Can .44/.45 belt loops be reduced in size to hold .38?

[Eddie Mckean]

I bought an inexpensive rig to go with my new Vaquero.  It was only $25 and seems adequate for my purposes until I get more experienced and involved to spend the money on a more expensive rig.

The only problem is that the ammo loops are sized for .44/.45 and my gun is in .38/.357.  I'd like to know if there's a simple solution to this problem, like maybe some sort of glue-in reducing sleeves to bring the diameter down to the proper size.  Has anybody here ever stitched them tighter somehow?

Anyhow, I was just wondering what my options are. 

Thanks!
-Morgan

[St. George]

Not really...

Leather 'does' shrink - but not that much - though you may try wetting just the loops and putting the rig someplace 'warm'.

I doubt it'd be all that satisfactory, though.

You could try asking a Shoe Repairman - to see if he could add a couple of stitches at each loop.

Any 'sleeve' won't be completely uniform and may come out when you reach for a cartridge in a hurry - even if glued.

Good Luck.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Eddie Mckean]

I guess a new gunbelt is in my near future then.

I hate to spend money but I love to spend money.

I'll do a search for reccomendations before I go ahead and ask.....

[St. George]

If you want inexpensive 'Hardware Store' type leather - what would've been carried in the time frame by the average Cowboy - 'Oklahoma Leather' is probably the lowest-priced you'll find.

You see it at a lot of the gun shows - and you can dress it up, appearance-wise - if you have some talent and some patience.

The holsters come in a couple of different styles - Slim Jims and Mexican Loops - and they're sturdy.

'The Fort', in Lincoln, Nebraska, has some.

Call toll-free - at 1-877-907-3678 X199 - talk to Terry or Glen.

Good Luck.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Eddie Mckean]

Appreciate your help... thanks Bud!

[Abilene]

Morgan,
You asked for inexpensive options.  I'll tell ya what I've done.  Take a piece of leather thong and lace it through the cartridge loops.  Either up through one, down through the next, and so on and tie off the ends; or down through one then up on the outside then down through the next, etc.  If the leather strip is too thin it might take two wraps.  Works pretty well and is easily removed.  Kinda gives you a "2 for 1" cartridge belt.

[Eddie Mckean]

Morgan,
You asked for inexpensive options.  I'll tell ya what I've done.  Take a piece of leather thong and lace it through the cartridge loops.  Either up through one, down through the next, and so on and tie off the ends; or down through one then up on the outside then down through the next, etc.  If the leather strip is too thin it might take two wraps.  Works pretty well and is easily removed.  Kinda gives you a "2 for 1" cartridge belt.

That would have been preferable to what I opted to do, but my solution works OK for the time being.  I cut up an old horsehide holster into 3/8" wide by 3/4" long strips and glued them to the belt behind each loop with Gorilla glue.  I have empty shell casings in the loops to hold them until the glue cures.  The shells fit really tightly but I think they'll loosen up after a while.  It's kinda nice because the leather spacers hold the rounds off of the belt an additional 1/8", making it easier to get my fingers around the rims of the cartridges.

About how much tension should there be on the rounds stored in the loops?

[Goatlips]

Hay Morgan,

I did like Abeline said and it worked OK but I thought it looked a bit funny.  Then (knowing nothin' about leather) I soaked the loops pretty good and hit them with a hair dryer.  Most loops were good but where I was overenthusiastic I shrunk a few down lengthwise as well as just smaller, so if ya try it be keerful, but it works.  Had to redo it every couple years.

Morgan's tip sounds like it would work too.

Goatlips

[Flinch Morningwood]

You could always remove the current cartridge loops and just re-sew them with .38 spacing...It would actually look pretty authentic as I have seen quite a few gunbelts that have had "field modifications" done to them.

All you would need is an awl, a needle and some thread...shouldn't take you more than a couple hours.

[Cooleemee Edd]

Speaking of reducing the size, I have done the opposite, long ago, with a store-bought .38/.357 belt in about 1970 and have used it for .44/.45 for the past 20 years or so. I just crammed the shells in there and let them sit overnight. I was sort of surprised at how easy it was. When I look at the thick leather that I used on my last cartridge belt, I think that I should have used the thinner stuff! Leather is pretty forgiving, but just one way!