S&W 625

[CZ93X62]

^^^ THIS! ^^^

My conclusions as well. A bent moon clip is much like a bent magazine feed lip--very difficult to make them right again. Keep 'em while they work, when they stop working toss 'em as consumables. These days in Kalifornistan I NEVER let my hi-cap mags hit the dirt--I control the release OR they land on old blankets during wham/bam practice sessions.

 

[StrawHat]

No Kevin I’m interested in a 45 LC.
Unfortunately they aren’t that common up here, I run across 6” Smiths but only know of one 4”. I know there’s more out there but the model 25 45 LC hasn’t been on my radar till recently.
When Ed McMahon knocks on my door then I I’ll get more serious.
I heard a nasty rumor that he passed, but I don’t believe it.

Hacksaws are plentiful and inexpensive!

Barrels can also be found.

Kevin

 

[Petrol & Powder]

My conclusions as well. A bent moon clip is much like a bent magazine feed lip--very difficult to make them right again.

I concur.

I’ve used full moon clips and half-moon clips, and I have a solid grasp of the strengths and weaknesses of those devices.

While they can be reused indefinitely until they are bent, they are done for after they are bent. And they are essentially consumable items.

When it comes to serious work with guns utilizing moon clips, the problem is not the moon clip IN the gun. That moon clip is well protected. The problem is the spare moon clips used for reloading the gun after the first cylinder full of ammo is expended. A bent moon clip will tie up the action and that is not something open for debate.

So, while moon clips are very fast for reloading DA revolvers, they are also susceptible to damage outside the gun. For people like Jerry Miculek, moon clips are great. For serious social work, moon clips are not the best choice.

 

[CZ93X62]

Both moonclips and magazine feed lips are the Achille's heels of sidearm social work. Gotta spoil 'em and baby 'em like 4-year-old royalty. The AK-47 and -74 have more stalwart mag feed lips, as do the Glock pistols--design upgrades that reflect real-world experience. I respect such concessions to objective reality.

 

[StrawHat]

Both moonclips and magazine feed lips are the Achille's heels of sidearm social work. Gotta spoil 'em and baby 'em…

I have been using moon clips, (half, full and 1/3) for about five decades or nearly half a century. Probably messed up 10 or 12 of them. The folks I see damaging them are mechanically inept and would likely break an anvil.

Use a proper tool to load and unload them and don’t stomp on them, they last quite a while.

Kevin

 

[StrawHat]

I concur.

I’ve used full moon clips and half-moon clips, and I have a solid grasp of the strengths and weaknesses of those devices.

While they can be reused indefinitely until they are bent, they are done for after they are bent. And they are essentially consumable items.

When it comes to serious work with guns utilizing moon clips, the problem is not the moon clip IN the gun. That moon clip is well protected. The problem is the spare moon clips used for reloading the gun after the first cylinder full of ammo is expended. A bent moon clip will tie up the action and that is not something open for debate.

So, while moon clips are very fast for reloading DA revolvers, they are also susceptible to damage outside the gun. For people like Jerry Miculek, moon clips are great. For serious social work, moon clips are not the best choice.

In my opinion, the problem is folks don’t understand how to carry them. Most just toss them loose in a pocket with keys, pocket knives etc. The same treatment would vex any speedloader. Properly carried, they function fine.

I just saw a neat little homespun gadget to straighten bent clips. Two pieces of round stock machined to be a fit one 5hat holds the moon clip and the other that when struck by a hammer, flattens the clip. Rather ingenious.

Kevin

 

[KeithB]

Of course you could always carry AR rounds in a regular speed loader.

 

[CZ93X62]

Of course you could always carry AR rounds in a regular speed loader.

I do that too. 500 pieces of Starline brass on hand. I just don't like carrying reloads for social encounters.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

In the real world, where you are likley to end up on the ground, pushed against a wall or whatever, things like moon clips can, and will, get damaged. And that damage doesn't necessarily occur in the same event that the moon clip is needed.

It's not really a function of how the moon clip is carried, it's just the reality of the device. It's a fairly thin piece of metal with cartridges that can put a lot of bending force on a small segment.

