An Introduction to Gun Belts
Gun Belts - The Most Overlooked Piece of Gear in Shooting
Having worked in a gun store and carried concealed for a number of years, I'm still surprised by the number of customer questions that center around gun belts.
Typically, the questions will center around the following issues:
#1 - Do I really need a gun belt?
#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 change the way you think about gun belts.
Let me answer both questions separately.
"Do I really need a gun belt?" - If you carry a sidearm or shoot a handgun on a regular basis, then the answer is a very strong YES. I'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, supporting 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 trousers. This means that they are usually a single ply piece of leather Unfortunately, no matter how it's produced, single ply leather will stretch over time. The stretching is even more noticeable under the weight of a loaded handgun and/or other related gear (mag carrier, light carrier, etc.).
A true gun belt will be specifically produced 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 a result, a true gun belt has the following characteristics:
* A dual layer gun belt will resist stretching, unlike a single ply standard belt.
* 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.
* Creates a sold base for the holster and gear to attach to. This base allows the gear to perform at an optimum level.
While all the points listed above are significant, focus on the point about supplying a solid base for the holster and gear. This is a fundamental point that many people overlook. Many shooters spend a significant amount of money on a good quality holster, and then turn around and mount 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.
About the Author
Interested in learning more about gun belts and how to select the best one for you? Consider visiting Gun Belts as it's an excellent source of data on this subject.
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