Moon clips
- Thread starter ronm4c
- Start date
The moonclips are required to allow the gun to eject the cases. But they might not be needed to headspace the rounds for actual shooting.
To test that simply drop an empty into the cylinder and see if it stops at a point where the head of the casing is supported so it is very nearly in contact with the recoil shield when closed. If it falls too far into the cylinder for the firing pin to hit the primer correctly and has a large clearance to the recoil shield as a result then you need the moonclips to shoot the gun as well.
If the cases are properly supported without the clip and you want to shoot it without the clips then you will need to pick out the empty brass one at a time instead of using the ejector. Without the clips there's nothing for the ejector to grab
And that would be why some bright wig came up with the idea of the .45 auto rim. So that revolver guys with these and the Colts could use the guns without the need for the moonclips.
To test that simply drop an empty into the cylinder and see if it stops at a point where the head of the casing is supported so it is very nearly in contact with the recoil shield when closed. If it falls too far into the cylinder for the firing pin to hit the primer correctly and has a large clearance to the recoil shield as a result then you need the moonclips to shoot the gun as well.
If the cases are properly supported without the clip and you want to shoot it without the clips then you will need to pick out the empty brass one at a time instead of using the ejector. Without the clips there's nothing for the ejector to grab
And that would be why some bright wig came up with the idea of the .45 auto rim. So that revolver guys with these and the Colts could use the guns without the need for the moonclips.
A Smith 25-3 is chambered in .45 Colt(a 625 comes in .45 ACP. Apparently a 25-2 does too). To use .45 ACP in it you will need moon clips. Doubt you'll find 'em in a TO shop unless you get lucky, but you'll be able to order 'em.
$25 US shipping from TK Custom. Brownell's carries 'em too. Give Epp's a call first.
$25 US shipping from TK Custom. Brownell's carries 'em too. Give Epp's a call first.
Rusty Wood Trading here in BC (www.rustywood.ca/starline.html) has Starline 45 Auto Rim (as referred to by BC Rider above) in stock, according to their website.
Problem solved, unless you want to use moonclips.
Problem solved, unless you want to use moonclips.
I have shot 45ACP in my 625, with and without clips. If you want to shoot without, the occasional round won't fire because of a big crimp changing the headspace.
I bought moonclips and a de-moomer on ebay - cheap.
I bought moonclips and a de-moomer on ebay - cheap.
OK, now that is just weird. The Model 25-2 from 1955 came chambered in .45acp. But the currently sold 25 under the S&W Classic lineup is chambered in .45Colt. Why in blazes would they reuse a model number and cause this sort of confusion?
In any case the OP's gun IS in .45acp since it's the 25-2.
I don't think moon clip is mandatory for any revolver. never seen one used in the western movies.
joking aside, moon clip and speedloader are just different ways to do load/unload in a much faster way. you can always put in bullets one at a time if you are only going to shoot paper target and not doing any speed drill.
joking aside, moon clip and speedloader are just different ways to do load/unload in a much faster way. you can always put in bullets one at a time if you are only going to shoot paper target and not doing any speed drill.
I don't think moon clip is mandatory for any revolver. never seen one used in the western movies.
joking aside, moon clip and speedloader are just different ways to do load/unload in a much faster way. you can always put in bullets one at a time if you are only going to shoot paper target and not doing any speed drill.
Yes. The 45ACP has no rim, so the ejector rod does not work. Each round has to be poked out.
The 625 is not a muzzle loader; it takes cartridges, not bullets.
Actually, not in the 25/625 as they were designed for moon clips. Initially it was a modification to the Colt New Service (chambered for .45 "Long" Colt) during WW1 when the Americans, having entered the war, found they didn't have enough 1911 pistols. Someone figured that since the bullet diameter was the same, the cylinder could be shaved back a little to allow the thickness of a moon clip + the slight protrusion of the .45 ACP behind it. The extra-thick rim of the 45 Auto Rim, introduced after the war when the modified Colts were sold to the public, made up for this.
Apparently some 25/625 (earlier models?) can be fired w/o the clips but in some guns the cartridge can slide in a tad too far and create light primer strikes.
I don't think moon clip is mandatory for any revolver. never seen one used in the western movies.
Prepare to learn something new today.
LOL... just when you thought you were about to get a deal, too, eh? I have ordered stuff from Peter and he's good to deal with (as well as being just up the street from me.) Starline brass isn't cheap but it's arguably the best out there. And the Bertram stuff from Oz is indeed very expensive, but that's true no matter who sells it. They make a lot of weirdo oddball calibres not otherwise available.
If you're looking for AMMO, John Parsons at Custom Reloading in Maple Ridge BC is good, although it's obviously cheaper if you are "local" enough to be able to pick it up.
Most 45 acp revolvers will work without moon clips, but there are some exceptions. Some of the New Service revolvers have straight bore cylinders (no internal shoulder step), and without clips the round slides too far into the cylinder for ignition. Other exceptions exist too, and as mentioned improperly crimped ammo can cause issues too. - dan
