Welcome to the Forum.

The half moon clips are not as popular these days. Most folks use full moon clips.

Modern .45 ACP ball ammo is safe, providing the revolver is in good firing condition. Make sure the bore is clear; I've seen a few older stored guns that needed a good cleaning before firing.

Ranch Products makes very nice clips. Brownells should have them.

Actually, you don't NEED the clips in a S&W to shoot it. The clips make extraction of fired brass much easier though. You can shoot with out the clips and either shake the empties out or punch em out with a pencil.

Some Colt 1917s were manufactured without shoulders in the cylinder and these need clips to fire.

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