REVIEW: concealed carry belts

Gun, shooting and equipment discussions unrelated to CHL issues

Moderator: carlson1

User avatar
03Lightningrocks
Senior Member
Posts: 11460
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:15 pm
Location: Plano

Re: REVIEW: concealed carry belts

Post by 03Lightningrocks »

OK...after reading more of this thread I went and dug my 511 belt out of the garbage. I didn't think it was real leather and was concerned it would only get uglier than it already is. After looking at it closer, I think it might be leather after all. It is just a cheap leather...but leather is leather which means I should be able to dye it some color other than buck skin. I am thinking Black. So...does anyone here know if the black dye will cover over the buckskin color? I am wondering if it will absorb the dye.

My second question is to those who have owned one of these for a while. Will it loosen up some and get more comfortable with break in?
CompVest
Senior Member
Posts: 3079
Joined: Sun Jan 02, 2005 7:17 pm

Re: REVIEW: concealed carry belts

Post by CompVest »

My suggestion is don't dye it yourself or you may end up with black dye rubbing off on your clothes. Take it to a good shoe repairman.
Women on the DRAW – drill, revise, attain, win
Coached Practice Sessions for Women
User avatar
03Lightningrocks
Senior Member
Posts: 11460
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:15 pm
Location: Plano

Re: REVIEW: concealed carry belts

Post by 03Lightningrocks »

CompVest wrote:My suggestion is don't dye it yourself or you may end up with black dye rubbing off on your clothes. Take it to a good shoe repairman.
That was one of my concerns also. If I dye this thing I will most likely try what you just suggested.
chabouk
Banned
Posts: 1219
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 7:01 am

Re: REVIEW: concealed carry belts

Post by chabouk »

I used to do leatherwork, but I tossed my stuff several years ago. That's why I said I would take my second belt to the boot shop. We still have an old-fashioned cobbler here; he's done a couple of full re-soles on the Larry Mahan smooth ostrich ropers I bought myself for my birthday in 1986. They're still great boots, even if the scuff marks can't be covered up any more. ;-)

A good boot man can strip the old finish, dye, and then seal to avoid rubbing off the dye onto your clothes. Shouldn't be more than a few bucks.
User avatar
shadowtactical
Junior Member
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Jan 30, 2010 8:21 pm
Location: Magnolia, TX

Re: REVIEW: concealed carry belts

Post by shadowtactical »

That picture sure cleared up any doubts I had. Beltman here I come... Thanks for sharing everyone.
Rob

Sig P250 .45 auto
Sig P239 9mm
Glock 23 .40 S&W
Sewer_Ice
Member
Posts: 95
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:42 pm

Re: REVIEW: concealed carry belts

Post by Sewer_Ice »

Well, I'm sold. One question to all of you that have em. I recently lost quite a bit of weight, went from 36" waist jeans being a little tight, to 34" jeans being just a little loose. So do I get the 32-34? Or 36-38? If I got the 36-38, would I have trouble punching another hole into it? I plan on loosing a little more weight... I'm leaning to the 32-34.
User avatar
USA1
Senior Member
Posts: 7412
Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:37 pm
Location: Tomball ,Texas
Contact:

Re: REVIEW: concealed carry belts

Post by USA1 »

Although I've never punched a hole in one, I'm sure it could be done.
Probably even with a drill...carefully.

When I bought mine I went to a retailer and picked a size that I could use the center hole.
That way it could be adjusted either way.

If you plan to carry IWB, I would recommend a belt 2 inches larger than you'd normally wear.
Glock Armorer - S&W M&P Armorer
User avatar
03Lightningrocks
Senior Member
Posts: 11460
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:15 pm
Location: Plano

Re: REVIEW: concealed carry belts

Post by 03Lightningrocks »

USA1 wrote: If you plan to carry IWB, I would recommend a belt 2 inches larger than you'd normally wear.
Real Important. :iagree:
User avatar
A-R
Senior Member
Posts: 5776
Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 5:01 pm
Location: Austin area

Re: REVIEW: concealed carry belts

Post by A-R »

Sewer_Ice wrote:Well, I'm sold. One question to all of you that have em. I recently lost quite a bit of weight, went from 36" waist jeans being a little tight, to 34" jeans being just a little loose. So do I get the 32-34? Or 36-38? If I got the 36-38, would I have trouble punching another hole into it? I plan on loosing a little more weight... I'm leaning to the 32-34.
I punched holes in my first Beltman (which I bought off the rack at a local shp and was actually a bit too small for me with IWB carry) with a tool very similar to this http://www.amazon.com/C-S-Osborne-223-R ... B00004YZQC" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; that I picked up at Home Depot. I haven't attempted to punch through the 5.11 leather/kydex insert belts yet, but I'm sure it could be done. Have also used that punch to punch through some plastic for some mods I did to one of my pocket holsters.
User avatar
A-R
Senior Member
Posts: 5776
Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 5:01 pm
Location: Austin area

Re: REVIEW: concealed carry belts

Post by A-R »

03Lightningrocks wrote:
USA1 wrote: If you plan to carry IWB, I would recommend a belt 2 inches larger than you'd normally wear.
Real Important. :iagree:
2 inches is a good rule of thumb. But a better way is to take a soft measuring tape (the type you see people use in weight loss ads - no idea where to buy them - Wal Mart? - my wife just has one laying around), put on your IWB holster with gun inside pants you typically wear then thread the measuring tape through your belt loops and your holster loops or hooks or whatever and cinch it up about as tight as you'd comfortably wear a real belt. Whatever that measurement is should be VERY CLOSE - within an inch either way - of the size you need to have for wearing IWB. This method is described on http://www.thebeltman.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
chabouk
Banned
Posts: 1219
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 7:01 am

Re: REVIEW: concealed carry belts

Post by chabouk »

The 5.11 is a 7 hole belt, so you've got more room for adjustment.
User avatar
A-R
Senior Member
Posts: 5776
Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 5:01 pm
Location: Austin area

Re: REVIEW: concealed carry belts

Post by A-R »

chabouk wrote:The 5.11 is a 7 hole belt, so you've got more room for adjustment.
That's a good point. On my Beltman, I made sure to order the 7-hole option. Makes a big difference as far as getting it to fit "just right".
User avatar
03Lightningrocks
Senior Member
Posts: 11460
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:15 pm
Location: Plano

Re: REVIEW: concealed carry belts

Post by 03Lightningrocks »

austinrealtor wrote:
chabouk wrote:The 5.11 is a 7 hole belt, so you've got more room for adjustment.
That's a good point. On my Beltman, I made sure to order the 7-hole option. Makes a big difference as far as getting it to fit "just right".
Same here...and for the exact same reason.
User avatar
hooknbullet
Junior Member
Posts: 37
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:46 pm

Re: REVIEW: concealed carry belts

Post by hooknbullet »

Ok...my $7.99 closeout belt just made it in the mail today...It's stiffer than the belt I have now, might be a bit uncomfortable on the old tool shed.I'll give it a go & find out. One more wardrobe challenge for a fat boy. ;-)
Always Remember:
A firearm is only an instrument. It contains no evil, no conscience, and no ability. It is strictly the intent, competence, and character of its user that decide the outcome of any and all actions taken with it.
(I don't know who deserves credit for this quote, but I like it.)
User avatar
d strokes
Member
Posts: 124
Joined: Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:41 pm
Location: Austin, TX

Re: REVIEW: concealed carry belts

Post by d strokes »

My 5.11 looked nothing like that but I do not carry a Khar.
"People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both." — Benjamin Franklin
Post Reply

Return to “General Gun, Shooting & Equipment Discussion”