Advice requested re: .45 acp half moon clips

[Bando]

re: Model 25-2, made circa 1972.
I am a retired Detroit Police Officer and for four decades wanted to own the above-captioned weapon. I finally
bought a used one, in like-new condition. I need advice
regarding half moon clips.
Today I fired the weapon for the first time and I need to know if the clips are supposed to be re-usable or are they discarded after one use? Reason I ask, is the clips are breaking in half when I try to remove the spent casings. Also want advice re: full-moon clips-are they any better? I've heard they exist but do not own any and have never even seen one.
Btw, I also tried some generic brand half moons, which are thicker and sturdier than the S&W brand clips, but they are so thick that they seem to impede the rotation of the cylinder.
Thanks in advance for any experienced advice on this subject.
Mark Bando patrol officer Detroit PD 1974-1999, badge #3462.

 

[Jack Flash]

Half-moon clips are a little fragile and are easy to bend. I have never broken any myself, but I try to be pretty gentle with them. No doubt they were designed to be used once and thrown away, being used in a combat revolver and all.

Full-moon clips are more robust to be sure. Ranch Products makes and sells them. A company named Rimz makes a plastic version. I have experience with Ranch Products clips and they are fine.

RP also makes a third-moon clip, which holds two rounds. These are my favorite since they are pretty easy to load and unload just with your fingers. You can order these directly from RP or from MidwayUSA.com.

Here's an illustration of the three types:

 

[Bando]

Thanks

Appreciate the info Jack, many thanks for the swift reply. MB

 

[michael thornton]

i think you would like the full moon clips better, i made some de mooners out of 1/2 hot water pipe, make it long enough to hold six emptys works like a charm

 

[Ernie]

I have been using the full moon clips for some time. They seem to be pretty robust and I have not broken any - yet. I don't use them enough to master the technique of loading/unloading them. I know there are some very good moon clip tolls available; haven't bought one yet.

 

[sctman800]

I have a S&W 625JM and have only used full moon clips, either S&W or Wilson Combat. There are other brands of steel full moon clips and they are probably fine I just haven't used any of them. I have heard good and bad about "Rimz" I just like the steel well enough to not look any farther.
I found this tool: Dillon Precision: Reloaders, Reloading Equipment, Bullet Reloading, Bullet Reloaders

Not cheap but I love it for loading the clips but I don't much care for reloading with it. Brownells sells a good unloader that looks like a hollow screwdriver that works great. This type is also easy to make, I used a piece of copper pipe. That is 1/2" rigid copper pipe not tubing. Hope that helps, Jim.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

If you reload, you might want to try 45 Auto Rims. I shoot them in my 1917s instead of 45ACP. If your 25 has clearance for moon clips, it has clearance for the thicker rims of 45AR. They were designed to be ejected by the S&W ejector without needing the clips. By the way, you should also be able to chamber and fire 45ACP without needing the clips at all. At least I can in my 1917s. The ACP round headspaces on the case mouth and the only thing the clip does is provide something for the ejector to shove.

 

[glenncal1]

20-Pack .45 Acp Full Moon Clips, Pistol Ammunition, Scherer at Sportsman's Guide

get a loading tool (I use mine mostly for unloading). I load a 100 rounds or so while watching TV the night before a range trip. Toss the empty cases still in the clips in my shooting bag. Empty the clips while watching football. Adult beverages during loading and unloading are optional, but I prefer Guinness while loading mine

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum, Bando.

Send me a PM with your home address and I'll mail you a few full moon clips.

I was a LEO for 25 years in Alabama and then did 5 years working in Kosovo and Afghanistan, training police officers.

 

[Andy Taylor]

I have a M625 that came with 2 pair of half moon clips. I have used them a little, but much prefer the S&W brand full moons that I have purchased. Never tried the 1/3 moons, but people speak well of them. I use a spent .308 casing as a demooner and it works fine on empties. Haven't yet found a good way to demoon unfired rounds, but that has never been a priority. Never felt the need to get a tool to load the clips. One day I supose I will get some sort of tool, just to see why they are so popular.

