Hello everybody...I was wanting to know what is the "easiest" way to load and unload steel moon clips (.45ACP). I recently bought the 625 JM and it came with five steel moon clips. I loaded one with some personal defense rounds just to check it out, and now, I find it impossible to unload it (with the live rounds still in it) without bending the clip . I don't want to target practice with those expensive rounds. I am in the process of looking for the "best" mooner tool available. Until then, can someone give me a bit of advice on my situation? Also, can someone recommend a good mooner tool as well?

Thanks
The Panhandle_Gunslinger

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Put Some "BANG" On It...

Purchased my 625 used.
It came with about 100 clips and a Deluxe Moon Clip Tool.
Cannot imagine dealing with moon clips any other way.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Damn...that tool looks like it'd solve my problem quick, fast, and in a hurry! Thanks...

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Put Some "BANG" On It...

Gunslinger:

Midway sells a demooner that is metal and almost like the old ones. I have one of each and do like them. Also inexpensive

John

Check out this one before you order the Deluxe Moon Clip
Tool:

BMT Equipped, Inc.

Taroman hit the nail on the head. I've been extremely satistied with the moon clip tool. Works great for my .45 ACP revolvers and L-Comp. That BMT product does look interesting though.

For range use, I typically throw some RIMZ in my shooting bag for the 625 JM and 22-4. Super convenient and I haven't had any wear out.

+1
This tool is the cat's meow.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

brownell's carries the best demooner that i have seen...looks like an odd screwdriver...works great

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

+1 for the Deluxe Moon Clip Tool. I bought mine and never looked back. Me and my friend ordered two and a bunch of moon clips and they were delivered very quickly. Extra arbors for different calibers are only $5. I know they are not cheap but they last forever.

There are a lot of tools that you can buy or make that will de-moon very well. Basically, you just need a tube with a notch that will pry the case out using the moon clip as the lever point.

If you want to spend some money, the deluxe moon clip tool works great. The BMT looks really cool but it's a lot of money. If I shot in competition I'd have one. I don't shoot enough for it to be worth it for me.

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18-4, 15-4

Here is my 2/05 picture of my then new 625JM and the Brownell's nutdriver style demooner. Held upright with the moonclip above and an empty case in the nutdriver tube. A twist and the empty case slides down inside the tube - it'll hold six empties before you dump them in a box or bag. Simplicity - but it works. I've seen folks make a piece of water pipe or a broken golf club handle work - but the Brownell's tool shown is only ~$17 + s/h. I tried a GRP scissors style demooner - it cracked the second day, becoming a paperweight.



The best accessory is having enough moonclips - the OEM 'clips are blued steel ones from Ranch Products - they were ~$35/100 shipped directly from them. I have over 240 loaded moonclips, 10r in each of two metal ammo cans with hardboard layer separators and ~30 in food containers. Remington ammo loads easily by hand - Starline brass is easy, too - if you reload. Fun revolver!

Stainz

PS Also shown is an HKS #25 Speedloader loaded with some homebrew .45 Auto Rims. They are also available from Georgia Arms. Note the thick rim.

IMO The Deluxe Moon Clip Tool. I have others, used others and do use another demooner, but for loading the DMCT works best for me.

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the world is round everywhere

Yep, BMT Mooner FTW!

This one's the best; expensive, but the best.

The Deluxe Moon Clip Tool is the greatest invention for moon clips. It's cost effective, virtually indestructible, and can interchange augers to suit different caliber clips. Best $40 I spent for my TR 325.

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I'm with the banned ...

Dang guys...I asked a simple question and got many terrific answers!! Thanks to everybody who had input here because they definitely put me on the right path.

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Put Some "BANG" On It...

Guy-Harold...what is holding all of those loaded moon clips? A product or one of your inventions? Thanks...

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Put Some "BANG" On It...

I guess I should have asked this question in my first post but one of the pictures in this thread made me think of it now: are their differences between the moon clips themselves. i.e. steel, alloy, composite (if made), etc...?

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Put Some "BANG" On It...

First off let me cast another vote for the BMT tool. It may be a little more expensive but remeber it loads and unloads your moons with relative ease.

As for different types of moon clips - yes there are different types. The thickness of the moon, the material used in its construction (stainless versus carbon steel) and the tolerances are the differences. I use my moonclips for my .40 caliber model 610, so I don't have any experience with the .45 ACP version. I have read that the .45 caliber version is the most forgiving since the size of the chambers is quite large. Most people recommend the Ranch products moonclip for the .45. Now if you need a moonclip for an 8 shot model 627, it becomes a different story. Lots of competition shooters recommend the "Hearthco"moonclip. It is manufactured using the wire EDM process so the tolerances are much tighter than a stamped moon. They are thicker than many other brands, and are made of stainless steel. When you are trying to get 8 rounds lined up in a smaller diameter chamber (compared to the 45) you want the rounds to be held in place pretty tightly, hence the Hearthco recommendation. I must admit, loading the 627 with a moonclip can be a little challenging, especially compared to a 6 shot model 610. There is a plastic moonclip on the market, it think they are called Rimz, Lots of casual shooters use and like them, but I have never seen a competitive shooter use them.

It's something I made myself. It's just a board with a bunch of dowel rods and a handle made to drop into an ammo can.



My first prototype uses only 14 dowels my second and third use 16.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Another vote for the BMT...
A lot of the items discussed do a great job of DE-mooning but the BMT both loads and unloads with ease.
The BMT will not bend the clips as some of the others do and will handle different thicknesses and specs comfortably.
I've tried every type of tool mentioned and this is the best and most versatile.

That is VERY nice, great idea. Care to share the dimensions?

Yep, BMT moon clip tool for sure, if you want the best. Yeah, it cost a bit more, but the first time you use it at the range you'll never look back and wish you had gotten anything else.

I went through the same thing a little while back when I got my 625-3. I also have one of the simple tubular demooner tools, and while they work just fine, the BMT is so quick and effortless for both loading and unloading that I see no reason to use anything else.

Here's a quick video clip of it in operation:

BMT Mooning Tool.m4v - YouTube