Moonclips

[JohnnieB]

Discovered two things this morning.
1/ A mooncliping tool saves fingers, thumbs and moonclips. (Don't ask how I know )
2/ The cedar box Amoroso Maduro 7x50 cigars come in holds exactly 25 loaded .45acp moonclips.

Now if it would only warm up and dry off enough to get out to the range and empty them.

The river crested today at only two feet above above flood stage and is going down, and it was 64 on the back porch at noon, so it shouldn't be long.

 

[dd698]

I use the vinyl ones purchased from Brownells. Try them you will like them. Mine are used in a 625 45acp revolver. Rounds press in and out with your fingers

 

[scooter123]

The clips for my 610 are very easy to load by hand. Somebody got smart with the 10mm clips and put a relief cut between each chamber position, so the clips don't have to compress the adjacent round and the tension areas are also thinner.

Been thinking about getting a 625 and that will probably push me into getting a proper setup, however right now the 610 is easy peezy. Just wish that S&W had continued production for just one more year because I'd really like to get a 4 inch 610 to go with my 6 1/2 610.

 

[roundgunner]

Just wish that S&W had continued production for just one more year because I'd really like to get a 4 inch 610 to go with my 6 1/2 610.

You can still get them.

Be ready to part with about $700 :-(

 

[scooter123]

Please tell me where, I've been watching them on gunbroker from time to time and recently every auction I've seen has gone over 1200 bucks. IMO 700 dollars is a bargain for a 4 inch 610.

 

[mwtdvm]

610 4"

We are splitting hairs here but I was "corrected" as the 4" is actually 3 7/8". Still it's one of my "grail guns" and safely in my safe....

 

[K&Nframe]

My local dealer got me this one last year. It was brand new from his distributor.

Kevin

 

[Dale53]

I have two 625's. I used the polymer RIMZ clips for range use but have Ranch Products steel clips for more serious work. JohnnieB, you are absolutely correct. Having moon clip tools for steel clips is a MUST! I prefer the Brownell's screwdriver type for de-mooning and for mooning my choice is the Deluxe Moon Clip Tool:

Deluxe Moon Clip Tool

Some brands of .45 ACP brass are harder to load and unload than others. These two tools work well REGARDLESS of the brand of brass.

Dale53

 

[XTrooper]

That Deluxe Moon Clip Tool linked to by Dale53 works great and makes loading and unloading your moon clips a breeze. I bought mine through Dillon Precision.

Highly recommended!

 

[5Wire]

That Deluxe Moon Clip Tool linked to by Dale53 works great and makes loading and unloading your moon clips a breeze. I bought mine through Dillon Precision.

Highly recommended!

Same here!

I have an old one. No manufacturer's mark, patent, just the tool itself.

 

[ExMachina1]

to load by hand all you need is something that fits inside the center hole that you can get some leverage on (short pipe, tool handle, dowel, etc)

to load:
1)finger press 2 rounds into one side and then 2 into the other (these go in easy because there are not neighboring rounds on both sides)
2)repeat for all the clips you want to load
3)then put your remaining loose rounds on their side on your bench and, using whatever lever you like (i used the hexagonal handle of a punch), load the last two rounds by holding the clip and pressing down and into into the rim of a round on the bench.

with a little practice, this method is faster than using the deluxe tool (i timed myself against the youtube video! )

 

[5Wire]

to load by hand all you need is something that fits inside the center hole that you can get some leverage on (short pipe, tool handle, dowel, etc)...with a little practice, this method is faster than using the deluxe tool (i timed myself against the youtube video! )

That's great and no doubt true but I would still prefer one tool to two tools for dealing with moonclips. Moreover, with no practice, it's quick & easy.

 

[JohnnieB]

Old hands & New moonclips + muscle/nerve atrophy in left arm/hand, so I got the Deluxe Moon Clip Tool shown in the link Dale43 posted.

Only real complaint, the arbor kept coming loose until I "lubricated" the threads with some of SWMBO's nail polish.

The de-mooning loop is awkward for me to use, so I'm thinking about making one out of a piece of PVC or Copper tubing with 18" or so of clear flex tubing attached so I can collect the empty brass in a bucket instead of chasing them all over the place. (To give credit where credit is due - This is the same trick Lee uses for spent primers on their hollow ram presses)

After discovering it was next to impossible for me to load moon clips by hand, I tried making an arbor with a bolt and washer and squeezed two rounds in at a time with a pair of channel-lock pliers with leather tie-wrapped over the teeth. It worked, but was a bit of a juggling act so I bought a commercial product and was very glad I did the first time I tried it.

