Moon phase, black magic, and moon clips

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bernie

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My new revolver requires the use of .45 ACP moon clips. This is totally new to me. Getting the rounds in the moon clips is hard enough, but I am afraid that I will bend the clips unloading the empties out of them. Which moon phase should I do this in, or which incantation should I use. Also, Is there a tool to load/unload the moon clips that you use. Also, where is the best place to buy full, half, and third moon clips?
 
I have a S&W 625

Moon clips, the modern ones which came along in the
late '70/early'80s are "Full Moon" clips, a star that holds
6 rounds. The original moon clip was a half circle with the
three notches facing inward a "Half Moon" clip that
holds 3 rounds so two Half moon clips are required to load
up.

Loading I use the needle nose tool on a leatherman's multi-tool
on the full moon clip. I bag them up for range sessions, and in
de-mooning, I have the Wilson Combat De-Mooner
that was all of $3. It has a hafl circle surrounds the
case and has a pin, two actually it's ambi. pops em
out and I bag empties by headstamp/make.

FYI - S&W has made .45 ACP chambered revolvers
since 1917 - the first being used by the Doughboys in WWI>
Post WWI the Remington-Peters ammo company created a
case that duplicated the .45 ACP dimensions except it has
a conventional but thicker Rim. Marketed to the US market
for the glut of surplus M1917 revolvers that came
home. ONe advantage with .45 Auto RIm is the roll crimp for
heavy bullets, Buffalo Bore Double Tap and Reeds Ammo &
Research all make very warm to hot .45 AR loads.

Enjoy, O.P. what model do you have?

Randall
 
easiest thing to do is modify a golf club shaft. it can be done easily in such a way as to allow it to be used as a loading tool and an unloading tool with just a twist of the wrist and no damage to the moons.
 
It's an easy thing to make a delinker/unloader out of a piece of 1/2" galvanized pipe, or they're sold here and there - I think Numrich has one for about $6.00. With a handle as rc posted, except I like the pipe because I delink the fired cases right over my tumbler and the empties go right down the pipe into the media. It makes for quick no fuss unloading.

The steel clips get a little easier to load with age.

I bought but don't like the plastic variety - they bend too much as I load them and get all twisted when unloading them. Makes a pain worse.

I use them for my Model 25-2, two 1917 S&W's, and a modified Webley Mark VI breaktop that's all kinds of fun to shoot.
 
If you reload, Starline brass loads into the blued steel moonclips from 'Ranch Products', which are $35/100 delivered, quite easily. The best demooner is the nutdriver style tool, like Brownell's, etc, sell for $10-$15. They hold six empties - so you can dump them into a ZipLoc bag easily. Seriously, if you can afford a nice revolver, do you really want to demoon your clips with a hunk of water pipe - or a broken golf club?? Moonclip loaders don't impress me... I bought 1k Starline brass - the uniformity helps in reloading - semi-auto range sweepings look pretty nasty and can be problematic in loading the 'clips.

Below is my 625JM, my second 4" 625-8 since 9/02, bought new 2/05 and shown with the accessories one needs. The Brownell's de-mooner, Ranch Product moonclips for .45 ACP - and HKS #25 Speedloaders for the thick rimmed .45 Auto Rim cartridges (Don't get the #25-5 - it's tines are set for the narrow .45 Colt rims.), although they load fine by hand. I load my .45 AR brass with .45 Colt loads - 255gr LSWC. Brownell's has the speedloader, too - and small bags of the moonclips.

P2210004.jpg

One of the great attributes of a .45ACP moonclip revolver is the speed with which it can be reloaded - especially with 230gr FMJ or RN bullet ammo - and eased charge holes - almost like a tractor beam! When an evil-bottom-feeder lover asked me what I'do if Zombies attacked, claiming his few hi-cap mags gave him an edge, I arranged my 625JM and 105 loaded moonclips (630 rounds) and sent him this picture. I have more now... I saw that movie again!

IMG_0594.jpg

You just can't beat a .45 ACP revolver for real 'big-bore' fun with frugal and available ammo. Enjoy your S&W 1917 - what a 'heritage!

Stainz
 
My first revolver

I do believe that the 625 will be my first revolver. thanks for that pic. I think it sealed the deal.
 
