What is the general feeling on moon clips? To machine a cylinder and purchase the loading tool and the extractor tool is not cheap. Is it worth it, I know the law of (if you ever need it applies) but that applies to the gun as well and I have it.ENTER]

I'm not a fan. I have a Performance Center 586 and it spits particles back in my face occasionally, especially if firing without using a moon clip. If I want the option of a fast reload I carry a semi-auto.

I have a no lock 442 that is factory cut for moon clips and I really like it. I find they are much faster for reloading that speed strips.

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I've never tried to use moon clips. These days I doubt I'd have much luck at it. my manual dexterity and ther limited range of motion in my fingers lately has got Miss Pam callin' me butter fingers. I'd fumble all the rounds to the ground and wind up on my hands and knees pickin' 'em up.

Guess I'm stuck loadin' one at a time....

I''ve gotten pretty good with speed loaders but they are so bulky and awkward to carry I rarely bother with 'em.

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You can still do hands and knees?! (Wish I could!)

I'm a 1917 & 625 guy, as well as a semi auto guy I really LOVE full moon clips. I have about 250 and have about 175 loaded. Once you have a system they are great. Sustained fire is every bit as good as 1911's!

I know 357's are more particular about brands of brass and clips. So it really depends on why you want sustained reloading! Run and Gun? or just SD.

Ivan

I would think the moon clips would be a disadvantage for SD. To do a tactical reload you would have to dump unfired ammo.

I have used them on my 940 and 625 Jovino. As a law enforcement officer I have qualified and carried both of these guns over the years. We are required to shoot the same qualification course as the semi-automatics and I had no issue keeping up with agents/officers and their semi autos.

Having started my career in the late 1970's we carried S&W revolvers as our primary issued weapons. Our qualification was under time and loading a six shot revolver individually was cumbersome and difficult under time.

I like moon clips for their ease of carry and ease of loading.

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Bill

I carry a 1917 in the woods, usually open carry. Loaded with Federal Hydra-shok ammo in full moons in a jacket pocket. I usually have 24 total rounds, but sometimes numerous clips of practice. A 1911 loadout of Three 8 round mags is 25 rounds. I would be droping more ammo with 1911 mags that weren't run dry than the six round moon clips.

BTW, I have found that this old white haired fat guy, is thought of as next to harmless due to my wheel guns! They just never met anyone that knows how to use them!

Ivan

I recently picked up an old Ruger Speed Six in 9mm.

It came with several half moon clips, I bought some full moon clips from a forum member along with a de-mooning tool.

Both types work well for me in my gun.

For me, this is clearly a range gun / novelty. Would not consider carrying it in a millions years. Carry (for me) is best left to my 38 LCR or G43.

I don't know about regular rimmed cartridge guns, but I am a big fan of 45acp clips. My regular carry gun is a 325NG. My reloads are in 1/2 moon clips because the carry pretty flat. even have some 2 round clips but don't carry them much anymore. If I have to start doing tactile reloads I have most likely made a serious mistake. I don't plan on stopping any bank robberies.

For me, it's not all black and white:

Unloading clipped ammo falls free of charge holes better and faster.

Stiffer clips align with chamber charge holes faster.

Shorter cartridges align with chamber charge holes faster (.45acp easier than .357mag).

Less cartridges per moon clip align with chamber charge holes faster (6 shot easier than 8 shot).

The rigidity of a speed loader aligns 7x .357 rounds faster than a moon clip.

I have a M1917/37. It takes a bit of practice, but it loads pretty quick, especially if you have a loaded moon clip gripped in your shooting hand pinky finger.

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Thread Killer.

The half moon clips that were invented over 100 years ago would diminish this problem significantly.

I've been shooting my 625 a lot recently and I love the Ranch Products moon clips. I also shoot a 327 8-shot with moon clips and I like the clips as well. I haven't put as many rounds through the .357 as the .45--once I've finished my load development for the .45 I'll devote more trigger time to the .357.

The same question was asked and answered in this thread.

LGS Find : 25-2 Model of 1955

Asked by you no less.

Kevin

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By the way on the "tactical" question. As I stated I carry a 325 in 45ACP and although I have over 100 full moons I carry with 1/2 moons. By closing the cylinder with the last round of a clip at the top, when I fire it the first round will be the first of a clip of 3. After 3 rounds I could replace that clip and be back up to 6 with no "wasted" ammo. I have a really, really hard time seeing this ever happening. I have made it a lot of years with 0 gun fights. The odds of me being in one are pretty small, the odds of me being in a gunfight where I could or should do a "tactical" reload are right up there with me winning the lottery and I only buy the occasional single ticket when its several hundred million. I am not expecting either to happen.

