Poll about S&W 45 ACP Revolvers

[photoman]

RIMZ.

Beckham Design

 

[Dale53]

I use both. Typically, I use Auto Rim cases OR RIMZ clips with ACP cases. Either works well. I mostly shoot target SWC's.

However, for home defense and hunting you might want the quick reload of the steel clips. I have tools to load and unload steel clips but do not use them as often as AR cases or RIMZ clips.

Neither of my 625's (a 625-6 and a 625-8 JM Special) will work reliably without clips when using ACP cases. The chambers are not cut for it.

All of that said, I absolutely LOVE my 625's and shoot them better than most any of my other revolvers (and I have more than a few).

Dale53

 

[Frank from jersey]

I have about 14 or 15 different revolvers that shoot the .45ACP round use mostly the full moonclips for a rapid reload for CCW and have a belt slide with six rounds of .45 Auto Rim for the "last" six. My SAA chambers .45ACP but is not cut for the .45Auto Rim. For that I use as a rimmed case the .45 Cowboy Special which is a ACP case with a .45 Colt rim on it. That works great and also fits in a belt loop pouch. Revolvers are great because you don't have to pickup brass off the ground. I hate bending over. Everything comes out of and back into a nail apron and you can move around without having to use a table. My old Training Counselor Jimmmy Brown ( God rest his soul) turned me on to that. A true gentleman of the old school and one of the best revolver shots I've known.

 

[Guest]

I've got several .45 ACP revolvers and while I do have a bunch of new .45AR brass I haven't used any of it yet. I reload but have other calibers that will come before the .45AR. Just seems to happen every time I sit down to do any reloading.

I don't carry my .45ACP revolvers for anything but 'entertainment' at the Range. Not that there is anything wrong with them except for the fact that they are pretty heavy compared to what I do carry.

 

[toroflow1]

I have about 14 or 15 different revolvers that shoot the .45ACP round use mostly the full moonclips for a rapid reload for CCW and have a belt slide with six rounds of .45 Auto Rim for the "last" six. My SAA chambers .45ACP but is not cut for the .45Auto Rim. For that I use as a rimmed case the .45 Cowboy Special which is a ACP case with a .45 Colt rim on it. That works great and also fits in a belt loop pouch. Revolvers are great because you don't have to pickup brass off the ground. I hate bending over. Everything comes out of and back into a nail apron and you can move around without having to use a table. My old Training Counselor Jimmmy Brown ( God rest his soul) turned me on to that. A true gentleman of the old school and one of the best revolver shots I've known.

You bring up good points Frank. I had forgotten about the .45 Cowboy brass...I have a few hundred rounds of it that I load up for my birdshead Uberti 3.5" .45, recoil is quite manageable when shooting .45 Cowboy. One question though, how does your SAA chamber .45 ACP without them falling too far into the chamber? That's a new one one me! I like the nail apron idea too. Instead of a table, I use the hood of my Suburban as a table when shooting!

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by toroflow1: ...SAA chambers .45ACP...

The Colts and their 'Clones" could have an ACP cylinder fitted and many Ruger Blackhawks were built as 'convertibles' which included both cylinders.

 

[check123]

My 625 is my house gun, and its moonies all the way. Fastest darn way to load/reload!

 

[neiljrosen]

Sometimes I shoot .45ACP without moonclips. I pop the empties out with a brass rod or wood dowell.

 

[Meeteetse]

I use both AR and moon clips. I no longer reload so the AR is hard to find and expensive. I have a simple tool that I bought from Ranch Products nearly 20 years ago when I stocked up on moon clips. It works great for unloading clips. Now I need to get a loading tool. My 625 is often used as my house gun. Having loaded moon clips is a great quick reload.

 

[Black_Sheep]

I've only shot .45 ACP from my 625-2, primarily due to the large stash I have on hand. Full moon clips are fairly cheap so I've acquired enough to enjoy a trip to the range without reloading. since expended casings can be easily removed from the clips with a pocket screwdriver, I've never felt the need to purchase a special tool for the job.

FWIW my 625-2 fires reliably without using moon clips...

 

[R A Miller]

I have several .45 acp revolvers and it's moonclips all the way for me. I do hand load but I don't want another type of brass to keep track of.

I use the Deluxe Moon Clip Tool to load the clips and the Brownells de-mooning tool to remove the spent brass. The Deluxe Moon Clip Tool is pretty handy. I have extra arbors for loading moonclips for my 610's and a 686+ that's been cut for moonclips.

I too love shooting my 625's. The 625 got me started with S&W revolvers. We all know where that leads......... ;-)

Rick

 

[retired2006]

My 625-8 is a "range only" gun, and I use the Rimz full moon clips. You can use your fingers with these, they load and unload REAL easy!

 

[Frank from jersey]

________________________________________________
You bring up good points Frank. I had forgotten about the .45 Cowboy brass...I have a few hundred rounds of it that I load up for my birdshead Uberti 3.5" .45, recoil is quite manageable when shooting .45 Cowboy. One question though, how does your SAA chamber .45 ACP without them falling too far into the chamber? That's a new one one me! I like the nail apron idea too. Instead of a table, I use the hood of my Suburban as a table when shooting!
________________________________________________

It's a custom order from US Firearms and the rounds head space off the chamber. 4 3/4 inch barrel marked 45 Automatic with case hardened hammer and lanyard swivel on the butt.It's one of my favorite CCW guns. I use a Mernickle rig or a IWB CABO holster.I'm going to special order another one but as a 4 inch Sheriff's model without the ejector rod.

 

[BADSBSNF811]

I use both. Primarily the moon clips,but, I also reload for 45 AR.

 

[sw44spl]

I just use the moon clips and have no trouble at all.

 

[MrPhil]

I have a 625-3 5" and a 625-6 MG. Steel moon clips only. I've got about 70 of them. Loading and unloading the clips is done in front of the TV or listening to the radio; kind of mindless, a good ritual before a practice session or a match.

For my style of shooting the moons are the only way to go. Very fast reloads. AND your brass is very well behaved. Pick up one piece and you've got 5 of his brothers.

 

[nicky4968]

I have a 625 MG in .45 ACP. I run about 50/50 clips vs. rimmed. Some days, I just don't want to mess with the clips.
Makes no never mind. I generally load a Lee 252 gr SWC over a popular load in Unique. I don't have any other pistol in this caliber, so I don't worry about whether they would operate in an automatic or not.

 

[rayb]

I normally use Neither. JUst load shoot, use fingernail as necessary to extract.

rayb

 

[fyimo]

I've actually had mine to the range and I've decided that the Moon clips work for me so I bought a bunch and a tool to remove the spent cases.