I keep meaning to try the RIMZ plastic clips. I have heard that they are easier to load an unload, but can be a bit loose, so best to keep them for range use only.

 

[sunday bill]

Bando, If you're into loading in a hurry, it's hard to beat some variation of the full moon and fraction of a moon clips mentioned above.

In my experience, for unloading steel clips, either a shooter-modified piece of tubing or another de-mooner of some sort is a great help. Got one from Brownell's that works just like the tubing, looks at a glance like a stout-shanked screwdriver, and saves everything from barked knuckles and bent clips to religion.

Rimz are my favorite clips at the range as they finger-load and unload easily. As said above, the range is probably where they shine, though.

If you're in to accuracy rather than loading in a hurry, I believe the Auto Rim brass that Driftwood mentioned may offer an edge in some guns. I can't provide data as proof at this point, but I recently noticed that most .45 revolver "keeper" groups (fired from a Colt 1917, an S&W Brazilian, a Pre-26, and a 625) on the wall in the loading room were shot using Auto Rim brass.

 

[Bando]

Thanks to all for your input

I've heard somewhere that using auto rims can sometimes result in misfires from shallow primer contact-any truth to that?
Strangely enough I had two misfires the other day, using half moons in my 25-2, with standard acp ammo. Upon inspection,
both misfire primers had shallow dents in them. This was relatively new factory ammo, not reloads.
Anyhow, not a desirable scenario if in a self-defense situation.

Note to Gil- We have something else in common, I have been to Afghanistan twice, not as a trainer but doing research on my 8th book, about the new band of brothers (506th IN)-I write books about the 101st in WWII and have a website you might enjoy looking at: TRIGGER TIME - 101st Airborne WW2
Click on any of the green icons and they will take you into chapters full of info, photos and stories.
I went to A-stan (Kandahar area) in April 2008 and again in October, 2010. Cheers, MB

 

[Fletchman]

Double Tap ammo sells new 45 auto rim ammo. I was looking at their 45acp and came across their auto rim ammo.

 

[one eye joe]

Hey Bando, Welcome to the Forum. Do yourself a BIG favor and get yourself some RIMZ moonclips. They are NOT metal, made of some poly material, do not break or lose their shape, retain the ammo securely--even when dropped, easy to load/unload WITHOUT tools, easy on the fingers, and are reasonably priced. I have MS and arthritis, have lost most of my manual dexterity, so I find these full moonclips to be a God send. Dennis, the owner and originator of this fantastic product, is a great guy to boot. Buy with confidence, you WON'T be sorry. (NAAAH--I'm not his relative, lol) http://www.ezmoonclip.com/

 

[LEO918]

Bando,welcome home from a fellow 25-2 shooter. I made my de-mooner from an old golf club handle. It works great and cost nothing to make.

 

[dirt1933]

moon clips in 45 long colt revolver

I have a colt 1909 45 LC with cylinders bored through for longer case. Can I use clips on 45 ACP shells safely in this weapon if the loads are reduced for lower pressure??

 

[Bodabi]

I'm new here also and the moon clip post got my attention.
I have a model 22 and at first the metal moon clip thing really turned me off. I used copper tubing and other devices to de-moon. Then I discovered the Rimz plastic clips. They have worked fine. Some break prematurely, but the ease of use makes it worthwhile. I got mine from Brownell's. I keep several packets on hand.
Haven't used auto rim ammo enough to comment on but I know it isn't very common.

 

[Muley Gil]

"I have a colt 1909 45 LC with cylinders bored through for longer case. Can I use clips on 45 ACP shells safely in this weapon if the loads are reduced for lower pressure??"

Maybe. I have a .45 Colt New Service that has enough headspace to chamber a full moon clip clip full of .45 ACPs.