I bought a 625 recently and like using the moon clips. I load a bunch of them up before I go out to my private range here at the house and they make loading unloading and keeping the brass together easy.

While I have around 500 or so .45AR cases I usually tend to handload the .45acp cases just in case I may also want to shoot them in my G21C or P250 semiautos chambered in .45acp.

Every now and then I'll shoot a bit of .45AR, but I too enjoy the nostalgia of shootin' that moonclipped .45acp.

I have plenty of rimmed cartridge caliber revolvers if I truly need to cure a rimmed case desire.

It depends on your use and needs.
I'm into Bullseye and precision shooting.
I like the older "pre model number" 1950 and 1955 .45 Target revolvers. They have match grade chambers and proper throats for cast bullets. The headspace is on the tight side.
45 Auto Rim brass allows better control of fitting my handloads to the chambers. It's more work, but it lends itself to tighter groups, especially for slow fire at 50 yds.
Moonclips and ACP brass introduce one more variable. Moonclip thickness and flatness need to be a bit more consistent than how they seem to come as manufactured. Inconsistency can lead to cylinder binding, variation in headspace and other headaches.
I've played around with lapping moonclips dead flat on a leveling stone, and that may work out. But, it is more work.

This is probably why S&W opened up their chambers and throats in later guns.
If you have a later 25-2 with fat .457" throats and "longish" chambers, and can live with the trade off in accuracy, then it might be less of an issue.

Speaking as the newly educated OP, it seems that the shorter (chunkier) the round is the better. The longer leaner 357 requires a bit more finesse than the 45 does to manipulate speedily.

The moonclips for rimmed calibers need to be matched to the brass you're going to use. You need to get the best quality ones (TK Custom). They are thinner than rimless caliber clips, easier to bend when you step on them. Still worth it if you want a fast reload.

The rimless caliber moon clips are thick metal. They are cheaper, and you can use mixed brass with them.

__________________
protocalldesign.com

I have two moon-clip guns - a 25-2 and a 646.

I like shooting them, but I shoot them less than some other guns because of the moon clips. If I have some loaded up - great. If not - maybe next time.

I only use Rimz plastic clips. They are cheap, work great, and no tools or blood sacrifice required.

I would never take a normal revolver and convert it to moon clips.

Attached Images

BEECE56E-E3F6-4A46-A41F-8EC09F732050.jpg (65.0 KB, 14 views)

__________________
“What you got, ain’t new.”

I have never found them to be an aggravation. I also never mess with them at the range. I go out with a coffee can full of clipped up rounds and come home with what ever is left and another can with empty brass in clips. In my loading room out goes the brass with a handy dandy twist tool. New ammo fills the clips with another handy dandy tool.

And BTW nobody can reload a revolver with something other than clips in less time than it has been done with a clip gun. No where even close.

Hows this 16 rounds in 4 seconds. Not many could do that with a 1911 and 8 round magazines.

He does 12 from a 625 in under 3 second

Jerry Miculek Sets 16-Round Revolver Speed Reload Record | VIDEO – Personal Defense World
That is something you can not do with any speed loader.

That's one thing I found with the AR. It has slowed down my 12 round dump to 3.25 seconds! Miculek is from another planet!! His rate of fire with his 625 is actually faster than an H&K MP5 machine gun.

Jerry Miculek aside, my times with a moonclipped revolver are much better than using a speedloader. I competed in PPC for at least a decade so I got plenty of practice with speedloaders yet my split times are faster with any of my ACP revolvers.

If they don’t work for you, no problem! But they do work, at least for some of us

Kevin

__________________
Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Did it bend during the match? I always checked my loads in the cylinder before a match. Heck, I did it before practice rounds just so I did not have to worry. I was not using moon clips but if I had been, they would have been checked also.


Proper techniques prevent that as does communication. Folks are welcome to use my equipment as long as they understand what I expect from them.

Kevin

__________________
Unshared knowledge is wasted.

What “law” applies to moonclips?

Kevin

__________________
Unshared knowledge is wasted.

True.
I have a few full moon, half moon, and third moon.
I like the third moon best. Easier to reload the clips too. No tools require, and they lay flatter in my pocket or pouch.
As soon as I am able to get several hundred more .45 Auto Rim brass, I will likely stop using the moons altogether.
Most of the time I shoot .45 ACP ammo. When I need to reload, when I open the cylinder and point the muzzle up they all fall out on their own. On the rare occasion one or two do not fall out, I punch them out with my ink pen.
The gun is a early 1950 target with a long slim barrel. Don’t remember how long it is. Wish it was 4” or less instead to make it more practical to carry around.
I inherited it 4 years ago from my younger brother’s estate after he died. Nice gun, too.

I like the full moon clips but I have not tried the half clips yet. Currently have two revolvers set up for moon clips in 45acp and 38/357. I don't shoot the auto's much anymore because I hate chasing the brass.

I bought my N frame .357 moon clips (8 shot) from Midway, of all places. Not too long ago they had them for a little over a dollar a piece--a great deal apparently no longer offered.