If I get in a situation where that is key, I either screwed up badly or my "Karma" really sucks.

I can drive the speed limit, have air bags and wear my seat belt. Never drive late at night or on holidays, when most of the drunks are out. But, I might still end up getting killed in a car wreck that there was nothing I could do to stop.

Jack, with full moons it takes less dexterity to reload than any speed loader. Ejection is just like normal, except you never ever have a single case left hung up in gun. Then grap the big clip full of rounds and the only thing you really got to do is get the bullets forward and just slightly lined up and in they go, every on every time. The rounder or more tapered the bullet tips the easier . Hollow point, round nose, SWC, the smaller the tip the better to start them in then plob the go. Lot easier to hang onto a full clip than a single round.

I do not believe there is a better system to reload a revolver, especially under stress.

Aligns the same or better than a speed loader, nothing to push or twist, just let go of it. No way anything is going to happen to release the mechanism in your pocket, on your belt or during a reload.

Conceptually, I like the idea of the moon clips (both third, half, and full). At the moment, I am looking at a S&W Model 610, which pretty much requires the use of moon clips. The problem is, as long as I remain in NJ (moving isn't as easily done as said), any loaded magazine or clip that can be viewed as an integral part of the gun that is in your possession is considered a loaded gun, and you are subject to a mandatory PRISON sentence of no less than 3.5 to 8 years for each device in your possession. While I would be safe in my home or at the range, I would be fair game when outside of my residence. The advantage of pre-loading the moon clips would be lost. As an aside, loaded speed loaders (which are not an integral part of the gun) are perfectly legal. Now if they only made 40AR and10mm AR ammo!

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I like em. Faster Reloads and cleaner than fumbling around and picking up individual cartridges. Kind a like a magazine for revolvers, but no searching for errant cases.

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213th FBINA

I like my 1937 Brazilian 45acp ,accurate and smooth
Tried to like moon clips but its not working out ive found they can bend pretty easily and take more effort to load into the gun once bent then the headspace is screwed up and cartridges rub against breech face .
Guess im a vote for no on full moon clips .

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the rules? there are no rules

For competition shooting nothing is faster than moon clips for the reload. If you take care of them they will last a long time. I even had a tool that straightened the ones that became bent.

Love moonclips, for all the perfect reasons already given.
The 625-3 and 610-2 (especially if cheap plinking with .40) don't leave home without them. The 627s are moonclip ready, but it's 50-50 with them. Moonclips will be used with the 627s at the range, but when shooting at the friend's farm time is no matter..

At this point seems like a mixed bag with the pros slightly ahead. Thanks for all the expertise!

Moon clips in action pistol game, 625! Safariland Comp III"s in PPC K frame. Speed strips in S/D for ease of carry! Smiles,

Love moonclips for use in a .45acp revolver. They are great for the initial loading of a revolver and their use makes for positive extraction of the entire load. If you are seeking a really positive second reload of a 38 or .357 revolver, you better be far more talented than I am. Longer cartridges tend to wobble and will cost you an enormous amount of time if things don't go perfectly. Add a 7th round to moonclips for your 686+ and GOOD LUCK.

Tactical reloads are for the movies and tacticool classes.

I have RIMZ polycarbonate moonclips for my 625 and 929. Since I bought them, my mooning/demooning tools and steel moonclips have gathered dust. I can easily load and unload with my old shaky arthritic fingers.

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I don't think I have ever bend a fullmoon clip enough that it wouldn't go and work. They ride in my truck lay down console, have been on the seat under the console. car console, pockets range bags, in ammo box that goes to camp etc.

My vote concerning moon clips is an unqualified "They're for me!"

I got tired of having to pick up my 45 ACP brass so I got a 625-2 and use the moon clips. Then I found some 45 Auto Rim brass and started loading that. I still have a load of 45 ACP loaded so I'll continue using the clips until I decide to use it only in my 1911s. I guess I should mention that moon clips also eliminate the need for a speed loaded. So, I guess it's 50/50 with me.

