So what's so good about shooting 45 ACP in a revolver?

[Mack]

I know you can make a tool out of PVC but is any make of moon clips and tool better than another? Read something about plastic (polymer) clips?? What should I get?

Thanks

On the clips there are different schools of thought. Some like the plastic Rimz type because you don't need a tool to load/unload, downside is they are more expensive, not as durable and not recommened for self defense. Many time I read about the Rimz guys going on about how easy they are to reload at the range. Well I fall into the other catagory, I like the Ranch Products which last time I ordered were $35 a hundred, not easy to reload at the range but when you have 600 rounds clipped up who cares. I don't have any problem loading them without a tool and I made an unloader out of a piece of 1/2" hard copper tubing that works great for unloading. Matter of fact I need to order a couple of hundred more soon .

 

[Dump1567]

Great proven caliber in a reliable yet simple platform.

I love autos, but nothing beats the simplicity and reliability of the wheel gun.

And you can ring out a little more performance out of the acp or AR that you can't do in an auto.

 

[kreativecid]

For me it's about convenience. I reloaded 45acp for my semi autos for years and the easy transition was a huge selling point on the 625.

 

[haggis]

I know you can make a tool out of PVC but is any make of moon clips and tool better than another? Read something about plastic (polymer) clips?? What should I get?

Thanks

OCD1,

One of the nice thing about a popular gun is that all sorts of neat stuff is made for them. The best moon clip loading tool is available at
Deluxe Moon Clip Tool
There are some copies on the market but I prefer to buy the original when I can. This one is available with various arbors for different calibers/clips. For some calibers (.40S&W, .38SPL), it is an absolute necessity.

The cylindrical demooner (Brownells sells the original) is good because it's fast, and it hold a full cylinder worth of empties while you're using it. I made a slightly longer one out of metal conduit for loaded .45ACP and .357.

Plastic RIMZ clips work fine for practice, but I wouldn't use them in serious situations. With the tools above, you won't have any problem mooning and demooning metal clips. RIMZ are also expensive compared to metal moons. Ranch Products sells 100 .45 moon clips for $35, shipping included. Google up their website and call them. They don't take credit cards. You order, they ship and bill you, then you pay. I don't know about you, but I prefer $0.35 each over $5 any day.

Buck

 

[michael thornton]

i have over 100 full moon clips, they are no trouble, i thought the same thing but i realy like them could you go out and buy 100 speed loaders for $30 ? and i can load them hotter than a 1911 will stand, or lighter than a 1911 would cycle.

 

[medxam]

What's the recoil like on that little beauty, Buck?

medxam

 

[Rule3]

OCD1,

One of the nice thing about a popular gun is that all sorts of neat stuff is made for them. The best moon clip loading tool is available at
Deluxe Moon Clip Tool
There are some copies on the market but I prefer to buy the original when I can. This one is available with various arbors for different calibers/clips. For some calibers (.40S&W, .38SPL), it is an absolute necessity.

The cylindrical demooner (Brownells sells the original) is good because it's fast, and it hold a full cylinder worth of empties while you're using it. I made a slightly longer one out of metal conduit for loaded .45ACP and .357.

Plastic RIMZ clips work fine for practice, but I wouldn't use them in serious situations. With the tools above, you won't have any problem mooning and demooning metal clips. RIMZ are also expensive compared to metal moons. Ranch Products sells 100 .45 moon clips for $35, shipping included. Google up their website and call them. They don't take credit cards. You order, they ship and bill you, then you pay. I don't know about you, but I prefer $0.35 each over $5 any day.

Buck

Thanks for the link. That looks like a pretty slick tool. That's the one I should get then? (You have used it a lot and it has no problems?)

 

[haggis]

What's the recoil like on that little beauty, Buck?

medxam

Doc,

It's a bit stout, but after I replaced the standard grips with the Nills, it's manageable. I don't be expecting to be shooting it a lot in its intended role, but I have shot a couple of 100 round IDPA matches with it with no (permanent) ill results.


OCD1,

The tool is well thought out, and it loads pretty fast. There are times I have loaded 50 moons for a match, and the tool makes it easy. I can put six rounds in a moon clip faster than I can put six rounds in a 1911 magazine. Since the metal clips are cheap, there's no reason not to load up all you need before a match or range session. It also lets me chamber check the moons beforehand to see if any are bent. The demooner works well, too. You just have to demoon over a container to catch the empties.

A good way to haul all these loaded moon clips around is the Plano Prolatch Stowaway #5-34 (about $5). This is thinner than most plastic fishing boxes and can be divided to hold 28 loaded moons, some extra empty clips, and tools. The box is 14" long, 8½" wide, and 1¼" deep (just right for a loaded moon) and will fit in medium gear bags.

Buck

 

[Skip Sackett]

Thanks for the link. That looks like a pretty slick tool. That's the one I should get then? (You have used it a lot and it has no problems?)

I ain't buying no tool. Not when I can make one for 10¢.
Take a look.

