S & S Firearms Mills Belts: Quality?

Niederlander · July 16, 2007, 04:51:35 PM

Does anyone have any experience with the S & S Firearms reproduction Mills Belts? I'm looking for a decent quality Mills reproduction, but I don't want to spend a huge amount of money. Thanks!

Drydock · July 16, 2007, 06:21:05 PM

I have two: A drab 50 rounder with "H" plate for my .45-70s, and a blue C clip 100 rounder for my Krag. Both have been just fine, I reccomend them.

Niederlander · July 17, 2007, 03:31:25 AM

Thanks!
That's what I wanted to know. Have you ever compared them to originals as to how accurate a reproduction they are?

Drydock · July 17, 2007, 05:02:53 PM

Well, they are very accurate reproductions, just not of a Mills-Orndorff belt.

Let me explain: The Patented Mills belt by Mill-Orndorff is a woven fiber belt with the loops woven integral with the belt. ONLY Mills-Orndorff made them, NO ONE makes these today.

But Mills-Orndorff had several competitors, and all these made belts for military usage. All these belts had woven fiber bodies, with the belt loops sewn on. This is what the current reproduction "Mills" belts are patterned after. They are highly accurate, but not of a Mills belt per se.

St. George · July 17, 2007, 10:07:31 PM

Spaulding was a major contractor, and S&S Firearms' version is a close copy.

Still and all - both Mills and Spaulding belts were issued indiscriminately - so it's a good choice.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

Niederlander · July 18, 2007, 03:32:53 AM

Thanks!
I've been doing a bit of research on the belts, and due to the loops being sewed on instead of integrally woven I figured they'd be closest to the Hurlburt and Spaulding examples. One other question for you gentlemen. Do .30 Army rounds fit in the .45-70 loops fairly well, or are they really loose? I'd prefer a fifty rounder, as many of the Hurlburt belts were single row fiftey rounders, but if they're too loose I'll probably have to go with the hundred round belt.

St. George · July 18, 2007, 08:53:01 AM

Well, they're cotton web - so if they're not stretched out from being filled with loaded rounds and then rained on - they 'should' fit .30 Army nicely.

Since these are new belts - you should have no problem at all, since they should be snug.

Good Luck.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

Niederlander · July 18, 2007, 11:05:02 AM

Thanks for the information, gentlemen. You've been most helpful!