Yea or Nah on Moonclips?

[Pizza Bob]

There is a problem with the whole premise of this thread. It is too broad, it lumps all moon clip guns together and asks for an overall opinion. bigwheelzip pretty much hit the nail on the head, but doesn't really spell it out.

I'm sure that there are probably a number of people out there that have gone out and purchased a gun chambered in .357 cut for moon clips, based on their experience with a .45 ACP gun. To their chagrin, they've found that it is a whole different ball game.

The OP needs to be more specific in their question - what gun/caliber are we talking about? and then go from there.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[steelslaver]

First of all with bowling pins why reload? Really, your out of the money. Next all kinds of people have misfires when they set up the spring tension to low. I have never had one of mine not fire a round in a clip, But, I gave up on super light triggers and went to-learning to be abetter trigger puller. I would rather have a smooth 10 or 11 # DA trigger that fires every time than a#8 one that don't. Maybe they need a stronger finger instead of a lighter pull.

 

[tenntex32]

First of all with bowling pins why reload? Really, your out of the money. Next all kinds of people have misfires when they set up the spring tension to low. I have never had one of mine not fire a round in a clip, But, I cave up on super light triggers and went to-learning to be abetter trigger puller. I would rather have a smooth 10 or 11 # DA trigger that fires every time tan a#8 one that don't. Maybe they need a stronger finger instead of a lighter pull.

I've never had an issue with them either, but I guess if you are prone to using bent or nearly broken clips then it could be an issue.

That being said my experience with them has been from .45acp revolver types not having their mainspring tension fudged with.

 

[Kinman]

I do see a use for moon clips, I also see a good use for using 45 Auto Rim in a revolver chambered for .45 ACP. When puttering around down at the range I prefer to use Auto Rim, I do not reload .45 ACP. I do own a few pistols chambered in .45 ACP but do not shoot them enough to warrant reloading, keeping a surplus of over 1K rounds including personal defense loads is enough. I have more revolvers chambered in .45 ACP and one of my favorite carry pieces is a cut down Model of 1917. While carrying that firearm I have personal defense loads in a full moon clip and a strip clip of six personal defense loads in a pocket. If I was to be carrying a model 1917 into combat I would want a supply of loaded half moon clips to be used as the firearm was designed.
I had a friend that lost a serious pistol match to a bent moon clip, he got me started on 45 Auto Rim and I never looked back. I only reload 45 Auto Rim because I do most of my casual shooting at a range. I don't seriously dislike half moon or full moon clips I just prefer to use the revolver like any other revolver. For personal defense I think a fully loaded revolver with a reload of six should be enough, any need for more firepower is going to have me packing a rifle or shotgun.
I have experienced a clip bent enough to not allow for a smooth reload, you can straighten them on a piece of glass. They usually get bent while unloading or loading, especially when someone is trying to be a good guy and do it for you after using the revolver at the range. I usually thank them but tell them I've got this and use my tool to unload the spent rounds.
I guess in summation I'm not really in favor of using moon clips except for an initial carry application, beyond that I'm more of an Auto Rim guy. For action pistol stuff, its pretty tough to be the speed of a full moon clip...the original speed loader. ALTHOUGH...The 1858 Remington cap and ball revolver could easily reload a full cylinder, even while horseback, making it truly the first speedloader.

 

[cremaley]

With my Performance Center 327 I use moon clips with my carry ammo in case I need to do a quick reload but not when I'm at the range shooting range ammo.

 

[reddog81]

I like moonclips and use them regularly in my 929 and 45 ACP revolvers. The RIMZ moonclips are very easy to use and I can use the steel ones without any tools other than a sharpie or wooden dowel.

I've never used them on a .357 and wouldn't be interested in converting any for moonclips. If I was so inclined I would just buy a gun that was setup for them from the factory.

 

[biku324]

I have a new pack of 8 moonclips for my 25-8; I've never opened it, as I came up with a deal on Auto Rim brass and have no need to shoot ACP in it. Eventually I will, but I'm not feeling rushed.

 

[cmj8591]

I tried the moon clips but they jam up my 1911. Am I missing something?

The aggravation they cause is not worth it if you can avoid using them and there's nothing they do that can't be done with a rimmed cartridge and a speed loader. I dumped mine for my 25 and 625 and went to the auto rim and never looked back. I still keep the half moons for my 1917 only for nostalgia reasons.

 

[Deceasedeye]

There is a problem with the whole premise of this thread. It is too broad, it lumps all moon clip guns together and asks for an overall opinion. bigwheelzip pretty much hit the nail on the head, but doesn't really spell it out.

I'm sure that there are probably a number of people out there that have gone out and purchased a gun chambered in .357 cut for moon clips, based on their experience with a .45 ACP gun. To their chagrin, they've found that it is a whole different ball game.

