Moon Clip issues M1988 625-2

[Sandman4delta]

I love my Model of 1988 5 inch. However I had not shot it a lot until today. And even then it was not that much, 24 rounds.
The last time we were out there were no issues, but this time I encountered some difficulty with some of the moon clips.

Today, two of them caused the revolver to be very sticky and not turn without assistance.
I have no idea of the brand of any of the dozens of clips I have.
They are all metal, and loaded into the cylinder fully with no resistance. Both of these clips have functioned in other revolvers.

So here are my questions: Can some clips (that are not obviously bent) be so out of spec as to bind up a revolver?

Would a simple stone lapping to knock off roughness and smooth off a couple thousandths improve their function?

When loaded a full moon will show the rounds either slightly pointed to center or away. I have been loading them pointed to center.
Does that make a difference?

Can a particular gun be overly sensitive to out of spec clips?

Moving forward I plan to take every loaded clip that I plan to use and load it in the cylinder to make sure it spins free in the closed revolver. Just kind of a hassle.

Hopefully a pre-check will help identify the clips that don't cooperate.
But your comments will help me on how to address the suspect clips rather than just trashing them.

Thanks for any help!

Sandman

 

[madmikeb]

I have shot many hundreds of rounds with moon clips, both rimless and rimmed cartridges. The only time I have encountered an issue with clips binding is if they get bent. Even if they don't appear bent the test I use is to lay them on a piece of glass and any bending will be obvious. It doesn't take much to throw them out of spec and bind things up!

There should be some "jiggle" in the cartridges once the clips are loaded, are you using the same brass you were using before?

After I load the clips I always test them in the gun before a match by pulling back on the hammer enough to drop the cylinder stop, then make sure the cylinder spins freely.

 

[CRT2]

In 2022 I received this response to a similar question about clips.

".041 is on the heavy side. I just checked the clips I have in my desk for my carry 325 and they are .0355

45 acp nominal rim thickness is .049 and a .041 clip and you are at .090 and zero headspace if your gun measures .090

I just checked my 325 and Brazilian I happen to have out and I could just get .093 between cylinder and recoil shield on both.

I suspect you have a gun with the very min of headspace and slightly thick clips and or rims. I have 1/2 a dozen acp revolvers and over 100 clips and have never had a problem except for a very rare bent clip."

 

[Rpg]

Folks forget that moon clips are fungible bits of equipment originally intended to be used once or twice and then discarded.

If you've got some that don't work in even one of your revolvers, throw them away. They only cost a dollar or two.

 

[Lou_the_welder]

I've never thrown a 45s moonclip away. They've lasted forever .

The only thing one must know, is to mount the flat side to the primer. Round side to the cylinder.

I've only had one hang up to date on a 45 and it was the ammo.

 

[StrawHat]

I've never thrown a 45s moonclip away. They've lasted forever .
…

Like Lou_the_Welder, I have been using moon clips for a rather long time. Nearly 50 years. I have always used Ranch Products version. They were the original producers of the full moon clip for S&W. The only problems I had were with poorly sized ammunition or bent fingers. I now have a tool to easily fix bent moon clips.

Kevin

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have a Model of 1989 625 and second issue 1917 Brazilian Contract (post WWII). The majority of my 250 six shot moon clips are bulk from Brownell's. The clips get bent when loading or unloading without the better loading/unloading tools. I use as cheap as I can and have twisted dozens of clips!

I lay a slightly twisted clip on a flat/hard surface (I use a paving brick). With the "Bump" facing up the clip won't wobble. A slight rap with a 4 or 8 ounce brass hammer that removes the problem. I use an appliance touch-up pen to put a dot on the clip. When a clip has 3 dots it goes in the trash. I place every loaded clip in the cylinder and give it a spin to insure reliability. I keep close to 75 clips loaded and in a 50 cal ammo can.

For a casual walk in the woods I like the 1917, and 4 clips of my favorite SD ammo. If I'm doing some plinking a BDU shirt pocket of RNFP lead reloads are the ticket.

