Have a new PC 627 .357 Mag. Have not shot it yet.

Q #1. Are the 3 moon clips that came with the gun designed to be used only once or can they be reused. They seem kind of flimsy.

Q #2. Where is a good place to purchase additional moon clips. Just a few if re useable or a ton if not reusable.

Q #3. Is there some elusive trick to snapping the rounds into the moon clips? After two rounds I tried putting on some fine Italian leather driving gloves to protect my dainty fingers. It still smarted. Mounted Hornady Critical Defense 38 /sO/cK (+P) 110 gr FTX

Q #4. I'm considering purchasing the 5-Star quick loading system. Does the 5-Star supplant the need for moon clips. I have not seen one up close and personal.

I've got a PC 627 too and I can answer some of your questions.
1. They can be reused.
2. I purchased extra moonclips from Midway.
3. There is no trick, but the 8 shot .357 clips seem to have a preference to the brand of case.
4. I'm not familiar with the 5 star quick loading system but with the 357, moonclips are not necessary for shooting. The downside being that without clips you have to pluck the cases out one at a time with your fingernail.

Have fun, these are great revolvers!

The moon clips are re-usable as long as you don't bend them up beyond repair. For a good source for more do a google search for Ranch Products. They don't do internet orders so you will have to call them and order by phone, however I've seen many posts that indicate they sell them in 100 pc. lots for 30 or 35 dollars.

As for loading and unloading, check the Brownells web site for these tools, it will save you lots of wear and tear on your fingers and reduce the chance of bending a clip.

Check ranch products. Best band for the buck.

Ranch Products

The advantage to buying direct from Ranch Products is the bigger the lot the lower the per unit price ( I get the 50 pack) and shipping is included. They end up being cheaper than Midway.

Madmikeb:
If memory serves me right, the 8-shot S&W is still manufactured with an ejector rod. It is mounted to the cylinder and ejects the cartridges. In addition, the cylinder kinda rotates around it. No need to pluck them out by hand.

#1 has already been handled.

#2 Here is a great place to buy additional moon clips:
Ranch Full Moon Clip Smith & Wesson 627 38 Special 8-Round Blue Package of 8 - MidwayUSA

This one pulls the empty cases out:
#3 There is no real trick, yet there are tools. Those tools can be found here:
California Competition Works Super Demooner Moon Clip Unloading Tool for 6 or 8 Shot Full Moon Clips - MidwayUSA

This one puts loaded cartridges into moon clips:
PAT PRUDHOME : S&W REVOLVER MOONSETTER - World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools

#4 Five star makes speed loaders. The idea behind a speed loader is very similar to the moon clip. Here are how speed loaders are used:
YouTube - Defensive Revolver

The moon clip goes into the recess on the cylinder and stays with the cases. When using a speed loader, the speed loader brings all of the cartridges into the cylinder and drops them free so the speed loader can then be dropped. In the above video he uses both the button type (Safariland style) speed loader and the knob type (HKS and Five Star use the knob type). Watch and learn.

I guess I should have explained this better, if you are not using full moon clips and you are using .357 cases the extractor is not long enough to completely push the cases clear of the cylinder and you do have to pluck them out by hand.

a teacher once told me"Joe, there is no such thing as a dumb question."

Many thanks to all of your for that excellent information.

I did a google search and found several strong recommendations for Hearthco moonclips and a loader sold by TR called mooncliptool

The Hearthco moomclips are much stronger but several dollars each.