Moonclip outer diameter .38/9mm

[skipnsb]

Is the outer diameter of the .38 moonclip different from the 9mm?

If I buy a PC gun that is already cut for 38 moonclips, will the 9mm moonclip fit, or be larger or smaller?

or, why can't I buy a moonclipped PC revolver and have the cylinder reamed for 9mm etc.? thanks

 

[Ignatz]

The 9mm moonclip is thicker (.035"-.040"). So the repair shop reams out the charge holes to 9mm and then does something to allow the "new" thicker 9mm moonclip to enter the cylinder deeper. Its not much, but something else is done.

The moonclip diameters are identical between my mooncliped 6 shot 586 that fires 38's and my 586 cylinder that's mooncliped 9mm.

TK Custom does a great job.

 

[skipnsb]

So that is it

I did not realize the depth of the cut was deeper for 9mm. Thank you for that answer.

 

[Bosshoss]

The diameter of moonclips vary from different manufactures.
Nothing needs done to the back of the cylinder. The difference between the thickness of 357 and 9mm moonclips is due to the difference between the thickness of the the rims of a 9mm and 357.
I shoot 38 short colt out of 9mm 929 all the time. Different thickness moonclips, still same recoil shield clearance.

 

[Ignatz]

I too shoot Colt short out of my 929. I use the .025" TK moonclips for Starline brass.
The wife's 929 uses 9mm Federal/Winchester brass with TK (.040") moonclips.
The outer diameter of TK Customs .040" 9mm moonclip is larger than the .025" moonclip for the 627 using Starline brass. The 9mm moonclip will not drop in the recess of the 627 mooncliped cylinder. The 929 has no recess.
That's the other machining that has to get done to fire a 9mm round with a 9mm moonclip in a 627.
I wanted to have a spare 627 reamed out to 9mm and thought TK could just ream out the cylinders, but the recess diameter has to be made larger.
My Colt short that is shot out of my 929 would fire in the 627 if it was reamed out to 9mm, but my wifes 9mm moonlips wouldn't drop in, unless the recess diameter is opened up.
My 586 moonclips between TK 9mm and Colt short have a .003"-.004" diameter difference, but the 929 and 627 moonclips are around .034" different. That's a lot larger.
Now I understand better why its more than just reaming out the cylinders., Thanks

 

[Bosshoss]

That is why I said different manufactures have different diameters clips. Revolver Supply clips will fit inside the recess. I have cleared a few cylinders for customers that had a large number of TK clips that wanted to use any clip.
BTW you can take a belt sander and take a little off each leg of the TK clips until they fit. Like you said it doesn't take much.