I have a S&W model 25-14 with a 3” barrel. Just bought a TK Custom unloader for moonclips. I’ve notice there are some all-in-1 loader/unloader tools out there such as the BMT Mooner. Which would be the better move: buy one of the all-in-1 tools or get the TK loader to match my TK unloader?
Moonclip Loaders and Unloaders?
- Thread starter jski
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LV Gun
Member
I had both for a while but ended up with just the TK Custom loader and unloader , I ended up selling the BMT I had for 45acp because I went to 45 Auto Rimmed cases. I do have 9mm and 38 Super revolvers that both use moon clips for the S&W 929 PC - 9mm I use Rimz polymer moon clips which I like. For the S&W 627 PC I use TK Custom steel moon clips along with there loader and unloader both work very well, my recommendation would be just get the rest from TK Custom and they stand behind there products.
westernrover
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I use a BMT mooner/de-mooner and would be annoyed not to have it when I want to load 40, 50, 70 moon clips. Anything that requires of me for each individual cartridge more than just dropping it in the hole is too tedious.
to be sure: I use the BMT for a rimmed cartridge, the 357 Magnum. I have no experience with the rimless version that functions differently.
to be sure: I use the BMT for a rimmed cartridge, the 357 Magnum. I have no experience with the rimless version that functions differently.
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mcb
Member
I love the BMT tool for rimmed cartridges. It's awesome. Functional the BMT is different somewhat between rimed and rimless. For rimless cartridges I actually prefer a mooner like the TK custom. Mine is a different brand but functional identical to the TK tool. Shooting allot of USPSA matches I end up dealing with a modest amount of partially expended moonclips and the BMT rimless tool does not do partials as nicely as other tools. I do all my selective demooning of partials using home made golf club handle demooners. The TK style tool works better for refilling partial rimless moonclips. YMMV.
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
I use a demooning tube, works real easy.
Dave DeLaurant
Member
This bent steel lever, which was included with my first batch of full moon clips, has been fine for my limited needs.
Getting .45 ACP rounds onto the clips without a tool hasn't been difficult for me but I can't speak for other cartridges.
Getting .45 ACP rounds onto the clips without a tool hasn't been difficult for me but I can't speak for other cartridges.
mcb
Member
From free to expensive. I mooned and demooned allot of 40 S&W on moonclips using that pair of channel lock pliers and the modified 7/16" nut drive. But good dedicated tools do make it faster and less figgity. When you put hundreds of rounds onto or off moonclips before or after a big match you really appreciate the good tools. But some of those good tools are cheap. Golf club handle demooners are awesome and cost next to nothing in materials a few minutes of time to make.
I use BMT for 9mm and .38s but I found for .45ACP I didn't need it given the geometry of .45 moonclips. Then again I have somewhat tough fingers. I'd just stick my index finger through the hole and press home each round with my thumb. For unmooning, I just grabbed any handy prying object (screwdriver or knife) and using one case as a fulcrum pop the adjacent one out. The last one just pulled out.
(for reference I only used TK blued moonclips)
(for reference I only used TK blued moonclips)
AzShooter1
Member
.45s are so large that I never used anything but my fingers to load them. Unloading is a different story. There are a lot of fancy tools but a used golf club or piece of tubing cut like a U that fits around the case is all you need. If it's a hollow tube cut it long enough to hold 6 loaded rounds incase you are unloading all your moons at the end of a match.
At the IRC (International Revolver Championship) one year we had a side match to see who could load and unload their .45 moons the fastest. Guess who won? Jerry only know one speed...super fast and he did it just using fingers to load and unload.
At the IRC (International Revolver Championship) one year we had a side match to see who could load and unload their .45 moons the fastest. Guess who won? Jerry only know one speed...super fast and he did it just using fingers to load and unload.
I like the BMT Equipped moon clip tools. I have both for a rimmed revolver cartridge (38 Special) and for rimless semi-auto cartridges (9x19, 10mm, and 45 ACP).
The tool for rimmed cartridges is quite simple and straight forward.
The tool for rimless cartridges has a bit of a learning curve learning at what angle to hold the cartridge trough and how much pressure to put on the stack of cartridges for efficient feeding.
They are expensive though.
The TK Custom loader is pretty good but I did not like the means of unloading the moon clips with the single case remover.
The tool for rimmed cartridges is quite simple and straight forward.
The tool for rimless cartridges has a bit of a learning curve learning at what angle to hold the cartridge trough and how much pressure to put on the stack of cartridges for efficient feeding.
They are expensive though.
The TK Custom loader is pretty good but I did not like the means of unloading the moon clips with the single case remover.
BrotherMaynard
Member
I have both and the BMT tool is pretty slick. It does make loading/unloading moonclips very easy. One benefit I found with the TK Custom tool is the ability to support multiple firearms just by changing the mandrel (~$13 + S&H).
v8stang289
Member
I got a BMT tool with a 625 I purchased last year, and that thing is awesome for de mooning empties, it's nice for loading too, I just don't use it much.
For loading 45 I typically just snap them in with my fingers, and the majority of de mooning is done with a tube that's been ground down on one end to leave a tab.
I've also made a few loader and unloader sets similar to the TK using my 3d printer, steel tubing, and a couple of 1/4" bolts. It works pretty well at a fraction of the cost.
For loading 45 I typically just snap them in with my fingers, and the majority of de mooning is done with a tube that's been ground down on one end to leave a tab.
I've also made a few loader and unloader sets similar to the TK using my 3d printer, steel tubing, and a couple of 1/4" bolts. It works pretty well at a fraction of the cost.
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halfmoonclip
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This old, stamped tool was all I knew, with .45 ACP moons, and the cartridges would usually snap in. I did get one of these for a buddy (AKA, "Iron Ass Muldoon"), who was determined to demoon with his fingers. He was ending up with sprung moons.
Nines were another matter; whether there is simply more variability in the 9s themselves, or if the moons are more tightly fit, they are often hard to snap in. I made a BMT style mooner, and finally got the real thing.
The stamped steel dozit doesn't work well with most 9s, so I have tubular demooners for both .45 and 9mm.
Moon
