Moon clips dangerous in your pocket?

[fordtrucks]

seeing a discussion elsewhere regarding primers, and having recently put moonclips in my pocket with keys and a flashlight, the question arose in my mind:

Is it safe to carry moon clips in your pocket?

The primers are open/bare to whatever else is in there, meaning they could theoretically get crushed if you were to fall on them with keys in your pocket.

Just asking. ‘Cause I don’t know and figure someone else might, or have had a bad experience eith them.

Thanks.

 

[jar]

No idea but I always carry the moon clips either on a post type holder or in a covered pouch like those for speed loaders.

 

[Jim Watson]

Keys?
I don't carry anything in the pocket with gun or ammo.
That said, my only use for a clipgun is competition with well placed belt pouch or carrier.

 

[mcb]

I carry my CCW moonclip in a moonclip protector in the same pocket with my pen and flashlight. No real danger there as none of those items can easily hit the primers. For hunting like jar I use K-frame speedloader pouches for my N-frame moonclips. For competition I use the post style that stacks two moonclips on each other and have never had an issue.

 

[entropy]

Safe? Maybe. Wise, no. I'd try and see if the cover for the Safariland J-frame Comp I speed loader would fit over a K-Frame speedloader.

 

[fordtrucks]

Keys?
I don't carry anything in the pocket with gun or ammo.
That said, my only use for a clipgun is competition with well placed belt pouch or carrier.

I was pocket carrying my LCR at the time, so only had one other pocket available for the moon clips and other paraphernalia.

 

[cslinger]

If you set a round off in your pocket........buy a lottery ticket.....well buy new underwear then a lottery ticket but I digress.

The bigger issue IMO is moon clips bend. Should you bend one out of spec it may not work in your gun or worse yet cause some kind of issue/lockup if you force it in.

 

[mcb]

If you set a round off in your pocket........buy a lottery ticket.....well buy new underwear then a lottery ticket but I digress.

The bigger issue IMO is moon clips bend. Should you bend one out of spec it may not work in your gun or worse yet cause some kind of issue/lockup if you force it in.

This is true. Hence the reason I carry my CCW clip in a moonclip protector.



It's also another argument why rimless works better on moonclips than rimmed cartridges since the moonclip can be substantially thicker. A rimless moonclips is typically .035-inch thick and a rimmed moonclip is typically .020 - .025 inch.

 

[fordtrucks]

This is true. Hence the reason I carry my CCW clip in a moonclip protector.

View attachment 808778

It's also another argument why rimless works better on moonclips than rimmed cartridges since the moonclip can be substantially thicker. A rimless moonclips is typically .035-inch thick and a rimmed moonclip is typically .020 - .025 inch.

Where you get a moonclip protector like that? Looks very useful.

I've considered the moon clip protectors that Ruger sells for the LCR 9mm, but not too interested in the moon clip on a stick method. Already have a leatherman on my belt, and sometimes IWB carry during the day. Adding more to the belt is not my preference.

 

[mcb]

Where you get a moonclip protector like that? Looks very useful.

I've considered the moon clip protectors that Ruger sells for the LCR 9mm, but not too interested in the moon clip on a stick method. Already have a leatherman on my belt, and sometimes IWB carry during the day. Adding more to the belt is not my preference.

TK Custom sells that moonclip protector. They are a little spendy but they are nice and work well.

 

[Joshua M. Smith]

I won't carry ammo in the pocket, with or without other stuff.

There's just too much chance of damage and contamination by sweat etc.

Regard,
Josh

 

[cslinger]

Everything TK Custom does is nice.

 

[Browning]

I used to have a S&W 22-4 .45 ACP revolver that used moon clips and I never had that issue. It would take a pretty direct hit with something sharp while being firmly held in place.

However one issue that I did have is that the clips are made out of thin, flexible metal and they can and will bend. They aren't available for sale at most gunshops either. Off the net is the only place that I ever found them.

After bending one I bought and used a used leather speed loader pouch that I got out of my local gun stores bargain bin for a buck or two. I think it was made by HKS. You could just pocket carry it.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Loose moonclips and keys in the same pocket........ You could try blowing up a small firecracker in your pocket. If it's unenjoyable you may want to remove the risk of a similar experience and change your moon clip carry strategy.

 

[cslinger]

Am I the only person who cannot get James Brown’s voice yelling “ahhhh hot pants” out of his head?

 

[JohnKSa]

When I carry a gun or a reload in my pocket, it is the ONLY thing in that pocket. I even clean out the lint out of the pocket before pocketing the item.

If you can't dedicate a pocket then some kind of holder/holster/protector should be employed to keep the object from being damaged or from getting tangled up with other items in the pocket. Weird things happen in pockets--I'm always amazed by how tangled up my keychain can get. I wouldn't want to have to untangle it from a reload in the middle of a high-stress situation.

