Source for 1917 moon clips?

[23 Blast]

I recently acquired a 1917 and although I know it can be fired without moon clips, I would prefer to use it with them. What's a good source for these and are they the same clips as for a Model 625?

 

[CptCurl]

No problem. MidwayUSA has them less than $1.00 each:

Search results for: moon clips

The Ranch brand is fine. Get the Ranch unloading tool also.

 

[23 Blast]

Thanks, CptCurl!

 

[jdh]

Ranch products. $35/100

 

[DCWilson]

The metal clips can be hard to load and strip without a tool. The polymer RIMZ clips can be loaded and stripped with finger power alone. But they are more expensive.

 

[OldArcher]

Try:

The Revolver Supply Company. Supplies for the revolver enthusiast

They are super. Even the best tools for loading and unloading your full-moon clips. Full-moon clips in brass or stainless steel. Two round 1/3 moon clips, as well as full-moon clip holders...

Great service and very informative, and I will be back...

OldArcher, out...

 

[Jack Flash]

I like Ranch Products 1/3 moon clips but they all have their virtues.

 

[DWalt]

I like Ranch Products 1/3 moon clips but they all have their virtues.

I started off using third-moon clips, but I haven't seen any in a long time. Are they still available (not that I need any as I have maybe 50 of them)? Only disadvantage is they are a bit slower in reloading vs. the full moon clips. I use the inside corner of a GI steel 7.62 ammo can for removing fired cases from full-moon clips, works fine, and also acts as a receptacle for the empties to fall into.

 

[The Wizard]

I use .45 Auto Rim in my M1917!

 

[quinn]

There is a guy on eBay who sells the tube style tool with the notched end for removing spent shells ffrom moon clips. He sells it for 9.99 shipped. Yoou slide it over the shell and twist slightly and the shell pops off. Great tool. Also, somewhere in the forum a member showed how to make this type tool yourself. I was just lazy. Got my clips off eBay, also.

 

[Deacon KC]

Make your own tool by getting some 1/2" inside diameter copper pipe, cut it to about 8" long and on one end cut it about 1/4" across at the halfway point. you can also pick up an elbow to glue on the other end for leverage. By using this length, you can unload the full moon clip in one pass, then dump them all at once.

 

[Jack Flash]

I started off using third-moon clips, but I haven't seen any in a long time. Are they still available (not that I need any as I have maybe 50 of them)? ...

Ranch Products still makes them. The RP website leaves something to be desired so I order mine from Midway:

Search results for: moon clips

 

[Powder Burns]

The metal clips can be hard to load and strip without a tool.

That's for sure. I like how they are like speed-loaders all clipped together like that, but find myself buying or handloading Auto Rim more and more for my '17. The clips are a pain to load and unload with cartridges.
(Buffalo Bore and Black Hills make some good 45 AR loads, and Starline makes new brass.)

 

[Jack Flash]

I know a lot of people don't like to use moon clips. If you are a handloader, .45 AutoRim does offer a viable alternative.

For the non-handloader who is limited to factory offerings, the selection is extremely limited. And what is offered is going to be a special order / mail order proposition.

I suppose that a truly rabid moon clip hater could just shoot unclipped .45 ACP rounds through his gun and pluck / poke out the empties. To all others, I would suggest that it is prudent to keep at least a small stash of moon clips on hand, no matter how little you like them.

You will find .45 ACP in any gun shop, not to mention the large resalers such as WalMart. I'm willing to bet that a lot of the clerks at even well-stocked gun shops would not know what you are talking about if you ask for .45 AR.

 

[Powder Burns]

^^^I've done that too--shot ACP without any clips. My own S&W Model 1917 headspaces all the ammunition that I've tried quite well on the case mouth, and the standard ACP loads I've used can just be flicked out with a fingernail without sticking. I've read though, that some 1917s (early model or Colt built perhaps?) do not headspace properly without the moon clips and can be unreliable or even hazardous when doing this. I don't know if all that's true or not, because I only have experience with my own S&W M-1917.

