The whole concept of moon clip reloading probably took root in me after my first centerfire wheelgun was my Dads' 1917 which he packed in WWI and WWII(along with a Colt 1908 when protocol for Naval Officers required a less obvious sidearm). I just thought those 3 shot half moon clips were the neatest thing since the milking machine. Still got that 1917 too, sent it back to S&W for a refinish as it was so white it looked like stainless after half century of being hauled around in an SD Meyers rendition of a military holster(still got that too).
After trusting an Army recruiter in 1960 I became an Army Aviator where they handed me a M10 RB and a shoulder holster that had 18 cartridge loops sewed onto the strap. Shortly thereafter I acquired a Browning HP, a Python and a Randall #14 knife. Paid more for the knife than either of the two guns, still got all those too.
When the 940 came out it crossed my mind that it would make a good BUG for the BHP-I had become a cop in 1965. One could even load the 940 by thumbing 9mm rounds into the chambers out of BHP mag if needed(just could not get them out so easy). I usually carried 3 extra 5 shot 9mm clips in a tube type belt holster that was made for a old type Mace cannister, fit perfectly. For over 20 years I packed that combo with 2 mags for the BHP and 3 reloads for the 940. Carried the 940 in a left hand pocket holster. In a possible gun grab situtation I would put the BHP on "half cock" and the safety on. In the unlikely someone got the Browning he would take a long time to figure how to make it go bang, much too long for the comfort of his life insurance carrier.
I even got to the point of having my uniform pants and jackets altered with a leather lined left pocket.
I became so enamored with the 9mm revolvers(surplus ammo was sooo cheap), that I acquired 2 more 940s, a 940-1, the .356TSW 940, and a 940 3" barrel. About that time Ruger got on the 9mm revolver wagon and they were going pretty cheaply as with the 940 no one seemed to want them so I got 2 SP101s, another with the 3" barrel and an adjustable rear sight (which Ruger swears they never made), and 2 2.75" Ruger Speed Sixes, one Blue one Stainless. I also acquired a Ruger Service Six 9mm and sent it to Cylinder & Slide with instructions to make a accurate and slick shooting service gun, and they did. The only gun that will out shoot it is the 4" 625 I acquired, along with a couple 3" 625s, a 5" and 3" 610, and a 646(the non PC model). Did I forget the 3" and 4" 547s? And the matched pair of Ruger Bisley stocked New Blackhawks w/dual cylinders.Both are more accurate with the ACP cylinders than the .45 Colt cylinders-probably the ammo.
With the exception of the 547s and the Blackhawks all are moon clip guns. I have found the right size holders for all the moon clips, including a couple of the old "drop pouches" that LOBO Gunleather made for me that carry .45 ACP in 2 shot (1/3 moon clips?).
I just got the Charter Arms Bulldog in .40 S&W that does not require clips and after over 300 rounds it has worked perfectly. And. oh yeah I have an old Charter Arms that works with clips but was made for the now extinct Federal 9mm rimmed cartridge that I still have a few hundred rounds for(no, not for sale).I found a couple of 940 cylinders a couple of years ago, and one fits perfectly in a M60, the other has to be fitted, sometimes you just get lucky. I plan to have it fitted into a M42 or M38. I would love to get one fitted into the M60-4 and wind up with a target sighted 3" Smith 9mm, but I don't think it is going to happen.
The 940 356TSW can eat some incredibly hot ammo (9X21.5), as well as 380, and some other stuff. Just don't plan on reloading the .380 cases.
I just discovered that my 632 Pro will shoot .32 ACP, although I don't know why I would do a lot of that, low power and expensive.
In case you had not noticed, I like to shoot semi auto ammo in revolvers. Started out because surplus .45 ACP was cheap (and acquirable as I spent 36 years in the reserve componnents) and accurate. Same for 9mm these days. And a good 9mm load takes one into low end .357 Mag territory, and well, the 10mm and .40 are in a classs by themselves.
Got a 325NG coming in soon................wife will understand-I hope.
(Just kidding!)
