Moonclip vs Speedloader

[Guy B. Meredith]

Okiecruffler,

You may have a problem with the small frame 5-shot. Generally they have been available for L-frame and N-frame S&W and the 8-shot Taurus 608.

Availability for the K-frame S&W has only been through one manufacturer, T. K. Custom. Check with them at TKCustom.com to see whether clips are available for your revolver. TK has been working with Clark Custom Guns (Jerry Miculek's in-laws) for the machining.

There is a plastic clip on the market that sounds interesting, but they have a very limited line and I do not have their address right off the top.

You can also check with Bob Miles at 310-324-1858 or [email protected] and see what he is doing these days. Bob was a supplier of moonclips to S&W and did the 8-shot Taurus. He is the individual that did my 686+ and supplied the clips.

Guy

 

[Round Gun Shooter]

It's my dream to get my Taurus 650 cut out for moonclips, but I can't seem to find anyone doing it.

Try

http://www.pinnacle-guns.com/revolver.php

Regards,

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

Round Gun Shooter,

Thanks for the link. I have had problems trying to schedule with Clark Custom for the M66 and I will be checking as to how Mark works it.

Guy

 

[Waynefi]

Unless something has changed it depends on the game. IDPA does not allow moonclips unless that is the way the gun was made originally. This is only a few models and mostly only in .45 and .40/10mm. I was never to high on a revolver that requires a special item(moonclip) to be loaded and unloaded as a defensive handgun. NOW the current after market trend to moonclip conversions that allow proper spacing for operation without moonclips is more sensible. Worse case scenario, as long as you have a box of ammo you are ready to go. Though I still believe this is not legal in IDPA. One more thing on the issue of competition, in 2002 Bill Nesbitt finished second only to Alex Zimmerman, in SSR Master, IDPA Nationals with a 3" Model 10 S&W. SO, it depends on the game and the shooter. Pretty good with an old Model 10 and speedloaders !!

 

[antediluvianist]

three choices

"Safariland comp III is the best speedloader I have used, but does not come in 7- and 8-shot. I am using them right now for my M66 until I can afford moonclip conversion (about $100 plus $30 for a set of clips).

The only speedloaders for the 7-shot are HKS and SL Variant brands. I find the HKS (about $7 each) require an awkward twist for release and sometimes refuse to give up the rounds. I gave them up early on and decided to have my 686+ machined for moonclips.

I have not used the SL Variants as they are $30 or so each (ouch!!!)."

The above passage from an earlier posting is exactly right. I also have a 686Plus 7-shooter. For a 7-shooter, you have three choices : a) use the 7-shot HKS SLOWloader; or b) spend the $39 or so each for the SL Variant 7-shot speedloaders; or c) have your 686Plus machined for moonclips.

Option d) is sell your 686Plus and get a "standard" 686 6-shooter. Then you can use Comp IIIs.

 

[Cortland]

Where do you actually buy these SL Variant speedloaders? I hear about them all the time, and even know a fellow who has a couple of them (but of course he doesn't remember where he got them).

 

[grey9551]

Moon clip holder

This is what I hold my loaded moon clips in . It will hold 12 loaded clips.

here is one that hols two moonclips loaded

They work great!!

Gary

 

[ted murphy]

FWIW, moonclips can and will bend if you try hard enough. However they do take some work to do it so the issue may well be what you are doing when you are carrying that spare moonclip. Heavy construction type work might not be a good choice for it.

I've kept up with moonguns with a K frame and Comp III loaders at many a match. Have even one high revolver once with it. While moonclips do offer an advantage, I thought the chief advantage of the 625 was its mass.

Guys don't forget that speedloaders were developed not for the street, but for PPC shooting

Ted

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

ted murphy,

The 625 is a favorite in the "combat" style stuff as the large .45 charge holes make a faster reload. For this reason, some will go for that rather than capacity. Of course for IDPA it would be an excellent option as it comes with moonclips, large chargeholes and is a 6-shot.

