Question about a belt in Packing Iron

[DarbyFett]

I was looking at the dates for money belts in packing iron(came later than my persona) when I found another belt that intrigued me.

The belt on the right hand side of page 176. As I am using a Slim Jim, I wonder how effective that auxiliary strap for shallow looped holsters is. Has anyone made something similar?

Only problem for me is sewing belt loops. Last belt I made(I have only made 2) I tried sewing on the loops, but gave up. I was able to punch and weave 45 loops in the same time that I was able to poorly sew on 10 loops. And it certainly seems that sewing the loops is necessary. Unless I wove 2 strips, one much longer than the other and sewed the auxiliary buckle onto the belt itself.

If anyone has made this rig, or has any ideas about its construction, help would be greatly appreciated.

[Slowhand Bob]

I do not have my copy pf PI handy at the moment but will comment on bullet loop sewing.  Hand sewing of bullet loops is actually easy, as to the process, but is extremely slow and hard on bad joints.  I had a different approach to my sewing steps than the common methods and it helped some but I also used more stitches due to the fact that I would sew a full diagonal between loops, just like most machine techniques.  My bullet loop material for handgun cartridges in the 357 to 45 cal size range is 4/5oz of 3/4" leather and my stitch holes were pre-punched with the cheesy little four hole diamond punch sold by Tandy.  I would lay out and punch all holes in the body of the belt and then do the same for the bullet loop material and then set this aside for night time tv sewing!  Only thing more tedious is sewing full belt liners fer us fattys' or doing 3/4" main seams for competition holsters.  After so many years it made a total wreck of my finger joints and that is when I bought a Tippmann BOSS sewing machine.  With all of its faults (perceived by some) it still beats hand sewing by a country mile and this also includes bullet loop stitching. 

[outrider]

Darby,

Go to the FAQ thread on this forum.  There is one on bullet loops and how to make them.

[DarbyFett]

Thanks guys, I may give sewn loops a go. The woven are just so easy though.


Anyone have any ideas regarding the belt? Would it be effective?

[Marshal Will Wingam]

It would probably work fine, but I do see the potential for the loops to set the weight of the holster and gun out from the belt some and it may tend to roll the belt downward rather than pull straight down. You can always try it and take the extra piece off or simply slide the holster over it if it's an issue.