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Ed

Steelslaver,

If/when it happens, call me,or shine the Full Moon signal, (you know the one, kind of like the “Bat Signal”) and I will h ad on over to help you out.

Kevin

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I am curious how they would get so bent? Did it happen while loading or unloading?

Kevin

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Well, no, not really. In this case it was just a figure of speech. If I'm on my hands and knees then something really bad has happened to me or is about to.

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I have been using moon clips since I started shooting an uncle’s 1917 in the late 60s. They were 1/2 moons then. Loading them was easy with a pair of waterpump pliers and stripping them was about as east. Put the empty case in the corner of a metal GI ammo can and pull straight away. The case popped free and dropped into the can. When full moon clips became available, it got even better.

Moon clips work best with the 45 ACP for a reason. They were designed for short, stout cartridges. Later in the end of the 20th century, folks tried to make them work with long, skinny cartridges and got mixed results. Not the clips fault. The balance is all wrong.

I like them and always keep a bunch loaded. A standard K frame speedloader case will hold 4 moon clips. That makes for a nice walk in the woods.

Kevin

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Couple of months ago I got a 625-2 (.45 ACP) and I love everything about it, including the moon clips. It is very fast to reload at the range, and I assume in a SD situation as well. But I have a question for you guys who have more experience.

When I watch a video of Jerry Miculek shooting his 625, he just takes a loaded moon clip, tosses it in the general direction of the cylinder, and it goes right in. Mine won't do that - some of the loaded shells hang up when the mouth of the case isn't perfectly aligned with the chamber, thus requiring a little fiddling. I am using factory ammo, which cannot be crimped because it has to headspace on the mouth of the case in semiautos. So, does JM use reloads with the case crimped into a cast lead bullet, or what????

BTW, I love this site! You guys are a wealth of information. Thanks!

I’m a big fan of moonclips now, after a loooooong period of ‘meh.’

While the clips kept the brass tidy, I never felt it necessary to really use the clips in a 627PC. It was a bit fiddly with 8 rounds, requiring the clip to be clocked perfectly and the rounds well-aligned.

Meh.


Now, with a 625, the magic is there. The fewer/shorter rounds, having less lateral leverage to deform the clip during anything but vertical insertion, just fall home. Im sure the spacing helps, too.

A 610 is on the way now, clips for it have already landed.

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A revolver is not like a semi-auto where you can have one in the chamber ready to fire while you are performing your tactical reload.

You shoot the revolver empty then reload while in the midst of the gunfight.......and hope you survive if caught out in the open while doing so.

If you find safe cover and a brief lull in the gunfight and feel a top-off is needed then it would still be quicker to dump a partially loaded moonclip in your pocket (for later use if need be) and then top off with a full moonclip or two depending upon if you are using full or half-moonclips.

In the middle of a gunfight with a revolver in my hands I would be much less concerned about topping off the revolver versus making good use of every round I have in it. When I have safe cover and time to top off then I would much rather be fumbling with one or two moonclips versus 5 or 6 loose rounds......as the the lull in the fight might be much briefer than I had anticipated.

First of all, round nose bullets. Yes, a light to medium taper or roll crimp is good, mainly to keep bullets from creeping forward from recoil of previous shots.

For semiauto rounds in a revolver, it is best to ream out the square shoulder for the case mouth to seat on. That corner in the chamber catches lead, carbon and other debris and over time, will keep the rounds from fully seating. If you look at the chambers of a rimmed caliber cylinder, you will see a tapered transition from case size down to bullet size. This allows most of the trash to just go out the barrel, rather than getting trapped in a square corner. The rounds then headspace on the rim and moonclip and will easily go all the way in, even when dirty.

None of this matters to the occasional plinker, but if you are shooting matches, it matters a lot. You need the most possible speed and reliability to win a match.

If you have round nose bullets, the best way to load them is to get the muzzle pointing down and drop them from 1/4" to 1/2" above the cylinder. Don't try to put them in the chambers by hand. I have very fast reloads with 6 or 8 of any caliber this way. I shoot 38 Short Colt, 38 Special, 9mm, 38 Super, 40 S&W, 44 Auto Mag, and 45 ACP, all with moon clips .

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I'm not a fan. Quite a few of the guys I shoot bowling pins with use revolvers with moon clips. Many have trouble with misfires, clips breaking and the like. It seems like it is also something they have to mess with. Faster reloads? Yes but still not as fast as the semi-auto shooters on reloads (considering shooters of similar skill levels, of course).

