[killer]

I bought a couple of leather bandoleers from Dingo Gun Products Welcome Page to be used as props for pictures and stuff and to wear to an Indian wedding I'm going to next weekend.



I only have one leather accessories (sling used in competition) that I keep in a plastic bag. I am quite ignorant about leather in general.
I have seen where guys have left their pistols in leather holsters and found rust on the pistols after long periods.

What maintenance would you do on the above bandoleers? Whats a good leather oil? Would it be better to store them in a sealed plastic bag?

I'm also thinking it would be best to not keep the 30-06 ammo in the loops during storage. Won't that stretch the softer leather and make it loose?

[Triggerjerk]

I looked at the photos. I use Mink Oil on my leather. You can get it at any decent shoe store. Rub it in sparingly, preferably with a terry cloth wash cloth or piece of towel. Do not store knives in sheaths, guns in holsters, or cartridges in the loops for any amount of time.

I have been using Mink Oil for almost 40 years now. It will darken your leather. Neatsfoot Oil is the same concept. I like the paste texture of Mink Oil better than the Neatsfoot, which is liquid. But Neatsfoot Oil will work, too.

[A-10]

Mink oil works on almost anything. I use it on my sheaths, shoes, belt, and wallet. It makes the leather very smooth and keeps the moister out, probably reducing the rust factor of contacting metal.

[Mooseman684]

Storing Ammo in Leather creates a nasty Green verdigris on the ammo and the leather from the tanning chemicals...it is a corrosion and will pit the brass.
Don't leave ammo in the loops !
Rich

[Spikestrip]

I use baseball glove conditioner, available at Big 5 or almost any sporting goods store.

[Dan22]

Find your nearest saddle shop. Lots of leather stuff.

My 10-yr old grand daughter has four saddles and I'm always buying some leather product for them.

[ArkansasHunter]

Mink Oil is good stuff..."After applying" the mink oil take a synthetic sponge and lightly rub down the leather. In a buffing motion, back and forth. This is far "leveling" and removeing some of the mink oil.
You might want to store your ammo somewhere else because when you go to useing
leather treatments with the ammo left in the loops it will "set" the loops or cause them to slightly give where eventually the loops want hold the cartridges tight and you'll end up picking them up off the ground.
Leather will stretch it would be better not to put anything to a bandoleer, just get another one when it wears out...A.H