Mods required for Full Moon clips in 686s??

[C&R Bill]

I didn't want to hijack the excellent 686 picture thread, so here goes.....
Several of the 686s shown there had been "cut"/modified to use full moon clips. What all is involved in this?? Approx Costs?? I assume the S&W mother factory/custom shop would be the place to have this done?? And are there any negative effects of the procedure that would make one NOT wish to modify a 686 to take full moon clips?? Thanks, Bill

[C&R Bill]

Beuhler??......Beuhler???.....Beuhler??....

[nipster]

Why would you want to do this?

[Hapworth]

Moon clips can be useful, based on your needs. Competitive shooters looking for fast reloads use them, arguably to better effect than speedloaders.

Defensively, they're fast, easy-loading spare ammo, but aren't as sturdy for carry as speedloaders (moon clips are more easily bent, although I haven't had this problem having carried them in a variety of ways).

What I'd confirm before having your cylinder cut is that the 686 will still fire reliably both with and without the moon clips; some revolvers, once cut for them, will only function properly with moon clips inserted -- a feature I don't like.

S&W Performance Center, I believe, will perform this service; alternately, many of the members here swear by both Pinnacle High Performance, and TK Custom. Those three will be your best options -- check for costs.

My piece came from the factory cut for moon clips and I like and recommend them, but if you want to save money, buy some quality speedloaders and get good using them.

Again, depends on your needs.

[wantmoresmiths]

Go to Welcome to TK Custom.com & Moonclips.com. They make what many consider the finest moonclip on the market, and they can machine the cylinder of your revolver to use moonclips. There is a video of what is involved with machining a cylinder to accept moonclips. I have a 627 PC and a model 610, both are machined at the factory for moonclips. I have never heard of any drawbacks to having a cylinder cut for moonclips, and they do speed up the reloading process. While moonclips make for fast reloads, you will need to have each chamber in the cylinder chamfered for the lightning fast reloads of Jerry Micheluk.

Both of my revolvers work well for ICORE competition, where you are either using speed loaders or moonclips for your reloads. However, I have seen several shooter who, after many hours of practice, can reload their revolvers, using speed loaders, much faster than I can, using moonclips.

[BobR1]

I have a Power Custom Combat 686-1 that was also cut for moon clips by Clark. It costs around $100 for the modification. You only mail in the cylinder so you are not robbed by UPS or FedEx shipping the entire handgun in.

Almost everyone doing the modification now days leaves the outside rear of the cylinder uncut, so the gun will still work with loose rounds, and speedloaders. No down side to having the modification done.

My understanding is that the 686 and 686-1 both have a slightly smaller cylinder diameter than 686-2 and newer guns. I had to rework my moon clips with a dremel tool for proper function in my Dash 1. The last moon clips I ordered were supposed to be old stock and correct for the older guns. I still had to rework them to get them to work.

The 686 moon clips you order will more than likely be .025 thick.
The .025 thick moon clips work best with Remington brass. The under cut in the brass is not standardized on 38 Special. Winchester brass has a .020 undercut and will not work with .025 clips.

The .025 clips are a little fragile, so use a moon clip loading tool for best results. http://moncliptool.com/
You should be able to locate one on that web site with a mandrel for the 38/357 6 shot clips.

Moon clips have good and bad points in use.
BAD Points First: You cannot simply top off with a couple fresh rounds. You will have to replace all 6 rounds as a unit. They are a little more trouble than speed loaders to mess with.

GOOD Points: They are quick to reload with. They eliminate getting a rim under the ejector star doing a reload. They are reasonably cheap compaired to speedloaders, so you can have several pre-loaded when going to the range, or a match.
You can also check the pre-loaded moon clips for function in the gun before getting to the range/match.

I have not worked with my 686 much, as the wife has had it taken over as her house gun for the last 20 years. I do have a 610, 310 Night Guard, as well as a 3" 625. So you can see I like moon clip guns.

NOTE: As was mentioned in the post above. I shoot Outlaw IDPA Matches using a Model 64 S&W, as well as my 610. I reload the 610 with moon clips, and the 64 with Safariland Comp III speedloaders. Both guns have been worked on by Ron Power "Power Custom" both have chamfered chambers. Not much difference in reloading time at all. For concealed carry the Comp III Speedloaders are to large to carry. The Moonclips however work fine in a California Competition moon clip carrier. They are a much more compact unit.

Bob

[C&R Bill]

Thanks guys!!!