Moon clips for a J-frame 38/357?

Charliegun · #1 02-07-2011, 08:07 PM

Does anybody make 5 shot moon clips for the 38/357 J frame? I have been waiting for Smith to actually start making the 640 Pro cut for moon clips but I guess that is not going to happen unless there is more demand for it. My interest in the clips is to speed up reloads. Anybody shooting the 9mm J frames care to comment on the speed / ease of reloading these guns with full moon clips? As compared to speed loaders or speed strips?

Dump1567 · #2 02-07-2011, 08:22 PM

Smith makes them. Some came with my 642 pro.

Pinnacle can cut a J frame cylinder to work with moons for $80. And you only need to send in the cylinder.

Pinnacle-Guns.com: Pinnacle High Performance Custom Gunsmithing

Charliegun · #3 02-07-2011, 08:25 PM

Great, thanks I will give them a call.

vekbeau · #4 02-07-2011, 08:56 PM

Here is another option as well.
Welcome to TK Custom.com & Moonclips.com

Charliegun · #5 02-08-2011, 12:56 AM

Thank you for the second option, I checked out the TK Custom website and watched their video of the process. I am interested to find out what the difference is between a S&W cut cylinder and a gunsmith cut cylinder, they state there is a difference? I can't wait to get one of my J frames cut and practice the reloads. I have one of the JM 327 8 shots and that has made me a big believer in the full moon clips but I most often shoot the little guns. I should have asked about this a long time ago. Thanks again for the information.

BobR1 · #6 02-20-2011, 10:46 AM

S&W Cut vs Gunsmith cut.

I noticed this also. From what I gathered this referes to when the Gunsmith's just cut the back of the cylinder flat when converting one to moon clips. Like the way a 610 or 625 in 45 acp is done. The back of the cylinder is flat. No need for a raised edge to headspace the cartridge rim with loose rounds.
45 acp, 10mm & 40 S&W have no rim to head space on. The 45AR is designed to work in place of moon clip 45 acp, and is designed to head space correctly.

I think all the major shops are now leaving the cylinder outside edge raised on rimed cylinder conversions, so you can shoot them without moon clips. Clark did my 686 I am guessing over 15 years ago, and it is cut to shoot loose ammo.

I could be wrong, but I gathered this to be what was referenced.

686ppp · #7 02-20-2011, 11:30 AM

Make sure they leave the raised edge so you can shoot loose ammo in case your moon clips get damaged or bent. I made that mistake