Now that my fingers are beginning to heal, what's the best tool for loading and unloading moon clips.

i got mine from brownells...works great

__________________
SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

A piece of half inch copper or vinyl tubing and a hacksaw will make you one very inexpensively which is a carbon copy of the Brownell listed tool without the handle. You can make a handlefrom an old golf club or just add an elbow and a short piece of the same tubing. Sorry that I cannot post a photo as i am away from home.

I've never had a problem loading moonclips by hand, but for demooning brass I prefer a multi-tip screw-driver (the kin with a shank that holds a small phillips and standard, and a smaller phillips and standard driver). If you take out the shank that houses the reversible bits, the remaining shaft slips inside the empty 45acp shells much tighter than the average moon/demoon tool fits over the shell. It provides more positive grip when removing.

__________________
Hastings

As pictured below, I use the wood dowel to push the ammo (which I place on the table) into the moon clip. I use the simple de-mooner tool to remove spent shells. If I used moon-clips more, the I think I would invest in this: Deluxe Moon Clip Tool

__________________
Deek

Your fingers; you already got 'em. Use RIMZ moonclips; very easy, very good. ....no demooner necessary and VERY cheap.
Sonnytoo

Deek's dowel looks good, I may have to go to the hardware store and pick up one out of the scrap bin. So far, I've just used my fingers to load them.

Dillon sells a de-mooner that works great. I must have been feeling flush when I ordered mine.

__________________
You're shy a few manners.

I used to use moonclips and didn't like loading them, so I now reload with 45 Auto Rim and it is a breeze!

If you are cheap , just take a length of 1/2" Copper pipe long enough to hold 6 .45acp empties, solder or press-fit a cap on one end, and cut a slot halfway through the other end about 1/2" down from the end of the pipe. Presto! You now have a high quality Demooner that will hold a full moon of empties, so your hands don't get all dirty, tilt the tube upside down into your range bag, and all 6 empties roll right out. I use one for my 25-2, and can demoon as fast as needed. Slides right down the pocket of my cargo pants. Cost a couple bucks, or you'll find a piece of scrap pipe in the garage and go to town. If you want a picture, I'll get you one of mine. Takes a hacksaw and 2 minutes to make.
Arman4461

Here is a home made copper pipe Demooner. The cut should NOT be totally square (I round the endges with a dremel) or your fingers will bleed, and the tool will hang up on the moon clip. Round the edges after the cut, and it works slick as a snail's trail
Arman4461

Attached Images

	002.JPG (25.5 KB, 1062 views)
	010.JPG (26.3 KB, 1086 views)
	008.JPG (28.1 KB, 1071 views)
	005.JPG (34.8 KB, 967 views)

These simple homemade tools have worked well for me.

To De-moon, I use a once fired .50 BMG Cartridge case.

The case mouth is the perfect size to fit over the .45 ACP case. The oversize case body makes a nice handle. A few moments with a dremel and file creates the lip on the case mouth that levers the spent cases out of the moon clip.

To Re-moon, I use a simple wooden tray.

I took two pieces of 1 X 6 lumber and clamped them face to face. Then took a 1/2 flat bottom wood bit and bored a series of holes on the center line where the boards meet. Spaced the holes on 3/4 inch centers. Then separated the boards, used a table saw to cut a slot where the extractor groove & moon clip will pass and finally glued a piece of non-skid rubber on the back. I now have two re-moon trays that each hold 24 rounds.

Just lay the cartridges in the grooves, snap the moon clip on the first cartridge and sort of roll it down the line. Works great. Only things I'd change if making them over is to use a harder grade of lumber and bore the holes a bit deeper so that the bullet doesn't hang off the edge of the board.

Attached Images

	Moon & Demoon.JPG (82.7 KB, 902 views)
	Remooning trays.JPG (89.3 KB, 844 views)

I use a homemade tool similar to the Brownells to demoon but the "deluxe moon clip tool" is wonderful to load them. Jim.

I bought a plastic demooning tool from dillion precision --- it was less than $10.00, a very good investment!

I bought and used a few things before I found tools that work well. The "Moonsetter" which looks like a pair of plyers is the best I found for loading, and for unloading I got something from Brownells that looks like a piece of pipe with a screwdriver handle on it. Both work really well and easily for me. I couldn't do it by hand since I've got some arthritis.

Thanks for all the input. I picked up an 8" precut piece of copper pipe that already had a closed end. That really helps. I also have a dowel for loading. The "deluxe moon clip tool" looks intriguing, but I have so many gun accessories that it's getting ridiculous.