If you need me to make you one, let me know! I still have your address!

p.s. Are you getting one of these too?

 

[5906fan]

the S&W 25 @ 625 both handle .45 Super no problem.
if you perceive the need for something stouter buy a .454 Casull.
I've loaded 255gr cast SWC at a little better than 1000 fps with no leading and tight groups in Super cases. still not a hard felt recoil.
even Ol' Ephraim would respect that.

 

[Rule3]

I ain't buying no tool. Not when I can make one for 10¢.
Take a look.

If you need me to make you one, let me know! I still have your address!

p.s. Are you getting one of these too?

Yep! I ordered it today. I'm going Crazy!

I can make one, I have lots of PVC, Put in my own sprinkler system.

What diameter pipe and how much of a notch did you cut? Looks like schedule 40 but can not tell the ID.

So do you just pry it up or twist it to pull the brass off?

I need Blueprints!

 

[michael thornton]

i use hot water pipe

 

[Allen-frame]

Make mine mOOn clips!

45 caliber N frames, bet you can't have just 1.

Regards
Allen Frame

 

[Skip Sackett]

Now that's cool!

I have to admit something though. The thing I noticed most in the pictures is how bad that middle toe must have hurt when it got bent like that! YEOCH!

Nice layout, guns and bullets. Hey, OCD, this guy lives in Florida too. I think you are well on your way to a collection just like his!

p.s. What did you order? Pictures dude, pictures!

 

[Jellybean]

All right fellas, here's my opinion, and remember, that's all it is.

The .45 ACP in a revolver had a loyal following for years as a bullseye gun. Since it shot a bigger hole it could get you a higher score by cutting the next higher ring. And yes it is faster to reload by a pretty slim margin, but that may be due to my practicing with speedloaders a lot over the years. But when Jerry Miculek set those records, in what I believe was nothing but a marketing ploy by S&W, everybody had to have one. The ploy was a success.

Competition shooters like them for the faster reload and shorter cases, which is alright, but I don't care for it for any other reason, except that it does shoot bigger holes on paper maybe. If you are under a time limit in an action pistol match every second counts, but if you are trying to reload in a gunfight hopefully you'll remember to get your butt behind cover before you try to reload, those fractions of a second aren't going to save you if you're standing out in the open. Also, I tried qualifying with a 625 model of 1989 once, those metal moonclips aren't really suited for tactical reloads! I've never tried the plastic ones, and don't really intend to.

Now as to the caliber...I really like the .45 ACP cartridge and there is no doubt about that. As Eric stated it is efficient as most auto cartridges are. They were made 'post blackpowder era' and don't need a lot of space like most revolver calibers do. But my opinion here is that that is fine in an auto which was built around it. Most revolvers that chamber the .45 ACP are big enough to chamber the .45 Colt, and even the .44 and .41 magnums. Limiting yourself to the .45 ACP in that case is a waste of gun. The .45 Colt can handle any bullet that the .45 ACP will, and with heavier bullets it can do much better. It will also take shot capsules, or can be loaded with shot in other ways, and can be loaded with...well, lets just say it's much more versatile. Granted you do have to use more powder than the .45 ACP, but take a look at the difference in pressures for similar velocities! I won't go into this a whole lot...but if you want to look for a good compromise between the efficient .45 ACP and the versatile .45 Colt, the .45 S&W has a lot of promise if you know what you are doing.

If the revolver was made specifically for the .45 ACP cartridge, such as the cylinder was just long enough for a max. overall length round and the window was just big enough for it and so on, sort of like the 625-10 that Haggis pictured, that might be acceptable depending on how it compared in size to a full size revolver, and if it could be concealed or not. ( If it's for open carry I'd go with the full size anyway.)

I do have a few .45 ACP revolvers, and they aren't going anyplace soon, but that also includes the range. I have a handful of .45 Colt revolvers that get used a lot more. I do wish I had a nice .452 wadcutter mould though.

O.K. I'm done, y'all can come back now.

 

[jwk]

My favorite reason for shooting a .45ACP wheelgun is cause I can.

Seriously, .45ACP is rated as one of the best defensive cartridges going. That isn't what you can load, it is what you can buy over the counter. Federal doesn't load a 45 Colt HydraShok load. If they did, I would buy some, maybe even a lot. That is one reason.

Another reason is it makes big holes in things. I like making big holes in things with a revolver. Since I was already loading .45ACP for my 1911s, I was already good to go on ammo. While I know that I can big holes in things with revolvers in other chamberings, it is more convenient to do it with .45 ACP.

Did I mention because I can? If I knew how to put that little smiley logo on an email, I would have put one there.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have another great store for moonclips, tools, holders and other stuff. It's TC Custom.

 

[JD 500]

You guys are making me need another wheelgun.

 

[ddixie884]

"The best .45 autos are sixguns", Skeeter said that.

 

[Dave T]

The only cartridge I like as well as the 45 ACP in revolvers is the 44 Special. Which is the favorite varies from day to day and sometimes from morning to afternoon. (smile)

Dave