Hi-Cap .357 Smith & Wessons

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Ok, sight base. Thanks. I guess I should have know it wasn't fins. Being stainless steel, it probably can't swim anyway.

I noticed a previous post that said there are no Safariland speedloaders for the 8-round 627 S&W. Are there OTHER speedloaders for the 627s? And if not, why not...?
 
By your logic, we should still be defending ourselves with bronze knives and swords.
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Luckily I recently bought a steel knife which is hi-cut.

Also, these 8 shots are awesome! I've never seen the S&Ws but did see a Taurus recently, and almost bought it
 
yeah, I'm not buying it. but ok.
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When discussing mags, I agree that there should be a switch from using the term "high capacity" to "standard capacity" or "designed capcity". For those of us stuck in states where we are still restricted , should start using the term "reduced,limited or restricted capacity" . These would be far more accurate terms.
 
I enjoyed shooting my 4" 625 (.45 ACP in moonclips) at the local range's Steel Plate Challenges. Sadly, the five plates grew to six for 'shoot offs' - and my marksmanship would suffer - and a reload would take me out of the running, as invariably, I faced someone with a hi-cap bottom feeder. Next up was a 5" half lug 686+ - a 7-shooter in my wimpy .357 Magnum loads. Oddly, it was still not enough!

I obtained a LNIB '01-ish vintage Jerry Miculek PC627 V-Comp (Top, below.) The best trigger I have ever experienced. Moonclips here seemed unnecessary. I soon found it'd Achille's Heel - for me. The front sight. I piddled at SPC, but my wife, who doesn't practice, beat my time - with my rimfire auto. I lost interest - until the 627 Pro came out - two years ago. Nirvanna! It has a spring-loaded 'Classic DX' style front sight base - like my 625JM came with. A HiViz sight was installed in seconds - perfection in sighting. It's the bottom revolver, below. Great grip change, too. Moonclips, blued steel from Ranch Products (50/$50 delivered), and some new Starline .357M brass made the difference - fast reloads when I need it.

There is a $100+ machined X8 speedloader - the moonclips are better. It would make a great home defender - even the soon (3+ months!) to be delivered new 'Bloodwork'/UDR PC627, actually with the same SKU#, is a bit large to tote. Gotta have one of those, too. Fun revolvers. The 4" 627 Pro is a real deal.

IMG_3339.jpg

Stainz
 
Are there OTHER speedloaders for the 627s? And if not, why not...?
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the 8-shot 627 was designed to be reloaded with moon clips

if you really want a speedloader for the 8 shooter, there is one source that i'm aware of. they are called 8-Shot Loaders, CNC machined out of anodized 6061 aluminum with the interals made of stainless steel...they have a MSRP of about $60
 
Just got a 327 TRR8 and I'm head over heals in love with it. Took off the ugly top rail (don't plan on scoping or point-sighting it) and now I even love the look. I'm not a fan of moon clips (just a personal preference) but I'm a little dissapointed that a speed loader is 60 bucks. I really like the 8-shot capacity, and I really don't know why anybody cares if it is called "high capacity" or "low capacity" or "stratuspheric capacity" or "maximum capacity for this elevator". who cares? It's 8 shots of .357 magnum. I'm pretty happy with that. let's call it "super-ultra-mega capacity" and just move on.
 
Personally if it holds 7 shots or 8 shots, I say "7 shot" or "8 shot", respectively. The only time I would normally use the term "high capacity" is in reference to a double-stacked .45 ACP 1911 since that seems to be a common term for them.

However, I wouldn't call someone "anti-gun" just for using the term "high capacity". I might if someone said "too high capacity". ;)
 
What is it about moon clips that are better than speedloaders for the 627? I have speedloaders for my 686+, but don't have any experience with moon clips.
 
I keep four recyclable poly food containers with fourteen reloaded 8-slot moonclips in each for my 627s. They are just 125gr JHPs @ 900 fps in .357M Starline cases (SPC & plinking), which load easily in the Ranch Products moonclips. Again, in blued steel, they run $50/50 - or $75/100 - delivered. So, for less than what one specialty speedloader runs, I can have fifty - and lunch. Plus - the spindly eight cases don't load as easily as stubby .45 ACPs in moonclips, but they are faster, for me, to reload than the 7-hole HKS #587's in my 5" h-l 686+. Four more X8 'clips loaded with Remi R38S12 +P 158gr LHPSWCs in my desk - for 'emergencies'.

