Hello old revolver folks,

And I mean the revolvers are old of course!

I'm looking for a .45 ACP revolver to shoot in USPSA matches, and it's hard to find a 625 in a 5" barrel, everything is that see for sale is the 4" JM gun.

But I see lots of Model 25s for sale that shoot .45 ACP, and I have a soft spot for the 25-2 "1955" model.

But does it use moon clips, or should I say can you use moon clips?

- Thomas

Mine does.

Yes, moon clips for ACP or use Auto Rim, whichever you prefer.

Hmm okay, that would make sense.

I don't mean t be a Doubting Thomas but it's weird that none of the for sale listings at GunBroker and so forth mentions moon clips. None are shown in the pictures either, even the "new in box" listings. Did S&W not provide moon clips back in the late 70's or something?

I mean you HAVE to use moon clips to shoot .45 ACP in a model 25-2 right?

- Thomas

No, you can shoot 45 apc in the 25s without a moon clip but the extractor will not eject the brass. I have a friend that doesn't like messing with the clips so the just loads the rounds individually and uses his pencil or pen to poke the empties out. I have always used to moon clips.

Correct. Generally ACP will fire without moon clips, but it's a pain to have to push our individual cases. The moon clips make it easy. However to avoid frustration and hurting your hands having a moon clip tool to load and unload the clips is a good idea. There are several very good ones out there, at various price levels. There are some demos on Youtube. Personally, I use Auto Rim in revolvers, but many prefer using the moons.

The only way to fly in my book is to use full moon clips. I also use a 25-2 6" barrel in USPSA matches and have a blast doing so!

Randy

Best to use moonclips with 45ACP in the S&W25's. Speedy reloads and you pick up your brass in groups of six.

Thomas - I would say that in the 60's thru the 80's S&W did not offer moon clips with the gun[25-2's] as shipped but that changed later on to the best of my knowledge with later offerings.

Yes.Mod 25-2. Steel and the Ez Rim moons

I bought my Model 25-2, 6 1/2", new in the box in 1972. There were four blued steel half-moon clips in the box with the revolver.

My USPSA rig....
My primary is a 625 5" with a full competition action job. The rig is a CR Speed belt with a North Mountain Moon Clip carrier.

My backup is a 625 5" with a light action job.

James, where did you get the 5", open front holster?

Dave

__________________
RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Ranch products full moon clips are $35 a hundred.

The holster is a CR Speed "World Shoot" Revolver holster.

I have both (5" 625 & 6½" 25-2). Moon clips are great for competition, for obvious reasons, but for casual range work and plinking, I much prefer Auto Rim brass. Loading and unloading moon clips is a pain, and takes longer than inserting individual rounds into the cylinder.

My range bag has 12 posts, each holding 5 moonclips. That 360 rounds pre-loaded so I typically dont have to load/unload them at the range. But its easy enough to do with the right moonclip tool.

My 625-? (mdl of 1989) came with a couple of full moon clips and three two round clips. My gun is not completely reliable without the clips depending on the crimp of the different manufacturers. I use Ranch Product clips 100% of the time now. Older or newer guns may vary.