is this common with moonclips?

[danbrew]

I recently bought a revolver (ok, two) that uses moonclips. When new these moonclips slide the rounds into the gun like butter. I have some clips that have been used probably 7 or 8 times and now I find that the entire clip doesn't slide into the gun like butter. I have to jiggle it a little bit. I'm guessing that adding or removing rounds from the clip have subtly tweaked the dimensions of the clip. These are all new Ranch Product moonclips and I'm using the mooncliptool.com tool to load and unload them and am being careful to not exert undue pressure on the clips.

Is that just the way it is? Or do I need to be more gentle with my clips?

thx,

danbrew

 

[harmonic]

There are any number of things that could be going on. As you're using the moonclips, are you also using once, twice, etc., fired cases? Or are you using fresh factory rounds every time?

If you're using fresh factory rounds every time, then you sound like you've got somes issues with the clips, assuming you're cleaning the gun after each range session. (Not cleaning the cylinders could also impact loading ability.)

But if you're using reloads, make sure you're sizing them properly, and make sure they've got a taper crimp. Not having a taper crimp gave me problems.

You also might want to double check your overall length of the loaded rounds.

 

[Hawk]

My stock of full moon clips seems to reduce by 10% every time they're used.

I check for "flat" after demooning and a couple always get tossed. I don't believe they were intended to go forever. Some brands of brass seem more likely to bind up and tweak the things - one lot of UMC yellow box stands out in my memory - I actually broke a demooner on one of those - tenacious little buggers.

 

[General Geoff]

I use "Rimz" plastic moon clips, and haven't had to toss any after using each one (I have about 50) about a dozen times each. They still function flawlessly, and I as a bonus I don't need a demooning tool.

 

[rcmodel]

Is that just the way it is? Or do I need to be more gentle with my clips?

They cannot get any bigger or smaller without breaking.

SO, that leaves bent or not flat & straight any longer.

As already noted, different brands of ammo, case rims, and bullet shapes all effect how smoothly they load in the gun.

rc

 

[cpirtle]

As others have said, it sounds to me like the clips are slightly bent, possibly from demooning without a tool. I'd check them for flatness and if they do not lay perfectly flat you can tap them back to shape on a hard flat surface.

I made a demooning tool for my 940 from a golf club and it works great.

Another trick I did with a bunch of mine is to open up the cartridge hole just slightly. Not only does it make mooning & demooning go quicker it allows the bullets to shift a little and not bind as much. You just have to be careful not to open them too much. I had 2 packs of brand new ones that were binding and this solved it.

 

[earplug]

My moons don't die

I'm using a 625 with Ranch moon clips. Haven't had any clip problems. I demoon with a golf club handle or a secton of copper pipe.
I load the moons by pushing the rounds down on the clips while supporting the clip on a piece of wood or a old cutting board.

 

[Drail]

earplug, you explained my favorite method for loading clips. I lay down a row of cartridges on my bench and then go over them filling a clip at a time. I have used Ranch Products clips for years and am still using them. The only time I have seen one become bent is from some clown stepping on them on the ground. Usually, I'm that clown. Different brands of brass will fit the clips looser or tighter than others. I have one of the first prototype de-mooners and it still works perfectly. Just hold the tool over a bucket and three clicks gived an empty unbent clip.

 

[.38 Special]

Has anyone used this "moonclip saver tool" from TK Custom? My S&W 22 has really minimum headspace and even the slightest bend in the clip will bind up the gun. I haven't found any way to accurately remove the two or three thousandths of misalignment that is enough to cause problems.

 

[Jim K]

Historical note: The original S&W half moon clips, in spite of being considered expendable by the army, were made of fairly heavy steel and pretty rugged. Most modern ones, of whichever type, seem to be made from high quality tin cans and bend or twist at the slightest handling.

If folks keep buying them and not complaining, they will keep being that way.

Jim