Personally, I view plastic moon clips through the same eyes as I view plastic guns. They have their place, but that place doesn't happen to be in my house.

BTW - The moon clips are for a new 625JM that followed me home a couple weeks ago and I haven't got to shoot it yet because the range is too wet and muddy to get to the firing line, much less get downrange to hang targets, and it's still raining and the river is still rising.

 

[ExMachina1]

That's great and no doubt true but I would still prefer one tool to two tools for dealing with moonclips. Moreover, with no practice, it's quick & easy.

not disparaging the tool at all. only saying that it's not necessary and that if you ever find yourself with out it, there's an easy way to load a lot of clips fast.

 

[ExMachina1]

The de-mooning loop is awkward for me to use, so I'm thinking about making one out of a piece of PVC or Copper tubing with 18" or so of clear flex tubing attached so I can collect the empty brass in a bucket instead of chasing them all over the place

that's what i do. about of a foot of 1/2" copper pipe with a cutout on one end to do the de-mooning. cases fall right through and into a collection bag.

 

[5Wire]

not disparaging the tool at all...

Understood, another easy way.

 

[JohnnieB]

that's what i do. about of a foot of 1/2" copper pipe with a cutout on one end to do the de-mooning. cases fall right through and into a collection bag.

What's the OD of the copper pipe you use?

 

[ExMachina1]

What's the OD of the copper pipe you use?

it's just standard 1/2" copper pipe (so OD=5/8" I think)

 

[Rolan_Kraps]

I use the Moonsetter to set them and a demooner tool.

If you'd have an extra one of those cigar boxes I could put it to good use.

I've got a lot to load...

 

[exfebee]

JohnnieB,

Heres all you need. Copper pipe is available at any hardware store in plumbing section. Copper is getting more expensive. I make mine 6" long & use the 1/2" pipe. Nothing any bigger. There's 2 thicknesses - either works fine. Cut off 1/2 - 2/3 of the pipe diameter - 1/4" down. Just slide pipe up empty & "roll" empty out down the pipe. Do it in your sleep.
Carl

 

[ExMachina1]

JohnnieB,

Heres all you need. Copper pipe is available at any hardware store in plumbing section. Copper is getting more expensive. I make mine 6" long & use the 1/2" pipe. Nothing any bigger. There's 2 thicknesses - either works fine. Cut off 1/2 - 2/3 of the pipe diameter - 1/4" down. Just slide pipe up empty & "roll" empty out down the pipe. Do it in your sleep.
Carl

nice pics. that's pretty much exactly what i use (though yours is prettier)

one thing that i like to do--if you mount something like this on a solid platform (like gently in a vice on a workbench), you can put a collection bucket directly underneath and de-moon like crazy!

 

[JohnnieB]

......If you'd have an extra one of those cigar boxes I could put it to good use......

Nice handcannon(s). Is that one wearing two different sets of grips or two very similar loooking revolvers?

I would like to oblige but, SWMBO & her hen party commandos are into Arts & Crafts and either makes things out of them or use the wood for other projects, so I had to risk life and limb to "rescue" the one I've got.

Check with local stores that sell cigars, they might have some empties if the Arts & Crafts scroungers haven't beat you to them. Boxes that held 20 or 25 cigars in the 50 ring gauge range (50/64 inch diameter) two rows deep are about the right depth for loaded .45acp moon clips with a bit of padding on top and bottom.

Since cigars are fragile, the boxes are fairly sturdy and most of the ones that are paper covered are made of wood. The paper covered boxes don't have clasps holding the top closed, but the clasps are more decorative than functional anyway, so a couple of heavy rubber bands are needed to keep top closed.

FWIW - Loaded 6 round moon clips are hexagons rather than circles, so they'll pack in a honeycomb pattern.

John

 

[Combat_Diver]

Found this here a while ago. Another verison of whats posted already. I need to make on when I get home for my 442 Pro moonclips.

CD

 

[JohnnieB]

Thanks for all the great information provided.

It's still raining here, so going to the range isn't possible, but looking at the brighter side, I've got time to go down to the hardware store and get some 1/2" ID Pipe/tubing (copper, brass, SS, or PVC) and break out a hacksaw and files to make a demooner so I'll be prepared when it finally does dry out.