Jump to content
Sign in to follow this  
Spencer G

making a holster and gun belt

Recommended Posts

I am making a holster and gun belt for a .22 Colt Frontier Scout, and the commissioner wants cartridge loops on the belt. I've never done cartridge loops, and a .22 shell is pretty small so this is going to be a challenge. I have done some bit of practicing and I think I'll be able to pull it off, but I was was just wondering if any of you seasoned gun rig makers had any tip, cautionary remarks, prophecies of doom, or anything else that you would like to impart.

Spencer

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

have fun...... i dont when i am sewing loops.

for .22's i punch a slot and run a thin strip of leather

in and out. you'll do fine.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

And I though loops for 38's were bad. I would think with punched slots, you would have to spread the loops out, not adjacent to each other like on a western belt with larger cartridges or the belt will be like swiss cheeze. Seems to me that it's going to look strange with the 22's.

SkipJ

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If this guy can do it, so can you!

cb22lg.jpg

post-4803-1196822694_thumb.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Your work Rayban? Those sure don't look like 22 long rifle.

SkipJ

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'M NOT RAYBAN BUT I SURE DO LIKE PLINKING WITH THOSE

.22 MAGNUMS..........I HAVE A COLT "NEW FRONTIER" ALSO.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

NO NO NO...that's not my work...someday maybe...I just wanted to show you those .22 loops...not a bad piece of leather either huh??

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
NO NO NO...that's not my work...someday maybe...I just wanted to show you those .22 loops...not a bad piece of leather either huh??

It's beautifully done. A question or two, though - the belt looks unusually wide (could be an illusion due to the small cartridges, I guess).

How wide do most of you make your gunbelts and billets (for ranger types, that is)?

Bill

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

bill, i do my Belts 3'' wide with the Billets 1-1/2" wide.

if you are making the loops for a .22Mag.. that cartrige is 1-5/16" long

mabey to look more in porportion the belt could be 2-1/2'' wide

with a billets 1-1/4....

Edited by Luke Hatley

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you all for the advise and the vote of confidence from Rayban. Another question is, which do you prefer sewing the loops completely on top like in the picture Rayban posted, or punching slots and going through the leather for each loop? And what are the reasons that you prefer what you prefer?

Spencer

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've tried both ways, slots and stitching, and either way is a real time consuming ordeal but the stitched method looks the best when I do it. I'm considering stitching them to a separate piece of leather and then stitching that to the belt. Anybody try this?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

GTT got a good idea of mounting the loops on a strap if you're going to do slots. Otherwise I'd line the belt. Lawrence used to attached the loops to a strap but they did not use the slot technique. I never done .22 rimfire but the spacing will be tight. I'd work up a sample. Take you time with it and you might turn that into a slide that hangs off the belt. Here's a few pixs of .45 Colt loops that illustrate the stitch pattern. You're talking the same thing only different with your twenty-two rims.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks Bill for the pictures, that's a very interesting way to stitch without the need to worry about finishing off so many ends. I hadn't thought of doing it that way, but now that I've seen it, it definatly seems like the best method. Did you come up with it yourself? If so, do you mind if I use it?

Thanks again,

Spencer

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I've tried both ways, slots and stitching, and either way is a real time consuming ordeal but the stitched method looks the best when I do it. I'm considering stitching them to a separate piece of leather and then stitching that to the belt. Anybody try this?

Sounds like compounding the work, and being the lazy guy I am, I would just as soon stitch right to the belt...that's my plan anywayz.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

That stitch pattern has been around forever. Go for it!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I haven't tried using that continuous stitch method because it seemed to me that the threads would wear out pretty quick with the casings catching on it as you put them into the loop. Obviously, you could gouge a stitch groove but.... wow, that's a lot of work too.

Sooo, I've been stitching my loops by hand and it's a real pain. Fortunately, I don't do many belts.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am in the process of making a .22 cartridge belt right now and the only thing to say is,"WHAT A PAIN". I had previously done so loops for .38 cartridges on a chest holster that I posted on the forum. They were hard to do and I only made 6 loops. I'm putting 25 on a belt for my son. It's a nightmare! As for what Go2Tex said about the zigzag stitch, I don't know about it wearing out (seems like it would to me too) but it's done with a machine. Since I don't have a machine I can't do it that way. I tried to cut slots but didn't like the way it looked and it didn't hold the .22 shells very tightly. I was afraid of the loops stretching or some of them being empty and the strap moving. Then you lose cartridges so whats the point of a cartridge belt? So I am just sewing them on by hand. Maybe it'll be finished by Christmas, I hope.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Seems like for a .22 gun rig, a pouch strapped to the belt to carry rounds in would be more practical. Not too traditional looking, but they didn't "traditionally" pack .22s either. Just a thought.....

