Converting my 686+ to Full-Moon clips

686+Bob

686+Bob

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Fellow Forumites,
I couldn't be happier with my 3" Talo edition 686+ except for one thing. No speed loader is faster or simpler (especially since fine motor skills are the first thing to go under stress!) than Full-Moon clips, something I learned from my Model 22 1917 .45 ACP. I've read that some 686+ owners have had their 7-shots converted to Moon-clips but not by whom. My question to you is who is qualified to do this conversion CORRECTLY? It would be a crime to mess up this otherwise superb revolver!
Thank you for your advice,
Bob
 
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Pinnacle High Performance in Pennsylvania has a great reputation. He's not taking on any new work except moon clip conversion. I'm on a waiting list to have action jobs done on my 617 and 686+.
 
Don't condemn your speedloaders just yet. You'll find that .357 moonclips can be fickle with certain brands of brass. I have lots of moonclips for my 627 but my extra reload for the street uses a 5 Star speedloader.

Dave Sinko
 
David Sinko said:
Don't condemn your speedloaders just yet. You'll find that .357 moonclips can be fickle with certain brands of brass. I have lots of moonclips for my 627 but my extra reload for the street uses a 5 Star speedloader.

Dave Sinko
Click to expand...

I agree. LOVE them in my 625, but those short, stubby .45acp cartridges seem to leap into the cylinder of their own accord. I haven't found this to be the case with my 627PC. Those eight long cartridges, wiggling around in the moon clip just don't line up very easily for me. Of course I've only tried the moon clips that came with it, and I know that different clips combined with the right brass would probably solve this issue, but since most of my brass is a mixture of range brass, I haven't bothered. YMMV.
 
I do not own a 686 Plus 3" just because they are not made in a 6 Shooter. I carry either Moon Clips or Safariland Comp II Speedloaders for Concealed Carry.

I have a pair of Moon Clip 38/357's. I have a 442 Pro Moon Clip as well as a 686-1 Power Custom Combat that also made a trip to Clark for a Moon Clip Conversion. The 38/357 using moon clips is a little picky about ammo. The 38 moon clips like Remington, Federal, and I have been carrying Speer 135 Short Barrel in my 442 in Moon Clips with out any problem. Skip Winchester 38 Special. No idea about 357 Magnum Winchester. The issue is the Rim Under Cut is not standardized on 38 Special. So they are not cut the same brand to brand.

For Speedloaders I use Safariland Comp II for Concealed Carry and Comp III's for matches. I have NO Intention of going back to Turn Knob Speedloaders to feed a 686 Plus.

I could live with a 686 Plus Moon Clip. The reason I did not go that route was simple $700 Plus a $125 Conversion. I will find a 686-4 3" 6 Shooter cheaper that that one day.

I would send it to TK and get a supply of clips. I would pick up some California Competition Works Shoot A Moon Carriers for the 7 Shot 357, and have a good time.
http://wwwdemooner.com/
This will get you to Cactus Tactical. Click on Catagories, the Click on California Competition Works. The site sucks to navagate, making a call or e-mailing for info might not hurt. They got back to me asap when I was looking for the J Frame Moon Clip Carrier before it was on the website.

The 38 Moon Clips are thin so a Loading Tool is not a bad plan either.

Bob
 
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Wow, what great feedback! It's true, the stubby little .45 ACP's drop in like nothing but 7 .357's would be like 7 pencils in comparison - every solution creates its own problems. BobR I'm glad to hear the Speer Short-Barrel ammo works well, as that's my CCW load!

I can see from the TK Custom website that two further questions are answered, that the conversion would still allow conventional single loading and/ or speed-loaders; also I can just send in the cylinder assembly, not the whole gun negating the whole FFL issue and expense!

Slickracer, I see we have a training similar strategy, as I'm also about to order a 617 to make training a lot more economical (and fun!)

Thanks again everybody!
Bob
 
The 22 for Practice/Training is a very good plan.

I have a 617 in a 4 Inch 6 Shooter for my K, L, and N Frame Practice and Training Gun also. I have had mine for over 20 years. I carried my S&W 610 for most of my 15 years as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff, and most of my 2 years as a Police Chief. I would take the 617 out and run a brick through it before qualification as a tune up.

I also have an LCR-22 as my Practice/Training J Frame Gun.
I also shoot my LCR-22 in our Outlaw IDPA Match in BUG Division. I have added a Green Fiber Optic LCR front sight to mine. With a fine sight it will shoot low with the Centerfire sight installed. My Combat Sight picture has the Dot over the back sight, which is dead on.

In BUG Division, I have so far always turned in a better time with the LCR 22 than I have my 442 Pro Moon Clip. This is including reloads. I have both Speed Beez Speed Loaders for the LCR 22 as well as Tuff Products Model 1022 Quick Strips. Load the Quick Strips in pairs skipping a shell between pairs for cylinder clearance. It will only hold 7 rounds loaded like this, however I can do a quicker reload of 7 rounds on the 22 than I can load 5 with a J frame 38.

If you carry Quick Strips for your 38 you also need to practice reloading the Practice/Training 22 with Quick Strips.

Talk about tuning up your J Frame Skills. I have shot a few bricks through the LCR 22. I am way more accurate with my 442 after getting the LCR 22. In my opinion anyone who carries a J Frame should own an LCR 22 or 43C for practice. I went with the LCR 22 due to not being impressed with the aluminum cylinder of a 43C. The price difference did not hurt any either.

Bob
 
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Mark Hartshorn of Pinnacle High Performance cut this one for me:

686-760.jpg


All you have to send is the cylinder, no need to ship the whole gun. I was very pleased with Mark's craftsmanship and the turn around time was excellent.

I shot this setup in ICORE for a couple of years before moving to a 627 and here is my take in .38/.357 moon clips...

.38 Special / .357 magnum moon clips are brass sensitive. This isn't a big deal as you can buy clip and brass combinations that will work very well together. The real issue is that all maker's clips are very thin and fragile compared to .45 ACP moons. They bend very easily and if subtly bent, they will still drop in and allow the cylinder to close. Then they will force the case heads to rub on the recoil shield and tie up the revolver. If you choose to carry .38 / .357 moons for social purposes, please give serious thought to how you intend to protect the clips from the rigors of daily carry and check them for function frequently.
 
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