Belt with a J-frame?

Spiff_P239 · April 25th, 2007, 08:07 PM

I'm strongly considering picking up a J-frame for carry duty and want the option to carry it IWB if I choose to do so. My questions is whether I would need a gun belt if I were to buy an Airweight/Airlite revolver or if a casual dress belt should be able to handle the roughly 1 pound of the revolver plus that of a leather holster on its own. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Smith&Wessonfan · April 25th, 2007, 08:13 PM

Believe it or not, you need a gun belt. I've tried carrying an Airweight in a IWB kydex holster with a dress belt (even the widest ones I can find) and it still sucks.

Spiff_P239 · April 25th, 2007, 08:19 PM

I figured that was the case but wanted to make sure. I have money for a belt budgeted in to my carry fund as of now. Now I just need to rent the S&W 340 to see how well I can handle it.

LoveLeather · April 25th, 2007, 08:57 PM

I have 2 sturdy gun belts...an Alessi 1 1/2" and a Wilderness 1 1/2", both of which serve me well with my heavier guns...but for my airweight J, I use a 10 dollar dickies 1 1/4 inch from Walmart for IWB with my airweight and it works fine...it is a bit stiffer than a regular dress belt.

khimwoon · April 25th, 2007, 09:45 PM

I uses a titanium taurus m85 snubby for my work and carry IWB. Dress belt just cant hold the weight after a while. It constantly give me a feeling of the pant droping.

Thus last nite, i become the first customer for Beltmen in my country Singapore. This 3 waiting week will be a torture for me, like a kid waiting for his new toy!

Highly recommended Beltmen!

Spiff_P239 · April 25th, 2007, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khimwoon

I uses a titanium taurus m85 snubby for my work and carry IWB. Dress belt just cant hold the weight after a while. It constantly give me a feeling of the pant droping.

Thus last nite, i become the first customer for Beltmen in my country Singapore. This 3 waiting week will be a torture for me, like a kid waiting for his new toy!

Highly recommended Beltmen!

I had previously owned a belt from the Beltman but sold it as I didn't believe that I would actually carry a concealed firearm. However, after the senseless killings at Virginia Tech, I realized just how random an act such as this can be and am now assembling the necessary carry gear. When I had ordered my previous Beltman belt, it took either 9 or 10 days for it to show up. I'm guessing yours might take the full 3 weeks due to the fact that you are located in Singapore.

Smith&Wessonfan · April 25th, 2007, 10:24 PM

If you must wear a non-gun belt, this is the only one I have found to be satisfactory.

Not as good as a dedicated belt, but good enough.

fed_wif_a_sig · April 25th, 2007, 10:28 PM

A snubby for "duty" carry? What kind of duty allows for a j-frame now days? Ooops scratch all of that. You said "carry duty" and I read "duty carry". Gee and to think I have reading glasses just cant see to find them.

Oh and yes get a decent gun belt....reason so is that no only will you be packing the pistol, but also speed loaders on the belt unless you really believe 5 shots will do it for you.

Spiff_P239 · April 25th, 2007, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fed_wif_a_sig

A snubby for "duty" carry? What kind of duty allows for a j-frame now days? Ooops scratch all of that. You said "carry duty" and I read "duty carry". Gee and to think I have reading glasses just cant see to find them.

Oh and yes get a decent gun belt....reason so is that no only will you be packing the pistol, but also speed loaders on the belt unless you really believe 5 shots will do it for you.

To paraphrase a quote I've heard many times and to fit it to this response: "5 shots from the gun I have on me are better than the shots from the gun I left at home."

I will only be picking up the J-frame if I feel I can shoot it accurately and handle the recoil well enough. Then come the reload drills.

fed_wif_a_sig · April 25th, 2007, 11:08 PM

I've carried a J-frame for as long as I've been in law enforcement (dang its over 20 years so I officially feel old). My S&W is the only pistol I have that has a laser sight on it (CTC Laser Grips) and a very sweet Renegade ankle rig that has lasted over 15 years and is still worn. I dont truly feel comfortable with that as my only gun, but on many an occasion it has been the weapon I carried for personnal defense, but usually as a back-up weapon. My accuracy is good enough to qualify in the high 200's (out of 300 possible) and even better with the laser grips. My favorite recommendation to folks who want a CCW but either havent or wont train with their weapon enough to be compitent with a semi-auto (way to many people wouldnt know what to do if they has a failure to fire and even if they did know, havent practiced it or reloads), is a S&W 442 with CTC Laser Grips. Now that gives you five 38 +P JHPs and a reasonably quick reload with a speed loader or a speed strip.

