Jim Watson
Member
To make up for having to clip and strip ammo, it insures you get back all your brass, six at a time. No "lost brass" match for the clip gunner.
School me on Moon Clips
- Thread starter Rockrivr1
- Start date
My thoughts:
I only use moonclips from Revolver Supply. They work with every brand of ammo I use, in all five of my 45acp revolvers.
The BMT tool is the only tool I use. I don't even think about its cost. I've been using the same clips for years with thousands of rounds with no mutilation, and de-mooning is the fastest, with one twist.
45acp ammunition is readily available, whereas 45ar is harder to find and way more expensive. I don't reload.
The nice thing is that 45acp ammo will headspace in the guns so you don't have to use clips at all if you wish. Note: the extractor doesn't work with rimless ammo.
I only use moonclips from Revolver Supply. They work with every brand of ammo I use, in all five of my 45acp revolvers.
The BMT tool is the only tool I use. I don't even think about its cost. I've been using the same clips for years with thousands of rounds with no mutilation, and de-mooning is the fastest, with one twist.
45acp ammunition is readily available, whereas 45ar is harder to find and way more expensive. I don't reload.
The nice thing is that 45acp ammo will headspace in the guns so you don't have to use clips at all if you wish. Note: the extractor doesn't work with rimless ammo.
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I like using moonclips at the range. I pre-load a bunch of them to shoot and don't worry about demooning or reloading them until I get home. My inexpensive one-piece Speed Beez demooner is quick and easy once you get the hang of it! I use 2-rd, 3-rd, and 6-rd moonclips in both my Model 25-2 and Model of 1917, and haven't had any issues. All my clips are steel, but I think I need to try some of the RIMZ polymer clips. I don't shoot enough .45 ACP in revolvers to worry about buying expensive tools.
Moon Clip Tool | Moon Clips | De-mooner - Speed Beez
Moon Clip Tool | Moon Clips | De-mooner - Speed Beez
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Eddie Southgate
Member
.45 Auto Rim . I avoid clips altogether. Tried them , didn't like them in any version.
Shrek Of The Arctic
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There's alot of wisdom belted out here, especially that Pizza Bob fella. Some stuff I don't quite see eye to eye with, but that's what keeps the world inneresting.
I am an unabashed lover of moonclips. Especially them big .45s, they seem to just be self guiding towards that cylinder. Most of my moon clips average about $1 each. Ranch Products is my favorite all around, though I have some TK Custom as well. I've had approximately 125 of them, give or take. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly I can burn through 200-300 rounds at the range in a very short period of time, giggling like a schoolgirl and having a blast.
I use a Competition Works California De-mooning tool or the Wilson Combat Full Moon Case Extractor. The California tool works best with well broken in ones. The Wilson Combat tool is very inexpensive, and very effective. They're cheap enough to have in every range bag, ammo can, pistol case, etc. Although I rarely strip my moon clips until I'm back home sipping on a cup of coffee and pondering which "Dirty Harry" movie to watch while I'm doing it.
One of my .45 ACP revolvers gets rolled into my defensive rotation quite regularly. As such, I keep a dozen or so new, never used on the range moon clips loaded with my favored defensive ammo. When carrying on the street, I keep them in a pretty rigid speedloader pouch. As good as they are, just a little wobble or ding can mess up your world.
Once I've stripped mine, I do carefully inspect them in the cylinder with no loaded rounds to ensure that they are laying flat. If I have a modicum of doubt, I have no hesitation to toss them. (Admittedly, I whimper when that happens to my $8 each .357 moonclips)
I've never tried the two shot ones, though I would like to. It seems like a neat street carry that would actually be pretty durable.
The only reason I'd mess with half mooners is for authenticity with my 1917.
I've recently started ASI (Action Shooting International) which is very six gun friendly. As such, I'm not so driven to always have the highest capacity, fastest reload, etc. I'm shooting all my wheelguns eventually, but I'm looking forward to my 1917 with the half moon clips and my S&W Victory with a dump pouch! (I already got smoked by running my lever action against the semi auto pistol carbines...lol)
I have some .45 Auto Rim to run some day, but I just don't see a reason to yet when I'm having so much fun with my .45 ACP and moon clips.
I am an unabashed lover of moonclips. Especially them big .45s, they seem to just be self guiding towards that cylinder. Most of my moon clips average about $1 each. Ranch Products is my favorite all around, though I have some TK Custom as well. I've had approximately 125 of them, give or take. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly I can burn through 200-300 rounds at the range in a very short period of time, giggling like a schoolgirl and having a blast.
I use a Competition Works California De-mooning tool or the Wilson Combat Full Moon Case Extractor. The California tool works best with well broken in ones. The Wilson Combat tool is very inexpensive, and very effective. They're cheap enough to have in every range bag, ammo can, pistol case, etc. Although I rarely strip my moon clips until I'm back home sipping on a cup of coffee and pondering which "Dirty Harry" movie to watch while I'm doing it.
One of my .45 ACP revolvers gets rolled into my defensive rotation quite regularly. As such, I keep a dozen or so new, never used on the range moon clips loaded with my favored defensive ammo. When carrying on the street, I keep them in a pretty rigid speedloader pouch. As good as they are, just a little wobble or ding can mess up your world.
