Problems with the R8 Revolver ?

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S&W357

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Does anyone own SW R8 -357 ? I paid for one but didn't pick it up at my LGS. It's not registered yet. I been reading that there
is a firing pin problem.
Tell me how old the gun is and the month. It seems that the first batch was fine.
 
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Right after i posted this, i got a phone call from my LGS. They shot the gun without me and said you have to shoot it with the moon clip> HMMM - I thought moon clips are just to put the ammo in and then you remove it. I asked that question and they said No. You leave the moon clip in. Hmmmm -again. That doesn't sound right. Now what do i do --???
 
If I understand your question correctly are you asking if you are supposed to remove the moon clip after you put it and the cartridges in the cylinder?
The moon clip is designed to hold the cartridges in the cylinder during firing. Then, you eject them all at once.
Oh, and you asked about the age of your revolver. We need the serial number, from the bottom of the butt, to tell you that.
Jim
 
I checked this out on You Tube and it appears to be similar to the Model 25-2 ACP. No extractor. As P&R Fan stated, it allows you to load, and then unload the cartridges after you have finished firing.
 
If you ever experience any issues of light firing pin strikes all you have to do is replace the factory firing pin with an extended length pin from either C&S or Apex. More than 10,000 rounds through mine.
 
TSQUARED said:
If you ever experience any issues of light firing pin strikes all you have to do is replace the factory firing pin with an extended length pin from either C&S or Apex. More than 10,000 rounds through mine.
Click to expand...
If i have that problem,just buy C&S and don't return it to SW?
As far as the moon clip goes. My LGS is telling me to load the ammo with the moon clip and leave it in the wheel? I will find out fri. when i go there. That doesn't sound right.
 
S&W357 said:
If i have that problem,just buy C&S and don't return it to SW?
As far as the moon clip goes. My LGS is telling me to load the ammo with the moon clip and leave it in the wheel? I will find out fri. when i go there. That doesn't sound right.
Click to expand...

Its a speed loader of sorts...you leave it in and the back of the cylinder has a wheel to hold it in. You can eject all 8 casings at once and reload another 8 all at once.
 
S&W357,

When you go to your LGS ask if the thickness of that moon clip also functions to move the cartidge primer cap closer to the firing pin as TSQUARED is alluding to in his reply. If I am correct, additionally, without the moon clips (and the associated thickness), you could get soft strikes against the primer caps, and some rounds may not fire at all.
 
Groo here
The moon clip is for faster loading under stress but NOT required.
There is a rim around the outer edge of the cylinder to headspace the rim
allowing the gun to shoot loose shells unlike "some" m25's.
If you "have to" shoot it with moons, the gun has been changed to something like 38 super
or there is something verry wrong. [needs longer firing pin or heaver mainspring]
I have a TR-R8 they shoot verry well.
 
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Can't quite figure out what you are asking.

If you want to use a moon clip, it must stay attached to the rims of the cartridges. As the previous poster stated, think of them as speedloaders; the only difference is that they are completely drop-in and must be removed from the spent brass to retrieve them for re-use.

If you are asking if you must use the moon clips to fire the gun... As long as you are using rimmed revolver ammo (.38 Special or .357 Magnum) then you should be able to load the cartridges and fire them without a speedloader.
 
I just got my R8 about a week and a half ago and no problems. I've shot 100 .38 spec and 100 .357 mag so far. It can be shot in either caliber with or with out the moon clips.
 
jsl147 said:
I just got my R8 about a week and a half ago and no problems. I've shot 100 .38 spec and 100 .357 mag so far. It can be shot in either caliber with or with out the moon clips.
Click to expand...
- That's sound right. Thank you -- Revolvers are to be easy to use,that is why i like revolvers.
Tell me more about the R8. Is it a bulls eye gun ? Hows the recoil shooting 357 ? Shooting 38s and 357 -do you feel a big different ? Are you going to put a red dot on it ? Hows the balance ? It felt a little nose heavy but that may be a good thing when shooting. I can't wait to shoot 8 rounds.
Lots of luck with it ....
 
Groo here
The TR-R8 was designed to be a "shield" gun, to be used by the lead officer going into a bad situation. [the one holding the shield]
An auto can hit the shield and jam- not a revolver.
The gun is a 5in with a light weight cover over a walther target barrel
like the old Dan wession.
Mine shoots like a house a fire,[dad's deer gun].
The gun is so easy to shoot it is a fooler.
 
S&W357 said:
Does anyone own SW R8 -357 ? I paid for one but didn't pick it up at my LGS. It's not registered yet. I been reading that there
is a firing pin problem.
Tell me how old the gun is and the month. It seems that the first batch was fine.
Click to expand...

There's been a whole lot of discussion here lately about the R8 and issues associated with light primer strikes. Check out the links below and participate in the poll once you receive your revolver.

You do not need the moon clips to use the revolver as other have stated. Accuracy of the R8 has been out standing for me and it is one of my favorite revolvers.

Poll:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...340589-r8-trr8-owners-poll.html#post137495000

M&P's Then and Now

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/338859-m-p-revolvers-then-now.html

Issue I had with Mine

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/337588-s-w-327-r8.html

R8 Threads

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/339272-very-unhappy-r8-owner.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/338821-any-m-p-r8-owners.html
 
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