 

[mcb]

I used to have a S&W 22-4 .45 ACP revolver that used moon clips and I never had that issue. It would take a pretty direct hit with something sharp while being firmly held in place.

However one issue that I did have is that the clips are made out of thin, flexible metal and they can and will bend. They aren't available for sale at most gunshops either. Off the net is the only place that I ever found them.

After bending one I bought and used a used leather speed loader pouch that I got out of my local gun stores bargain bin for a buck or two. I think it was made by HKS. You could just pocket carry it.

If you're serious about moonclips you buy them in bulk. I have a bag full of bent moonclips. RO's are notorious for stepping on them and I have a bad habit of kicking them doing a running reloads. One of these days I will make or find a moonclip straightening tool. I think I can save about 70% of the bent ones with that tool. In the mean time I have plenty. I have 100+ for my 610, 625, & 627 and a hand full for my J-frame.

Always check your moonclips before use, and after checking them store them so they cannot get bent.

 

[Browning]

If you're serious about moonclips you buy them in bulk. I have a bag full of bent moonclips. RO's are notorious for stepping on them and I have a bad habit of kicking them doing a running reloads. One of these days I will make or find a moonclip straightening tool. I think I can save about 70% of the bent ones with that tool. In the mean time I have plenty. I have 100+ for my 610, 625, & 627 and a hand full for my J-frame.

Always check your moonclips before use, and after checking them store them so they cannot get bent.

I guess you're more serious about moon clips than I was.

When I first got the revolver it came with 10. Then I found a place that had one package of 20. Used those for awhile. It was mostly just a range piece for me and I had trouble finding them in stock. A few different revolvers that took them came out at the same time.

Later on I managed to find a place that had packages of 100 and I bought those and carried it hog hunting a few times. Eventually I sold it. Kind of interesting, but not for me.

 

[Fiv3r]

Just buy a single action. Problem solved

Seriously, I wanted to like moon clips. I had a 9mm lcr that I really loved, but I bent/broke moon clips just loading and unloading them, let alone letting them rattle in my pockets.

What I did was keep the gun loaded with a moon clip, then keep 5 loose rounds on a makeshift speed strip. The idea was to fire 5 quick then dump the clip and empties and thumb in 5 more. They would fire just fine but would need a to be poked out one by one after the fact. I never carried more than 10 rounds, so I figured I either would have time to poke them out after a fight or wouldn't care since I lost.

I never cared to packing them around for tactical reloads. Range time, yes. Practical for my carry needs, not so much.

 

[Drail]

"ROs are notorious for stepping on them.." BWAHAHAHA! They hate magazines and RayBans too. I have never seen someone kick a clip on a reload but I can believe it. They should set up a bucket on the way to the next position and if you can drop kick your empty clip into the bucket you get 3 seconds taken off your time. If you carry a moon clip loose in your pocket you WILL bend it. I just use speedloader pouches.

 

[MrBorland]

Revolver shooters in our matches would squad together: Once the range was called clear, they’d run through the course to pick up brass, speed loafers and moon clips before they got stepped on or stomped into the mud and lost forever

 

[Jeb Stuart]

I love moon clips. I have the Ruger LCR9mm and load up about 30-40 the night before a ranges session. So easy to drop in at the range and so easy to unload. I do not use the OEM Ruger, do not like, them, and they are expensive. I can carry in a TX moon clip holder. The speed Beez are tough, do not bend and do not have problems at all with them. I buy them in bulk. I do take my LCR in the woods. So easy to carry in a water proof container like the one below.
Ordered a 642 a few days ago, and already regretting the purchase, since I did not get the Pro cut for moon clips. Actually thinking about selling the gun. Have no idea why I went with 38 when the 9mm is doing so well and performing great and with the much cheaper ammo.



Simple pinch flip tops

 

[Jim Watson]

A friend is a pharmacist and was able to scrounge pill bottles just right to hold a stack of four .45 clips.

The .38 could be machined for 9mm in clips. Not cheap, have to compare the cost versus changing guns.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I won't carry ammo in the pocket, with or without other stuff.

There's just too much chance of damage and contamination by sweat etc.

Regard,
Josh

Contamination -- that's the REAL reason not to carry in a pocket. Don't worry about the primer, worry about corrosion and crud.

 

[340PD]

Personally I cannot imagine carrying moonclips loose in my pocket. Ever try to chamber a chapstick?
In anything under .45 caliber I find them virtually impossible to reliably re-load quickly especially if it is a six or seven shot in .357 mag. If I am carrying a snubbie I keep a pair of speedstrips in my back pocket. Otherwise it is a P365 with 10+1.