moon clip loader recomendation?

Ugly Hombre · Mar 13, 2021

I have a 25- 2 Smith revolver I pulled out of the safe and took out to the range today very fun gun. wondering what moon clip loaders folk here use and would recommend, what tool for extracting the empty cases out of the moon clips you use- etc

Thanks for any possible info-

U/H

huthike · Mar 13, 2021

You’ll get lots of opinions about this. I’ve used several but my favorite is the BMT Mooner. Expensive, but worth it, IMHO.

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gerhard1 · Mar 13, 2021

I use the BMT Equipped. It loads and unloads the clips very quickly. It's not cheap but it works.

Redford · Mar 13, 2021

I'll second the BMT easy on you and the clips

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Ivan the Butcher · Mar 13, 2021

I use a 7/16" six inch long dowel rod. I place it in the center of the full moon clip and push the clip down over the extractor clip of the case. That is as basic as it gets!

The De-mooner is a piece of copper 5/8" OD plumbing water pipe (or 5/8" OD electrical conduit), cut so there is a tooth that sticks up 1/4 or less of of the end circumference about 1/8". (Many make these from broken golf handles too) The rod stores inside the tube. When I got around to making them, I made 3 sets and put a set in the range bag, in the ammo can, and on the loading bench. As an additional piece, I like a piece of wood trim for Crown molding, and lay 6 loaded rounds nose to rim in the round grove. Then with the dowel rod in the center hole, go down the row and in about 3 or 4 seconds, the clip is loaded.

Brownell's sells a nice de-mooner for $20 that work the same, but only looks nicer.

Brownell's also sell a bag of 100 full moon clips (last one I bought was $30 about 5 years ago!) So I have well over 250 full moon clips, and keep a 50 Cal Ammo Can full of loaded clips ready to go.

Ivan

If you go to Home Depot and buy everything new, you will have about $5 in 3 or 4 sets. You could get by using one tool; a hack saw.

bobbyd · Mar 13, 2021

BMT is the absolute best and easiest to use. I have a drawer full of others that I have tried over the years but there is just no comparison to the BMT.

Hairtrigger · Mar 13, 2021

I use TK Custom. Works on 10 and 45
Alfa Proj 9mm Revolver Moon Clip Loading Tool - TK Custom
Very happy with mine

cmansguns · Mar 13, 2021

Another A+++++ for the BMT mooner/demooner. Fast, no bending, just crank the handle.

Expensive? Yea.....but cost is totally forgotten very first time you load 10 or 20 full moon clips, dump in the range bag and off you go with a HUGE smile on your face.

My 1972 Model 25-2 loves the factory S&W full moons better than any plastic ones.

sodacan · Mar 13, 2021

BMT is the only way to go . I shoot 5 different 45acp revolvers, and I wouldn't be without it. Once you use it, you'll forget about the price. I've been using the same moonclips for years and all are are still straight. Here's a photo for anyone who's not familiar with them.

Jack Flash · Mar 13, 2021

Ivan the Butcher said:
I use a 7/16" six inch long dowel rod. ...

The De-mooner is a piece of copper 5/8" OD plumbing water pipe (or 5/8" OD electrical conduit), ...

If you go to Home Depot and buy everything new, you will have about $5 in 3 or 4 sets. You could get by using one tool; a hack saw.

Agree 100%. With luck, you will have some / most of that stuff laying around the house. Most of the time, I load full moon clips by laying the rounds on the bench and pushing the clip down on them. A dowel would help.

At one point I was going to bite the bullet and buy a loader, but got sticker shock when I saw the prices! (Up to $100). So I stuck with my "bench press" technique. I do have a California Custom De-Mooner I got for under $20. Must have been feeling flush at the time.

One caution I wish someone had told me:
CCI Blazer cartridges have a slightly larger extractor groove than most. It took great force to get even one on a full moon clip. Other brands are much easier.

LPD256 · Mar 13, 2021

I have a BMT Mooner. It’s the best if you insist on steel clips. But I never use it anymore. I use RIMZ polycarbonate moonclips that are easily filled and emptied by hand. Try them before you spend the money.

tops · Mar 13, 2021

I only have 1/2 moon clips. I don't have any trouble loading the clips but I have a piece of 1/2 in copper pipe with the end cut so a tooth is sticking up to remove cases. When I'm out killing tin cans I don't use the clips because I think it's easier to pull the cases with my fingers than use clips. If a case sticks I use the rim of another case to pry it loose. Larry

mckenney99 · Mar 13, 2021

Another BMT fan here. Unclips and reclips with a twist of the knob.

Baltimoreed11754 · Mar 13, 2021

BMT is the way to go if you can swing it. Saves your fingers for sure. Very well made.

growr · Mar 13, 2021

I have just used a pair of pliers to load and the demooner that came with the gun from the Dillon catalogue.....very fast and efficient for me....

Randy

zonker5 · Mar 13, 2021

LPD256 said:
I have a BMT Mooner. It’s the best if you insist on steel clips. But I never use it anymore. I use RIMZ polycarbonate moonclips that are easily filled and emptied by hand. Try them before you spend the money.

Another vote for the RIMZ; the only way to go for range work.

Ugly Hombre · Mar 13, 2021

Thanks everyone lots of good info!

I have read on line about people shooting .45 super in the 25-2 and even .45 GAP anyone have any experience along those lines?

How about .45 Auto Rim? any one using that, never seen it like to get my mitts on some and try it. Is it true the Auto Rim can be loaded to higher power levels than the .45 ACP?

I had been using plastic moon clips and was getting some misfires- I found some metal moon clips loaded them up, took off the grips and tightened the strain screw- gun shot great no misfires at all.

Surprised at how pocket rifle accurate it shot, I got a EPS tanker holster for it and really like the gun and rig.

Big time Smith and Wesson fun.!

huthike · Mar 13, 2021

I’ve used the Auto Rim - it’s fun. Helps a lot if you reload.

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sodacan · Mar 13, 2021

Ugly Hombre said:
Thanks everyone lots of good info!

I have read on line about people shooting .45 super in the 25-2 and even .45 GAP anyone have any experience along those lines?

How about .45 Auto Rim? any one using that, never seen it like to get my mitts on some and try it. Is it true the Auto Rim can be loaded to higher power levels than the .45 ACP?

I had been using plastic moon clips and was getting some misfires- I found some metal moon clips loaded them up, took off the grips and tightened the strain screw- gun shot great no misfires at all.

Surprised at how pocket rifle accurate it shot, I got a EPS tanker holster for it and really like the gun and rig.

Big time Smith and Wesson fun.!

I have never shot 45 super, so I can't comment on it, but I would not hesitate to shoot it in my 625-2, as others have mentioned on this forum. I also shoot 45gap out of it, and it shoots fine. It does create a little more of a cleaning challenge. The 45gap is a higher pressure round (more like +P) than 45acp. My other four 45 acp guns are older (1950, 1955, 1917 and Colt 1917). I'm hesitant to shoot it out of the two 65 year old guns, and won't even consider it out of the 1917's. As for 45ar, it is far more expensive, and not nearly as readily available (I don't reload) as 45acp, besides using moonclips is one of the attractions for me to 45acp guns. As for AR, I believe the ballistics are pretty much the same as ACP, although I stand to be corrected.

AJ · Mar 13, 2021

I am with Jack Flash and Ivan. Piece of dowel and a piece of copper pipe. I did make a handle for the copper pipe case remover. The handle is made out of an old file handle and I bored it to size with a wood bit. Works very well.

moon clip loader recomendation?

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