stupid question about 625

[nn]

No offence intended to the O/P or anyone else here, but I don't see why you'd not want to use moonclips in a 625, as they were intended for use with them, even if some earlier models will fire OK w/o. If they're too much hassle (even the RIMZ polymer ones, which are convenient for practice), load up some Auto Rim brass. Best of both worlds.

Stuart

For the most part I agree, it is only a just in case
scenario----moonclips bend, a person might forget them, or maybe
an emergency.

Or maybe the Internet ninjas have been telling me my gun is broke because it won't shoot without clips as their -1 does or a -2 610 or a 9mm speed six.

But, there is a reason they don't----it would have been better if S&W had addressed the issue in their owners manual.

 

[Coastie762]

To get a comparison of chamber depths between my two .45 revolvers, I placed an unfired case in a charge hole in firing position and used feeler gauges to measure the gap between the case and recoil shield.

The 625-8 measured a .017" gap. The 1955 measured .002". Just to clarify, this is NOT a headspace measurement, only showing the differences in the two chambers.

I have not yet attempted to fire .45 ACPs in the -8 without clips. However, I'll have it at the range later this morning testing some AR loads and will have to give it a try, if only to satisfy my own curiousity.

 

[Coastie762]

Back from the range shooting the 625-8 with some interesting results. I tested two different .45 ACP loads over my chrony both with and without a moon clip. I predicted that the loads shot without the clip would either not fire reliably or if they did, ignition would be erratic.

Of course, I was wrong.

Each string was one cylinder (06 rounds) each. The firing pin and mainspring are both stock.

First load was a 200 gr Lasercast SWC over 3.9 grains of Clays sparked by a Federal 150 primer in a RP .45 ACP case. Fired with a moon clip the load averaged 782 FPS, extreme spread of 36 FPS. Without the clip the load averaged 757 FPS with an extreme spread of 44 FPS.

The second load was a 185 gr Hornady XTP-HP over 6.2 grains of Bullseye in CCI (small pistol primer) cases using CCI 500 primers. Using a moon clip, this load averaged 986 FPS and an extreme spread of 38 FPS. Without the moon clip, the load went 951 FPS also with an extreme spread of 38 FPS.

All primers, whether fired using a moon clip or not exhibited a deep solid indentation. Most surprisingly, there was little to no difference in velocity spreads. Each load did show a small drop in average velocity by the loads fired (25 and 35 FPS, respectively) without a moon clip.

Obviously this is a very limited test and not statistically significant. I have no inclination to regularly shoot .45 ACP loads without the clips, however the fact that it will do so is good to know (and for me at least, intriguing).

 

[gagunner 2]

Thanks for posting your results.I have a 625-6 and was wondering about firing it firing wthout clips as the manual says to use them always.
I know both my 25-5 and 625-3 will.

 

[nn]

Coastie762:
That is good news.

 

[Coastie762]

Thanks. The results were interesting. Like I said, they were not what I expected but thats part of the fun of this hobby!

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

Can anyone post a picture of the two different cylinders? I never had a chance to fire a 45ACP revolver and I was wondering how they work and what the cylinders looks like.

Thanks, James

 

[stiab]

I have fired my 625-6 MG without moon clips at least 100 times with factory ammo, and never had any problems with ignition or extraction. I take them out with my fingernails. Maybe I am just lucky.