I went a bit overboard re the 625 & .45 ACPs in moonclips - I have 240 moonclips reloaded in two metal .223 ammo cases and one food container. That's 1,440 rounds of 230gr FMJ 'ball' ammo - ready to go. Yeah, I love to plink... and I am ready for Zombies, too!

Stainz

PS I try to keep moonclips or speedloaders loaded with personal defense ammo for everything in my safe - just 'in case'.
 
For those looking for 8-round speedloaders that are cheaper, try here:
http://www.speedloaders.com/

I have never used one, so I am not recommending them. They do have some theoretical advantages.

In addition to TR having speedloaders, I read that Bowen does as well.

To Spartacus:

Speedloaders require more movements to complete than moon clips. Moon clips you just kinda toss in there. Go to youtube and look up Jerry Miceluk. On .45 acp revolver, he fired 6 shots, reloaded, fired 6 shots in 2.99 seconds. Here is one link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giSaNiQ-Wb4

There are a few versions of the 327 besides the M&P and the TRR8, there is a 327pd and I think a snubbie as well.
 
This thread got me to thinking...

My 649 is a five-shot, my 681 is a six-shot, my 686+ is a seven-shot, and my 627PC is an eight-shot. So in .357 Magnum, I guess I've got the bases covered...
 
Back to my moon clip question... how is a moon clip different, functionally? Doesn't a moon clip stay with the cartridges, so they all go in - and out - together? Is that the main difference? And how hard is it to pop the casings in and out of the moon clip? Do you need a tool? And why are moon clips recommended for an 8 shot "high capacity" (ooooops, sorry!) revolver, but not a 5 or 6 shot revolver?
 
A moon clip is a small circle with openings around the outside. For most moon clips it is beneficial to use a tool to get the cartridges in. There is something called half moon clips that you don't see anymore. In a 6 shooter, it was 3 and 3. Back in WWI soldiers got half moon clips for revolvers in .45 acp. Rimless cartridges need moon clips to function in revolvers (keeps the rounds from sliding forward).

Since all the cartridges are attached to the moon clip, they all eject and go in together.

Most people don't love moon clips. However, they are faster if you practice with them, for the reason I mentioned earlier. No one recommends moon clips for 8 round revolvers and not for 6 round revolvers. S&W makes much fewer and thus sells much fewer 8 round revolvers (Ruger doesn't make any, Taurus does). So I am assuming Safariland and HKS just don't think it is worth it to make 8 round speed loaders so you are stuck with moon clips for the 8 round revolvers.

Did you look at the video I linked? You can see how he just throws it in there. That is on a 6-round revolver that has chamfered holes so that the rounds slide in easier. If you look up jerry miculek, there is a youtube video of him giving revolver and shooting demonstrations in California. They were broken up, you can see him using moon clips there. He is actually a very enjoyable presenter.
 
RichW,

Thank you for the further explanation. Yes, I did look at the YouTube link you provided, and I could see that he was able to throw them in real fast, but the video didn't answer my "functionality" questions. So, your more detailed explanation was very helpful. Again, thanks!
 
np.

this video shows the reload in slow mo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srM2qghDFuI

He is just throwing it in there. With the speed loader you have to manipulate something (different depending on brand/type).

But that guy Jerry Miculek is special. Very few people can do what he does.

Btw, wikipedia has a good shot of the M1917 with moon clips. you can see that the bullets kinda bend forward. With an 8 round .357 (much longer than a .45 acp) its even sloppier.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:M1917_revolver.jpg
 
functionally the moon clip has two major advantages when used with the .357 Mag cartridges:
1. when loading, they stay with the shells so it is a simple "insert" motion
2. when ejecting, all the shells come out together...you don't have to worry about the orientation of the cylinder causing a shell to slip under the ejector star

it also has two major disadvantages:
1. the cartridges are exposed (no loader body) and unless carried in a pouch could become fouled...not so good for CCW when you could just throw a speedloader into a pocket
2. moon clips are harder to load and need to be unloaded. i've loaded with vice-grips and unloaded with a cut down golf club shaft
 
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