What do you carry on your belt?

[Rick HOlbert]

So I've been giving this some thought recently. After my first African safari experience, and now in eager expectation of receiving my Heym, I think I need to upgrade a bit my gear for the next safari. No more every pants pocket and shirt pocket stuffed with stuff, having to use a small camera pouch stuffed with toilet paper to carry my extra rounds silently, let's do things right.

What I do know is that although those dedicated culling belts with fixed ammo loops are gorgeous, I'd rather have separate ammo holders that slide on. That way I can switch from 7x65r to 300WinMag to .375H&H or anything else I would wish. I also think I would prefer to have closed cases, preferably with no metal (button) sticking out that could rub against the stock of my rifle... talk to @chashardy if you need to know why I also never expect to be in such a hurry that pushing a flap open (I can unbotton before if necessary) to pull a cartridge from, would impede me.

Next to the ammo holder, I'd like my belt to hold my
- @Von Gruff PH EDC (although thinking of ordering an extra sheath with retention)
- Leatherman (thinking of maybe going for a smaller, lighter victorinox instead though, I just like having the pliers)
- Headlight (more practical than a handheld torch, when pulling an animal to the road in the dark)

I'll keep my cellphone (for the pictures) in a closed pocket, as well as a handkerchief and a chap stick.

So what else do you keep on your belt?

I carry a fixed blade knife, blade length 4-5 inches. I just feel naked without a knife on my side. Slide on cartridge cartridge carrier (leather) from African Sporting Creations. Camera stays in the truck.

 

[rinehart0050]

Just ammo and a knife. The belt is 2-tone ranger-style by Tucker Gun Leather out of TX. Ammo holder is by Murray Leather for the 470, or by Els and Co. For smaller magnum calibers. Knife is custom by Watts out of SD.

Everything else can be in the pack carried by the tracker. No need to weigh yourself down with extra stuff. Even the knife is debatable whether it's really needed.

 

[Doug3006]

Murray Custom Leather culling belt, a fixed blade knife and my super compact Sony camera.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I’m surprised nobody carries a pair of slip-joint pliers on their belt. Around here every farmer or mechanic has a pair on their hip. I could see them being handy in Africa.

 

[BeeMaa]

For my hunting belt worn over my other clothing...Murray C-8 Cartridge Belt with fixed blade knife in a cross-draw sheath. My regular belt is a Galco 1.5" SB2 and only holds up my trousers.

 

[Tra3]

In Africa, a Murray ammo holder on a belt that I wear over my shorts. Maybe a small knife in my pocket. Nothing else. If late in the day a flashlight and/or headlamp goes in my pocket.

In USA, I carry a backpack with a variety of stuff for animal processing, paracord, game bags, webbing, water, coffee, snacks, mini knife sharpener, saw, etc. sometimes I carry a pocket Ox pulley system when elk hunting because I’ve noticed elk are heavy.

 

[Rare Breed]

Nothing. I find anything on my belt to be annoying, especially if you need to leopard crawl or butt shuffle. I wear long trousers with a thigh pouch either side - pocket binos in the left, knife in the right. Velcro flaps keep everything where it should be. You don't even notice it is there, unlike stuff that bulges in hip pockets.
Four rounds in loops above my left shirt breast pocket, you can add a few more to make that six if you really must.
The trackers carry the water and anything else.

1+on nothing. My hunting shirts and vests if needed have shell loops that work great and faster than a shell holder on a belt. Knife not needed in Africa. I keep both a headlamp and a flash light torch in my small back pack I keep in truck

 

[BourbonTrail]

At home, this…

(Actually my old 44 mag got carried more as it wasn’t a muzzle loader, but I sold it.)

In Africa, I would prefer open top ammo carriers for DG, a big knife, and a leatherman.

 

[rnovi]

A nylon belt slide with 5 rounds. Maybe a smaller knife.

Go light. Always go light.

 

[BOSS SAFARIS]

I am not a fan of having an overloaded belt. I usually don't even carry a knife on my belt either. I usually just have my ammo pouch. I do however keep all my extra "tools of the trade' in a small backpack that the tracker carries. Easily accessible. Most of the time all those odds and ends aren't necessary, but nice to have when the situation arises.

 

[sureshot375]

Murray ammo holder open.

 

[CBH Australia]

My belt was inspired by another thread here.
Named something like "Show us your Hunting belt."
Depending what and where. I have 2 different ammo holders in a magnum size belt slide and a medium rifle flip out bullet holder.
A leatherman on a horizontal sheath, pocket knife horizontal sheath, a Von Gruff 4x4 Hunter and a Courteney Buffalo hide belt.