I do pretty well with my Model 29 and Safariland speedloaders. I have never had anything break and if there is a difference in speed it is so slight that it isn't worth it to me.

Of course, the key is not to miss and a reload will not be necessary.

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There is a problem with the whole premise of this thread. It is too broad, it lumps all moon clip guns together and asks for an overall opinion. bigwheelzip pretty much hit the nail on the head, but doesn't really spell it out.

I'm sure that there are probably a number of people out there that have gone out and purchased a gun chambered in .357 cut for moon clips, based on their experience with a .45 ACP gun. To their chagrin, they've found that it is a whole different ball game.

The OP needs to be more specific in their question - what gun/caliber are we talking about? and then go from there.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

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First of all with bowling pins why reload? Really, your out of the money. Next all kinds of people have misfires when they set up the spring tension to low. I have never had one of mine not fire a round in a clip, But, I gave up on super light triggers and went to-learning to be abetter trigger puller. I would rather have a smooth 10 or 11 # DA trigger that fires every time than a#8 one that don't. Maybe they need a stronger finger instead of a lighter pull.

I've never had an issue with them either, but I guess if you are prone to using bent or nearly broken clips then it could be an issue.

That being said my experience with them has been from .45acp revolver types not having their mainspring tension fudged with.

I do see a use for moon clips, I also see a good use for using 45 Auto Rim in a revolver chambered for .45 ACP. When puttering around down at the range I prefer to use Auto Rim, I do not reload .45 ACP. I do own a few pistols chambered in .45 ACP but do not shoot them enough to warrant reloading, keeping a surplus of over 1K rounds including personal defense loads is enough. I have more revolvers chambered in .45 ACP and one of my favorite carry pieces is a cut down Model of 1917. While carrying that firearm I have personal defense loads in a full moon clip and a strip clip of six personal defense loads in a pocket. If I was to be carrying a model 1917 into combat I would want a supply of loaded half moon clips to be used as the firearm was designed.
I had a friend that lost a serious pistol match to a bent moon clip, he got me started on 45 Auto Rim and I never looked back. I only reload 45 Auto Rim because I do most of my casual shooting at a range. I don't seriously dislike half moon or full moon clips I just prefer to use the revolver like any other revolver. For personal defense I think a fully loaded revolver with a reload of six should be enough, any need for more firepower is going to have me packing a rifle or shotgun.
I have experienced a clip bent enough to not allow for a smooth reload, you can straighten them on a piece of glass. They usually get bent while unloading or loading, especially when someone is trying to be a good guy and do it for you after using the revolver at the range. I usually thank them but tell them I've got this and use my tool to unload the spent rounds.
I guess in summation I'm not really in favor of using moon clips except for an initial carry application, beyond that I'm more of an Auto Rim guy. For action pistol stuff, its pretty tough to be the speed of a full moon clip...the original speed loader. ALTHOUGH...The 1858 Remington cap and ball revolver could easily reload a full cylinder, even while horseback, making it truly the first speedloader.

With my Performance Center 327 I use moon clips with my carry ammo in case I need to do a quick reload but not when I'm at the range shooting range ammo.

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Veteran/NRA Member/S&W 327

I like moonclips and use them regularly in my 929 and 45 ACP revolvers. The RIMZ moonclips are very easy to use and I can use the steel ones without any tools other than a sharpie or wooden dowel.

I’ve never used them on a .357 and wouldn’t be interested in converting any for moonclips. If I was so inclined I would just buy a gun that was setup for them from the factory.

I have a new pack of 8 moonclips for my 25-8; I've never opened it, as I came up with a deal on Auto Rim brass and have no need to shoot ACP in it. Eventually I will, but I'm not feeling rushed.

I tried the moon clips but they jam up my 1911. Am I missing something?

The aggravation they cause is not worth it if you can avoid using them and there's nothing they do that can't be done with a rimmed cartridge and a speed loader. I dumped mine for my 25 and 625 and went to the auto rim and never looked back. I still keep the half moons for my 1917 only for nostalgia reasons.

With all due respect, if I had wanted a specific opinion I would have asked for one, but if you notice I asked for a (general opinion) and because of that I have gotten the education I was hoping for.

I hate to derail but other than specific sizes for 38/357, what are the issues with them over 45acp moonclips? I am seriously considering getting my 2.5 686 cut.