They were noticably thinner and more flexible that the 3 that came with the gun, and at first I was concerned about how "flimsy" they felt. After shooting the gun however, I bought a few more sets--they work fine with the brass I use.

Apparently, there's at least 3 different stock thicknesses used; some work better with particular brands of ammo--it's not necessarily one size fits all.
The thin ones I got seem to work with all brands of brass I have--CBC, Western, Federal, Remington and Winchester, also some military brass.

With RN or SWC reloads the clips take a little jiggling, then they drop right in. It's still WAY faster than plunking them in 2 at a time and WAY WAY cheaper than speedloaders.

Like most, I pre-load my clips at home and I unclip the cases at home, after cleaning the gun.

I don't compete, nor do I CCW, so for me, on the range, the clips work fine, haven't had any problems yet.

I shoot a 929, 627 Pro, and two 625s all using moon clips. There's no denying they are the best invention since the swing out cylinder. Loading .357s with plated round nose bullets makes for a pretty darn quick reload. The factory chamfered cylinder no doubt helps too. Many of my 625 moon clips are over 10 years old and I've never bent one or had to trash one. As posted earlier the key is to deal with these at home and just go to the range with a bag full of mooned up rounds.

I like moon clips for the 625, 610 and 986. The longer 10 auto rounds requires more care in feeding.

I compete and also carry using moonclips, but in different ways. Competition is its own thing and pretty self explanatory.
For carry, i have a 442 pro series that’s cut for moon clips. I always have my rounds in the cylinder moon clipped. The reason is that i get more positive ejection. Those long 38 special cases and that very short ejection rod can lead to a case to two getting hung up on a reload. Fiddling with a hung up case during a self defense situation is no bueno. I found that having the empty cases moonclipped led to way more positive ejection and therefore a faster reload with my speedstrip. I don’t carry my reload in a moonclip as they bend too easy in my pocket. But they do have a place in concealed carry.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bottom line....moonclips and the related tools are not expensive, so if your firearm is already cut for moonclips they're worth a try. They're another option that is available to shooters.

I am going to cut and ream a 38 special cylinder into a 9mm cylinder. I currently have 0 9mms of any type. The only place I have found 6 shot 9mm clips for a S&W is TK and they are spendy. I bought some to use on 22TCMs in a cylinder set up for that round that fits in my 22Harvey. They are real loose on the tcms unless modified a bit.

I love moon clips, yet can see how they might not appeal to everyone. But, I certainly can not understand why some people seem to hate them. I think a lot of that is not having the right tools to load and unload the clips and doing it during a shooting session. THAT is not the way to use them and they were not designed to be field loaded even the military 1917 1/2 moons came loaded in clips. I can see how there might be more problems with more rounds or longer cases.

Bent clips. Bent magazine lips. Hey if you drop it you should check it. I used to do matches wearing an old wearing an old Vietnam era camo utility shirt with the baggy bottom pockets full of loaded clips. Enough in the left pocket for each stage. Move enough from right to left between stages Never had one messed up and at the beginning of the match there was quite a jumble in my pockets. This was before anybody came up with the pegs on the belt deals. Never ever ran out of time.

I got into them with PPC too. Back around 1980, when it was still mostly revolvers. Used a Brazilian milled for adjustable sights. Big bullet that makes big holes that with cut a line that a 38 would not, fast reloads, and would function well with light loads even better than what my one shooting companion, now a retired chief of police, called his 1911 jam a matic.

I thought Ranch Products made moon clips for 9?

Kevin

__________________
Unshared knowledge is wasted.

1. Well, that is not always true about being out of the money if you have to reload. There are a lot of variables involved shooting bowling pin matches at different locations, including how many pins you are shooting at, the number of rounds in the chamber, the number of reloads you are allowed, distance to the pins, classifications, what kind of tables the pins are on and how many positions qualify for a prize.

2. Although I manage to do pretty well at pins, I'm there for a good time and really don't care about the awards. Here in cornfields and cows country, pin matches are mainly about bragging rights, anyway.

3. I don't know all the reasons for the shooters I have witnessed having problems with moon clips and don't care. I still don't like them. For those that like moon clips, good for you. You certainly have a right to your opinion.

__________________
"In God We Trust"

The same moonclips will fit 9mm, 380 Auto, 38 Super and 40 S&W. If you can't find the 9mm ones you want, you can see if they have one of the other calibers.

__________________
protocalldesign.com

Not sure , might have gotten squashed in my range box under a clamshell box of 240 gr
They go to the range loaded and i just throw them in a 50 cal steel ammo box with the rest of the day's ammo

__________________
the rules? there are no rules

Just did a search and looked at sites selling Ranch Products. Could not find any K frame clips for 9mm. L frame. J frame, 929, Ruger security 6 and others, Nothing for a S&W K frame unless the ones for the Security 6 fit of those for another gun work.

Some speed loaders will work if they are close, put clips have to be right.

Like a CA Bulldog speed loader will let me start the rounds in a my 696, 396 or 296, but thats it and you have to jiggle a bit to do that as CA has a smaller chamber pattern.

Moon clips?

It seems to be all about speed,
speed, speed, speed.

