Moon Clips, etc.

[RWK]

A request for help from my fellow revolver devotees: All of my wheel guns are “standard†revolver calibers (.38 Specials, .357 magnums, .45 Colts, and .41 magnums). I do not own any revolvers that fire customary autoloader rounds, although I am seriously considering a three-inch Smith 610 for daily carry as my primary self-defensive weapon.

Obviously, I know this requires the use of moon clips. My questions are:
(1) How moon clips are loaded and the spent brass in unloaded?
(2) Does this require a "de-mooner" and, if so, what is the preferable model?
(3) Is loading and unloading the moon clip a difficult operation?

I know these are very basic – perhaps foolish – questions. However, with all the revolver shooting I have done, I have NO experience with the 10mm, the 9x19, the .45 ACP, and so forth.

Many thanks.

 

[Gillster]

Moonclips are "loaded" by pushing rounds into the cutouts in the clip. Unloading usually requires a tool of some type. I have what looks like a standard screwdriver handle with a hollow tube attached. It has a small raised area on the end that contacts the clip when placed around the empty case and with a twist of the wrist levers the case out of the clip. I think they hold 6 empty cases in .45 and in .38 also. I also have a small bent metal tool that de-moons a 625 clip in no time flat that I got in a shop for about a buck one time. I like the handled version better and I think I got mine for 12 bucks or so. With a little practice loading and un-loading takes no time at all.

Chris

 

[jem375]

get the new rimz moon clips for the 610 and the 625...they are made out of space age plastic they say, and I just bought 20 for $20 and you don't need a tool to load or unload..................
www.beckhamdesign.com/index.html

 

[Round Gun Shooter]

From my limited experience

Obviously, I know this requires the use of moon clips. My questions are:
(1) How moon clips are loaded and the spent brass in unloaded?
(2) Does this require a "de-mooner" and, if so, what is the preferable model?
(3) Is loading and unloading the moon clip a difficult operation?

I know these are very basic – perhaps foolish – questions.

I would like to answer the last statement first. Although probably basic, your questions are legitimate.

1. Moon clips are loaded as stated before. By pressing the loaded round's case rim into the opening on the moon clip one at a time. Unloading is a little more difficult. A tool of some sort needs to be used to pry, pull, coax the spent case from the clip without bending the clip. A S&W 610 usually comes with a basic de-mooning tool that is adequate for basic plinking and hunting but very time consuling if shooting compoetition.

2, A de Mooner is not "required" but is strongly recommended to prevent the clips from being bent.

3. The answer to this question is depends on how much shooting you are doing and how strong your fingers are.

Summary:

I shoot an average of between 200 and 500 rounds of moon clip loads a week. (not that much lately and I should be ashamed )

I load my clips with a tool I purchased locally but I see a tool sold on www.moonclip.com that looks very well made. Tom also sells a de-mooner.

Clips can be purchased from Ranch Products for an excellent price. IIRC the 610 clips were in the area of $70 per hundred but my memory is a little fuzzy. I do remember 45ACP clips were $22 per hundred.

Steel clips hold the rounds if you drop them and are priced reasonably. They are easy to use, easy to store, and are time tested. They work without being modified. My personal opinion (which is what this whole thing is) is stay away from those plastic clips except for limited range use.

The 610 is a great gun and is enjoyable to shoot with both 10MM and 40 S&W loads. Good luck,

 

[jem375]

Having used the plastic moon clips, I can honestly say they are very good and durable.....why pay for all the loading and unloading tools when you don't have to?..........these will also stay together if dropped.......but, hey, it's your money..........

 

[Jim K]

Moon clips are only needed for simultaneous extraction and reloading. If there are not more than six enemies, you don't need clips.

Jim

 

[caz223]

***Edited to remove incorrect information***
Thanks to Jim Keenan for the correction.

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's RWK My Friend-

Roy, my only experience with "half-moon clips" was
when I used to own and shoot a U.S. Army Colt 1917
revolver. Those clips were slow to load and unload
after firing. Loading the .45 ACP's required "snapping"
each cartridge between a tiny set of "ears"(for lack of
better terminology), then dropping the half-moon into
the cylinder. Surely, the major manufactuer's have a
better solution than that today? At least I hope so.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Prodigalshooter]

The plastic moon clips I've seen worked fine, till they were ejected during a reload in IDPA; the brass popped out (not all of it) when it hit the floor. Not catastrophic for sure, but annoying in a match and more work to save your brass. The moon clips I use are the ones from Ranch Products, cost me $20 for a 100, the demooner & remooner tools cost about $50. I will be reloading these moonclips for years w/o replacing, so I think I can justify the cost.
I like to use only Starline brass in my 625, as it fits the moonclips better (IMHO) than other brass, so, retrieving it is important to me.
Of course, YMMV.

