Best Cartridge Belts Reviewed & Rated for Quality and Safety

In a Hurry? Editors choice:
Ultimate Arms
Test Winner: Ultimate Arms
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You know how people argue all the time that "guns don't kill things, people kill things?" Well, we here are of the opinion that it's actually bullets that kill things. And if you're on the hunt for dinner, well then you best make sure you have plenty of bullets when it's hunting season.  So here's our list of cartridge belts specifically designed that when that perfect shot presents itself well you've got plenty of cartridges to get the job done. You can keep your rounds close to you so you can have access to it when you need it most.  There is no need to be out hunting, and not have an easy way for you to reload.

Standout Picks

Ultimate Arms
Our number one cartridge belt come from Ultimate Arms. This belt comes with 10 different pocket pouches, which allow you to store numerous types of cartridges and other accessories easily and securely. This belt can adjust for any size between 28” up to 58”.
Amazon Link
$21.99
Hunter Pistol
This pistol belt comes in two different sizes, which can hold either 12 rounds or 6 rounds.
Amazon Link
$29.99
Allen Rifle
This cartridge belt from Allen Rifle is made out of a black nylon material which is very tightly knit, so you know it will stay durable and stand the test of time. This belt has 20 different elastic loops, and can fit any waist size from 36” up to 52”.
Amazon Link
$34.99
BronzeDog
While ammo is one of the most important elements to have when hunting it is not the only item you need. You need somewhere to put it, but not just any item, you need a quality cartridge that allows you to securely hold your ammo without missing a beat. That is what the BronzeDog Handmade Leather Shotgun Shell Cartridge Belt will do.
Bagmaster Web Cartridge Belt
Bagmaster has this cartridge belt which is made from a tight-knit nylon material and is 2’ thick. This belt can hold up to 50 different cartridges at once, which can range in caliber from .223 to .44.
Amazon Link
Brown Genuine Leather
This natural leather cartridge belt is 2.5” wide, allowing you to have plenty of room to store your bullets as needed. This belt can hold up to a .45 caliber bullet. The leather is a natural brown color, and the bullets are stored all around the belt, including along the back. This belt can hold up to 18 bullets at once.
Amazon Link
$55.99
Tourbon Hunting Bandolier
Tourbon has this model of a cartridge belt, which can hold up to 24 different shells at once, all up to a 12 gauge. This belt is made from tightly woven polyester, meaning it will be durable thru all weather environments and is washable.
Amazon Link
$66.00
BRONZEDOG Waterproof
Bronzedog is known for creating great quality cartridge belts and this one is no exception. Created to be used in multiple ways this cartridge belt measures 54 inches in length, and 3 inches in width. Additionally, it fits a waist range of 31-51 inches, allowing you to use this belt as a crossbody shell holder over even a thick jacket. Its all about having a multifunctional product that is still extremely sturdy and durable.
Amazon Link
CS Force Shotgun Shell Bandolier Belt
This belt only comes in black and can hold up to 25 12-Gauge shells at once. These shells would be stored all around the belt, including around the back.
Amazon Link
Fox Outdoor Products Military Shotgun Canvas Shell Bandolier Belt
It comes in four different styles. You have Black nylon material, a Dark Tan nylon belt, and a Light Tan nylon belt.
Amazon Link
$14.99

Criteria Used for Evaluation

Materials

The top materials with those belts are leather, nylon, cotton, and polyester. Starting with leather, it is the most durable of the four materials and has an arguably has the most professional look. When a company sticks with the regular brown or tan leather look, it’s timeless and hard to take your eyes off of. You can care for leather a lot easier than the other materials since it is rare you’ll have to worry about it getting roughed up.

The downside to a leather belt is that it doesn’t stretch, lacking the elasticity needed for customers that are over the waist maximum. And of course, the feel of the leather is nice, but average when judging it by comfort alone. Durability led to it being in higher parts of the list than others, with the comfort level being concerned that were raised in the cons if needed.

Nylon is the best all-around material and scores high on comfort and durability. A lot of high-end knife sheaths are made of nylon, so it is fitting that the cartridge belt counterpart would be just as useful.

The material is stretchy and can accommodate over whatever the waist limit is listed as. And when done right, black nylon can be just as attractive as tan leather. We scored the nylon belts on the list by their durability and storage options, since nylon seems to cover a lot of the top spots in the industry. Our rating also looked at styling, with the nylon options being more flexible in their appearance than the others on the list.

Now where things got tricky with the positioning is with the introduction of cotton cartridge belts. They have high durability out of the box and are the most comfortable available. The material was often compared to thick shirts, which is a big compliment for something that is supposed to carry them.

Where thing falters with the material is that it has a shorter lifespan than all of the others on the list. So even though it will take a beating like leather, it won’t hold up well to wear and tear on a consistent basis. Yet there is no other material on the list that matches the great feeling of wearing it all day, so when ordering it on the list, we took into account lifespan vs. comfort.