A loaded magazine is quite a bit tougher because the top round helps to support the feed lips and the form doesn't allow the cartridge to act as a lever on the feed lips.

Speed loaders are actually very tough and nearly impossible to crush. They can take considerably more abuse than a moon clip.

 

[imashooter2]

In my opinion, the problem is folks don’t understand how to carry them. Most just toss them loose in a pocket with keys, pocket knives etc. The same treatment would vex any speedloader. Properly carried, they function fine.

I just saw a neat little homespun gadget to straighten bent clips. Two pieces of round stock machined to be a fit one 5hat holds the moon clip and the other that when struck by a hammer, flattens the clip. Rather ingenious.

Kevin

I use those straighteners for $7.50 each TK Custom moons that I use in my 627. Those are worth spending time on to get back in service and the straightener tool makes a good start on them even if they still need tweaking after. But if they get stepped on or something… well sometimes you just gotta wipe a tear and toss them.

The 625 clips are just too cheap to bother with. Buy them by the hundred and consider them disposable.

 

[CZ93X62]

P & P's Post #49 is correct, of course.

Still--the moonclip remains with us......as popular as ever. And that S&W Model 610 still calls to me, for some ridiculous reason. The 6" Model 57 Classic makes more sense, but as a hobbyist that isn't always the prime motivator. Given the toys on hand presently, a 4-5/8" Ruger Blackhawk in 41 makes the most sense of all. My gold will stay in place for the short term--until clarity dawns.

 

[Intel6]

P & P's Post #49 is correct, of course.

Still--the moonclip remains with us......as popular as ever. And that S&W Model 610 still calls to me, for some ridiculous reason. The 6" Model 57 Classic makes more sense, but as a hobbyist that isn't always the prime motivator. Given the toys on hand presently, a 4-5/8" Ruger Blackhawk in 41 makes the most sense of all. My gold will stay in place for the short term--until clarity dawns.

I can fan the flames on the 610 I have one of the first run 610's with the 6.5 inch bbl. and it is a great shooter. I have come up with some great loads that surpass, in performance, what I shoot in my 10mm autos. I cast a 220 gr. LBT WFN that is my favorite but it shoots all weights well.

In the Pic the moon clips are loaded with the NOE 200 gr. WFN that is one of my standard 10mm bullets because I have a 5 cavity mould and can really crank them out.

 

[CZ93X62]

Yer killin' me, Smalls.

That is exactly how my 610 would be set up. too--with Hogues or Pachmayr neoprenes. A very capable hunting rig.

 

[Glaciers]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, the 10mm is a very good cartridge.
Having said that, revolvers and anything designated with “MM” after a number is just oil and water.
Don’t personally see the rationale as we have the 41 mag, 41 SPL, not to mention 38/357. The only reason I want a 6 gun in 9mm is simply an alternative and backup to my semi’s
The only traditional exception is the 45, now that’s acceptable.

 

[david s]

When developing a 10mm load for the 1911 platform I could have used a model 610 revolver. I was playing with cartridge LOA and made a series of too long to function properly experiments/mistakes figuring I would just run these mistakes thru a Glock 20 if they didn't function in my 1911 pistol. Wrong, even the Glock wouldn't function from the magazine with some of these and a model 610 would have made a nice garbage disposal.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

.........
Having said that, revolvers and anything designated with “MM” after a number is just oil and water..........

..........The only traditional exception is the 45, now that’s acceptable.

So you would be OK with 11.43x23mm ?
How about 9 x 29mmR

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[CZ93X62]

We just can't take you anywhere--can we, Jon?

 

[Petrol & Powder]

We just can't take you anywhere--can we, Jon?

Well....no, but isn't the ride more fun?

 

[TXTad]

I bought my 4" in 1990 because nobody wanted it, they wanted 5", I got it for $25.00 off. The only issue is that the chambers are on the max size, so head spacing without a clip leads to misfires. AR brass works perfectly in it. It is the gun next to the "bug out" bag if I ever had to leave home. But not without it, as the versatile revolver I own.

p.s. You realize these were the last S&W revolvers made with manual machines prior to conversion to CNC.

The headspace was a problem with them and I feel like I even remember reading at least one magazine article that mentioned it. My 5" 1989 has that issue.