Cartridge Loops

[Soapy]

Howdy Folks,

I am a newbie and am trying to make my first rig.  I am having some trouble with my cartridge loops.  I am making the loop style where I punch a slot and pull the leather thru the slot, around the bullet, and back through the same slot.  The problem that I am having is that width of my loop leather is slowly decreasing as I make more loops.  The width is not decreasing a lot but it is noticable.  I am assuming it is because the leather is stretching as I pulll thru more slots.  Does anybody have any reccommedations on how to mimimize this effect?

Thanks,
Soapy

[Slowhand Bob]

My first questions would be how thick and wide is the cartridge loop leather, is it veg tanned and where did it come from?  A couple of things can also affect the amount of force needed to weave those loops through, the slot width created by your particular punch and how you flex the main belt while lacing through it.  Are you lacing wet or dry, do you oil the leather before lacing?  For the large rifle/pistol (44&45cals) combo cartridges I use 4/5oz veg tanned in 3/4" width for loop material.  This is one place that I think cheaper works better for me as I like the Rapine punches for my bullet loop slots, they seem to do just the right width slot to suit me for this task.  For the 38 and 32/20s I go with 1/2" wide loops and try to shade the leather down to 3/4oz (not to hard to find).  Lots of fokes will not like the 1/2" but thats ok, opinions is what makes the world go round.  I  lace dry and I lace fairly tight which saves the water for those who like such fitting methods.

[Soapy]

The cartridge loop leather that I am using is 1" wide, 4/5 oz. vegetable tan leather from Tandy Leather Factory (TLF).  The punch that I am using is a 1" Craftool Oblong also from TLF.  The cartridge size is 38 Special.  I dyed (TLF Alcohol base dye) all the leather first and let dry overnight - no oiling.  I then wet the cartridge loop leather.  Riveted it to the back of the belt and started pulling thru the loops.  The pulling was a little tough at first but eventually got easier.  I did not realise it at the time but, now I can see that the cartidge loops were getting progressively smaller and the force needed to pull the leather was easing up - lol.  So, it wasn't until after all the loops were complete that I realized that the leather was stretching.  Do you think it is more the quality of the leather or the size of the punch slot?  Also, Is it better to dye the leather before or after.  It looks like some of the color (black) is faded from the loops.  I am assuming from the pulling thru the slots.

Any recommendations or suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks,
Soapy

[Slowhand Bob]

Just a guess, but my first thought would be perhaps too much water and to heavy a tuggin.  I have used this same leather and weight in narrower sizes without problem many times.  The cummulative adverse effects cause the problem to increase as you go along.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Howdy Soapy

                FIRST OFF, don't ever wet your bullet loop leather, when you did this you made the leather relax, and every time you pulled a loop throgh, the leather easally streached, if it is streached out of width to much, don't worry ,you can start over again, just drill out the rivets and start over with new leather. As a rule never wet your bullet loop leather, it is a bad pratice and not necessary, really the only thing you need to wet down is your holster, in wet molding the type gun you have to the holster, and thats it, some Pards insted of cutting the lether you might need for a contour gun belt, will try to wet the belt, and work the belt with there hands to try to make the belt bend the way they want , and that will save you some money, but it is not as nice ,as if you cutt the patern the way it was suposed to be. Just remember Soap this is your first rig, and everybody makes mistakes, so don't worry to much , leather for the most part is very forgiving, like I said earlier if you screw up there is usually a way out . So enjoy making your first rig, have fun with it and you will learn as you go,I just started a year ago, and I love it. and Soap I find 4 to 5 once leather to be the best for bullet loops, so you had the wright stuff.

                                        Good Luck Soap, and if you need help just haller 

                                                         Ten Wolves Five Shooter