Why are most ammo holders seen in Africa open top style?

[BeeMaa]

For those that wear a cartridge slide on a belt over the belt in your pants how much of a larger size belt do you buy? For instance if your normal belt is a 38 would the over belt be a 42?

If you call Dick Murray at Murray. Custom Leather, he will ask you for your measurements and you need to know where you plan on wearing your cartridge belt.

Most of the time I see people wearing a cartridge belt on the outside of their clothing, either around their waist or directly over their trouser belt.

Take a few measurements wearing different clothes to get an idea of what you want, then you can give Dock a call.

 

[BeeMaa]

For most of Africa, dangerous game is present in all hunting areas. For that reason, I prefer open-top designs for cartridge holders.

I have a Galco Safari 5 that a local leathersmith trimmed up to remove the top flap and clasp. The difference in my reloading time was measurable by a big margin.

 

[WAB]

If you call Dick Murray at Murray. Custom Leather, he will ask you for your measurements and you need to know where you plan on wearing your cartridge belt.

Most of the time I see people wearing a cartridge belt on the outside of their clothing, either around their waist or directly over their trouser belt.

Take a few measurements wearing different clothes to get an idea of what you want, then you can give Dock a call.

I use the Els and co webbed belt. It is adjustable to where you want to wear it.

 

[Rule 303]

I prefer to have ammo holders that can be closed because they protect the cartridges from the sun, the dust and other mechanical stresses.

In West Africa we had at times winds like the Harmattan that brought a lot of sand from the Sahara with it. You have the sand everywhere in your clothes but also in the cartridge holder and on the rifle, sometimes even in the barrel. On the contrary, if you have to go through water up to your waistline, as it can happen in the Zambezi delta for example, it is also better to have the cartridges safely in a closed holder. The cover of the cartridge holder can be leave open during an action so the cartridges are easily at hand. This has never hindered me from reloading quickly, no matter where in Africa.

Those sands would be similar too but not as fine as the Bulldust we get in outback Australia. The best cartridge carrier for this is open top and open bottom. No amount of cover, except something that is airtight will stop that dust. Open top and bottom makes it much easier to clean and the cartridges are no dirtier.

 

[MaxM25]

Those sands would be similar too but not as fine as the Bulldust we get in outback Australia. The best cartridge carrier for this is open top and open bottom. No amount of cover, except something that is airtight will stop that dust. Open top and bottom makes it much easier to clean and the cartridges are no dirtier.

I can see that issue with dust. The Murray Custom leather site says their open top and open bottom C-2 carrier is only available for rimmed cartridges. Can you point to an available carrier for 375 H&H? I really like the C-2 from Murray leather.

Welcome to Murray Custom Leather

 

[MS 9x56]

I have never understood the reason for making your ammo harder to get to on a DG or any other hunt. I have hunted for many, many years with Murray Custom Leather cartridge holders that are all leather and open top. I will be reading for someone to answer why the flap is a good idea.......

On a dangerous game hunt open would be my only answer, but if you own multiple calibers and use the same holder I can see using a flap style to ensure you don’t lose any of your rounds due to loose pockets.

 

[BeeMaa]

I can see that issue with dust. The Murray Custom leather site says their open top and open bottom C-2 carrier is only available for rimmed cartridges. Can you point to an available carrier for 375 H&H? I really like the C-2 from Murray leather.

Welcome to Murray Custom Leather

I had a Murray C-8 cartridge belt. The bottom of the leather loops have a small opening to allow debris to exit. This belt would hold anything based on the 375H&H from 257WBY to 460WBY. The picture below has it holding 416RM.

 

[IvW]

On a dangerous game hunt open would be my only answer, but if you own multiple calibers and use the same holder I can see using a flap style to ensure you don’t lose any of your rounds due to loose pockets.

If you stick to cartridge per 2 holders this is not an issue with quality made holders

 

[IvW]

I can see that issue with dust. The Murray Custom leather site says their open top and open bottom C-2 carrier is only available for rimmed cartridges. Can you point to an available carrier for 375 H&H? I really like the C-2 from Murray leather.

Welcome to Murray Custom Leather

Quality holders even if closed at the bottom have openings for crap to fall out....

 

[rookhawk]

The best I've seen (and its been ten years) were built by English "Speed bags" if you know what those are. The leather flap cover was on a wire hinge and was quite stiff. For non-DG and running around, you keep your ammo secure. For DG, you'd fold the hinged cover back and tuck it behind your belt.

I have not seen these in quite awhile, although Els Leather makes a pretty good open design. Internal to the leather "box" that holds exposed rims of your cartridges there are two elastic loops. So something other than gravity is holding on to your cartridges.

I'll tell you what doesn't work well: I bought the boyt canvas one for my second safari. You reach down to stalk or pick up something on the ground and the cartridges slide right out and into the dirt. It happened a lot and I think I lost 2-3 rounds on that trip.

 

[zephyr]

I like Murray Slides as I can move them about .... I can have a slide for Softs and one for Solids If I happen to have two different Rifles on the truck I can quickly slide off one caliber and replace it with another I have played with Murray Slides with Covers when the final stalk begins you just fold the cover behind your belt

 

[Rule 303]

I can see that issue with dust. The Murray Custom leather site says their open top and open bottom C-2 carrier is only available for rimmed cartridges. Can you point to an available carrier for 375 H&H? I really like the C-2 from Murray leather.

Welcome to Murray Custom Leather

Dingo Gun Products, here in Australia are the ones I have and I have seen others like this but can not remember the makers. I'll see if I can find more info for you later today.

 

[Rule 303]

I had a Murray C-8 cartridge belt. The bottom of the leather loops have a small opening to allow debris to exit. This belt would hold anything based on the 375H&H from 257WBY to 460WBY. The picture below has it holding 416RM.
View attachment 651560
View attachment 651561
View attachment 651567

Those will let bugger all sand or dust out most likely only really help at letting wind blown dust/sand in.

 

[Rule 303]

These are the two companies that make open top and bottom leather cartridge holders I was talking about.

Dingo Gun Products | Australian Made Leather Gun Products

You will only find the highest quality Australian made leather products. Including Slings, Belts, Ammo Carriers and much more! Shop online today!

www.dingogunproducts.com.au

Gun Leather

Quality Australian made carry solutions for ammunition & firearms.

rmkleatherworks.com

 

[Philip Glass]

On a dangerous game hunt open would be my only answer, but if you own multiple calibers and use the same holder I can see using a flap style to ensure you don’t lose any of your rounds due to loose pockets.

I don’t have that concern with the Murray Leather all leather carrier. It will hold from .300 to .375 with no problem.

 

[Philip Glass]

I can see that issue with dust. The Murray Custom leather site says their open top and open bottom C-2 carrier is only available for rimmed cartridges. Can you point to an available carrier for 375 H&H? I really like the C-2 from Murray leather.

Welcome to Murray Custom Leather

It’s not only for rimmed cartridges.

 

[MaxM25]

It’s not only for rimmed cartridges.

The website has a note that says “for rimmed cartridges only”.

 

[Nhoro]

I use an open top. It is protected from the elements by my generous stomach overhang. Much better than a thin piece of leather, it has 2 layers of leather + insulating fat and cloth over the lot.

 

[sierraone]

Don't have the experience of many of you, but open top is all I use in Africa. That is with my .375 or .404. When I am deer hunting or the equivalent I will carry 3 or 4 extra in a big jacket pocket.

 

[MaxM25]

The website has a note that says “for rimmed cartridges only”.

I also emailed Murray Leather and they clarified that they do not make a open top and open bottom shell carrier for anything other than rimmed calibers.