Moon clips?

[Naphtali]

Never having seen, touched, or used any moon clip or revolver 'smithed for its use, the thought that invariably comes to mind first is: How durable and reliable are these steel stampings in use - for competition and, especially, for self-defense?

I am aware that half-moon clips were used by the AEF in France. But use in war where stampings were probably furnished pre-loaded and used once is a different bag of cats. And in war a small number of casualties caused by revolver [clip] malfunction will require a lot of grousing and, perhaps, a casualty being extremely high recognition to warrant a fix. (A flagrant variation is extensive use of poorly functioning [first generation] M16s in Vietnam.)

I have no idea whether AEF's half-moon clips were made heavier and more durable than currently available moon clips. I understand that most/all moon clips are manufactured by a single company, so shopping for different or better clips becomes problematic.

How do regular clip users accommodate their possible fragility?

[bigwheelzip]

I only use the moonclips supplied with my PC 686+, or OEM sets purchased from S&W. They seem as good as new after a couple of years of self-defense, non-competition, use. They are great at aiding extraction on the short extractor 686.

[OKFC05]

Originally Posted by Naphtali

Never having seen, touched, or used any moon clip or revolver 'smithed for its use, the thought that invariably comes to mind first is: How durable and reliable are these steel stampings in use - for competition and, especially, for self-defense?

How do regular clip users accommodate their possible fragility?

Avoid stepping on them during a match and use the proper tools for loading/demooning. If a clip gets a little bent, I lay it on a flat anvil and tap gently with a heavy hammer.

[sodacan]

I have five revolvers that use moon clips. I've been using the same clips for several years. I have about fifty of them. By using a proper tool for loading and unloading them, they will last a very long time. I use a BMT. It works like a charm, and the clips stay straight. I use the clips from Revolver Supply. They work on all of my guns with all makes of ammo.

[forrestinmathews]

Allow me to bore you with one of my favorite subjects: moonclips.
Durability: Generally very good until bodyweight is applied to them. People step on them at the range...people are stupid and it happens.
In a rimless cartridge, they are your lifeblood as the hold, headspace and facilitate ejection. Without them, your gun is useless.
In rimmed cartridges they are generally a lot thinner and thus flimsier, but they prevent the shells from getting stuck under the star and also facilitate ejection with a shorter ejector rod. The first five or six rounds​ can be in a moonclip and subsequent reloads can come from durable speedloaders.
Hearthco moonclips are the very best for anything you might need and they are expensive. You can get away with Ranch products moonclips for .45 and maybe .40, but everything else is best with Hearthco. Starline, Federal and Remington brass are the best for moonclips for .38/.357. Winchester need the thinnest moonclips which are the least durable and should be avoided unless you're somehow sitting on a mountain of that brass.
Generally Winchester is the last choice for all things moonclip. Works great in speedloaders though.
Revolver Supply is not something I am much interested in. They are pushing knockoffs of other people's products.

[growr]

I shoot USPSA/IDPA with a 625 and can tell you that there is no faster or more reliable method of six in and six out than to use a full moon clip.

Were I to use my 625 for a defensive carry gun, I would trust full moon clips totally!

Randy

[sodacan]

Originally Posted by growr

I shoot USPSA/IDPA with a 625 and can tell you that there is no faster or more reliable method of six in and six out than to use a full moon clip.

Were I to use my 625 for a defensive carry gun, I would trust full moon clips totally!

Randy

Plus one on that!

[Tanners Owner]

Originally Posted by sodacan

Plus one on that!

Plus 2 on that

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have a 1917 and a 625 and about 225 to 250 full moon clips. I do use them with premium ammo for SD as well as target use. After using the go back to my work bench and are "de-mooned" and the reloaded then tested in either gun. 1 in about 20 won't work, due to twisting from my homemade mooning tools! I should test the clips before reloading! but they are easily flattened.

When I was in my teens(mid 1970's), I had a Webley that was cut for 45ACP and used WWI half moons. They were slightly thicker than todays half moons and considerably tougher! and much harder to load and unload!

I have thought about getting a 27 set up for moon clips, (I have a 28 that is not), and just don't feel I have the need or justified for the expense. I don't compete, so I'm happy with speed loaders, or even the cartridges in loops, so they can be used in my lever action also.

Ivan