I cannot stay away from moon clip guns, it seems.

[silicosys4]

I have a problem. I do not like moon clips. As much as I like the positives about them, I loathe the loading/unloading process.
But,
Almost without exception, the guns that require moon clips, particularly .45acp moon clips, are exceptionally cool. Theres something about that stubby cylinder that is as wide as it is tall, that 1/4" of forcing cone that sticks out of the frame.
I had a 625-3 that was a beautiful gun, all original and complete in box. For a big, heavy N frame with a full underlug, the 5" barrel balanced nicely compared to the 5.5" 627-0 I have that is just a front heavy beast of a gun. I loved time spent out at the range with it. I even committed to buying 100 clips for it. But I hated before/after, loading and unloading those blasted moon clips, even with a few rudimentary tools. I did it a few times, and then decided I liked doubling my money more than I liked messing with moon clips and sold it.

But I didn't sell the moon clips.
I didn't unload the loaded ones still on hand. I just kept it all in a ziplock bag and put it in the back of the shelf.

It's like I knew that, though I loathe moon clips,
The guns that use them are exceptionally cool, and at some point, I wouldn't be able to resist. A classic case of subconscious self-enabling. The wiser part of my subconscious, I'd like to think.
So full circle,
I recently bought a S&W 22-4, a newer version of the old 1917,
and yesterday or $850, I couldn't resist jumping back on the 625 horse with this shooter 625-2 that has definitely seen a few rounds.
I guess I have to either get a good moon clip tool or invest in some Autorim brass.

 

[tominboise]

Nice. I bought 500 Starline AR cases to go along with my 625's. So I can moon clip it or I can use the AR cases. Reloading is the same with the exception of the shell plate on the RL550.

Love my 625's. Fun guns to shoot and my 5" is exceptionally accurate.

 

[KnightHawk]

Boy that sounds familiar.
I bought a 625-2 5” model 1989 in 1991 and loved the accuracy of the gun but hated the moon clips and sold the gun couple years later.
I’ve regretted selling that 625 ever since.
About 5 or 6 years ago I picked up a 22-4 model 1950 and shortly thereafter found a 4” 625-2 model 1989. If I ever run across a 5” 625 I’ll add that in the mix.
Got a better tool to deal with moon clips and came across a deal on 500 new in the bag Remington AR cases for a good price.
I have casting molds from 160 thru grains to 314 grains.
These two pistols have found a permanent home and will be passed on to my boys.

 

[jmorris]

I loathe the loading/unloading process.
But,
Almost without exception, the guns that require moon clips, particularly .45acp moon clips, are exceptionally cool.

I even committed to buying 100 clips for it. But I hated before/after, loading and unloading those blasted moon clips, even with a few rudimentary tools.

I guess I have to either get a good moon clip tool or invest in some Autorim brass.

Sounds like you need to reload and use GAP brass instead of ACP. Moon/demoon by hand.

Mooner

www.youtube.com

 

[Riomouse911]

I never have owned a moonclip revolver. I just may have to rectify that flaw in my ownership record someday.

Stay safe.

 

[1KPerDay]

I absolutely love the the revolvers but I don't have one yet. They ARE exceptionally cool. that 5" 1989 is about the perfect-looking modern revolver IMO.

 

[bigpower491]

I bought my first moonclip revolver last week and found out quickly the tools would be the way to go. Loading for the most part not so bad, but getting the empties off the clips can be a bear. We had no 1/2" copper tubing here at the shop, so I just ordered the TK tool. I think it was 30 bux. I do have some stuff laying around here to make a clip loader, I'll work on that later today or tomorrow. TK is right proud of their loader, and it looks small enough to be portable, but I only have to walk 75 yards out to the pistol range so a bench mount will work fine for me. I ordered a bunch of clips from TK as well, so in the event I go shoot an away game, I'll just load up a bunch of clips beforehand

 

[adcoch1]

I never have owned a moonclip revolver. I just may have to rectify that flaw in my ownership record someday.

Stay safe.

Same. Always liked the look of a 5" model 25....

 

[jmorris]

We had no 1/2" copper tubing here at the shop, so I just ordered the TK tool. I think it was 30 bux.

I know a guy that has an old broken golf club handle notched like in the video above that works pretty well and it can hold more than 6 cases.

Needs to go around the case and the notch clears/pushes on the clip for removal.

 

[Y-T71]

 

[Mannlicher]

I have only one revolver that uses moon clips. Many years ago, my local gunsmith made me a companion cylinder in .45 ACP for my .45 Colt S&W 25-5. I used to do a lot of bowling pin shoots with that cylinder. Won some too.

 

[Tallball]

Moonclips aren't necessary. I never use them for my 625, or most of my other "auto caliber" revolvers. They all go bang just fine without moonclips.

My SP101 in 9mm has tight chambers and the empties don't fall out. That's the one I use moonclips for.

With my 625, I open the cylinder and tap the butt. Five or six pieces of empty brass fall out. The ones that don't just fall out come out with barely a touch of the fingernail.