I save the 1989 625 for range work where I beat up on my brothers Kimber's and Wilson's 1911s!

When I first got out of high school and bought my first 45 revolver, I found one of the Army surplus stores with hundreds of the 1/2 moon clips from WWI. Those things had a totally different temper to the metal, as in nearly impossible to load and unload. However, they never bent! That was in the 1970's. You might find some at a gun show somewhere, don't pass them by even if rusty! (They clean up easy.)

Ivan

 

[jimmyj]

I mostly use the neoprene full moon clips (Ranch Products ?) easy to load and unload cartridges or empty cases.

 

[DukeSoprano]

I have that exact gun 1988, my reloads with TK moon clips .040 thick (normal for 45) gave me the same problems you have.
Even though they work perfect in my other 625-8.
You can order TK Custom 45 acp moon clips that are for a 1917.
They are .032 thick and work great

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I use full moons in the 3 ea 45acp Smiths. Never had a problem with the clip.....A HIGH PRIMER will cause the problem you having too.

 

[Sandman4delta]

So, based on the comments so far, I did some inspection, deduction and experimentation.

I identified about twenty clips that have a ridge on the backside as if the die was not perfect when they were cut.
With new ammo loaded most of them were tight, some too tight.

I stoned one of them to hone off the ridge. There was some improvement but too early to tell if it's worth the effort.

The experiment was this:

I have some 45 GAP that I got cheap and planned to use at the range anyway. So I loaded a half dozen of the out of spec clips and spun them in the gun.
They worked perfectly.
The dimension of the ACP vs GAP are supposed to be almost alike except length. But the GAP actually snapped in with less effort as if the inner dimension was just a touch smaller. Who knew?

I have enough to run a range visit anyway and
I haven't tried any of the suspicious clips in any of my others, 22-4, 25-2 etc.
They may be fine in those. (Everything about the 1988 just seems more precise)

Still interested in your comments and experiences.

Thanks!

 

[StrawHat]

I mostly use the neoprene full moon clips (Ranch Products ?) easy to load and unload cartridges or empty cases.

I am not aware of Ranch Products making anything but metal clips. I believe the neoprene moonclips are RIMZ or EZ clips.

Kevin

 

[sodacan]

I've been using moonclips from Revolver Supply for years. They have worked perfectly with all five of my 45acp revolvers by both S&W and Colt, and with every make of ammunition used. I also use a BMT tool which extends the life of the clips almost indefinitely.

 

[bananaman]

Never had an issue with moon clips. Have tools for the metal ones. Just prefer RIMZ poly moon clips for my 625JM. You need no tools for them and I never had a problem! Bob

 

[IAM Rand]

CRT2 quotes someone else about the thickness. I have a 627 that I use moon clip with. You can get them in different thicknesses. Some ammo is more difficult to put in the clip. Federal is one I think. You might go online and try to get thinner moon clips or just sand yours down a little. If the rounds wiggle a little it shouldn't be a deal breaker.

 

[Doug M.]

I can see tolerance stacking presenting a problem, but I personally don't recall any function problems with my two 45 ACP revolvers.

 

[steelslaver]

I agree with tolerance stacking being the likely problem. That and the burrs which I would remedy by placing some 220 grit sand paper on a flat surface and rubbing the clips burrs off on it

But a gun with minimum head space, some clips that are maximum thickness using ammo with slightly thick heads and you would have binding.

.040 clips are on the thick side. I have a hundred or so and most are .035-.038, but I have never measured them all. I have several acp guns and never had that problem. YET

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

HECK..........I even use 1/2 moon clips with no problems.

 

[MikeR90S]

I have a 625-3 that had an ejector machined with visible ridges between the bores that would not allow a moon clip to sit flush. It was fine with the half moons it shipped with.

 

[KurtC]

The 625 Model of 1988 has a floating hand. Any minor anomaly with the clips or cartridges will cause an irregular double action trigger pull.