Need help with 8x.357/.38 moon clips!

[The Annoyed Man]

Hi, I’m not a competitor, but I thought that people who compete might be best able to inform me on this topic. I recently acquired a used but very nice condition 327 TRR8 from a friend. I will most likely carry this revolver as a sidearm while hunting, or other “field” work, but will not be carrying it as my EDC carry weapon. In addition to the gun and extras (rails, etc.), I received a half dozen moon clips, and a couple of tools.

One of the tools is a moon clip unloading tool from Revolver Supply. It totally works as advertised. I know this, because one of the moon clips that came with the gun had 7 rounds of .38 Special loaded into it, along with one loose round. Those 7 rounds came out of the moon clip easy peazy.

The other tool I received was a Ultimate Moonclip Tool, also from Revolver Supply. It will load the first 7 rounds of ammo into the moon clip with a snap, fairly easily. But that 8th round just won’t pop into place. I can pull the tool’s polymer loading lever all the way back to the grip, and that round just refuses to load. It doesn’t seem to be able to overcome the tension that has built up from the other 7 cartridges. So far, I have tried it with both Remington .38 Special flat nose FMJ, and with Hornady .357 Critical Defense, and neither will load that 8th round. I’ve even considered trying to use a pair of steel pliers to force that last cartridge in, but worry about damaging both the cartridge rim, and the center hole of the moon clip - so that doesn’t seem like a very good idea to me.

Now I can go old-school and just load 8 individual cartridges into the cylinder, without using a moon clip ... or I can buy 2 or 3 5-Star Firearms 8 round speed loaders ($28.95 each on Amazon). But for now, if I want to use moon clips, I effectively have a 7 round gun, which kind of cheeses me off.

Has anybody experienced this same issue and overcome it? If so, how did you overcome it? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

 

[Protocall_Design]

The .45 ACP moonclips are pretty forgiving and will work with most kinds of brass. Other calibers, not so much. The most finicky ones are the ones for rimmed cases, as they were never meant to be held by the rim, so there is no industry standard for the groove just above the rim.

You probably have moonclips for Starline brass. They are usually the tightest ones. Don't force them or they will be ruined. You need moonclips that are for Remington and Hornady brass. Winchester ones are usually cut the largest, I don't know if they fit Remington as well. Call TK Custom to get the right moonclips. They are not cheap, but cheap ones often don't work well for the 8 shooters. You will really enjoy that gun once you have the right moonclips. You should be able to shoot loose rounds in it until you get them.

The Revolver Supply clip loader is a good tool and they are a good company. I prefer the BMT mooner myself.

 

[colt_saa]

I have been shooting the 8 shot, 357 Magnum Model 27/327/627 family of revolvers since 1996

I have never used a tool to load a moon clip

I do not try and press a round in to the clip, I just roll the ammunition into the clip and have never experienced an issue.

Since there is no SAAMI standard as to the width/depth of that groove in the brass you need to spend some time learning what brass works with the clips that you were given. Or you can replace them

Find a combination that you like and stock up on the clips and the brass

 

[Mcfoto]

I am only a couple months down the road on this issue. Like stated above, 38 special brass has different sized grooves above the rim. Thus moonclips must me made to accommodate the various makes. That being said, I have found differences in both Starline and Blazer Brass. The most forgiving moonclips I've found so far are the Revolver Supply house brand. Next are the TK blued ones (my 627 came with two of these). I eventually opted for the nuclear solution for the problem and bought new Starline short-colt brass. You get all your brass back anyway so worth it to start over new.

 

[catadjuster]

I won't be of any help on this issue since the only problem I have ever had with the 8 round moon clips is being too loose. Never have had a problem with them being so tight that I couldn't relatively easily load them with my Ultimate Moon Clip Tool.

Sorry.