Last week we priced a S&W 442 at Sportsmans Warehouse for $350 so that plus $15 for two speedloaders and $35 for a Renegade ankle rig and your ready. I think Bianchi Speedstrips cost about $6 for two.

Good luck and have fun.

April 25th, 2007, 08:07 PM	#1
Spiff_P239 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 124	Belt with a J-frame? I'm strongly considering picking up a J-frame for carry duty and want the option to carry it IWB if I choose to do so. My questions is whether I would need a gun belt if I were to buy an Airweight/Airlite revolver or if a casual dress belt should be able to handle the roughly 1 pound of the revolver plus that of a leather holster on its own. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. __________________ Sig P239

April 25th, 2007, 08:19 PM	#3
Spiff_P239 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 124	I figured that was the case but wanted to make sure. I have money for a belt budgeted in to my carry fund as of now. Now I just need to rent the S&W 340 to see how well I can handle it. __________________ Sig P239

April 25th, 2007, 10:28 PM	#8
fed_wif_a_sig Distinguished Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Denton, TX Posts: 1,369	A snubby for "duty" carry? What kind of duty allows for a j-frame now days? Ooops scratch all of that. You said "carry duty" and I read "duty carry". Gee and to think I have reading glasses just cant see to find them. Oh and yes get a decent gun belt....reason so is that no only will you be packing the pistol, but also speed loaders on the belt unless you really believe 5 shots will do it for you. __________________ Steve "Respect all ... Fear none!!!

April 25th, 2007, 11:08 PM	#10
fed_wif_a_sig Distinguished Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Denton, TX Posts: 1,369	I've carried a J-frame for as long as I've been in law enforcement (dang its over 20 years so I officially feel old). My S&W is the only pistol I have that has a laser sight on it (CTC Laser Grips) and a very sweet Renegade ankle rig that has lasted over 15 years and is still worn. I dont truly feel comfortable with that as my only gun, but on many an occasion it has been the weapon I carried for personnal defense, but usually as a back-up weapon. My accuracy is good enough to qualify in the high 200's (out of 300 possible) and even better with the laser grips. My favorite recommendation to folks who want a CCW but either havent or wont train with their weapon enough to be compitent with a semi-auto (way to many people wouldnt know what to do if they has a failure to fire and even if they did know, havent practiced it or reloads), is a S&W 442 with CTC Laser Grips. Now that gives you five 38 +P JHPs and a reasonably quick reload with a speed loader or a speed strip. Last week we priced a S&W 442 at Sportsmans Warehouse for $350 so that plus $15 for two speedloaders and $35 for a Renegade ankle rig and your ready. I think Bianchi Speedstrips cost about $6 for two. Good luck and have fun. __________________ Steve "Respect all ... Fear none!!!

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April 25th, 2007, 08:13 PM	#2
Smith&Wessonfan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 508	Believe it or not, you need a gun belt. I've tried carrying an Airweight in a IWB kydex holster with a dress belt (even the widest ones I can find) and it still sucks.

April 25th, 2007, 08:57 PM	#4
LoveLeather Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: SoCal Posts: 464	I have 2 sturdy gun belts...an Alessi 1 1/2" and a Wilderness 1 1/2", both of which serve me well with my heavier guns...but for my airweight J, I use a 10 dollar dickies 1 1/4 inch from Walmart for IWB with my airweight and it works fine...it is a bit stiffer than a regular dress belt.

April 25th, 2007, 09:45 PM	#5
khimwoon Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 21	I uses a titanium taurus m85 snubby for my work and carry IWB. Dress belt just cant hold the weight after a while. It constantly give me a feeling of the pant droping. Thus last nite, i become the first customer for Beltmen in my country Singapore. This 3 waiting week will be a torture for me, like a kid waiting for his new toy! Highly recommended Beltmen!

April 25th, 2007, 10:24 PM	#7
Smith&Wessonfan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 508	If you must wear a non-gun belt, this is the only one I have found to be satisfactory. Not as good as a dedicated belt, but good enough.