundation for the holster and gear. This is a fundamental point that is often overlooked. overlook. Many shooters spend a significant amount of money on a nice holster, and then turn around and support the holster on an cheap standard belt. It’s kind of like buying a Porsche sports car and then putting tires for a Yugo on it; it will work, but not like it’s suppose to.

A gun belt can really improve the performance and comfort of your gear, so it can be a worthwhile investment.

As more and more shooters apply for concealed carry permits, the need for concealed carry holsters is going to become more important. By concealed carry, I’m talking about a holster or carrying method that allows the weapon to worn in such a manner that it is completely concealed from the view of others. A number of states that allow concealed carry permits have specific requirements that the weapon has to be completely concealed or they are in violation of the terms of the permit. 

Concealed carry holsters include a number of different holster styles such as pocket holsters, ankle holsters, inside the waistband holsters, and belt holsters.

 Depending on a number of variables, each style of concealed carry has different strengths and weaknesses. At the same time, with proper selection, nearly any of those holster styles would work for concealed carry. Some of the variables that come into play with concealed carry holsters include the following: 

size of the weapon body type climate

 Let’s a take a second and talk about each variable individually, although they all somewhat tie together in the end.

Handgun size – While this may seem unimportant on it’s face, it becomes very important in terms of concealment and comfort. The bottom line is larger weapons are more difficult to conceal, no matter what steps to you. The size of the weapon will play a direct role in how effectively it can be concealed as well as how comfortable it is. Rather than try to conceal an oversized weapon, choose a weapon that is moderately sized and then select a concealed carry holster.

Body type – Body type can also play a direct role in the types of holsters that you will be able to use in concealed carry. If you have or are growing a spare tire (like me), IWB carry may not be a good option as it will be difficult to conceal the handgun. If you have a thin build, you may also be faced with the same problem. How do you get around it? Review your options with other types of carry. There are some really nice OWB holsters that conceal very well under a T-shirt. I have personally found that front pocket carry works best for me as it’s easy to put on and virtually disappears. You may need to spend some time testing, but I’m sure a carry method that works for you can be found.

Weather & Climate – The climate where you will be carrying concealed can and will play a role in your gun holster selection. Warmer climates mean less clothes, which means you will have to conceal a handgun under a T-shirt or in a pocket. Warmer climates generally means shorts so ankle carry is also eliminated as a possibility. Cooler climates don’t really pose a problem as more clothing means it’s easier to conceal a pistol. Rapidly changing climates can cause even bigger problems. Take climate and weather into account as you search for holsters and realize that you may have to pick up more than one holster to meet those needs.

In the end, you’ll have to find the best handgun/holster combo that works for you. Hopefully the information provided here will be valuable and relevant for you.