I used to use it for regular walks when working in the bush. , It was a quick gear up for a quick hunt that was mostly shooting feral pigs.

I like nice leather gear.

The Croc skin bullet holder my son bought me. It was set up for 12 gauge. I'm going to adjust to .375H&H

 

[Nhoro]

I just carry a slide on ammo holder-open on my belt. I find the belt loops on my shorts keep the ammo holder in place when I pull out the rounds. A seperate belt tends to lift with the round as you try and pull it out. Pair of binos are carried on their sling and everything else goes in the backpack. 10 rounds on my belt + 5 in my 458 Lott (you gotta love a CZ 550)

Backpack has a first aid kit, Swiss Army multitool, sheath knife, baby wipes and a water bladder + spare ammo. Also headlamp and sometimes a torch/ear muffs/camera

 

[VertigoBE]

Thanks for all the responses so far! I see two philosophies developing, the less is more group and the let’s take a minimum capability group.

From my own limited experience, I had the same issue as @One Day… : when changing outfits from one day to the next , too often I found that the light was not in my pocket on the day we hunted an animal in late afternoon, and then had a walk in the dark. Or while usually three cartridges in the rifle only for the day was plenty, the one day I did not bring the pouch with extra rounds, I had fired 2 by lunch, making me uncomfortable for a next stalk.

And I just like nice things so I’ll probably have a look for a belt and sliding closed ammo pouches in the style @rinehart0050 posted , with the flap sans button.

That way each day I can dress however I want/need, jacket or not, long or short pants, quilted thong or bermuda’s just put on the belt and go.

Btw, @IvW, I read on an older thread that you used to carry some spare ammo on your off-hand wrist, is this still something you would recommend? Just for interest of mine, I do not think I’ll need that myself.

One additional benefit of the stock mounted ammo carrier, is that you have additional surface of the wood being protected by leather… something for me to ponder. As I’m afraid to death of going through the brush with my new Heym and scratching all that gorgeous wood up.

 

[rnovi]

Heh, I'm in the category of firmly against buttstock ammo carriers when I'm stalking in the field. I like my rifles as light as possible for carrying. My K1 weighs in at just over 6# scoped (Leupold 2.5-8x36)...and my .375 H&H is 8#, 6oz with a Leupold VX6 1-6 illuminated scope on. Heck, I don't even bother with a sling on the K1...just not needed.

Now, when I'm hunting in a blind, sure. Ammobuddies are great.

 

[Ryan]

A five shell ammo carrier, that's it. Plenty of easily accesible ammo at that point. I'll have extra shells in my pack that's either on my back or the truck. I've found a knife gets in my way and digs in my back or side when sitting in the truck. And I have a knife in my pocket plus one in the small pack I take at all times anyway.

 

[Rem700stw]

In Africa on my trouser belt I have a Murray Leather shell holder on my left hip and a smallish fixed blade knife on the right. That's it. If hunting DG I have a culling belt with no accessories attached over top.

 

[Happy Myles]

I try to keep it simple as possible for my feeble old mind. Hunting dangerous game i try to keep the decks cleared for action. Embarrassing attempting to slide a Chapstick into my double rifle during a tense moment.

 

[fourfive8]

On belt... usually a 5 cartridge slide. Rest of spare ammo and other stuff in small day pack.

 

[IvW]

Thanks for all the responses so far! I see two philosophies developing, the less is more group and the let’s take a minimum capability group.

From my own limited experience, I had the same issue as @One Day… : when changing outfits from one day to the next , too often I found that the light was not in my pocket on the day we hunted an animal in late afternoon, and then had a walk in the dark. Or while usually three cartridges in the rifle only for the day was plenty, the one day I did not bring the pouch with extra rounds, I had fired 2 by lunch, making me uncomfortable for a next stalk.

And I just like nice things so I’ll probably have a look for a belt and sliding closed ammo pouches in the style @rinehart0050 posted , with the flap sans button.

That way each day I can dress however I want/need, jacket or not, long or short pants, quilted thong or bermuda’s just put on the belt and go.

Btw, @IvW, I read on an older thread that you used to carry some spare ammo on your off-hand wrist, is this still something you would recommend? Just for interest of mine, I do not think I’ll need that myself.

One additional benefit of the stock mounted ammo carrier, is that you have additional surface of the wood being protected by leather… something for me to ponder. As I’m afraid to death of going through the brush with my new Heym and scratching all that gorgeous wood up.

Yes I do when hunting DG and apart from the two ammo carriers on my belt I always carry 1 loose round a solid in a pocket....just the way it is.