The OP needs to be more specific in their question - what gun/caliber are we talking about? and then go from there.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

With all due respect, if I had wanted a specific opinion I would have asked for one, but if you notice I asked for a (general opinion) and because of that I have gotten the education I was hoping for.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

I hate to derail but other than specific sizes for 38/357, what are the issues with them over 45acp moonclips? I am seriously considering getting my 2.5 686 cut.

 

[Golphin]

I bought a 625 recently and like using the moon clips. I load a bunch of them up before I go out to my private range here at the house and they make loading unloading and keeping the brass together easy.

 

[tenntex32]

I tried the moon clips but they jam up my 1911. Am I missing something?

The aggravation they cause is not worth it if you can avoid using them and there's nothing they do that can't be done with a rimmed cartridge and a speed loader. I dumped mine for my 25 and 625 and went to the auto rim and never looked back. I still keep the half moons for my 1917 only for nostalgia reasons.

While I have around 500 or so .45AR cases I usually tend to handload the .45acp cases just in case I may also want to shoot them in my G21C or P250 semiautos chambered in .45acp.

Every now and then I'll shoot a bit of .45AR, but I too enjoy the nostalgia of shootin' that moonclipped .45acp.

I have plenty of rimmed cartridge caliber revolvers if I truly need to cure a rimmed case desire.

 

[6string]

It depends on your use and needs.
I'm into Bullseye and precision shooting.
I like the older "pre model number" 1950 and 1955 .45 Target revolvers. They have match grade chambers and proper throats for cast bullets. The headspace is on the tight side.
45 Auto Rim brass allows better control of fitting my handloads to the chambers. It's more work, but it lends itself to tighter groups, especially for slow fire at 50 yds.
Moonclips and ACP brass introduce one more variable. Moonclip thickness and flatness need to be a bit more consistent than how they seem to come as manufactured. Inconsistency can lead to cylinder binding, variation in headspace and other headaches.
I've played around with lapping moonclips dead flat on a leveling stone, and that may work out. But, it is more work.

This is probably why S&W opened up their chambers and throats in later guns.
If you have a later 25-2 with fat .457" throats and "longish" chambers, and can live with the trade off in accuracy, then it might be less of an issue.

 

[Deceasedeye]

I hate to derail but other than specific sizes for 38/357, what are the issues with them over 45acp moonclips? I am seriously considering getting my 2.5 686 cut.

Speaking as the newly educated OP, it seems that the shorter (chunkier) the round is the better. The longer leaner 357 requires a bit more finesse than the 45 does to manipulate speedily.

 

[Protocall_Design]

The moonclips for rimmed calibers need to be matched to the brass you're going to use. You need to get the best quality ones (TK Custom). They are thinner than rimless caliber clips, easier to bend when you step on them. Still worth it if you want a fast reload.

The rimless caliber moon clips are thick metal. They are cheaper, and you can use mixed brass with them.

 

[tenntex32]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FbUMqoyjDw&ab_channel=JerryMiculek-ProShooter"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FbUMqoyjDw&ab_channel=JerryMiculek-ProShooter[/ame]

 

[sigp220.45]

I have two moon-clip guns - a 25-2 and a 646.

I like shooting them, but I shoot them less than some other guns because of the moon clips. If I have some loaded up - great. If not - maybe next time.

I only use Rimz plastic clips. They are cheap, work great, and no tools or blood sacrifice required.

I would never take a normal revolver and convert it to moon clips.

 

[steelslaver]

I tried the moon clips but they jam up my 1911. Am I missing something?

The aggravation they cause is not worth it if you can avoid using them and there's nothing they do that can't be done with a rimmed cartridge and a speed loader. I dumped mine for my 25 and 625 and went to the auto rim and never looked back. I still keep the half moons for my 1917 only for nostalgia reasons.

I have never found them to be an aggravation. I also never mess with them at the range. I go out with a coffee can full of clipped up rounds and come home with what ever is left and another can with empty brass in clips. In my loading room out goes the brass with a handy dandy twist tool. New ammo fills the clips with another handy dandy tool.

And BTW nobody can reload a revolver with something other than clips in less time than it has been done with a clip gun. No where even close.

Hows this 16 rounds in 4 seconds. Not many could do that with a 1911 and 8 round magazines.

He does 12 from a 625 in under 3 second

Jerry Miculek Sets 16-Round Revolver Speed Reload Record | VIDEO – Personal Defense World
That is something you can not do with any speed loader.

 

[cmj8591]

Hows this 16 rounds in 4 seconds. Not many could do that with a 1911 and 8 round magazines.

He does 12 from a 625 in under 3 second
.

That's one thing I found with the AR. It has slowed down my 12 round dump to 3.25 seconds! Miculek is from another planet!! His rate of fire with his 625 is actually faster than an H&K MP5 machine gun.

 

[StrawHat]

Jerry Miculek aside, my times with a moonclipped revolver are much better than using a speedloader. I competed in PPC for at least a decade so I got plenty of practice with speedloaders yet my split times are faster with any of my ACP revolvers.

If they don't work for you, no problem! But they do work, at least for some of us

Kevin