Speedloaders versus Moonclips

[parabarbarian]

I hope this is not a religious issue here.

I have a 686P with 3" bbl I plan to use as a carry gun. My speedloader options seem to be the HKS 587 or the SL Variant for seven shooters. I can also get the cylinder machined for moonclips. My 6" 686 is already machined and I have all the necessary equipment to load and unload the clips. Does anyone here have any opinion on why one may he better than the otthers for concealed and/or open carry?

I'm leaning toward the clips because I'm used to them.

Right now where I live, a CCW is possible only for the politically connected but I anticipate that changing within the year or so.

 

[deralte]

I'm using moon clips for my S&W 625, 4 inch and I've never used anything faster for a revolver. I found the HKS speedloader case - 203 BW Medium does a fantastic job of carrying the 6 round .45 cal. loaded clips. That gives you 6 rounds in the gun and 12 rounds on your belt.

 

[WC145]

I prefer moonclips, easier to carry, much faster to reload.

 

[GLV]

Good durable spring steel moon clips are hard to beat--but some do not meet that criteria.

 

[parabarbarian]

Thanks to all for the helpful answers.

GLV, I do know about the difference in quality from different makers. TK Custom and Ranch Products are the best I've tried so far.

 

[Muley Gil]

"I found the HKS speedloader case - 203 BW Medium does a fantastic job of carrying the 6 round .45 cal. loaded clips. That gives you 6 rounds in the gun and 12 rounds on your belt."

Back in my cop days, when I was totin' a M625 .45 ACP, I carried a HKS large double speedloader pouch. I would carry two moonclips with the bullets down, topped with two moonclips with the bullets up, for a total of 30 rounds.

 

[tazcollins]

I've had too many HKS that accidently dumped while grabbing them or just worked loose in the case. I've called Safariland when I had a 686 plus and they just won't make a 7 shot speedloader. That would be a perfect world. I tried the 7 shot Maxfire but they didn't seem to hold the cartridge heads tight. If I had another 686P I would try the SL's or the Quick Strip 8 rounders. TC

 

[David Sinko]

Moonclipped .357 can be very picky, depending on what brass you're using. How you carry the reload will also be critical. There are just too many things that can go wrong. Moonclipped .357 is not as trouble free as moonclipped .45 ACP. Did you check to see if 3D makes speedloaders for a 7 shooter?

Dave Sinko

 

[Bratastic007]

My vote is moonclips all the way. Speed loaders require additional physical movement in the loading process. Under pressure, why make a reload more complicated than it needs to be?

 

[Poohgyrr]

FWIW, I use all 3 (speedloaders, moonclips, and quickstrips) for my .357 eight shooter. Depends on how I can carry the reloads. Practice with moonclips & speedloaders solves a lot of problems when it comes to being able to reload.

Moonclips make tactical reloads, or topping off, very difficult - but that skill doesn't seem to be taught as often as it used to be....

JMHO

 

[imashooter2]

I would not recommend carrying moonclipped reloads for self defense. The .38/.357 clips are much thinner than the .45 ACP equivalents and are easily bent/damaged. Subtly bent moons will drop in and allow the cylinder to close, but the case heads will drag on the recoil shield and tie up the gun.

There is nothing wrong with using the first load on a moonclip to gain the positive extraction and keeping reloads on speedloaders though...

 

[parabarbarian]

I would not recommend carrying moonclipped reloads for self defense. The .38/.357 clips are much thinner than the .45 ACP equivalents and are easily bent/damaged. Subtly bent moons will drop in and allow the cylinder to close, but the case heads will drag on the recoil shield and tie up the gun.

That is one of my concerns. I've never had it happen with the 6" I have mooned but I've only used it twice in a so-called "tactical" training class. Both were really more Walter Mitty fantasies and, while fun, may not be representative of what the real world might offer.

One clip did get bent at the range when it was stepped on with empty cases in it.

There is nothing wrong with using the first load on a moonclip to gain the positive extraction and keeping reloads on speedloaders though...

The positive extraction is one of the big plusses IMO. Especially for La Esposa. She may never carry a gun but she will not use an autoloader for home defense. She likes the 686 for the weight and with 38 spl +P it's easy for her to control. I'm thinking for home defense moonclips would be ideal.

In any case, even if I get the cylinder machined, I don't have to use them everywhere.

Moonclips make tactical reloads, or topping off, very difficult - but that skill doesn't seem to be taught as often as it used to be.

If by a "tactical reload" you mean recharging the cylinder without leaving the partially loaded clip behind, I found the moon clips made it easier. I got pretty good a dropping the partially expended clip into a pouch and reloading with a full one.

It did get a bit hairy when I tried to put a partial back into the gun.

 

[imashooter2]

That is one of my concerns. I've never had it happen with the 6" I have mooned but I've only used it twice in a so-called "tactical" training class. Both were really more Walter Mitty fantasies and, while fun, may not be representative of what the real world might offer.

One clip did get bent at the range when it was stepped on with empty cases in it.

I've had clips get subtly bent on my belt while carrying my range bag between stages at an ICORE event. After the second occurrence, I changed my habits and now I load the belt just before I go to the line.

IMO, the rigors of daily carry will provide far more opportunities for the clips to get bent. My bent clips only cost me time in a game. On the street the consequences could be higher...

 

[Dusty Miller]

The moonclips for my 627 don't seem to hold the cartridges firmly and that makes it difficult to line up the bullets with the cylinder in a speedy fashion.

 

[jimmyj]

"I found the HKS speedloader case - 203 BW Medium does a fantastic job of carrying the 6 round .45 cal. loaded clips. That gives you 6 rounds in the gun and 12 rounds on your belt."

Back in my cop days, when I was totin' a M625 .45 ACP, I carried a HKS large double speedloader pouch. I would carry two moonclips with the bullets down, topped with two moonclips with the bullets up, for a total of 30 rounds.

I thought Jimmy was the only one that did that. (Federal 230gr Hydro Shock)

 

[imashooter2]

The moonclips for my 627 don't seem to hold the cartridges firmly and that makes it difficult to line up the bullets with the cylinder in a speedy fashion.

627 moons are very fussy about the brass they take. Ranch Products work very well with Winchester and OK with Speer. Federal, Remington and Star are very loose.

Hearthco clips work best with Star, but Remington and Federal are OK too. Winchester won't fit.

I found it cheaper to buy 100 Ranch moons factory direct for $75 and then get a couple K of once fired Winchester brass than pay the $400 plus shipping that Hearthco gets for the same 100 pieces to work with my existing Remington brass.

 

[parabarbarian]

627 moons are very fussy about the brass they take. Ranch Products work very well with Winchester and OK with Speer. Federal, Remington and Star are very loose.

Hearthco clips work best with Star, but Remington and Federal are OK too. Winchester won't fit.

FWIW, the seven shot Ranch Clips work with just about everything I've tried in them. Mostly I shoot Speer and Federal and bit of Magtech. No Winchester in 38 or 357.

I found it cheaper to buy 100 Ranch moons factory direct for $75 and then get a couple K of once fired Winchester brass than pay the $400 plus shipping that Hearthco gets for the same 100 pieces to work with my existing Remington brass.

That is a pretty good price for 38/357 clips. I think I'd better call them in the morning and ask about the seven shot clips.