Moonclips are cool if you like them, but that's all they are... cool if you like them.

Smith And Wesson Model 625

• Tallball
• Apr 5, 2018

 

[Y-T71]

I have only one revolver that uses moon clips. Many years ago, my local gunsmith made me a companion cylinder in .45 ACP for my .45 Colt S&W 25-5. I used to do a lot of bowling pin shoots with that cylinder. Won some too.

Beautiful!
Story on this one?
Bored out 629?
Hard chrome?

 

[Armored farmer]

I am a big fan of .45acp. A big bore without all the fanfare of magnum recoil.
My grail gun is a 1917 3" .45acp.
The Ruger Redhawk 5050 would also be worthy.

 

[halfmoonclip]

My nom-de-net might be what the police call 'a clue'. Yeah, I like pistol caliber revolvers, though the .45s work, with fewer reservations, than the 9s.
The moons are much less of a PITA with the right tools. Forty fives snap in without too much drama, but even the stamped steel hook is better than trying to pop them loose with your fingers. A late buddy, "Iron-ass Muldoon", kept trying to remove the empties by hand, and kept springing his moons. Sprung moons cause cylinder bind, or misfires. Or both. Finally gave him the stamped, GI tool, though the half inch tubing things are a better idea.
Have some AR .45s, but decided that it was too much a complication, inventorying both kinds of .45s. Do have some reduced load .45s, put aside for the 325. Speaking of, the Ti cylinder of my 986 doesn't work well without a moon; not sure about the Ti .45.
The ability to use moons as the worlds greatest speedloader overcomes most of the objections to preloading them.
Moon

 

[cfullgraf]

Look at BMT Equipped moon clip tools. They are a bit pricey but they are the cats meow of moon clip tools.

I have revolvers chambered in 45 ACP, 10 mm, 9x19, and 38 Special that accept moon clips.

 

[jeff-10]

If your gonna get revolver that takes moon clips make sure its in the best millimeter.

 

[halfmoonclip]

I have revolvers chambered in 45 ACP, 10 mm, 9x19, and 38 Special that accept moon clips.

Uh-oh! There's another one of us out there.
My 640 Pro is cut for moons, but it has been my experience that shorter, autopistol rounds work better than the traditional revolver rounds. The moon for the 640 is handy for administrative stuff, clearing and reloading.
Moon

 

[Mannlicher]

Beautiful!
Story on this one?
Bored out 629?
Hard chrome?

The cylinder was based on a blue steel .357 cylinder and hard chromed to match the 25-5 which was already hard chromed. My local smith, Robert Wilson out of Ocala FL did all the work back in the late nineties. Despite thousands of rounds through both cylinders, the revolver still performs and looks like brand new.

 

[TheFrontRange]

Yep, I like-a da moon clips, too. I should not have let this .45 ACP Mountain Gun get away, and now have some hope that perhaps a .45 ACP variant will be forthcoming in the revived MG lineup.

The Jeffrey Gunleather “Moon Pockets” in the background of this shot made carrying spare clips so easy (and concealable).

 

[reddog81]

I don't understand the hate for moonclips. It like saying you hate using magazines for semi-autos. Loading one is just as easy as loading a magazine and they make it super easier to pickup brass. RIMZ EZ moon clips are like $40 for 10 and they are super easy to use.

 

[mm93]

I dislike moon clips too, and even with nifty devices to help make loading and unloading ammo it always irritated me to have to do so. I avoided them when I collected S&W revolvers, but did have one WWI era .45 ACP just because, but rarely shot it. I much prefer my .45 Colt chambered revolvers to shoot as it's so nice to just drop in six rounds and shoot.

 

[mm93]

I don't understand the hate for moonclips. It like saying you hate using magazines for semi-autos. Loading one is just as easy as loading a magazine and they make it super easier to pickup brass. RIMZ EZ moon clips are like $40 for 10 and they are super easy to use.

I don't find it as easy as loading magazines? And if I slide my magazine assist over the magazine I can drop cartridges in with ease. And once I'm done I don't have to fight getting spent brass out of my magazines either!

 

[cfullgraf]

Uh-oh! There's another one of us out there.
My 640 Pro is cut for moons, but it has been my experience that shorter, autopistol rounds work better than the traditional revolver rounds. The moon for the 640 is handy for administrative stuff, clearing and reloading.
Moon

I’ll agree, shorter auto pistol rounds load better than long, revolver rounds. But in the J-frames, I still like the moon clips better than speed loaders. A more compact carry and all the cases get ejected on mass.

I have four Airweights machined for moon clips, a 442, a 642, a 437, and a 638.

 

[reddog81]

I don't find it as easy as loading magazines? And if I slide my magazine assist over the magazine I can drop cartridges in with ease. And once I'm done I don't have to fight getting spent brass out of my magazines either!

You don't have to fight getting the brass out of clips because its scattered all over the place and hiding from you.