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

That diagonal stitch has been around for a long time. As far as that belt & loops in the photo, it has a lot of miles of practical use on it, not just worn for show. That's my personal belt and I worked out of those loops a lot. I'm hard on gear and that piece has held up better than I predicted. It's got a lot of life left.

If the stitches are tight you should not have a problem with wear if you use a tight stitch. I've seen loops done with only 1 and 2 diagonal stitches and those usually fray pretty quick. Those in the photo are not grooved. If you get the stitches tight the little stretch you'll get won't matter. Also when they begin to get loose leave the cartridges out and they shrink back. I don't leave cartridges in the loops, that is store them. Crude grows on them if you do that. I've seen it to the point they won't chamber. I wonder why the guy tried to load it into the gun.

As far as the .22 rimfire you're right. That's a tight fit - you're working in a tight spot. From a practical standpoint the .22 rimfire being an outside lubed cartridge and the loops rubbing and scraping the lube off the bullets I wouldn't mess with that for my own use, but the customer is always right ... lol! I hate loops that's what pockets and possible bags are for.

That method that GTT mentioned of building the loops works well from a practical stand point. Before speedloaders (gee now we're back to geezer days ... lol) we'd have two pieces of 12 inch skirt behind the loops to get some space so you could get your fingers around the cartridges. We're talking game playing here, working against the clock, nothing practical for the field. The best were thick skirt bevel so that they set at angle with the bullets resting against the belt and the rims of the cases kicked out so you could get your fingers around them. We also built slides like this for PPC competition and it wasn't unusual to see them on a street cops Sam Browne. I strayed from the .22, but someone might find something useful and share a better idea.

As far as looks I like the loops laced, the slot method, but you'd have to space them out for .22s and that in my eyes would look a little cheesy, but there were a lot of loops done that way when the B westerns were in vogue. One of those beauty in the eye sort of things. Nothing wrong with it. For .22s I'd probably go with a kip lace as it'll have less stretch and a thin piece of kip will be stronger than a piece of split skirt.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks again for all of the advice. Since the guy commissioning the belt is a friend, I'll see if he really wants loops, even with all their disadvantages.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello Billsotx,

Please help! I am making an ammo pouch and the leather which I am making the loops out of cracks terribly when I bend it into a loop to stitch! It is veg tanned 4oz leather which has been dyed.. I don't wet it or anything before stitching.

Would appreciate any help!

Thanks

That diagonal stitch has been around for a long time. As far as that belt & loops in the photo, it has a lot of miles of practical use on it, not just worn for show. That's my personal belt and I worked out of those loops a lot. I'm hard on gear and that piece has held up better than I predicted. It's got a lot of life left.

If the stitches are tight you should not have a problem with wear if you use a tight stitch. I've seen loops done with only 1 and 2 diagonal stitches and those usually fray pretty quick. Those in the photo are not grooved. If you get the stitches tight the little stretch you'll get won't matter. Also when they begin to get loose leave the cartridges out and they shrink back. I don't leave cartridges in the loops, that is store them. Crude grows on them if you do that. I've seen it to the point they won't chamber. I wonder why the guy tried to load it into the gun.

As far as the .22 rimfire you're right. That's a tight fit - you're working in a tight spot. From a practical standpoint the .22 rimfire being an outside lubed cartridge and the loops rubbing and scraping the lube off the bullets I wouldn't mess with that for my own use, but the customer is always right ... lol! I hate loops that's what pockets and possible bags are for.

That method that GTT mentioned of building the loops works well from a practical stand point. Before speedloaders (gee now we're back to geezer days ... lol) we'd have two pieces of 12 inch skirt behind the loops to get some space so you could get your fingers around the cartridges. We're talking game playing here, working against the clock, nothing practical for the field. The best were thick skirt bevel so that they set at angle with the bullets resting against the belt and the rims of the cases kicked out so you could get your fingers around them. We also built slides like this for PPC competition and it wasn't unusual to see them on a street cops Sam Browne. I strayed from the .22, but someone might find something useful and share a better idea.

As far as looks I like the loops laced, the slot method, but you'd have to space them out for .22s and that in my eyes would look a little cheesy, but there were a lot of loops done that way when the B westerns were in vogue. One of those beauty in the eye sort of things. Nothing wrong with it. For .22s I'd probably go with a kip lace as it'll have less stretch and a thin piece of kip will be stronger than a piece of split skirt.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Sign in to follow this  

×
×
  • Create New...