I used a polymer scissors-style de-mooner twice with my first 625-8 in '02 before it became an expensive paper weight. When I stupidly sold my first 625-8 6/04, I got rid of my nutdriver style 'moon clip stripper' from Brownells, stock #352-197-000AB $14.36. I ordered my 625JM, after a long 6+ months without a .45 ACP revolver, from my pusher's on a Saturday in early 2/05. I ordered the replacement nutdriver style 'demooner', HKS speedloaders, etc, first thing Monday AM. The revolver arrived Tuesday - the parts, including a HiViz .250" height 'Classic/DX' front sight you see on it in the 'sea of moonclips' picture, got here a day later. The 625JM has a spring loaded front sight mount permitting tool-less changes in seconds - a great attribute!

BTW, a fellow offered me $200 over what a current 4" 625 cost at the pusher's that late June day... came in handy for a vacation, during which I missed my 625. A rumor persisted of finally a second batch of 625MG in .45 ACP, so I waited. I'd still be waiting had it not been for my spying the new 625JM on the S&W site that Sat AM. He ordered it for me for $569 - $10 less than his in-stock 4" & 5" 625s. Sadly, my CFO was standing behind me, having returned from the girley store, heard everything. "What did you do?", she quipped, "You just ordered a $600 gun like you would a 'Happy Meal'!". I had to buy her something more than a 'Happy Meal' that day... but I would get the toy!

The long period without my .45 ACP was unbearable. Sure, I had a 625MG in .45 Colt - and 24 & 629 for .44 Specials - and I reloaded. just something really neat about those moonclips... and enough 'thump' to let you know it fired. Ammo is available and affordable, if you don't reload, and is still a 'big bore'! Just fun.

Stainz
 
What Stainz said :
The best demooner is the nutdriver style tool, like Brownell's, etc, sell for $10-$15. They hold six empties - so you can dump them into a ZipLoc bag easily. Seriously, if you can afford a nice revolver, do you really want to demoon your clips with a hunk of water pipe - or a broken golf club??
Click to expand...

Congratulations on your new gun - you're going to love it if you're not head over heels already. I have the 625-2 but still use full moon clips. Nice to have a revolver that also shoots 1911 rounds - logistically sound and great great fun. Superb revolver that I wouldn't be without.
He ordered it for me for $569 - $10 less than his in-stock 4" & 5" 625s. Sadly, my CFO was standing behind me, having returned from the girley store, heard everything. "What did you do?", she quipped, "You just ordered a $600 gun like you would a 'Happy Meal'!". I had to buy her something more than a 'Happy Meal' that day... but I would get the toy!
Click to expand...
And well worth the extra 'Happy Meal' too I'll bet :)
 
Seriously, if you can afford a nice revolver, do you really want to demoon your clips with a hunk of water pipe - or a broken golf club??
Click to expand...
I use a piece of 1/2 inch conduit that is long enough to have all my empties land in a bucket I place on the floor.
 
Quote:
Seriously, if you can afford a nice revolver, do you really want to demoon your clips with a hunk of water pipe - or a broken golf club??
Click to expand...

Brian Williams (Mod said:
I use a piece of 1/2 inch conduit that is long enough to have all my empties land in a bucket I place on the floor.
Click to expand...
Point is Brian that you have a lot of experience and it works good for you. Wouldn't it be better for the (relatively) inexperienced to go through the learning curve - proper tool first - then maybe find out you happily can do it another way - then do it your own way - whatever works okay for you. Just my own HO.
 
Nah, I am too much of a tightwad to waste time and money doing it "right" when I can do it easier.
I took a piece of conduit and made cuts thru the end 180 degrees apart and 1/8 inch along the length and then cut off one side. This thing will strip off any cartridge in moonclips and the cartridge will slide right thru the tube and dump them into a container, I have 2 lengths one for working at a bench and one for working from a chair.
 
The Brownells .45 ACP demooner holds six empties in the tube, while the longer one for the 8-shot 627 .357M holds eight empties. Both are $14.36. Order some bronze .45 chamber brushes, slighly larger OD than the bore brush and longer, too. Most stores don't carry them - but they are worth the minor cost.

Stainz
 
Another tightwad here. I have a couple of 8-inch lengths of half-inch copper pipe, but without the cuts in the ends that Brian Williams mentioned. I wear light leather work gloves while de-mooning to avoid half-circular cuts in my knuckles.

I usually use RIMZ plastic moon clips for practice at the range. They're easy to empty and refill quickly, without tools, while I'm out shooting. They'll break, though, so I'm going to get some more. I also plan to pick up a pack of the Ranch Products moon clips that Stainz kindly mentioned.

Along with the Brownells link above, RIMZ moon clips are also available where I got mine, at this link. The price has gone up, though: ouch!

Enjoy the admiring looks of your peers, bernie, when they see how fast you reload your new revolver.
 
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