The last material is actually two different ones, polyester, and in-house materials. The former falls between nylon and cotton in terms of strength and comfort, while the latter is all over the place depending on the brand. Polyester is a jack of all trades material and works out well for anyone needing a cartridge belt. Rather than going for the cheap polyester, companies will often splurge for 600D polyester, and that makes a world of difference.

When a brand decides to do all of its materials in-house, the risk is huge but works out with a couple of tweaks on their end. We only included belts from companies in this category that have a track record of great mash-up materials that still meets the standards of a quality belt.

Features

With materials out of the way, we looked at what features were popular among customer trends. The sash style is not the norm anymore, so wasn’t listed too high unless it could also be worn as a belt. Minor changes were also made when deciding if closed pockets were more valuable than the loops.

Belts that contain both closed pockets and selections were put higher up on the list if they met the material specifications from before. The biggest change with features came when reordering the list based on rounds that could be held at one time.

Size

Sizes were a toss-up since there is no industry standard to go by. Companies with the same listed max and minimum sizes were wholly different when tried out by customers. When ordering the list based on sizes, we stuck to the information on hand. Brands that offered to size information for both women and men were more likely to be accurate than companies that didn’t.

This put a couple of belts higher on the list since customer experience is a big part of the process. Since sizing can sometimes be an issue, we also took into account warranties and return policies within the size category. The pairing was odd but made sense for people that would have to eventually return the item if it didn’t fit. Brands that had rock-solid warranties and return policies would be better to deal with if there was a sizing issue. They would also be quicker to respond and replace when a problem was found.

10 Best Cartridge Belts

1. Ultimate Arms

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$21.99
Ultimate Arms
Amazon Link

Our number one cartridge belt come from Ultimate Arms. This belt comes with 10 different pocket pouches, which allow you to store numerous types of cartridges and other accessories easily and securely. This belt can adjust for any size between 28” up to 58”.

Safe and secure
Each pocket is 4” tall and over 2.5” wide and comes with a buckle on each pocket to ensure the storage is safe and secure. This belt is made out of a cotton canvas, which makes it very easy to wash when needed.

Quick release buckle
It also has a quick release buckle, so you can easily get in and out the belt.

Cost and Value
Due to all its features, it's pretty cost-effective. To check out the information on this top-rated cartridge belt and see if it is the right one for you, just click on the product image.

Amazon Link
$21.99

2. Hunter Pistol

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$29.99
Hunter Pistol
Amazon Link

This pistol belt comes in two different sizes, which can hold either 12 rounds or 6 rounds.

100% leather material
It is made out of a 100% leather material, allowing you to feel comfortable in taking this out in any weather environment.

Wide in size
The belt is 2” wide, which means you can fit most caliber size rounds within this belt. The recommended caliber is between a .38 and .45.

Cost and Value
This Tan Leather cartridge belt ranges in the retail price, depending upon the size of round belt you choose.

Amazon Link
$29.99

3. Allen Rifle

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$34.99
Allen Rifle
Amazon Link

This cartridge belt from Allen Rifle is made out of a black nylon material which is very tightly knit, so you know it will stay durable and stand the test of time. This belt has 20 different elastic loops, and can fit any waist size from 36” up to 52”.

Fits most people
This belt has 20 different elastic loops, and can fit any waist size from 36” up to 52”.

Thick material
The belt is 2” thick, meaning it can hold many different types of cartridges. It comes with a quick-release buckle, so you can easily take this belt off when needed, and strap it on when you need to get going.

Cost and Value
This particular belt has been priced quite well, as it is affordable and has very useful features.

Amazon Link
$34.99

4. BronzeDog

Where to buy
BronzeDog
Amazon Link

While ammo is one of the most important elements to have when hunting it is not the only item you need. You need somewhere to put it, but not just any item, you need a quality cartridge that allows you to securely hold your ammo without missing a beat. That is what the BronzeDog Handmade Leather Shotgun Shell Cartridge Belt will do.

Quality Material
Created out of superior split genuine leather this belt comes prepared to hold the ammo you need without missing a beat. Measuring at 55 inches in length and having a waist size of 37- 55 inches, this belt is built exceptionally well. Though it is well-known leather is not a stretchy material, this belt gives you some leeway in the way it fits. This is important to know as it will make fitting a whole lot easier.

Easy to Carry
Everyone knows when you go hunting you want to stay as light as possible. Its all about carrying only the items that you need in the easiest form possible. This belt allows you to easily carry 24 rounds of 12 (16) gauge cartridges, with an open style that is easy to move around and transport. Furthermore, on the reverse side, the belt is duplicated by a second layer of leather.

Cost and Value
As for the cost and value of this item, it is on the pricier side. However, due to the quality and the leather material that you are receiving it makes sense for your belt to be higher in price than the most on our guide. Subsequently, you are getting a belt that has a lot of cartridge space for you to use.

