Moon Clips & the .45 ACP Revolver
I have read, in many forums, how people love a .45 ACP revolver, but hate having to deal with moon clips. I find that most of these complaints originate with new owners or casual shooters, who try to load/unload the clips manually, which generally results in loss of blood and bent clips (only a slight exaggeration).
All they need to do is invest in the right clips and tools to enhance their shooting experience to the point that, I’d wager, their .45 ACP revolver becomes their favorite range toy. You have spent a considerable sum on the revolver, don’t scrimp when it comes to purchasing accessories that can only enhance your experience with your new gun.
First let’s deal with the clips. The .45 ACP revolver, being the most common of the pistol-round chambered revolvers, is probably the easiest for which to find clips. However, caveat emptor, because they are common you will often find clips of unknown origin on venues like eBay, Gun Broker and the like. These can vary considerably in thickness, so my advice is to stick with known manufacturers. Here are a few…
Ranch Products
HOME | Ranch Products
This website will only net you a phone number. You have to call them on the phone and talk to a real human being to place your order. I use Ranch Products clips for my five revolvers chambered in .45 ACP, and have never had a problem (this includes USPSA and IDPA competition, which can be the acid test for any product used with a firearm).
TK Custom
TK Custom Store | Moon Clip Carrier
This is now a full custom shop website with the emphasis on revolvers and moon clips. Tom (the owner) can machine a cylinder on what is normally a non-moon clip gun and convert it for use both with and without moon clips. I have a model 25-13, which is chambered from the factory for .45 Colt, that Tom machined so that I can now shoot .45 ACP in clips or .45 Colt in clips, speed loaders or individually. The modification adds real versatility to any revolver.
Revolver Supply Co.
Supplies for the Revolver Enthusiast
The website for all things moon clips. George (the owner) manufactures an entire line of moon clips and is very receptive to customer input. He makes both blued and plated clips.
All of the above make moon clips for other models of revolvers and various calibers. This monograph is limiting itself to the discussion of those guns chambered in .45 ACP. Look upon the other calibers as the “Advanced Course” in “moon-clipology” as there are some unique problems that may crop up with them. The .45 ACP revolvers are the easiest and have the least expensive start-up costs.
Now for the object of the most complaints – the loading and unloading of said clips. There are many tools on the market to accomplish these functions, I am going to recommend but three.
For loading…
The DeLuxe Moon Clip Tool
MoonClipTool.com is for sale | HugeDomains
NOTE: This website is no longer active. This type of tool is available from TK Custom and also Dillon Precision. It has changeable arbors so that it can be used for a variety of calibers.
There are other websites that sell similar looking tools, but as I understand it this was the original and I feel people should be rewarded for their innovative designs. This tool bills itself as both a load and unload tool. It does a stellar job at loading clips, but there are better tools for unloading. The unloading loops on the end of this tool will do in a pinch, or if your range bag is packed to the point you aren’t able to fit in one more tool, but see below for my suggestion.
For unloading…
Moon clip stripper tool
BROWNELLS MOON CLIP STRIPPER | Brownells
The above link is to Brownells’ website and shows one of the most effective tools for unloading your moon clips. The shank is long enough to hold all six empties that are stripped from the clip, so the unloading goes very quickly. This is a very simple tool and for those of you that are handy (I’m not) they can be easily made from a section of copper pipe or the grip area of an old golf club shaft. Simply notch the end.
For both loading and unloading…
The BMT tool
http://www.bmtequipped.com/products.php
BMT stands for “Better Mousetrap” and believe me this is the ultimate tool for both loading and unloading of your moon clips. It is a bit pricey, and it is caliber specific, but it works. Check out the video on the website as it shows how it works far better than I can explain it. I think the BMT tool is a bit of overkill for the 6-shot .45 ACP clips – for those I prefer the first two tools mentioned. I do own a BMT tool for an 8-shot revolver and think the BMT tool is the only way to go for those.
Using the above tools will make your moon clip revolver shooting experience far more enjoyable and will result in less personal injuries and few, if any, bent clips.
Invariably, in any discussion thread involving moon clips, the polymer “Rimz” clips will enter the discussion.
http://www.ezmoonclip.com/
Their claim to fame is that they can be loaded and unloaded without tools. If you are a casual shooter and only limber-up your moon clip gun on occasion, these may be fine for you. Because they are made of a thicker material, fit to the particular gun is more critical and they manufacture two different Rimz models to fit the various models of .45 ACP revolvers and for range vs. serious work applications. The metal clips, pretty much, work across the board – “one size fits all”. With regard to those for the .45 ACP they are more expensive than the metal clips, the reverse is true for most other calibers. The decision whether these will work best for you, is solely yours.
I prefer the metal clips since their low cost allows me to buy 50 to 100 clips (almost a lifetime supply, even for an active/competitive shooter) for a nominal amount (I paid $35/100, but that was a couple years ago). I can do all my actual loading and unloading of the clips at home, in front of the TV (if you are going to be mindless, you may as well be productive) and then take them to the range. I have made a rack – simply a base with 9 dowels glued in place – that will hold 27 loaded moon clips (162 rounds of .45 ACP), that fits nicely in my range bag. When I go to a match, there is no scurrying around trying to reload clips between stages, I just pull-out my pre-loaded moon clips.
I think that moon clips are the greatest invention since sliced bread. Among competitive revolver shooters they are de rigueur. As I cautioned before, moon clip revolvers in calibers other than .45 ACP may not be as simple a proposition. I went through four brands of moon clips before I found the ones that worked satisfactorily for me, with an 8-shot .38 Super. Unfortunately, the ones that worked best were $7 each – which entails quite an investment when you want enough with which to shoot an entire match. You don’t have those kinds of problems with the .45 ACP guns. A fat, short cartridge with a heavy round nose bullet up front, practically loads itself into your gun.
All opinions expressed above are those of the author – Your Mileage May Vary.
Adios,
Pizza Bob
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