I believe Ranch Products makes the full moon clips that come from S&W and others. I've been using them since 9/02 and only had to discard a few of my earliest ones, which I stupidly opened up slightly with an emery board. I was trying to accomodate mixed range brass. I finally got wise - started reloading - and ordered 1k of Starline brass - which loads by hand easily in the blued steel Ranch Products 'clips ($35/100!). To demoon, I like the Brownell's nutdriver-style tool, having broken two scissors-style tools within weeks years ago.
I keep two metal .223 ammo cans full - thin padding around the perimeter and five layers of 21 loaded moonclips, separated by a piece of hardboard - 105 moonclips/each. With two 'ready' ammo Gladware containers containing 15 'clips/each, I have 240 loaded - 1,440 rounds of ball ammo - Zombie protection! Seriously, a range trip is simple - grab a few from the cans and repack those containers. When I get down to one ammo can, I start making more ammo - a couple of hours with the Dillon 550B and I'm back at max. The .45 ACP Starline brass lasts - if your handgun doesn't scratch it up trying to eject it - then casts it asunder and folks walk on it. My 625JM is my only.45 ACP firearm now.
Another choice - especially if you reload - .45 Auto Rim. Again, Starline did make the brass. GA Arms did reload new such brass in 230gr LRN & 200gr JHP loads at a very fair price. Good way to 'try' the round. I load mine with .45 Colt bullets - like a 255gr LSWC. Taper crimp will get you a few fps less than the roll crimp, but smaller SD in your run - at least from my chrono-ed such rounds. All you need, other than standard .45 ACP dies, is a shell holder to fit the thick rimmed .45 Auto Rim case and you can make that round. The HKS #25 (NOT the #25-5!!) Speedloader fits the .45 AR round perfectly and works well with my 625JM.
Do yourself a favor in reloading - use a separate re-sizer/crimper, like Lee makes. Any little lead roll will impede loading, one such round making that 'clip useless. It really fixes a multitude of loading 'problems', including just a trace of lube. The moonclipped .45 Auto's are especially sensitive. Besides good brass, with proper primer pockets, check under the ejector star for carbon - or even a cotton cleaning swipe's thread. When everything is 'right', they are a true joy. I have a light Wolff hammer (...and trigger rebound!) spring, but get no ftf's with Federal primers. As it came, spring-wise, the 625 would reliably shoot Al & brass cased Blazers.
Stainz
PS Ranch Products and Starline brass are a match for 8-shot .357M 627's, too. The .45's spoil you with their speed/ease of reloading, however.
) to all who responded.