 

[sw dan]

hi folks, i only use remington brass in my 327, works real well, other brass gives me a problem, i do use 38 spl brass.....dan

 

[captainwayne]

As a beginning revo guy in USPSA, I've had a miserable time trying to load full size 38 Special ammo in my 8 shot 627-2. The rounds flop around, and make a quick drop impossible. I save over 10 seconds a stage by shooting 38 special short, round nose ammo, which fall right in, but are under the minimum power factor in a sanctioned match. So I'm stuck shooting practice matches with inferior ammo until I get someone to reload a bunch of 38 Special brass I'm accumulating. Some of the guys on this forum have really helped me a lot with this and so many of the aspects of competitive revo shooting.

 

[Screwball]

I personally use this for my moon clips...

BMT Equipped, Inc.

There is a note PDF for the tool related to your setup, which I’m not sure is related to the issues you are having. At the very least, look at what cases you are using and see if a different brand clip will work better.

They are expensive ($100, shipped), but I’ve had great success with the 9mm J-frame one I’ve had for a few years... and just picked up a .45 setup for my 1917 revolver. To me, the ease of loading/unloading clips, without chance of damage, is worth the price.

 

[Pizza Bob]

Before you go the expensive route (moon clips at $5 - $8 a piece) give Ranch Products a call. Since you are not a competitor, cartridge "flop" really isn't a concern for you and you may find that Ranch Product clips work just fine for your application.

People who buy minor caliber (any caliber not starting with a "4") moon clip revolvers based on their experience with .45 ACP moon clips, are in for a rude awakening. It is a whole different ball game than .45's. As you have already found out - with no SAAMI spec for the groove ahead of the rim on rimmed ammo, the clip/headstamp match-up becomes critical. More so if you are competing. .45's are pretty much self-aligning given the RN profile, the heavy bullet weight and the short cartridge length. A little "flop" actually helps out.

But when you are trying to align eight long cartridges with eight closely spaced holes, you want the ammo to be as rigid as possible in the clip.

Since you aren't concerned with loading on the clock, try some inexpensive clips first. Ranch Products make quality moon clips that may work just fine for your application.

Oh, and about speed loaders - again, if you aren't competing why spend twice as much on 5-Star loaders when $10 HKS loaders accomplish the same task, the same way - unless you're into the "bling".

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[TAROMAN]

8 shot moons come in different thicknesses.
.025" is the thickest commonly available.
I use these with R-P or Federal brass for best fit.
Minimized wobble.
About the best they do.

 

[JDinAZ]

Hi, I’m not a competitor, but I thought that people who compete might be best able to inform me on this topic. I recently acquired a used but very nice condition 327 TRR8 from a friend. I will most likely carry this revolver as a sidearm while hunting, or other “field” work, but will not be carrying it as my EDC carry weapon. In addition to the gun and extras (rails, etc.), I received a half dozen moon clips, and a couple of tools.

One of the tools is a moon clip unloading tool from Revolver Supply. It totally works as advertised. I know this, because one of the moon clips that came with the gun had 7 rounds of .38 Special loaded into it, along with one loose round. Those 7 rounds came out of the moon clip easy peazy.

The other tool I received was a Ultimate Moonclip Tool, also from Revolver Supply. It will load the first 7 rounds of ammo into the moon clip with a snap, fairly easily. But that 8th round just won’t pop into place. I can pull the tool’s polymer loading lever all the way back to the grip, and that round just refuses to load. It doesn’t seem to be able to overcome the tension that has built up from the other 7 cartridges. So far, I have tried it with both Remington .38 Special flat nose FMJ, and with Hornady .357 Critical Defense, and neither will load that 8th round. I’ve even considered trying to use a pair of steel pliers to force that last cartridge in, but worry about damaging both the cartridge rim, and the center hole of the moon clip - so that doesn’t seem like a very good idea to me.

Now I can go old-school and just load 8 individual cartridges into the cylinder, without using a moon clip ... or I can buy 2 or 3 5-Star Firearms 8 round speed loaders ($28.95 each on Amazon). But for now, if I want to use moon clips, I effectively have a 7 round gun, which kind of cheeses me off.

Has anybody experienced this same issue and overcome it? If so, how did you overcome it? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

This will moon and demoon it no problem. Doesn't matter if its rimmed or non rimmed. There's a video on the page. https://www.originalprecision.com/universal-moonclip-tool.html