moonclips needed?

[LL617]

Have the opportunity to get a Pro Series 686 plus. It comes with moon clips. I have been told these clips substitute for speedloaders and that one can fire .38 ammo through the revolver without using the moonclips.

The instruction manual is vague.

I would shoot a lot of .38SP through this to save money on the practice range. Do I have to use the moon clips?

 

[Alnamvet68]

No you don't; you may find yourself shooting your gun more without moonclips since they (the moonclip) are easy to bend/damage, rendering them useless.

 

[The Highlander]

The moonclips make a great speed loader but are not required. I shoot mine without, and reserve the clips for defensive rounds and reloads. No difference using .357's or .38's with these guns. But if you shoot .38's in any .357, clean it well after shooting to prevent difficulty chambering the longer .357's due to powder and crud building up.

 

[LL617]

Thank you for your quick responses!

I am going to see if there is a tool for the moon clips; until then I won't use them.

 

[wantmoresmiths]

There are other moon clip tools out there but this is by far the best. Remember, this tool both loads and unloads your moonclips. When you buy any of the other tools, you need to buy a separate unloading tool or make one. BMT Equipped, Inc. You will need the L38-7.

 

[rwsmith]

Already machined

Nice that your model's cylinder is already machined to take moon clips. The only shortfall in my old 686 is that you have to send it to a machine shop ($100-$150) so that it will take the clips. It would be neat to have the option of using the clips.

 

[BobR1]

Just wondering which Dash Number is your 686?

Is it a 6 shot, or a 7 shooter?

Thanks

Bob