 

[jem375]

from his post, I gather that he will not be shooting in competition....and when I am at the range, I only need take a couple of the rimz and load and unload them there with no trouble and don't need all the extra tools.

 

[scott45b]

To Jim Keenan:

The moonclips are used to properly headspace the cartridge to allow the firing pin to strike the primer. Without the clip, the cartridge can fall into the cylinder thus causing a misfire.

To Prodigalshooter:

If you are using the RIMZ clips and ejecting empty cases onto a concrete floor and some of the empties come out, it is possible that the force that caused the clips to release the cartridges would be the same force that would bend a metal clip rendering it useless. If the same metal clip is stepped on (which happens quite frequently) it will probably bend and also be useless. The RIMZ clips can be stepped on and re-used.

 

[BobC]

The S&W 610 can fire the 10mm either with or without moonclips. The extractor, however, pushes on the clip, not the brass cartridges. When shooting without a clip, the 10mm brass must be individually extracted (I insert a pencil from the front of the cyclinder to push the brass out).

The 40 S&W can be fired in the 610 only with the moonclip.

Same moonclip fits both 10mm & 40SW. (Note this is different size than a 45 acp moonclip.)

- Bob

 

[JNewell]

The S&W 610 can fire the 10mm either with or without moonclips.

FWIW, ditto the 940 in 9x19.

 

[Mike Irwin]

"The moonclips are used to properly headspace the cartridge to allow the firing pin to strike the primer. Without the clip, the cartridge can fall into the cylinder thus causing a misfire."

Scott,

That actually hasn't been the case for many many years.

During World War I both Colt and Smith & Wesson started shouldering the chambers in their 1917 revolvers so that unclipped .45 ACP ammo could be used in a pinch. (Some of the first production Colt New Service 1917s didn't have this feature, though).

Since that time, every S&W revolver with which I'm familiar, those that have used rimless cartridges, has had shouldered chambers that allows the rimless round to headspace properly on the case mouth.

My 1917 Brazilian contract (made 1938-39 or so) has shouldered chambers. The 940, 610, 625, etc., all have shouldered chambers.

I'm not 100% certain, but I believe that Taurus' new .45 ACP and 9mm revolvers also have shouldered chambers.


BTW, I took my 1917 to the range yesterday, and wanted to do some shooting with some of my handloads, but I forgot my RIMZ, so I went to the 1911-A1 instead.

I could have fired the rounds in my 1917, as it has shouldered chambers, as noted above, but I didn't feel like punching the cases out of each chamber with a pencil.

I'm glad I felt that way. I had a double charge in one of my cases and it blew sky high. The 1911 survived without a hint of damage, but I suspect a similar situation with my 1917 would have badly damaged or destroyed the gun.

 

[scott45b]

Mike:

Thanks for the response. As usual, my brain was operating faster than my fingers could respond. My comment regarding the cases "falling into the cylinder" was meant only for the .40 cal fired in the 610 revolver. I have fired my 625 without moonclips. It does fire, but extracting the cartridges is not as easy as with a clip.

 

[caz223]

My apologies to Jim Keenan, you are right and I am wrong.
Just tried chambering a lone 10mm cartridge in my 610, and what you you know, it headspaced correctly without the moon clip.
I learned two things today.
1. 610s can chamber 10mm ammo without moonclips, and:
2. Don't be so hasty to assume something doesn't work, even if you don't see a reason that it should work.

Thanks for the correction.

 

[ira41magfan]

The Beckham Design Rimz moonclips are great and easy to use. Nothing simpler.

 

[w1mnk]

Mike Irwin, thanks, I just got back from space I didn't realize the chambers in the 610/625 were shouldered. I just assumed they were cylindrical. Great information. Learn something new everyday here. You gotta love it!!