How do moon clips work?

[marlin60]

Sorry...noobie...with a semi-auto only.

Looking to add a revolver to my collection. Have been looking at accessories, and wondering how moon clips function.

Have seen pics and videos of them static and being loaded...and the speed is pretty amazing. The rounds are fit into the clips, but how do they detach from the moon clip when inserted in the gun?

 

[canucklehead]

They don't detach. To use moon clips, you need to have your cylinder machined so that the clip fit into the cylinder.

The empties stay clipped into the moonclips and 'eject' as one unit (or two if using half-moon clips).

 

[marlin60]

Yeah thanks...I just realized this too after taking a closer look...

Always thought they dropped the bullet in....I'm sure I've seen such a device also.

didn't realize machining was required though....good info..I'm not likely to bother with that.

 

[aiwa]

didn't realize machining was required though....good info..I'm not likely to bother with that.

Of course, most revolvers that chamber rimless cartridges are constructed appropriately at the factory.

 

[marlin60]

Meaing a good S&W 686, with factory moon clips would work ok right out of the box?

 

[canucklehead]

No.

686 shoots .357/.38, and it's a RIMMED cartridge.

A 45ACP revolver will probably already be machined...

 

[JohnC]

you can find a S&W 625 5 incher in .45 ACP, or a 610 in 10mm/.40S&W (Extremely rare in Canada because you need the 5 inch barrel, you can't import the currently produced 4 incher because of the stupid gun laws.) otherwise tou're looking at machining the cylinder (thickness of the clips) - therea re shops that do this for .38s etc..

 

[tiriaq]

There are speed loaders which release the rounds into the cylinder. Half moon clips originated with the .45 ACP service revolvers in 1917. It is a system which does have advantages, but only for revolvers which are chambered for rimless ammunition. Many .455 Webley revolvers were altered to accept .45 ACP with clips, because .455 ammunition isn't all that easy to find. Collectors consider this to be an abomination. The .45 ACP bullet is not the correct size for the .455 bore, and the ACP cartridge is hotter than the cartridges the old Webleys were intended to shoot.

 

[Strangeday]

I have a 625 and I love the moon clips, getting the tool in .45ACP was a bit of a problem. But all taken care of now

 

[acrashb]

Smith 327's are also moon-clip-ready from the factory. 8 rounds of .357 / .38.

 

[JB]

I have a 686 id like to get done do i have to send the whole gun out the gunsmith or just the cylinder

 

[acrashb]

Just the cylinder, according to the guy at moonclips.com .

 

[marlin60]

Speedloader. That's what I was getting it confused with.

Hate to be a noob...but lovin' the learnin'.