Moon clips hard to load into cylinder question

[kwikrnu]

I just got a new 327pc revolver today. I've never used moon clips before. I loaded the s&w clips just fine. The problem is that the bullets won't slide into the cylinder without playing around with them for 10-30 seconds. Is this normal for a new gun? I always hear how moon clips make for quick reloads, but I could reload the cylinder twice as fast as this without the clips.

 

[kwikrnu]

I just got a new 327pc revolver today. I've never used moon clips before. I loaded the s&w clips just fine. The problem is that the bullets won't slide into the cylinder without playing around with them for 10-30 seconds. Is this normal for a new gun? I always hear how moon clips make for quick reloads, but I could reload the cylinder twice as fast as this without the clips.

 

[m657]

I've only been using moon clips for about a year. There's a couple things I have learned:

1) it ain't as easy as it looks;
2) practice makes it go better;
3) I had my 625 chamfered which helped a LOT;
4) tiny maladjustments in the mounting of the brass into their slot can cause problems.

I don't know if it's 'standard practice' but I've started checking all mine out at home, loading them up for a match, and slipping the entire clip into the cylinder BEFORE going to the range to confirm.

Sometimes I have to work the get the brass loose enough to rotate easily in the clip itself. During that process I have learned how to spot those little alignment glitches.

Don't know what I'm missing either.

It IS easier to load the fiber ones than the metal clips; but I broke several of those (RIMZ) in the process and didn't buy any more.

Also, my 627 is a LOT more finicky than the 6 shot moonclip is. I've found 38 special seems to be easier too than 357 length.

Please post whatever other tips you learn. I'm curious too.

Hope you find more tips.

 

[t0066jh]

I'm new to moon reloading also. I ended up sending my cylinder off to Clark Custom guns (Jerry Miculek's inlaws)to have it chamfered. They did it fast and charged $35...great deal compared to others.
Doing a lot of dry fire practice, I'm begining to grab the loaded moon with a finger on top of a cartridge that I guide into a charge hole. The whole moon then seems to fall right in. Taking that to competition is the next objective.

Joe

 

[bsp212]

The big 6 round .45acp moon clips seem to almost fall in place on a chamferred 625. The 327/627's are a little difficult, but you have to consider you are trying to load 8 longer, lighter rounds into the cylinder.

I have my j-frame moon-clipped too - it's not as easy as a 625, but better than fumbling with individual rounds. Plus, they stay together nice and neat in my pocket for extra ammo when I'm carrying it.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

I have a 9mm 686 and a standard 686 cut for moons and they are great. The big thing is brass in the 357 and 38, Federal and Shooting Star are the best to use. The other brands are a pain to load if you can. Practice is a big thing to, the 45 should fall in like they are being sucked up. The 9mm isn't picky on brass, it will eat anything.

 

[David Sinko]

Generally speaking, rimmed revolver cartridges can be problematic when moonclipped. At the very least, your expensive moonclips will be case brand sensitive. If you try to mix and match headstamps you will likely have problems.

In my experience, .45 ACP will work with any and all brass mixed together and is absolutely reliable and trouble free. I haven't had problems with 9mm either, other than some sticky extraction in a 940. My .38 Super 627-4 was case brand sensitive in all moonclips I tried, and using a clean burning powder helped greatly. I briefly played around with a moonclipped .45 Colt, but the conversion itself was a failure and I gave up on it. I didn't care for the necessarily thin mooclips either, which is something you have to tolerate with the rimmed cartridges.

Dave Sinko

 

[OKFC05]

With a properly prepped cylinder, the .45 ACP and .40 S&W just zip into the cylinder. Really fast and easy, and popular in competition.

For the rimmed cartridges, you've got a problem, and you've really got to want it to make it work.
Personally, I wouldn't give 12 cents for the moon-clip .357 jobs I've seen on the range. I can go faster with Safariland Comp 3 speed loaders.

 

[WC145]

Seems odd to me it would be so difficult, I'm sure having the holes chamfered would help although 8 long rounds wiggling around might be tough to wrangle. I had my 9mm 360 using moonclips and the holes are chamfered and the rounds drop right in but they're a lot shorter and don't move around as much.

 

[H Richard]

No one has asked yet, but what type bullet are you using? A SWC has a shoulder that will make it nearly impossible to use the clips. You are best served with a round nose, or a truncated cone shape bullet.

 

[kwikrnu]

That is the problem. I was trying to use the clips with some 125gr semi jacketed hp remmingtons. The rims were catching on the cylinders. I tried some winchester 130 gr fmj .38 specials, but the casings wouldn't fit the moon clips. I tried some 158 gr sjsp american eagle by federal and they worked great. So next time I buy ammo I'll make sure I get something compatible.

The extractor wiggles around too. The fingers I think are catching I may have to file them down a bit to make sure they aren't an obstruction.

Thanks!

 

[TSQUARED]

Check the brand of the brass you are using. Starline brass is usually very loose and Win chester brass is usually very tight. You might have to preselect the brass you are using. I use the Ranch Products moon clips and they work well with all the brands except Starline which are just too looose for comfort. Round nose bullets also provide the smoothest reloads while either plain WC or SWC will create problems for you catching on the portion of the exposed band.

Originally posted by kwikrnu:
I just got a new 327pc revolver today. I've never used moon clips before. I loaded the s&w clips just fine. The problem is that the bullets won't slide into the cylinder without playing around with them for 10-30 seconds. Is this normal for a new gun? I always hear how moon clips make for quick reloads, but I could reload the cylinder twice as fast as this without the clips.

 

[Bob R]

I'm glad you got it figured out. My one and only moonclip gun (610) sucks the rounds into the chamber like there is a vaccum. All I have to do is get close and they slide in.

I have become a big fan of moonclips.

bob

 

[Revolver King]

As far as rimmed cases go my 7 shot 686 that is moon clipped will also suck them up like a vaccume. but my 627 is quite another story. And that is one of the reasons I had one of my 627s converted to 9mm. They also will get sucked in.

 

[Buddyken2k]

I was having the same problem with my 325NG but after cleaning the cylinder, everything slides in and out without any problems.

 

[kwikrnu]

maybe another reason is because the titanium cylinder isn't as slick as steel.

 

[panamajack310]

I had a 627 and I noticed that the 8 round moon clips moved way too much to seat quickly. Now my 6 round 45acp 625 It is also like a vaccuum it is sucked in and slides out with out even having to push the ejector rod.

 

[kwikrnu]

The rod for the extractor wobbles around a bit.

Sometimes it gets hung up on the cylinder w/o seating properly.

When it does seat it still moves side to side a bit slightly blocking some of the holes slightly. I think this may be part of the problem.

I've never owned a new smith and wesson, but I thought the PC guns were supposed to have a better fit and finish than others. I had a springfield 1911 that came from their "custom shop" and fit and finish was way above this.

 

[scott625b]

My experience with the Titanium cylinders is that a nickel plated cartridge case, in my instance an S&W 646PC, works best in the Ti cylinder. The used brass cases seem to stick coming and going, but the nickel work fine. I have a stock of the .40cal Remington, once-fired cases from the CAHP.

 

[Revolver King]

I have 2 pc 627s and 3 cylinders and none of them look anywhere near as bad as yours. If that is a new gun you need to call S&W.