Which moon clips and speed loaders for 627?

[Dr. Marneaus]

Well, if i decide to keep this 627, ima need some speed loaders and moon clips for it.

Which moon clips do you all use and which would you recommend? I notice some of the revolver supply ones come in varying thicknesses, not sure how this affects function.

What are your go to 8 shot .357 moon clips?

looks like 5 star is the only real option for the 8 shot .357 speed loaders?

 

[bananaman]

I don't have any 8 shot moon clip experience. Do have a 625JM, 6 shot. I bought 1 brand of clips that were too thick, and caused cylinder binding. Don't know if they make them for your gun, but for range use, I like RIMZ poly moon clips. Work great, and require no tools to load & unload. If I was shooting competition, I would find some metal ones my gun really liked up, & stock up. I have metal ones also. S&W, and Ranch, I believe. (not counting the binders) Good luck on your hunt! Bob

 

[old&slow]

For my 627, I have 5 Star reloaders which work fine for playing around at the range. For matches, speed, & easy of use I use the moon clips. I load enough clips to do the match and don't have to mess around with loading speed loaders or ammo blocks,,etc. for the rest of the match.

Revolver Supply has different thickness. For about anything other than Winchester brass I use the .025 thickness. For Winchester brass the .022.

I also use the Mooncliptool.com tool to load the moon clips and a 'screwdriver' type tool to unload the clips..
The Ranch Product 45 acp moon clips are great, and I use them in my 25 & 625. But they are not my first pick for the S&W 610 or 627 ..

 

[Pizza Bob]

Which moon clip you use depends on what brass you use. For just range use, you are just as well off to use a speed loader, or load singly. BTW, Speed Beez also makes speed loaders for the 8-shot .357 guns.

If you are going to use the 627 for any type of competition where you will be reloading "on the clock", then moon clips are a must.

It really is trial & error when finding the moon clip/brass combo that works. The 8-shot revolvers, unlike the 6-shot .45 ACP ones, are very picky about what works well with them. The clips need to hold the cartridges rigidly enough that they can be easily aligned with the charge holes but have just a little bit of wiggle to help them self-align. Too much and you'll be taking several stabs at trying to insert them. You will also find that the moon clips work best with shorter cartridges. I'd forget .357 Mags in a moon clip - it'll be like pushing rope. Most shooters that compete with the .357 Mag 627's use .38 Long or Short Colt and a few use .38 Spl.

While I don't have an 8-shot .357 Mag, I do have an 8-shot .38 Super (627-4 PC) and went through trials with four different moon clips to find the ones that work best with my gun & brass. I finally settled on Starline brass with S&W moon clips - which are EDM cut with a split-arm design. Guessing that the vendor is Hearthco.

All of this sounds like a major PITA - which it is - but once you are set-up, you are GTG forever and you'll find that it was well worth the effort.

These comments apply only to the 8-shot revolvers. The 6-shot .45 ACP moon clip guns are a piece of cake. Cutting your moon clip teeth on an 8-shot revolver is like being thrown in the deep-end when learning to swim.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

ADDENDUM: For maximum enjoyment of using moon clips in your gun, a quality loader/unloader is a must. I highly recommend the BMT tool. Expensive, but worth every penny.

 

[TAROMAN]

Bob nailed it. Find your favored combination and stick with it.
Mine worked out to be R-P or Federal cases with .025" clips.
After my first match loading wobbly full length 357 cases, I cut them to .900", same as 38 Super.
load Bayou 160 grain RN:

 

[dwever]

I only use Federal cases and the stock moon clips from S&W work great, as due the same thickness ones from TK Custom.

For USPSA and Steel Plates I used to use alloy competition moon clips from TK Custom, but they bend to easy, and now I only use carbon steel.

For a reload during carry I use a Galco leather speed loader pouch, but I keep a moon clip in it instead.

 

[Neumann]

The moon clip thickness depends on the relief groove ahead of the rim. Starline brass tends to work best with a 0.025 moon clip. A little loose is better than too tight. The last cartridge is the hardest to load, so a moon clip tool is important. Use a tool when de-mooning, to avoid bending the clip.

I don't compete, but have no trouble with .357 Magnum for range or self-defense use. Use HP, RN or RNFP bullets and a roll crimp. Semi-wadcutters and swaged crimps tend to hang up on entry. The 627 has chamfered entry holes, but with a much lighter touch than a typical .45 ACP revolver.

.45 revolvers practically load themselves, but a 627 will take some practice. I use my middle finger in the center hole and align two rounds with my thumb, starting them first, corralling the other rounds with my free fingers as necessary.

 

[Lou_the_welder]

Ranch products. 8 shot. .025". Fit 357,38spl, 38 long and short colt. Winchester, starline cases. There's one it wont fit right. Gonna write down which next time.
You can order these from midwayusa

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

[Mr.Lee]

Mooning and de-mooning. I don't have time for that! hehe. I have been very happy with my 5 Star Speedloader. I ordered mine in black and they are still black. No scratches or fading. I also don't carry every day. Maybe a few hours on the weekends.

Only complaints are it rattles sometimes when loaded. Not a big deal. Like in the cup holders of my car or if I'm trekking through the woods.

 

[HamHands]

T.K. Customs and Ranch Products are my Go-To for my M625... I probably have close to 40 of them and I load every one of them up before a range session. Blazer Brass, Blazer Aluminum, PPU, Buffalo Bore/Star-Line Brass, Golden Sabre's, Gold Dots, HST's, Winchester Ranger, (any in-spec factory loading I've tried) fits and fires flawlessly. I use the Colt De-Mooning tool, ($15 on Amazon), and it makes taking the spent brass or steel cases out a breeze. It's a real nice way to police my brass and keep the round count accurate for an excel spreadsheet after a training session. Lastly, reloading is just as fast as loading a magazine in a 1911 or any other semi-auto. I find it easy to carry a couple or even 3 full extra moon clips in a jacket or cargo pants pockets for woods carry. The 625 is my favorite revolver in part because it uses Moon's...

 

[Wee Hooker]

I mainly use Ranch products but have used another brand (that escapes me) with success. As others have stated the criticality of fit has more to do with the consistency of your brass than the brand of clip.