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01-11-2017, 07:10 PM
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Picked up Model 25-2 Moon Clip Advise
Grabbed this nice shooter 25-2 in 45 ACP with 6.5" Barrel from the LGS. Was reading up on the moon clips, I was wondering do these run better on full moon or 1/2 moon clips ?
What brand of moon clips should I lean towards ?
Thanks in Advance
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01-11-2017, 08:12 PM
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I always used full moon clips in mine. I bought them on the internet from Wheelgun Supplies. They also sell a little hand held tool to de-moon. Buy a bunch of the moon clips because you'll really like them once you use them.
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01-11-2017, 08:20 PM
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I have used the Ranch Products full moon clips from Midway or Dillon and had no problems. Get a clip loader and de-mooner also to make your life easier.
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01-11-2017, 08:21 PM
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I have a few S&W revolvers in 45acp but I use mostly 45 Auto Rim in it that I reload.
Starline .45AR Brass Case
200gr plated SWC bullets
CCI LP primer
4.0gr Alliant Bullseye powder
1.235" OAL
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01-11-2017, 08:22 PM
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The full moon clips are all I use because if you are in a fight, you may use two or three rounds divided between two half moon clips. Then if you reload, you still have an empty chamber to worry about not to mention when you eject the cylinder you may fumble and dump both half moon clips. It is just another thing that can go wrong. The half moons are easier to conceal but they are not as efficient when in a fight. Just my two cents. Good luck.
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01-11-2017, 08:36 PM
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Full moon clips are the way to go. I buy them from Revolver Supply, but there are a number of sellers. After you use them, you'll wonder why all revolvers don't use them. I use a BMT mooner tool for loading and unloading the clips. It's more expensive that the other tools that are available, but once use one, you'll forget about the price. Enjoy that 25. It's a beauty.
Last edited by sodacan; 01-29-2017 at 10:22 PM.
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01-11-2017, 09:31 PM
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25-2
Full moon clips all the way. Bmt mooner and unloader is the only way to go. They're expense but well worth the money, fast, worry free, I've never bent a clip using them. When you go to buy your clips, check on the recommended brass to use. TK custom that I use will not load Starline or Winchester, nickel Remington will fall out of them. Have patience. Have fun.
Last edited by Jackcpat; 01-11-2017 at 09:48 PM.
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01-11-2017, 09:43 PM
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I've been getting mine from this place.
Supplies for the Revolver Enthusiast
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01-11-2017, 09:55 PM
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I like third-moon clips. They only clip two rounds together so they aren't the greatest for a fast reload, but with them you can store 50 rounds clipped together in one of those handy pistol ammo boxes. Their main virtue is that you can easily clip and unclip ammunition / spent brass without tools.
Full-moon clips are certainly useful if you want a fast reload. You can buy special boxes to simplify carrying clipped ammo to the range. You can buy leather carriers that attach to your belt for them as well. I've never tried them, but a company (Rimz?) makes plastic full-moon clips that can be loaded / unloaded without tools. Search the web if interested.
Half-moon clips are a little fragile. They are easily bent and may be hard to straighten out if you want to reuse them. They were meant to be used once and discarded.
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01-12-2017, 12:04 AM
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As always, Thanks fella's for all the imput .. Sounds like I will be ordering some clips and the BMT mooner tool in the am.
Brian
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01-12-2017, 02:10 AM
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Raystown, my 625-9 in .45 Colt is nowhere near as pretty as your 25-2 revolver. You have an absolutely beautiful S&W revolver!
That is a great find! Congratulations!! Hope you obtain exactly the moon clips you need.
God bless,
Birdgun
Last edited by Birdgun; 01-12-2017 at 02:13 AM.
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01-12-2017, 10:28 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Birdgun
Raystown, my 625-9 in .45 Colt is nowhere near as pretty as your 25-2 revolver. You have an absolutely beautiful S&W revolver!
That is a great find! Congratulations!! Hope you obtain exactly the moon clips you need.
God bless,
Birdgun
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Thank You Birdgun
A Model 25-2 has been on my bucket list, I was doing a transfer of a gun I sold at a LGS. While waiting for the paperwork to go thur, I stumbled over to the used section. Which I should of never done as I knew I was going to find something that would look nice in the safe. The 25-2 was on consignment and was listed for 795.00. After 30 days you can offer 10% less, I ended up getting it for 715.00. Tax's, tag and title out the door for 779.00 .. I thought that was a pretty good price. It does have some wear, but she'll be a shooter for sure.
Brian
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01-12-2017, 12:06 PM
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Obviously not a carry gun you could use full half or third moon clips as you wish. Years ago military surplus half moons were cheap and abundant, not so much anymore. Not sure about your 25, but my thunder ranch guns chambers would headspace well so that you could shoot 45 auto without clips- after firing opening and shaking the cylinder actually let all the cases fall out.
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01-12-2017, 04:14 PM
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Brian,
I use the Ranch Products full moon clips and the BMT loader/unloader and recommend both of them for your M25. Once you use the BMT, you won't be satisfied with anything else! If you reload, get the current Sierra manual. They list 45 ACP revolver only load data that is considerably stronger than anything a 1911 can handle.
Beautiful revolver - have fun with it!
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01-12-2017, 04:58 PM
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I was recently pointed towards these for my new to me 625-3 that is on its way to me this weekend. Ez Moon Clips
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01-12-2017, 05:19 PM
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Raystown, the grips on your new .45 are gorgeous. Good buy.
