moon clip preference?

[bob finger]

I'll soon be ordering a semi large quantity of moon clips for a 625 in 45acp. This will be my first adventure with moon clips.

In your experience is there a "preferred" moon clip? I'm partial to Wilson Combat, as a vendor. My mind is open. Thanks in advance and Merry Christmas. bob

 

[sabashimon]

Check out the Rimz 25.
No tools required. In my opinion they can’t be beat.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

The 45acp and the 625 is very forgiving and most combinations do fine. Rimz get high praise and TK Customs are not necessarily expensive for the blue steel. The Wilson Combats are cheap too.

 

[sabashimon]

Don’t the Wilson’s require an extracting tool?

 

[Rpg]

I buy the least expensive available. My limit is $.50 each.

Never had a problem with the cheap, no-name moon clips: certainly no reason to buy more expensive moon clips.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

Don’t the Wilson’s require an extracting tool?

If your a pansy. No, seriously it’s not required but a luxury.

 

[AK103]

My 625 seems to be picky. Some of the TK clips I have seem to work OK, some others just dont want to work at all.

The plastic/polymer clips I tried didnt want to go on the gun, with or without rounds in them.

The clips that work best for me, are the nickeled Revolver Supply clips.

Funny thing is, all of them work just fine, without issue, in my old 1917.

 

[FlyFish]

My favorite moon clip for my Mod. 25-2 is .45 Auto Rim.

 

[Lou_the_welder]

I use wilson combat moonclips for the 25-2 .
I'm not convinced on the plastic clips for them.

 

[tlawler]

My 625 seems to be picky. Some of the TK clips I have seem to work OK, some others just dont want to work at all.

The plastic/polymer clips I tried didnt want to go on the gun, with or without rounds in them.

The clips that work best for me, are the nickeled Revolver Supply clips.

Funny thing is, all of them work just fine, without issue, in my old 1917.

I have the same issue. Most of my clips are TK and I have a few that my 625 doesn’t like, but they work ok in my 1917.

 

[Screwball]

Mine are TK... which S&W sells. Specifically, the .45s.

My 9mm J-frame are actual S&W.

No issues with either.

 

[nutsforsmiths]

I use 45 Auto Rim 90% of the time. If not, I've been using the Wilson Combat ones for years with no issues. I do have a Brownell's extraction tool.

 

[Pizza Bob]

Part of the beauty of the 625 is that they don't require the $4 to $7 moon clips. I have a number of Smiths in .45 ACP and I use Ranch Products moon clips exclusively. Last batch I bought (100) was $35. Probably gone up some since then, but I doubt they'll exceed $.50/ea.With the .45 ACP a little cartridge jiggle actually facilitates loading (assuming 230 gr ball).

Buy yourself a BMT tool and you'll be set for life. You can thank me later.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[Honest-Ab]

My favorite moon clip for my Mod. 25-2 is .45 Auto Rim.

I too prefer the Auto Rim for my 25-2. A bit pricy, but much easier than wrestling with moon clips

 

[robvious]

I will second Pizza Bob - Ranch work fine... and also add Rimz for range time at the bench as well..

 

[StrawHat]

I shoot a variety of S&W ACP revolvers that span a 100 year time frame. Ranch Products moon clips have worked in all of them. (I believe Ranch was the original manufacturer of the modern moon clip.) The fact they are the best price is icing on the cake.

Kevin

 

[cmansguns]

if steel full moons - watch for thickness

I'll for sure agree with Pizza Bob....get a BMT tool...you'll love it!

My Model 25-2 was real finicky with plastic moons using factory 230 gr. ball ammo of any brand.

I found varying thickness in some steel full moons, but they mostly all work very good, with original S&W full moons being best and most reliable for no light primer strikes, or FTF.

For details see a thread titled "Model 25 ACP questions" started by Member "sixscrew" on 11-06-2020 at 06:59 PM. Scroll down to my post (#19) in that thread titled "some moon clip thickness issues", posted on 11-07-2020 at 09:25 AM.

Good Luck with your gun...they are for sure much more fun when you spend your range time shooting instead of picking/pushing empties, or fumbling with loading/unlaoding moon clips.

 

[BigMuddy]

I’m another fan of RIMZ. There are two styles, one rather flimzy and a heavier duty version. Both work well, but the lighter one is for range use only for me. Haven’t used a steel clip since I found them and my M22-4 is one of my favorite guns to shoot now.

My gun came with 5 Wilson clips that worked fine. Purchased a tool to load and de-moon the clips and 20 more of the Wilson’s. NONE of the new Wilson clips would work. They all had burrs on one side that had to be filed and polished off. That spring steel didn’t file and polish easily��. If I had only tried the RIMZ first.

Dan

 

[sctman800]

Wilson Combat here also with a loading and demooning tool. Nice and cheap I have enough I can shoot an entire IDPA match with preloaded clips. Jim.

