Safari/ Cartridge Belt and Slide Options and Opinions

Looking into different options on a belt and slide or a culling belt, Is there any big difference between using a canvas belt rather than a full leather one? I know it’s probably a fraction lighter perhaps but I also want something that’s not gonna sag, thoughts I’ve looked at some prior post and see guys with all sorts of options, On the other hand I’m unsure of a elastic slide compared to full leather, using .375 HH and .458Lott. I also want to stay light (no more than 1 extra accessory other than ammo) possibly a knife or a leatherman tool Thanks in advance

I prefer leather any day of the week for looks and nostalgia, but that said I appreciate canvas for price and the elastic holders that never stretch like in a leather cartridge loop.
So long as it’s not stored with ammo in it I hey seem to hold tight when you need them for years to come.

The only real issue with leather is the verdigris that it causes on cases when moisture is present. Years of use or leaving cases in it can also see leather stretch without returning to it’s original shape.

I used leather sliders when I was there last time, and I plan to this time. However, I am not hunting in a high humidity area, and the cases won’t stay in the slide the whole trip.

I save and use the plastic slides from Federal out of the box and wear them on my belt. If I were a pro I’d have a culling belt I suppose, but just being a hunter I don’t go for the extra.

I took my 375HH to Namibia. I purchased an ammo pouch from Rigby but didn’t use it. Ended up leaving ammo in my backpack as allowed to wearing it on a belt. Obviously, a DG hunt would be different. I have a Murray leather culling belt I plan to use on my buffalo hunt.

I had a Murray Custom Leather Cartridge Belt with leather loops and it was a great belt. Fit both 375H&H and 416RM equally well, but would work with anything based on the 300H&H up to and including the 460WBY.

It was stiff enough to stand on it's own and there's enough room for a knife or leatherman.

The only thing I would change is to make it left handed because I'd prefer the cartridges on the other side of the buckle. And I would have ordered a larger size because I outgrew (got fat and stayed that way) it and sold it to another AH member.

Replaced it with cartridge slides that I put on either my trousers belt or an Els & Co Hogsback Leather Hunting Belt. I've found this combination to be more versatile and allows me to keep my solids completely separate from my softs.

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Dublinpiper90 said:

Looking into different options on a belt and slide or a culling belt, Is there any big difference between using a canvas belt rather than a full leather one? I know it’s probably a fraction lighter perhaps but I also want something that’s not gonna sag, thoughts I’ve looked at some prior post and see guys with all sorts of options, On the other hand I’m unsure of a elastic slide compared to full leather, using .375 HH and .458Lott. I also want to stay light (no more than 1 extra accessory other than ammo) possibly a knife or a leatherman tool Thanks in advance

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For .375 I go with Murray Custom leather shell holders. All leather 6 round, no flap. For big bore the belt carriers are super uncomfortable. I went with a Trader Keith canvas culling belt. York Mare had one so I had to follow!
The leather ones are neat and classic but very heavy and I'd rather go light.

I use a double prong leather belt with slides. Works very well but as @Philip Glass mentioned, gets heavy.

Im working on a hybrid canvas material for belts now that can hopefully offer the rigidity of leather but the weight and comfort of canvas.

I use a Trader Keith canvas belt slides. I have a canvas slide for my 375 H&H, and one for my 416 Rigby and they both work great. I prefer to use them on a seperate belt, but I don't have too. I'm a big fan of flexibility and the slides give me more carry options than the culling belt.

I recently had Martin from Safari Custom Leather in the UK make me a custom belt for 600 Overkill cases. He done an exceptional job.

http://safarileather.co.uk

Before my first Safari, I purchased a Murray culling belt, fully planning to use it with my 375 for Buffalo later on another trip. I took it with me on the first hunt but did not use it. I also had smaller leather cartridge slides for 357 and 308 which fit on my belt and held up to six 375 rds or eight 308 rds these turned out to be much more practical and honestly you do not need tons of ammo on your person most of the time. For PG, I filled the belt slide with 8 rds of 180g bonded Fusions plus four more in the rifle and fired exactly six rds on game for five trophies using the 308.

For the 375, I loaded four rds in the rifle magazine and placed five rds in the elastic loops of my hunting vest and that proved to be more than enough. So, I did not use either of the leather options for the larger rifle on the 1st Safari.

One the 2nd hunt for DG, I did nothing different other than I brought a different 375 that held five rounds in the mag and five more in the vest loops. For Buffalo, I initially fired four rds since the big beast had remained on his feet albeit hurt. Once he dropped, I topped off the mag with three more rds and approached to apply the Coup de Gras, a 5th shot for insurance that proved to be unnecessary but good practice in the field. I used this same rig for Kudu later on the hunt. I left the Murray belt at home for that trip as it is simply too bulky and mostly unnecessary for such a hunt. I suppose if I was tracking game in Zimbabwe for 10-12 miles per day on foot with no chance to resupply in the field the culling belt might feel welcome. I took an AK74 folding knife in my pocket. A sheath knife or Leatherman was not needed. Just extra weight. The culling belt looks nice, is perhaps traditional but is absolutely not necessary for 90% of all hunting scenarios. I doubt, I will ever use it.

Betterinthebush said:

I save and use the plastic slides from Federal out of the box and wear them on my belt. If I were a pro I’d have a culling belt I suppose, but just being a hunter I don’t go for the extra.

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I remember some years ago I had some 30-30 rounds that had belt loops on the cartridge holders neat idea by I think federal at that time or maybe it was Winchester.

RootballExpress said:

I recently had Martin from Safari Custom Leather in the UK make me a custom belt for 600 Overkill cases. He done an exceptional job.

http://safarileather.co.uk

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Nice looking holder slide, them .600s is some chunks

Westley Richards 2-inch belt and cartridge slide shown with 416 Rem. Well made, simple, supple, and lightweight.

This one is in elastic canvas (to prevent the verdgris previosly mentioned) and the elastic makes it easy to use on various cartridges. Plus is has a bottom lip to further ensure none slip out. Furthermore, the spacing is user friendly for reloading a double.

RootballExpress said:

I recently had Martin from Safari Custom Leather in the UK make me a custom belt for 600 Overkill cases. He done an exceptional job.

http://safarileather.co.uk

View attachment 775930View attachment 775931View attachment 775932

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I went to Martin from safari leather too, and commissioned a belt slide for 9.3x74r with the rounds spaced in pairs. Excellent work and very reasonably priced

I sew my own- wax canvas and buffalo leather loops. Fun to have hunt memories with me on Safari!

Use 100% beeswax on your brass cartridges to slow the buildup of verdgris in leather loops.

Coat them. Then rub the wax off or polish the case so it doesn’t attract grit

Buff loops on this slide. Elephant loops for the real big bore slides. Good fun… sewing a touch like handloading- makes the journey a touch more memorable.