Well, back in the 1960s and 1970s
a lot of Moon Beams were walking
around and they were all about
speed as well.

__________________
Ubi Est Mea

I have a 625 and 627. My 627 has an additional cylinder machined for 356tsw which also fits 9mm, 38 super. Needless to say, I predominantly use it in 9mm. I enjoy the moonclips in my idpa and uspsa matches. Fun games.

Short rounds that fit snuggly in the moon clip is best for rapid reloads meaning my 9mm & 45 reload quickly- 38s not so quick......

__________________
Guns + Dogs= Bliss

I will add my thumbs up for moonclips... steel & rimz...

My 586L comp came cut for a 7 round moonclip. As I stated in an earlier post, they are a great aid in making sure of a positive extraction of the initial load. Carrying the longer cartridges is somewhat bulky and most of the time the rounds are not held firmly enough to make a quick, positive reload. I found a moonclip of .357 loads was akin to trying to load an octopus.

You might try working with a speedloader before investing in a re-cut of your 686.

Excellent and appropriate description!


Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

__________________
Slava Ukraini!

It's used here the same as (if you don't need milk, why buy a cow). In other words (if you never need a quick reload why buy moon clips etc.)
A euphemism!

I've been using full moon clips for years! I bought the first 100 clips years ago for my 625s at .19 ea and my 610s at .36 ea! Since then I have added a couple more guns that use full moon clips, but I had to pay more for the clips!

Load and unload clips at home - shoot at the range!

The newer guns that use full moon clips!

jcelect

Only my experience, but I bought a 640 pro series that was factory cut for moon clips. After practicing with the moon clips, I think they are fine, but in my hands no faster than a speed loader. Personally I wouldn’t spend the money to convert a revolver if it is in a caliber able to support speed loaders.

I wouldn't go quite that far as to say Moon's are as good as 1911's... But it's close especially with the M625 and with hard cast 255gr Keith's... and TK Customs Moon Clips... They seem to self align and drop in the chamber holes themselves. I carried a Jerry Miculek M625 with filled with 45Super's from Underwood and Buffalo Bore as our dedicated woods gun for 2 years... I need to get my M24 Lew Horton milled for Moon's.

True... This is my preferred method of a tactical reload.

I've used moonclips in 9mm, .38 Super, and .45 ACP revolvers; that's where they really shine. I personally don't see the need to have a cylinder cut for moonclips for rimmed cartridges; regular speedloaders work fine for me.

If given the same amount of time training to load with either full or half moons as given the amount of time trying to reload any semi or rimmed cartridges with a speed-loader... the full or half moons are going to kill a speed loader's reload time... every-time... And better yet, a Moon Clip carries better in the front pocket than a speed loader does/will... even when you have big legs from my experience. I love the fact people are still using Revolvers for their self defense needs. So whether using Full/Half Moon's or Speed-Loaders either way... rock on whatever you feel to need to or are most comfortable to use. Just make darn sure you practice reloading whatever you use.

I'm in the process of getting both of these cylinder(s) machined for Moon's in anticipation for "Winter" coat/pants pocket carry NYC style. I've carried both of these babies for the Suburbs the last 4-5 years during the cold(er) North Georgia/North Carolina months and the thought of even faster Moon Reloads is even better.

I don't know if having a revolver machined for moon clips is worth it, but I enjoy shooting a moon clipped revolver or two. I had a couple of early 610s, and I guess that was my formal introduction to using moon clips. I have an extra 686 .357 cylinder that I may yet have machined. Years ago, I think I was probably the only guy in our informal group of shooters who owned a 610, but did not own a 625 or 25-2. Lots of moon clips used in that group. I don't recall anyone using auto-rim brass in their .45 ACP revolvers, probably because they were all 1911 shooters too.

That being said, I suspect the vast majority of revolver owners/shooters would have no interest at all in using moon clipped revolvers. I've never minded using moon clips, and still have a Webley shaved for .45 ACP, a Ruger GP100 10MM, SP101 9mm, and S&W 940 9mm I enjoy. So I guess I'm more yea than nah

Attached Images

Moon clipped revolvers (7).JPG (179.6 KB, 11 views)

__________________
NRA Life, COTEP 640

Thank you. I was afraid some state had passed something to regulate them.

But, also positive extraction and ejection, and keeping things together.

Kevin

__________________
Unshared knowledge is wasted.

I have moon clips for my 625. They are like magazines for revolvers to my way of thinking. I load up a hundred rounds into moon clips and go to the range. I unload the brass from the clips when I get home. What could be easier?

I have several thousand pieces of brass I picked up at the range. I've never bought any brass for my 625. Without moon clips I would be using 45 auto rim that I would have to buy so economy is one reason I use them. Another reason is I also shoot a lot of 45 in my 1911's and HK 45. The brass and loads are the same.

I don't see the point of moon clips for any revolver that uses a rimmed cartridge like 38 spl or 357 unless you shoot against a timer. Reloads are lightning fast with moon clips.

I would say if you are skeptical of moon clips before you try them they probably aren't for you.

__________________
That's just somebody talkin.

Never liked moon clips one more thing to fumble with.