 

[sodacan]

I use the clips from Revolver Supply. They work in all of my 45acp guns (pre-25, pre-26, 1917, 625-2 and a Colt 1917) and with every make of ammo I've used. If you're really into using moonclips, consider buying a BMT tool. Worth every penny.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
I have a "few" 45acp revolvers .
Get the tools [or make them it is easy]
Bulk order the moon clips[cheaper] from ranch products.
RIMZ clips are fine for the range as they are loaded with fingers.[but not for carry!!!!!]
Get a/some old speed loader pouches for N-frame.
Most will hold 2 clips [short cartridges, no twist knob].
AND Ranch Products makes a 2 round clip [1/3 moon]
that fits flat in pocket, or drop pouch, some loops, 2x2x2 pouch, etc,
Great for CCW.....
Ps the m-25,325,625 , and M-22 will shoot 45acp,+p and super.
Shot loads and some have even shot 45GAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JudgeDee451]

I currently have three calibers that use moon clips and had a fourth at one time. I've used moon clips from several vendors and my favorites, except for the cost, are those from TK Custom. Most clips from other makers are stamped out of sheet metal but TK's are cut using EDM. They are also made in two thicknesses for use with different brands of brass. This is nice because by matching the clip and the brass the round don't flop around in the clip which makes for more rapid reloads. They're pricey but if you take even moderate care with them they will last longer than speedloaders.

As for tools, using decent mooner/demooner tools will let you do the job with less risk of bending a clip or getting a finger cut to the bone. Trust me on that.

 

[bluelund79]

I’m a fan of Speed Beez moon clips for my 625. They work well for me.

 

[sabashimon]

..........
RIMZ clips are fine for the range as they are loaded with fingers.[but not for carry!!!!!].......

Actually the heavier duty Rimz 25’s are absolutely fine for carry. I have trained with them, taken top level and arduous courses with them and without a doubt trust my life and those of my loved ones with them.
Each to their own, but for the uninitiated and the curious, specify the 25’s and you’ll be good to go.

 

[CH4]

For range use Rimz is king. No tool needed. For carry I use new metal clips from TK et al.

 

[StrawHat]

Actually the heavier duty Rimz 25’s are absolutely fine for carry. I have trained with them, taken top level and arduous courses with them and without a doubt trust my life and those of my loved ones with them.
Each to their own, but for the uninitiated and the curious, specify the 25’s and you’ll be good to go.

Thank you for posting this. I was not aware there were two versions. I have not researched them b sides when they first appeared. Back then they were not very robust and would spit rounds if dropped. Good to know they have improved the design.

I have several hundred from Ranch Products so I doubt I will replace them but the design is interesting.

Kevin

 

[steelslaver]

If you hate "wrestling" with moon clips your doing it all wrong. A good demoon tool and a moon clip loader and lots of clips is the only way to go.
I think I have 5 45acp revolvers, over 100 clips, thousands of 45acps and brass. ZERO auto rims

I go to the range with a bunch of loaded clips, come home with empty brass in clips. Set down with one of these

slide it over a case and a twist pops out the brass, which drops though the tube into a can, 6 twists in a few seconds and the empty clip goes in a small container. In a few minutes I have brass and clips separated. Insert loaded rounds into clips with one of theses

and I am ready to go shooting again.

Way easier and faster than loading magazines for my 1911

 

[Jack Flash]

Back when I was doing it on the cheap, I would use a strip of cloth to loop over a spent cartridge and pull outward. Slow but it worked fine. I have read that others will brace an ammo can so it doesn't move and use one corner to hold the case so they can pull it free from the clip. The spent round falls into the ammo can.

For loading, I just put the fresh cartridge on a wooden bench and push the clip onto it. That works ok.

I agree with Steelslaver - if you consider loading moon clips "wrestling", don't ever buy a pistol with double stack magazines.

For ease of loading / unloading, you may want to try 1/3 moon clips as Groo has suggested:

 

[steelslaver]

I carry the 1/2 moons for reloads for my 325 carry gun. flatter in your pocket. I have a few double clips that look like 2 back to back U s. They are OK but not that much flatter to carry around than r
the 1/2 moons

 

[sabashimon]

Pursuant to our conversation here I have been in contact with Denny Bennett proprietor of EZ Moon (Rimz), and specifically asked him regarding EDC with his Rimz 25’s, and promptly received this response.......

Hi Shimon,
You are correct, the RIMZ 625 is strictly for the RANGE and the RIMZ 25 is for concealed carry and combat.
As you know a RIMZ 625 when dropped will lose a round but the RIMZ 25 when thrown against a brick wall will not lose a round.
All of this, FOR THOSE WHO DOUBT MY WORD, is on my website in the form of a video of me dropping a RIMZ 25 moon clip fully loaded on a hard surface and staying in tact.
Thank you for the kind words and may your 2021 be prosperous and healthy.
your pal
Denny