Troubles with moon clips! UPDATE

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Imaposer

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Well, fudge! I just bought my 625-3 this week - see thread here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...-model-1989-625-3-questions-updated-pics.html

Then I ordered 100 moon clips from Old Sarges Drop Zone, plus a de-mooning tool that came with 10 additional moon clips. They arrived today and I was like a kid on Christmas morning when I got them out of the mailbox! Took some ammo, my new (to me) gun, and my new moon clips out on the porch to play and, well... something's not right! I tried several of the clips and none of them work! I loaded some with Gold Dots and some with PMC Bronze that I picked up to try the gun out with until I can get set up to reload .45. The cylinder is very tight, failing to close on some and at least being very tight to rotate with some of the other clips.

There doesn't appear to be anything amiss with the revolver itself, that I can see. When I load loose rounds they appear to headspace on the chamber shoulder while leaving some wiggle room between the recoil shield and the case heads. The gun is completely clean and the extractor star is flush with the cylinder face. All appears as it should. But, it is simply unusable with the moon clips!

So, is there a known issue with the Old Sarge's clips? Are they too thick? They don't appear bent. So, what gives?

I'm leaving to go on a 3 week vacation next Sat. and was hoping to have everything together to take the gun with me to do a little shooting while there.

I've heard nothing but praise for the Ranch Products clips but ordering from them appears to be a hassle. Now I guess I'm just out of $35 to Old Sarge's! So, what to do?
 
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Will the empty moon clips sit down flush on the rear of the cylinder with just a little jiggle room. If not you may need to clean the flash or open the center hole in the moon clips slightly. Also try them with 2 rounds only then 3 only to see if it is a moon clip alignment issue.
--- Chip King ---
 
Ok, so I tried that... They appear to lay flat on the cylinder face and have a little wiggle room around the ratchet. I tried them with 3 rounds with every other chamber loaded. Same deal.

I don't have a micrometer but repeated measurements with my dial caliper shows them to be 0.050" thick. I did see that The Revolver Supply Company advertises theirs as being 0.040" thick and that they will work with almost every brand of brass.

I also looked into the Rimz, plastic clips, and they also say theirs are 0.040" thick at the recessed area where the cartridge rim lies.

I took one of mine to a piece of emery cloth, on a flat surface and managed to reduce it to around 0.045-0.046" and it seems a little better. But, yeah, my fingertips won't stand for doing a hundred and ten of the little buggers that way all the way down to 0.040"! :-) Looks like I just have clips that don't work with my particular gun. Or at least not with my gun and the two types of brass that I have handy. Bummer! :-(
 
I've always found moon clips to be too much of a bother. I bought another shell holder and a couple of hundred 45AR brass. I load for a 25-2 and a 1917 (and a New Service),

If I want to carry a 45, it'll be a 1911.
 
Yeah, I'm considering doing just that too, for those time that I want to use standard rimmed cartridges. BUT, I do kinda like the concept of the moon clips. Or at least I will once I find some that work in my gun. Plus, standard .45 ACP brass is just so easy to come by (read, FREE) as range pick-ups.
 
Just out of curiosity, and since everyone seem to be happy with the Ranch Products clips, would some mind mic'ing one a letting us all know the thickness?
 
Didn't try all 10 of them, no. But, I did try one or two of them. Same result. But that didn't surprise me since the package for the demooning tool says Old Sarge's Drop Zone right on the package insert. I assume the clips all come from the same place.

Guess I shouldn'ta bought a hundred before trying them out, huh? Oh, well, it seems that at least some people have used them without problems, so I just figured I'd lay in a supply while ordering... Live and learn I guess.
 
Almost all moon clips are funny about what type of brass you use in them. Some clips don't work with Winchester, some not with Remington, etc. etc. I have found that my moon clips have to be used with the same brand of brass, I use Starline, I reload so I can pretty much control the results. Try using brass with the same headstamp on them until you find one that will allow the clip to just drop in when you let go of it without hanging up.
 
Imaposer said:
...my dial caliper shows them to be 0.050" thick.
Click to expand...

That looks to be your problem. Your gun (& mine) is set up to have .006" - .010" case head clearance - using .040" moon clips.

I'd send 'em back, or use 'em for Christmas tree ornaments / stocking stuffers - & write 'em off to experience.

Get some in spec (.040") clips, & you will see what all the .45acp revolver fuss is about. Fastest reloads known to man...
 
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GCF said:
That looks to be your problem. Your gun (& mine) is set up to have .006" - .010" case head clearance - using .040" moon clips.

I'd send 'em back, or use 'em for Christmas tree ornaments / stocking stuffers - & write 'em off to experience.

Get some in spec (.040") clips, & you will see what all the .45acp revolver fuss is about. Fastest reloads known to man...
Click to expand...

Yep, that's what I figured... I guess I now know... stick to sellers that specify the thickness to be 0.040". I just ordered another 100 from The Revolver Supply Company. Hopefully I'll be happy with these.

I think I'll check with Old Sarge about returning these. I'll loose my shipping both ways and a 10% restocking fee, but something's better than nothing...

Just ordered a BMT mooner too... Yeah, $80 is a bit much, but check out the video! Looks pretty slick!

BMT Mooning Tool.m4v - YouTube
 
Damn 80 bucks I moon/demoon with a pair of needle nose pliers all taped up with electrical tape. 5 bucks! When I demoon I put it in shell snug grip and twist and pull pops right out!
 
Imaposer said:
I took one of mine to a piece of emery cloth, on a flat surface and managed to reduce it to around 0.045-0.046" and it seems a little better. But, yeah, my fingertips won't stand for doing a hundred and ten of the little buggers that way all the way down to 0.040"! :-) Looks like I just have clips that don't work with my particular gun. Or at least not with my gun and the two types of brass that I have handy. Bummer! :-(
Click to expand...


I had the same problem when i bought my clips from "Old Sarge"

I used a magnet (slightly larger than the clips) for better grip,
but it is tedious work.
Try to bring some to work and use the coffey brake to sand one down.
It only takes 110 coffey brakes untill you are done :rolleyes:

Or a slow beltsander? You don't wan't it to get to hot.
 
I'd slap them onto a magnetic vise on a Surface Grinder and dust em down right quick. If you have a friend with a machine shop you might want to think about giving him a call.

BTW, I just check the thickness of my moon clips from Ranch Products and they are spot on 0.040 inch thick. I also believe that Ranch Products is who supplies the moon clips to S&W, because what came with both my 610 and 625 are EXACTLY identical to the Ranch Products moon clips purchased after getting these revolvers.
 
You're gunna love that BMT tool. I bought one several years ago. It was expensive but worth it. The little magnets to hold the clip in place are an especially nice feature.
 
Ranch Products moon clips (.040) and BMT tool. Well worth the money.
e.
 
My moonclips average .041" thick. I NEVER have any problems. I have brass that goes back to WW I, dozens of different headstamps and even brass with no headstamp whatsoever. It ALL fits and fires fine without exception in all three of the 625s that I own. The clips can be used right side up or upside down without any problems. Such is the joy of the modern 625 revolver. If your clips are too thick (which it seems they are) throw them away and buy a couple hundred from Ranch. Good moonclips are so cheap that trying to modify bad ones is not worth the effort.

Dave Sinko
 
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