I can't get these .45s off the moon clip to save my life. How do you do it without a demooner?

I can't get these .45s off the moon clip to save my life. How do you do it without a demooner?

It's very difficult without a demooner. Some people talk about inserting a wooden dowel into the empty cases and prying them out; that might work. I know that lots of folks make do it yourself demooners out of old golf irons, sawing the iron off a few inches below the bottome of the handle and using that as a pry tool. Another way to deal with the problem is to buy RIMZ plastic moonclips. I understand that they can easily be unloaded by hand.

I have a number of the full moon clip tools. They work and work well. However, they are expensive and for general use, the steel moon clips are a pain in the "tuckus".

I have used the RIMZ clips for general use and am quite happy with them. However, for speed or duty use, the steel clips are undeniably superior.

In the spirit of "full disclosure" I admit that I have ordered a thousand Starline Auto Rim cases (they are back ordered until the middle of August). It appears that I will be using the AR cases for general range use. The downside is that you have to buy new cases (while there seem to be plenty of "1st nighters" (one time used cases) in .45 ACP at reasonable prices, that is not true for AR cases. On the other hand, with their very long life, the expense is small per shot...

"And, that's the way I see it"...

Dale53

Why would you not what to use a demooner tool? It makes the job simple and fast. Here's what I did... Go to Goodwill and spend $2 on a used golf club. Cut the shaft below the handle, making sure the inner diameter is big enough to slip over the 45 case. Then, using a dremel, cut it like in the picture below. To use, simply slip it over the case and use the lip as leverage and twist. The empty case will pop right off. Interestingly, the two I've made will hold exactly 12 cases before I have to dump them out. It should take you about 5-10 minutes to make the tool.

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*** Made in Texas ***

Thanks to you all. I finally managed to get the unfired rounds off of the clip with some pliers wrapped in a thick towel too keep from damaging the ammo.

While I truly love the .45ACP and have a ton of brass around, I definitely foresee an order of .45 AR for this 1917.

Edit: I'll probably take your advice about making a demooner, as well. Seems to simple and easy not to have one around in case I need it.

I used to tear my thumb up doing it without a demooner. I finally bought one of these:



http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/25111/...ips_B__Demooner_Tool

For $17 it's a bargain. It both loads and extracts cases from the moon clips.

Cut a Piece of 1/2" Copper Pipe like that Golf Club handle & you'll have a Nice CHEAP Tool..
Use a Hack Saw or Dremel Tool..
I made one for my 9mm out of 3/8" Copper
Gary/Hk

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MightShowYouHisSmith&Wesson

Follow Headknocker's advice. It works well. Both for putting in or taking out of the moon clips.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Drive here and there and buy used golf clubs, etc? Are we really so cheap we won't spring for $17 for a demooner and have it delivered to our door? LOL!



http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/25111/...ips_B__Demooner_Tool

I made one of these from a golf club I was going to throw away. It sure works fine. It would be hard to buy a tool that works better IMHO

The Copper Tubing Works great & It won't scratch up your brass if you reload..
I even poished mine up with some flitz..
Here's a Pic of the one I made for the 9mm out of 3/8" tubing, I capped it with a rubber stopper & cut it the lenth, it can hold 5 spent 9mm casings..Cost maybe $.50..
Gary/Hk

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MightShowYouHisSmith&Wesson

I made one like this for a .45 ACP using a 5/8" water pipe coupler. I cut it like the golf-club demooner shown above. Total cost was about $1.19 for the pipe and ten minutes with a hacksaw. It works like a champ.


Okie John

I'm to lazy to make one and felt it would be better to spend a few dollars and just buy one that will out last me, so I did.
I got mine thru Midway and then drove to the range and used it, they work great!

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"A fear of wepons is a sign of retarted sexual and emotional maturity" Sigmund Freud

VG,

If you haven't gotten a demooner yet, don't use pliers!

If you use a dowel, make sure that you pull the case straight out, force parallel to the plane of the moonclip. Anything else is trying to bend the moonclip.

520

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Formerly Model520Fan

Make the pipe long enough to contain a full moon clip full of spent casings.

Wilson COmbat De-Mooner is all of $3

& For any reluctant cases loading the full
moon clips I use the pliers on my leathermans' Wave multi-purpose tool to snap them in to place.

It would be nice to have a source for a cheap leather beltholder for a loaded FUll Moon clip.

.45 Auto RIm - got 1,000 Starline brass last October - 3 week backorder at that time. But I'm sitting on these, I still have 400+ rounds loaded on hand.

FWIW -Reeds Ammunition & Research offers a good price for .45 AR ammo, and Ron has two new loads out of 250 gr. SWC @ 900 FPS that's less
than $20/50 rds last I checked.

Randall

I bought 20 steel moon clips when I first got my 1917 6 or 7 years ago. Used them for a few range sessions and just started loading the .45 acp straight in the cylinder. qafter firing 4 or 5 empties generally fall right out and and the leftovers push right out with a pencil or a stick or a key if I forget the pencil.

Even with my nifty de-mooner I enjoy use of the Auto Rim case best.

If I toted a .45 revolver the moon clips would be fine for a reload.

BobD;

>>>just started loading the .45 acp straight in the cylinder. qafter firing 4 or 5 empties generally fall right out and and the leftovers push right out with a pencil or a stick or a key if I forget the pencil.<<<

Bob, the problem with this is this will not work with all 25's or 625's. Some require the use of clips or AR cases (the chambers are too deep to support the edge of the case mouth for proper headspace). If yours works ok, then, of course, that is a possibility. Mine do not, so that is not an option for me.

Dale53

In a pinch the rounded corner of a GI ammo can works. Just hook the empty case over, and twist. Fired cases drop into can, and your're done.

Suggest that you stop messing with those metal moon clips and just purchase some RIMZ. These are a semi rigid plastic that greatly enhances the enjoyment of the S&W 625. Price is not too bad either.

lev83;
As I stated in my first post, I use the RIMZ clips at the range. However, the steel clips retain the loaded rounds MUCH better for speed or duty use.
I wouldn't be without my RIMZ clips (at least until I get my Auto Rim cases ) but if I were still competing in speed events, I would opt for the steel full moon clips and put my demooners (I have three different types but prefer the use of California Competition Works de-mooner) to use.

Dale53

I picked up a 625 last year and the first thing to do was to load up one of the half moon clips. I had to see what this was all about.

Okaaaaaaaay. How the hell do I get 'em out? Well, I commence to pullin' and twistin' and cussin....

Auto Rim all the way baby!

I do have to put out an endorsement for RIMZ too though. My 610 happ'ly bangs away all day with 'em.

I'm a firm believer in the RIMZ clips. Easy to load and unload with just your fingers. It is also safe to take young children to the range when using RIMZ, no cussing,swearing or other foul outbursts when trying to load or unload the clips. Great product!

+1 to the45automan, and no bleeding when you or your aides forget your moonclip tools. Rimz sure make it easy in my book!