5. Bagmaster Web Cartridge Belt

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Bagmaster Web Cartridge Belt
Amazon Link

Bagmaster has this cartridge belt which is made from a tight-knit nylon material and is 2’ thick. This belt can hold up to 50 different cartridges at once, which can range in caliber from .223 to .44.

Adjustable
This belt is fully adjustable, and can range in size from 30” up to 54”.

Durable
The nylon material is very durable and will last thru a variety of different weather elements.

Cost and Value
When it comes to the cost of this belt, it is priced quite fairly when you take into consideration how many cartridges this belt can hold. Additionally, it comes with a quick-release buckle, allowing you to strap it on and take it off with ease.

Amazon Link

6. Brown Genuine Leather

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$55.99
Brown Genuine Leather
Amazon Link

This natural leather cartridge belt is 2.5” wide, allowing you to have plenty of room to store your bullets as needed. This belt can hold up to a .45 caliber bullet. The leather is a natural brown color, and the bullets are stored all around the belt, including along the back. This belt can hold up to 18 bullets at once.

Long lasting
The leather material will ensure it stays durable and long-lasting, no matter the type of weather you encounter.

Multiple sizes
This belt is available in sizes between 36 and 52, and it is recommended that you purchase a belt which is 4-6 sizes larger than you normally get to ensure it is the right size.

Cost and Value
The retail price varies depending upon the size you choose.

Amazon Link
$55.99

7. Tourbon Hunting Bandolier

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$66.00
Tourbon Hunting Bandolier
Amazon Link

Tourbon has this model of a cartridge belt, which can hold up to 24 different shells at once, all up to a 12 gauge. This belt is made from tightly woven polyester, meaning it will be durable thru all weather environments and is washable.

Adjustable
The belt is fully adjustable, as it can go all the way up to 43”.

Additional features
This belt only comes in green color but does come with two extra pockets and a long zipped pocket to allow you to store some extra things if needed. The shells are stored all around the belt, including across the back.

Cost and Value
This belt is priced quite fairly when you take into count how many additional features you are getting.

Amazon Link
$66.00

8. BRONZEDOG Waterproof

Where to buy
Amazon Link
BRONZEDOG Waterproof
Amazon Link

Bronzedog is known for creating great quality cartridge belts and this one is no exception. Created to be used in multiple ways this cartridge belt measures 54 inches in length, and 3 inches in width. Additionally, it fits a waist range of 31-51 inches, allowing you to use this belt as a crossbody shell holder over even a thick jacket. Its all about having a multifunctional product that is still extremely sturdy and durable.

Waterproof
Anyone who goes hunting often knows the weather can change at any moment, especially when you are out hunting in the wild or in open fields. Which is why it's always a good idea to have a waterproof item. This one takes it a step further by ensuring the shell holder is constructed out of waterproof nylon. Having this construction not only allows you to have a waterproof item with you in case it rains but your shells will remain dry throughout the entire time.

Large Capacity
Unlike other belts that hold only a small amount of ammo, this one can hold up to 24 rounds of 12 (16). Giving you a large capacity that is still quite effective and handy. Having this amount of ammo on hand will make sure you have what you need right when you need it most. Additionally, the belt comes in a multitude of colors and patterns so you can get your own personalized belt.

Cost and Value
You would think due to the waterproof nylon and having a multifunctional ability that this cartridge belt would be expensive; however, it’s quite the contrary. This belt is very cost-effective. So much so, that you can even say you’re getting a bargain for your purchase. Additionally, let’s not forget the brand speaks for itself so you know you are getting a quality product.

Amazon Link

9. CS Force Shotgun Shell Bandolier

Where to buy
Amazon Link
CS Force Shotgun Shell Bandolier Belt
Amazon Link

This belt only comes in black and can hold up to 25 12-Gauge shells at once. These shells would be stored all around the belt, including around the back.

Nylon material
It is made from a nylon material and is very adjustable to where it can go out to 140cm.

Comfort
The tightly stitched nylon will stay durable in most weather conditions, allowing you to feel comfortable in using it within any environment.

Cost and Value
It's easy, it's comfortable and it's affordable, an excellent option when you want a belt that has everything you need while still being comfortable to wear for an extended period of time.

Amazon Link

10. Fox Shotgun Canvas Bandolier

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$14.99
Fox Outdoor Products Military Shotgun Canvas Shell Bandolier Belt
Amazon Link

It comes in four different styles. You have Black nylon material, a Dark Tan nylon belt, and a Light Tan nylon belt.

Easy to operate
Each belt can hold 10, 12, 16, or 20 shotgun shells, and comes with a very easy buckle to operate, so you can strap it on and take it off very quickly.

Length of 110cm
The belt has a length of 110cm. The shells will be stored around the entire belt, including along the back of the cartridge belt.

Cost and Value
The price range will vary depending on the size you select.

Amazon Link
$14.99