Buffalo Bore currently makes three different standard pressure Auto Rim loads, and I believe Black Hills makes just the one LSWC. Still, that's four to choose from, and better than a lot of "historic" cartridge offerings. I hate having to order ammo online and wait for it, too, but living in a small midwestern city as I do, I'm pretty used to having to order anything that's doesn't have zombies on the package or is otherwise not one of the top ten most popular (insert product type here).

 

[CptCurl]

Contrary to the weight of opinion, I really like the moon clips. It's like having all the ammo in speed loaders, but you don't have to jimmy around with the speed loader.

Loading and unloading the moon clips is a breeze with the simple little unloader that can be had for less than $5.00.

I guess I'm just so easy to please because of my sunny disposition!

 

[growr]

I fail to understand why so many say that it is a pain to use moon clips. They are VERY easy to load and unload and even faster to do a reload with. I use them all of the time with my M25-2 in USPSA matches. Brass pickers love them as well!
Randy

 

[Russell Cottle]

Dwalt, Revolvers Specialities has them, too(1/3 moon). I just ordered some from them yesterday

 

[DWalt]

Up until a year or so ago (when schedule difficulties arose), I shot in an IDPA match every month. I chose to use my M1917 in that, and there is no possible way to go other than using full moon clips. Otherwise, reloading is far too slow, as IDPA is a speed game.

 

[Deacon KC]

HKS still makes a speed loader for the .45 Auto Rim.

 

[Cyrano]

Does anyone know where I can get LOTS of half moon clips for filling up a WW I half moon clip shipping strip?

 

[bigjohn4]

Cyrano, the last half moon clips i got were supposedly originals from Numrich GunParts. It was very amusing when I loaded one and it preceded to crack in half in my hand. Damn thing looked like it was in a fire. But, the did send me a few replacement ones for free for my trouble.

 

[Jack Flash]

Does anyone know where I can get LOTS of half moon clips for filling up a WW I half moon clip shipping strip?

Cyrano:
How many do you need? Do they have to be pristine?

I bought a bag of them from a gun shop a few years back and would be willing to send you some. A few had a little rust which I cleaned up pretty well with oil and steel wool. No idea if they are WWI vintage or ?????

 

[TSQUARED]

I recently acquired a 1917 and although I know it can be fired without moon clips, I would prefer to use it with them. What's a good source for these and are they the same clips as for a Model 625?

The Ranch Products moonclips are ca $25 per100. I use their moonclips in 45 ACP, 38 Super, 38 Special and 40 S&W.

 

[Powder Burns]

I fail to understand why so many say that it is a pain to use moon clips. They are VERY easy to load and unload and even faster to do a reload with. I use them all of the time with my M25-2 in USPSA matches. Brass pickers love them as well!
Randy

Maybe I have the wrong kind. Mine are a bit tight. (I don't remenber the brand, had them oprdered in from LGS) Once loaded, I like them. For casual range shooting, I prefer Auto Rim. No rush to reload there.

Rob

 

[Jack Flash]

My thinking is that most of the dislike for moon clips developed back in the day when only the half-moons were available. They are the most problematic as they are flimsy and easily bent. They were designed to be used once and thrown away, I believe, so it shouldn't be a surprise that they develop problems when reused.

Metal full-moon clips can be a little challenging to load and unload without tools. That's why I prefer third-moon clips, but these don't seem to be very widely used.

 

[bettis1]

Up until a year or so ago (when schedule difficulties arose), I shot in an IDPA match every month. I chose to use my M1917 in that, and there is no possible way to go other than using full moon clips. Otherwise, reloading is far too slow, as IDPA is a speed game.

DWalt,

I haven't used my M1917 or M25-2 Jovino in IDPA yet but am considering it. Can you recommend an IDPA sanctioned belt carrier for the moon clips?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[DWalt]

No - I never got that fancy. I just wore a vest and kept the loaded moons in a pocket.

I will provide a tip for using a M1917 in IDPA. Use something to keep the threaded ejector rod tip screwed on. I lost one during a match, and it messed up my timing. Plus, even worse, I couldn't find it on the ground after about an hour of searching. I had to buy a replacement, but I used Loc-Tite on it.