Once I've stripped mine, I do carefully inspect them in the cylinder with no loaded rounds to ensure that they are laying flat. If I have a modicum of doubt, I have no hesitation to toss them. (Admittedly, I whimper when that happens to my $8 each .357 moonclips)
I've never tried the two shot ones, though I would like to. It seems like a neat street carry that would actually be pretty durable.
The only reason I'd mess with half mooners is for authenticity with my 1917.
I've recently started ASI (Action Shooting International) which is very six gun friendly. As such, I'm not so driven to always have the highest capacity, fastest reload, etc. I'm shooting all my wheelguns eventually, but I'm looking forward to my 1917 with the half moon clips and my S&W Victory with a dump pouch! (I already got smoked by running my lever action against the semi auto pistol carbines...lol)
I have some .45 Auto Rim to run some day, but I just don't see a reason to yet when I'm having so much fun with my .45 ACP and moon clips.
Jim Watson
Member
Where are you shooting ASI?
I have tried to get the local indoor range to offer IDPA, then ASI, but the proprietor is afraid we will shoot holes in the roof if we get out of the baffled lanes.
You’ll need a method to easily carry them to the range
I expounded a bit on pizza bobs method, and made a rack that fits inside a plastic .30 cal harbor freight ammo box. You can go bigger with a .50 cal metal can, but that was more than I wanted to lug in one box. I’m planning on making another one, so I’ll have a total of 576 rounds available (288 per can) in two easily transportable boxes.
I expounded a bit on pizza bobs method, and made a rack that fits inside a plastic .30 cal harbor freight ammo box. You can go bigger with a .50 cal metal can, but that was more than I wanted to lug in one box. I’m planning on making another one, so I’ll have a total of 576 rounds available (288 per can) in two easily transportable boxes.
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My gun show partner just scored ten boxes of Remington 45 Auto-Rim. That negates the need for moon clips for a while. We were wondering what they are worth. 230 grain lead RN. He also got another old box (dog bone) AR. On the box it reads for use in 45 Colt revolvers, among others. I had not heard of that.
I just tried the Auto Rim in my 25-5 and they chamber perfectly. I still think I'll save them for the 45 ACP guns.
Shrek Of The Arctic
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Sorry it took a minute to get back to ya'
I'm shooting ASI at Mat Valley Sportsman's Club in Palmer Alaska.
It too is an indoor range. The stages are pretty short, sweet, and fired in one direction only. A few courses of fire would include Mozambique drill x3-4, Bill Drill while coming forward from 20 something feet and going away again, a car jacking to include engaging six pepper poppers, maybe shooting a couple penguins, etc. We of course maintain the 180 degree plan that is common to many of the action based disciplines, as well as all the other common but important safety rules.
ASI would be much safer than an average open range day, IMHO.
Model19man
Member
45 AR should be too big a diameter for 45 Colt. Additionally the head should be far too thick for 45 Colt.
SAAMI SPECS for 45 AR: 45 Auto Rim
MAP (CUP) – 15,000
MAP (PSI) – N/E
Headspace – Rim
Headspace Dim – .090 to .104
Max Case Length – .898
Trim to Length – .878
COAL – 1.275 to 1.225
Head Diameter – .516
Large Pistol Primer
45 Colt SAAMI SPECS:
MAP (CUP) – 14,000
MAP (PSI) – 14,000
Headspace – Rim
Headspace Dim – .060 to .074
Max Case Length – 1.285
Trim to Length – 1.265
COAL – 1.600 to 1.515
Head Diameter – .512
Large Pistol Primer
Were you able to close the cylinder with those AR cartridges in place?
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Baltimoreed11754
Member
I use the old style steel clips and use them for 2 gun in my 625 smith. They do take a little bit of work unless you’re shooting new ammo. What I’ve found is that if there is any issues with your reloads the clip will magnify them and then the clip will not simply drop in. I run my .45 reloads through a lee bulge buster, assemble them on my clips and check them in my revolver before a match. I also use 45AR too. But moon clips are waaaay faster. Ask JM.
Another vote for BMT and full moons
another vote for BMT. It is expensive at $100, but you'll forget the initial cost after loading your first dozen full moons and seeing how quick and painless it is with this thing.
My 25-2 loves the full moon clips whether in stock mode with standard SA/DA trigger pull weights or in competition mode with very light trigger pull weights.
Full moons made of steel are just like the S&W factory moons, both are stamped steel and micrometer at 0.040" thick +/- 0.001"
Sure beats bending your clips, trashing your brass, slicing your fingers, giving up in disgust..
another vote for BMT. It is expensive at $100, but you'll forget the initial cost after loading your first dozen full moons and seeing how quick and painless it is with this thing.
My 25-2 loves the full moon clips whether in stock mode with standard SA/DA trigger pull weights or in competition mode with very light trigger pull weights.
Full moons made of steel are just like the S&W factory moons, both are stamped steel and micrometer at 0.040" thick +/- 0.001"
Sure beats bending your clips, trashing your brass, slicing your fingers, giving up in disgust..
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