homemade leather bandolier

[upperleftcoaster]

when i started hunting i would grab the 10 sleeve of bullets from my federal ammo and it would just fit into my hip pouch on my backpack. i didn't like the look of it though, and wanted something that was a better fit overall.

I had gotten into leather work while restoring some old axes and making sheaths. I really liked it and i like the carving process too. so off i went creating a bandolier to hold my .308 rounds securely and quietly in the field.

I choose to carve in a ram's skull as it is a goal of mine to hunt sheep, and in many ways feels like a pinnacle for hunting. (not to diminish other species, but there is a romanticism with sheep hunting for sure). It was a fun project over the christmas season, and i binged watched WWII in colour. I learned a lot about leather crafting as well.



well that's all fine, but of course i went and got myself a new rifle this season, a tikka in 300 WSM. The magnum sized case doesn't fit into my bandolier. Guess i have to make a new one.




So this thread is just to keep track of my progress as I work and make my new one. I am carving in a grizzly bear this time, for a few reasons: it fits the canvas well, I killed my first bear this year, and grizzly's are king of the bears. hopefully i get one in the future (probably not in BC).

here is what i have so far:




going to work on it some more now, i'll update with my progress. not just on the art, but the whole build.

[Bustercluck]

Looking good! I bought my kids some stamps and a stone a couple of Christmas ago. I keep buying little projects for them to do every once in awhile. They’re nowhere near what you’re doing, but it’s definitely fun.

[adriaticum]

nice work!

[Gateholio]

Nice work!!!

[ghost]

Looks great

[Johnny G1]

Keep up the nice work.

[upperleftcoaster]

some shape form for the muscle groups on this bear. i'm trying to lay a nice base for the fur texture, which is going to be tricky. already looking great, so i'm going minimal with the fur tufts and marks when i get there.

I have a test piece that I'm keeping up with the final version, experimenting with techniques.

also present is a good Canadian rye and a WWII documentary in the background.

[upperleftcoaster]

ok so now some base fur texturing. next step is to go over top and and the appropriate tufts and finish that grizzly look

[upperleftcoaster]

almost done now.

here is the finished bear, now more grizzled


The next step is to make the other side, which will have the bandolier bit on it. I referred back to my original drawings to get the measurements again. For a .308, with the thin belt over top each side it comes out to a 5/8" diameter. the 300 whizzzzum is 11/32". technically the 300wsm should take up 5 1/2" total space but looking at my original there is some wiggle room. I decided to just go with the 308 spacing i had and hoped that the loops would flex around a bit and fill the space. it is also convenient that the 300 wsm and 308 have the same COAL.



I also am doing this with a loop through style. you could also lay the strap on the surface and stitch in between each bullet, but it would take up more space per round and it's a lot more sewing.

here is the finished back piece, ready for the belt loops.


and now putting the belt through. i wet molded the leather and cinch it down super tight with the bullets in. this makes a nice form and it tightens on the neck of the case. it's meant to be in a hip pouch or thrown in my pack, but it passes the upside down blizzard test. i also stitched in the belt this time, last version i used rivets but it was a real pain in the ass.

[upperleftcoaster]

here are the two halves now, ready to be joined.


i punched all the holes on each piece, then started the long saddle stitching process.


and getting a little help along the way