I have found the half moon clips to bend fairly easily while loading and unloading them. I like Ranch Products' full moons, they have been making them for probably 40 years and they have worked just fine with every brand of cartridge cases I have tried with them.
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01-12-2017, 06:48 PM
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I have had a Model 25-2 since the 1970s. It is one of my all time favorite revolvers. When I got it, 1/2 moon clips were all I ever heard of. Mine will shoot .45ACP without clips. I had a bunch of U.S. GI surplus ammo. I was never able to decide if it was easier to shoot the gun without the clips and push out the empties with a pencil. Or to fool around with having to load and unload the clips. I have tried several clip loading and unloading tools, and 1/3, 1/2, and full moon clips. They all work. But they also involve extra work. So now I only shoot .45 Auto Rim in my Model 25-2. I also have a Ruger Blackhawk convertible with 2 cylinders, a .45 Colt and a .45 ACP. I also have several semi auto pistols in .45 ACP. So I only shoot .45 ACP in S.A. revolvers and semi automatic pistols. But if I anticipated having speed reload my Model 25-2, I would use full moon clips. I have a Dillon 550. Whenever I set up to load .45 ACP, after I am done, I just switch the shell plate and reload all of my .45 Auto Rim brass. I have no idea how many times I have reloaded some of my .45 Auto rim brass, but I have not purchased any since the early 1980s.
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01-12-2017, 07:18 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moralem
I was recently pointed towards these for my new to me 625-3 that is on its way to me this weekend. Ez Moon Clips
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+1 on the Ez Moon Clips. For range work they are great and need no tools.
Some folks seem to think using moon clips is too much work, I find them easier and faster than loading magazines for a semi-auto. If I had to buy a new tool it would be the one TK makes.
Happy shooting!
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01-12-2017, 09:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Raystown
Thank You Birdgun
The 25-2 was on consignment and was listed for 795.00. After 30 days you can offer 10% less, I ended up getting it for 715.00. Tax's, tag and title out the door for 779.00 .. I thought that was a pretty good price. It does have some wear, but she'll be a shooter for sure.
Brian
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If I saw one for that money, I'd be all over it, too.
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01-12-2017, 11:52 PM
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Full moon clips. May want to check your local military surplus store. I stopped by one after I bought a S&W Model 1917. The guy had lots of them and sold them for .50 each! Don't know the brand, he just had them in a plastic bag.
I just use needle nose pliers to put in / take out rounds as I don't shoot this 1929 vintage revolver much.
Last edited by VaTom; 01-12-2017 at 11:54 PM.
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01-13-2017, 12:22 AM
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...the proper use of moon clips...
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01-13-2017, 10:28 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zonker5
... Some folks seem to think using moon clips is too much work, I find them easier and faster than loading magazines for a semi-auto. If I had to buy a new tool it would be the one TK makes. ...
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That is a conundrum isn't it?
Some folks who find moon clips "pesky" seem to have no problem loading, unloading, cleaning, and changing springs on their semi-auto magazines.
Not to mention chasing their brass all over creation.
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01-13-2017, 12:13 PM
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For range use, nothing beats RIMZ poly moon clips. No tools needed. Never had any issues. I have metal clips and a tool, but never use them. Just what I like! Bob
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01-13-2017, 01:04 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bananaman
For range use, nothing beats RIMZ poly moon clips. No tools needed. Never had any issues. I have metal clips and a tool, but never use them. Just what I like! Bob
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What he said, RIMZ are the way to go for the range.
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01-13-2017, 01:19 PM
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I just got a whole lot of metal full moons. You can have 100 of them for the cost of 6 speed loaders 3 1911 magazines..I go to the range with lots of them. I have them in the safe with my 45acp "masterpiece". I haul some around when I take my 45colt/acp 4" along. Get home and they go to the loading bench, get unloaded and filled back up.
I don't think loading them by hand is any worse than loading 1911 mags and like others said beats chasing down and losing brass. Even while practicing reloads and etc with a regular rimmed cartridge revolve you have to gather it all up. With moons one grab gets all 6, no speed loaders to get, keep track of fill up, twist to dump etc etc
Last edited by steelslaver; 01-13-2017 at 01:24 PM.
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01-14-2017, 10:21 AM
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25-2
guess you don't have any more interest in mine--nice gun--jim
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01-14-2017, 08:38 PM
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I use full moon clips. the guy I got it from made a tool to pop the empties. easy to make and works great. what a great price for a nice 25-2
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01-28-2017, 08:54 PM
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I've never understood any practical rationale for anything other than 6-round capacity moon-clips. Maybe someone could tell me why the government started with 3-rounders.
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01-29-2017, 04:56 AM
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The U. S. Army went with half moon clips primarily because they were the most space-effective clips for packaging already loaded with ammo.
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01-29-2017, 11:30 AM
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My 625-2 has very tight cylinder holes and throats so after about 50 rounds,maybe less,the 6 rounds in moon clips become very slow loading into the cylinder and closing the cylinder easily is not possible until I clean the cylinder holes with a .50cal bore brush.
No problem with 45AR
When the gun is clean it functions as intended.
I think the original owner of this beautiful revolver sold it to me was because of the tight cylinder.
At the range I often load only one round at a time for slow single action fire so 45 Auto Rim is my preferred range ammo.If I do use 45acp doing the same slow fire I'll pick the empties out with my fingers.
If this very heavy 5" barrel gun was a carry gun or used for home defense I'd surely use full moon clips with one at a time hand loaded Remington virgin brass.
Different brands of .45acp brass fit differently in my moon clips.Also the moon clips that I own vary in thickness as much a .005".
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