The larger speedloaders are obviously at a disadvange for carry due to size. I didn't realize they were built for PPC. Now THAT (PPC) is one challenging sport! I have not yet gotten the hang of barrier with a revolver and the International Revolver Championship is the only other place I've seen 50 yds as part of the regular course in matches.

 

[ted murphy]

The 625 is a favorite in the "combat" style stuff as the large .45 charge holes make a faster reload. For this reason, some will go for that rather than capacity.
===================================\

There are some of us that buck the trend though.

i have a 625 but usually go for the K frames. watching *A LOT* of 625 shooters I've realized the majority aren't reloading them any faster they could with the comp III's- and when you think about it there are not anywhere near as many reloads in IDPA as other sports. However, most the moongun shooters they often can rip off better splits than they would with a comprable medium framed gun. While I concede there is a slight advantage of the 625 in reloading in that it is more forgiving than speedloaders, I still think the main advantage of the 625 (particularly in IDPA with the wussy 125 pf loads) is the extra mass of the gun which makes the gun handle like a .22. That is of course, not the accepted theory but one think has some validity. I really don't clock reloads on the 625 faster than the K frames, but my splits do go down.


Ted

 

[Waynefi]

Ted,

I have been away from IDPA for a year or so. Has anything changed on the legality of using the moonclip conversion K/L frames in IDPA ? The cost of that conversion is so low now, it would seem it should be an option if somebody wants it ?

IDPA became a real boom for the 625. I thought the rule change to 4" for the 625, and all revolvers, made real world sense. I was only shooting 4" N frame 27's and 24"s at the time. With the CCW law now in Ohio, I have realized the K/L frames make more sense to me, where every ounce matters. The worse in IDPA is the 50oz. 610's. There has been many a good IDPA performances by K/L frame guns, with Comp II and III, and the SL Variants.

I would think in most local matches, if somebody would want to shoot a K frame moonclip gun, they would be able to be scored, but not for any competitive scoring against others. I have a 3" Model 66 F-Comp gun, that I was thinking about have the moonclip conversion to. I would consider this a very realistic carry piece. would plan on using this in local IDPA, factory comp, and moonclips. I don't really care if the score counts. It would be kind of fun to experiment moonclips vs. speedloaders on the same gun.

 

[Warren]

Is it true that once you get a revolver converted to use moonclips it can only use moonclips as an individually loaded round will fall too far into the chamber causing it to be too far for the firing pin to reach?

This being because a certain amount of metal has to be removed from the entrance to the chamber.

 

[ChristopherG]

Has anything changed on the legality of using the moonclip conversion K/L frames in IDPA ?

Nope; I talked with folks at headquarters within the last couple months, using the same (very sound) logic you apply here, but they're not gonna budge on this. I agree, for local comp., you should probably just use the clips and have fun.

Is it true that once you get a revolver converted to use moonclips it can only use moonclips as an individually loaded round will fall too far into the chamber causing it to be too far for the firing pin to reach?

No; the metal is not removed all the way around. There's a lip on the outside of the chamber where the rim will rest normally, producing a gun that shoots just as accurately and reliably without moonclips as with them.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

"Is it true that once you get a revolver converted to use moonclips it can only use moonclips as an individually loaded round will fall too far into the chamber causing it to be too far for the firing pin to reach?"

No, no, no. Bad myth. As Christopher G says only enough metal is machined off to allow the star shaped clip to sit flush to the face of the cylinder. I do all target shooting without the moonclip.

 

[ted murphy]

Don't know what the new rulebook will bring but since you can shoot a moonclip converted gun with loose rounds you could still shoot IDPA with speedloaders. Be nice to have a second revolver division for this stuff.

Ted

 

[Warren]

Chris & Guy,

Thanks for the set-right on that myth.

Got bad info from a gun shop owner who has normally been reliable.