S&W 986 moon clips

[ruger 22]

Just got a new 986 and absolutely love it. It has a very smooth action and is very accurate. An issue I found with the moon clips is that two of the three that came with the gun do not work well with Federal 9mm shells in that the shells are very loose in them. The third clip is fine and holds the shells firmly. I am wondering if Federals are a bit smaller in circumference than others and ask if anyone here has had the same issues.

 

[COFFEEMUG]

on my 610 I need to push the starline brass into the moon clip against my bench all other cases just click right In, so I would say yes its the cases and not the moon clips.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I am wondering if Federals are a bit smaller in circumference than others and ask if anyone here has had the same issues.

You are on the right track. In full moon clips the extractor groove diameter changes from brand to brand. In 357 the moon clips are extremely brand specific.

The thickness of the clip matters also. So it looks like you are going to need a Micrometer in your shooting gear.

Ivan

 

[Ignatz]

For all of my revolvers that need moon clips, I use Ranch Products brand for my general practice and maybe the first loading while at the starting position in a match. Ranch Products moon clips accept a wide variety of different manufacture brands.
When we buy once fired brass, my wife sorts the Federal and Blazer together and then sorts the Winchester together. The rest gets fired in her DW Pointman 9.
For the 929,
The Winchester gets loaded in TK Custom standard .035" blue moon clips.
The Federal and Blazer gets loaded in TK Custom .040" stanless moon clips.
The 9mm reloaded ammo easily snaps into the Ranch Products moon clips.
The 9mm reloaded ammo gets pressed into the TK Custom moon clips by a needle nose pliers. I have 2 different moon clip reloading tools, but prefer doing it with a pair of needle nose pliers.
Not all cases of the same manufacture snap into the tighter TK Custom moon clip and rotate freely. I separate those live rounds and put them in a Ranch Product moon clip where it will have more play in it.
So, if I only had Ranch Products moon clips, I would try to only use Winchester brass. The Federal and Blazer brass would be looser in the Ranch Product moon clip.
No doubt for people just going to the range shooting and plinking for fun, other brass manufactures are fine, but in the action sports world where reloading is on the clock, some cases due to their "larger" dimensions don't leave the cylinder freely. A fired moon clip that struggles to leave the cylinder under the clock eats time and distracts the competitor.
That's why Federal, Blazer and Winchester are popular for 929's in action sports. Your 986 should follow closely to the 929.

 

[ruger 22]

Many thanks for the replies!

 

[Pizza Bob]

Don't want to segregate your brass? Tired of trying to get the optimum moon clip to brass fit? Here is the answer to all your prayers - you can thank me later...

RIMZ 986.. 9 mm

The beauty of the RIMZ poly clips is that they work well with any make of brass (at least all the ones that I've found). They do so because they not only hold the brass by the extractor groove (like metal moons), but they also surround the cartridge head. Think rebated S&W cylinder...

This one is for the 929, but the 986 are made the same way. Note the rebate.

These hold the cartridges rigidly enough that I use them for competition with my 929. I've never had a round go flying when I pluck them from the post on my carrier. Can easily hit the 8 tiny holes in the cylinder since there is little to no cartridge wiggle. Added benefit is that no special tools are required for the loading and unloading of the clips - although I do use the tools that I use for metal clips, just makes it a little easier.

Do yourself a favor and, at least, get a couple to try - you won't look back. I have been using them in competition (USPSA) for over a year with no problems. You just have to make sure that you have them right-side-up when loading cartridges into them - the other way will not allow you to close the cylinder - ask me how I know. LOL.

Adios,

Pizza Bob