I'm in need of a good belt to wear once I get my permit and start carrying. The belt I currently wear is probably 10 years old and works well for about the first 15 minutes after strapping my gun on.

Let's hear your recommendations and why you recommend them.

If it helps, I'm 6'-5" tall, just shy of 300 lbs with a 42" waist. I'm losing weight, but not fast enough to keep the weight of my gun, wallet, lighter & keys from dragging my pants down. What about a pair of suspenders?

I currently have a Triple K OWB holster and am set on buying one of Srigs OWB 'Slide' holsters soon.

I can make you a belt the same time as I make the holster

Holy shart man! I hope you're not going to carry your gun with the hammer down unless it's an empty chamber. The 1911 is meant to be carried cocked and locked. Most holsters specific to the 1911 the strap goes between the frame and the hammer.

Get a good gun belt, you'll never go back to a regular one again. I wear my gun belt every day unless I have to dress up and need to wear a shiny one.

I got my gun belt with my first holster from UBG holsters and it is wearing very well. I suspect Srigs would make about the same thing. Just be sure to measure the waist and not just go by your waist measurement if that makes sense. The middle hole on my belt is something like 6" longer than my waist size and it fits just right.

If you don't go the Srigs route, I've seen this guy posted a lot though I haven't bought one there myself. http://www.thebeltman.net/

I have a Beltman double layer bullhide belt with sewn in velcro. It works very well with any holster I own and especially well with V-clips for IWB holsters. Invisible.

A $40 Gould and Goodrich from Streichers has served me well for years.

And mine streched out 4 inches, I still use it for occasions when I need to be well dressed and I'm using a pocket holster for my j-frame or kel-tec.

Then again, I'm toting a full sized glock, spare mag and a gerber multi-tool every day. I got a 5.11 1.75" operator belt, same thing as a wilderness instructor belt and that has served me very well. I also have a 1.5" fancy stiched bianchi that works well.

You’re certain to get good advice from members here. The belt you will be using is equally if not more important than the holster when you are carrying a gun.

I will share that I have 4 belts from thebeltman (all different flavors), all fantastic in their function, and beautiful in appearance. I highly endorse his products.

That said, Srigs is an up and coming local custom maker, you should strongly consider giving him and his products a look.

The Frontiersman stocks Bianchi belts and they have worked great for me for many years.

No Sir. I just uncased it and stuck it in the holster for the pics. Notice the bottom pic......there isn't even a magazine in it.

Yes Sir, I know this and yes, the strap does that.

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll be taking a serious look at those belt manufacturers mentioned.

A good belt at a great price is the Cabela's double thick all leather belt. The G&G belt mentioned is not all leather, and the inner polymer layer will break down quickly if you are like me and needing to really yank back on the belt before latching it. I have two of the cabela's belts, and the one has lasted for well over 10 years, the newer one was/is going to be modded by srigs to a tapered end belt when ever I can get it to him......

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ ... jsp.form21

+1 on a Cabela's belt - I have a Ranger belt and it works really well coming from Fleet Farm belts for most of my life. And they look nice too!

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0047870951364a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&%2Fcabelas%2Fcommerce%2FCabelasCatalogNumberFinder.giftCertificateURL=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Ftemplates%2Fgiftcertificate%2Fgiftcertificate.jsp%3Fid%3D0005586990011a%26podId%3D0005586%26catalogCode%3DIB%26navAction%3Djump%26indexId%3D&Ntk=Products&QueryText=ranger+belt&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3A%2Fcabelas%2Fcommerce%2FCabelasCatalogNumberFinder.giftCertificateURL=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

Mostly-

I like the Comp-Tac, it's Kydex reinforced. Not cheap, just good.

http://www.comp-tac.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=43

I have a Rafter S. It's brown shark. I bought it from Della 'off the shelf' at the Tulsa Gun Show. It's top quality goods, without doubt. I've had it for many years. It's my understanding however that ordering over the internet involves a lengthy lead time.

http://www.raftersgunleather.com/

Of course the Tulsa Show is no problem for me anyway since it usually involves a family re-union of one sort or another.

Regards, Porkie

What about a cross-draw holster? Or as I call them, "Bad-ass supsenders!"