I am thinking of having my M&P 340 moon clipped and would like a discussion on the subject. I already know who does the conversions but I would like info from those using them in carry guns. I would also like to know how they work on .38/.357 cartridges vs rimmed cartridges etc. Also looking for carry methods for moon clips. I have heard that they can bend if pocket carried and that this method is not recommended. Any and all thoughts on the subject would be appreciated.

Tom

I have one of the 642's that takes moonclips. I think one of the biggest benefits is ejection. The short ejection rod usually requires you to physically hand remove some of the cases. Especially with the longer .357 cases. The moonclips allows you to grab all the spent cases as one unit and strip them away.

I don't usually carry moonclipped rounds on my person. I prefer speed loaders or speed strips. But a moonclip should fit in any smaller case made for a speed loader. Just ocassional check to make sure it's not bent.

One negative of a moonclip loaded gun, is you can't do the individual round reloading from a speed strip. It's all or nothing. (ie: you fire 2 or 3 rounds and want to top off).

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Watch & Pray

I have had two of my S&W revolvers done by TK Custom, and I really like how they work, and the convenience they give me with not having to use speedloaders, especially in timed fire qualifications. I get extra time shooting rather than fumbling with the speedloaders, also brass cleanup/pickup is easier. When I shoot, I have the pre-loaded moonclips in a small pouch on my waist and grab them as needed. TK offers a special designed metal carrier just for moonclips. I have been fortunate enough to have seen Jerry Miculek shoot live here twice, and that is the carrier system he used. I think you would be very pleased/happy if you get your revolver done. The best part is that your revolver can still be loaded the regular way, and you gain the extra convenience of the moonclip loading. TK also can convert 38/357 cylinders to accept 9MM rounds using moonclips, which gives the revolver even more versatility.

I love my moon clipped guns (45/357/9mm), the 357 8x clips are not as fast on the load due to so many rounds trying to aligh themselves at once but it is still not bad. The 45 & 9mm are alot faster, like a tractor beam is pulling them into the guns. I have heard of people using film canisters to carry there 5 shot moon clips but I just use my pocket and check them every so often.

My every day carry gun is a Smith 940 I bought from a member here...I really like the 9mm moonclips...much better than any other speed strip, or speed loader for that matter...
I carry two spare loaded MC's in a prescription bottle...I know I have to pop the top off that thing, but once done I have two quick reloads, and the pill bottle rides comfortably in my offside pocket....

My EDC is a Model 642 with a 442 cylinder cut for moonclips by TK Custom that I purchased from another forum member. To me, as per a previous writer on this thread, I saw a major advantage in ejecting the empties, as well as for the speed and ease in reloading. I carry reloads in a speed strip that I carry on my belt in a carrier, and I sometimes carry a spare loaded moonclip in an old plastic medicine bottle with a piece of styrofoam on the bottom to keep it from rattling around.

Best of luck,

Dave

Thanks....I gotta look at that. I could never figure out how to carry clips for the 940 without danger of them twisting, which of course hangs up the gun. Big reason gun has spent the last maybe 15 years in a safe.

My 627PC came from the factory with the recessed cylinder to accept moonclips. It's a nice feature, but 8 rounds in a clip do not slide in quickly & easily. The small amount of play in each round makes alignment a small struggle. Once they start, though, they slide right in. I have moonclips for a different 6-shot revolver, and it's a much easier operation...

Moon clipped 627s can load very fast indeed as many an ICORE enthusiast can attest.

That said, .38 / .357 moon clips are extremely brass sensitive. You need to buy the proper moons for the brass you intend to use. .38 / .357 moons are also fragile and easily bent in the rigors of daily carry. A subtly bent moon clip can be inserted and the cylinder closed, but then cause the cartridges to bind on the recoil shield and tie up the gun. In my opinion, the best use of .38 / .357 moon clips in a carry gun is in the initial load to take advantage of the positive extraction. Reloads should be carried in far more durable speed loaders.

Much good advice in this thread.

I love moon clips for fast extraction and reload -- fastest there is for me. I carry a spare in my pants pocket and have for years without ever bending one, and I regularly check function at the range.

I think the biggest cause for warping and bending the thin moon clip steel is trying to load or unload them by hand or with jerry-built tools. Buy a BMT Mooner or Moon Clip Tool and treat the clips right.

imashooter2 is also quite correct about purchasing the correctly sized moon clips for your ammo of choice; this will drastically reduce problems with shaky rounds.

Moonclips for a carry gun are fragile and relatively bulky. A speedstrip goes in my pocket for my 342.

Love moonclips for my match guns. 625s aren't finicky about moonclips. 627s are. Hearthco or TK Customs' EDMed moonclips for the brass you're using.

Thanks to all for some good information on moon clips. I have never used them but have considered using them.

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