Full Moon Clip Question

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 12:59 pm

This is my first rodeo with them. How the heck did they remove the brass in the old days without a tool? They snap in on a hard surface without too much problem. These are S&W clips, and they are heck-for-stout and don't seem to flex one little bit.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 1:21 pm

I have always used the de-mooner.
I could not do it without it.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 1:23 pm

Mescalero wrote:I have always used the de-mooner.
I could not do it without it.

I'm on to something, I'll get back to you if it works......Old Army NCOs can rig almost anything

Ray Newman · Post by **Ray Newman** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 1:32 pm

"Old Army NCOs can rig almost anything"

OK, Sgt Bilko....

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 1:36 pm

Ray Newman wrote:"Old Army NCOs can rig almost anything"

OK, Sgt Bilko....

I've got a plan using surplus JATO bottles on your chair.....

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 2:37 pm

I can remove them from my clips by hand, but after a while it starts to hurt.
I bought this set
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B5W ... UTF8&psc=1

Works pretty good. A guy could make one if he had the right size pipe or tubing laying around.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 4:00 pm

This is neater than Free Beer....and, it has a un-mooner ring built into it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-SFDK_qFzQ

cas · Post by **cas** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 4:21 pm

Off the top of my head I can think of at least four tools for putting them into the moons. They're are probably a couple more for getting them out (plus they are easily made)

http://www.mooncliptool.com
http://www.brownells.com/shooting-acces ... 25318.aspx
http://www.bmtequipped.com/products.php
http://www.brownells.com/shooting-acces ... 44864.aspx

I use the CCW remooner, but I've played with the BMT and it's pretty slick. The top ones work well too, just slower)

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 4:39 pm

Blaine,
I've been shooting the 1917 and the 1955 S & W Target since the mid seventies and I don't ever recall seeing full moon clips back in the day. I do remember faintly when they did come out but I can't remember when...mid to late eighties?

I always figured the people at Smith and Wesson were pretty smart and they most likely toyed with the idea of full moon clips back in 1917 and they probably had the same feelings about them as I do.

I bought a mess of them full moon jobs back in the nineties and I got so aggravated that I threw them as far as I could in the woods so I could not retrieve them....with the empties still in them. I'm a kind of guy where I hate having to have extra pelosi to keep my guns running so I stayed with the tired and true half moons. They are aggravation free, except if your fingers are real cold.

I even have a few of 2 round clips but they are made of the cheap steel and bend.

Every now and then I pre load 100 rounds with the WW1 and 2 quality spring clips and blast away at the 7" 100 meter gong with my tried and true load of 6 grains of 231 and a 200 gr. semi wadcutter Lyman. The ones in the pic are store bought 200 semi's and they shoot almost as good.

I also have a mess of 45 AR brass but I don't have a shell plate for my progressive machine so they just sit around and do nothing.

If you need a few of those military clips, drop me a line and I'll send you out some.----6

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 4:41 pm

Dang I pads

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 4:41 pm

cas wrote:Off the top of my head I can think of at least four tools for putting them into the moons. They're are probably a couple more for getting them out (plus they are easily made)

http://www.mooncliptool.com
http://www.brownells.com/shooting-acces ... 25318.aspx
http://www.bmtequipped.com/products.php
http://www.brownells.com/shooting-acces ... 44864.aspx

I use the CCW remooner, but I've played with the BMT and it's pretty slick. The top ones work well too, just slower)

The MoonClipTool looks very nice....I posted (above) a YouTube of a guy using one.....very slick. And, the remover is built in....

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 4:45 pm

Sixgun wrote:Blaine,
I've been shooting the 1917 and the 1955 S & W Target since the mid seventies and I don't ever recall seeing full moon clips back in the day. I do remember faintly when they did come out but I can't remember when...mid to late eighties?

I always figured the people at Smith and Wesson were pretty smart and they most likely toyed with the idea of full moon clips back in 1917 and they probably had the same feelings about them as I do.

I bought a mess of them full moon jobs back in the nineties and I got so aggravated that I threw them as far as I could in the woods so I could not retrieve them....with the empties still in them. I'm a kind of guy where I hate having to have extra pelosi to keep my guns running so I stayed with the tired and true half moons. They are aggravation free, except if your fingers are real cold.

I even have a few of 2 round clips but they are made of the cheap steel and bend.

Every now and then I pre load 100 rounds with the WW1 and 2 quality spring clips and blast away at the 7" 100 meter gong with my tried and true load of 6 grains of 231 and a 200 gr. semi wadcutter Lyman. The ones in the pic are store bought 200 semi's and they shoot almost as good.

I also have a mess of 45 AR brass but I don't have a shell plate for my progressive machine so they just sit around and do nothing.

If you need a few of the quality military spring steel ones, drop me a line and I'll send you out some.----6

Why are the half moon clips easier? With carpal tunnel my grip is not what it used to be (I can't get the rounds out of the full moons bare handed

)

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 5:05 pm

Blaine,
I can't explain it. After I took that picture I just popped out the rounds and put them back in the box like it was nothing.

I do remember back when I had those full moons that I would try to keep the rim on a parallel with the clip while I pushed and it did no good. Those things were impossible. I tried small screwdrivers, then pliers and I said to myself, " I ain't carrying no extra tool" and that was the end of that.

When holding the half moons, it is easier getting a "hold" on them and even with the strong spring steel, they pop in and out. But like I said, be wary of reproductions of half moons.....I've been there and they are junk....they bend easily and the cartridges fall out after a few times.....you know my favorite word....junk

You need a few, let me know----6

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 5:11 pm

Sixgun wrote:Blaine,
I can't explain it. After I took that picture I just popped out the rounds and put them back in the box like it was nothing.

I do remember back when I had those full moons that I would try to keep the rim on a parallel with the clip while I pushed and it did no good. Those things were impossible. I tried small screwdrivers, then pliers and I said to myself, " I ain't carrying no extra tool" and that was the end of that.

When holding the half moons, it is easier getting a "hold" on them and even with the strong spring steel, they pop in and out. But like I said, be wary of reproductions of half moons.....I've been there and they are junk….they bend easily and the cartridges fall out after a few times.....you know my favorite word....junk You need a few, let me know----6

Thank You, kindly…..I'll let ya know.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 5:21 pm

http://www.smithandwessonforums.com/for ... o-rim.html

H_Talon · Post by **H_Talon** » Fri Apr 11, 2014 2:27 am

I have one from these guys ..

http://www.mooncliptool.com/

I use it with this old beat-up shooter

it's a cut down colt new service. the moon tool works great, and has de-mooning holes
fast and smooth..

M. M. Wright · Post by **M. M. Wright** » Fri Apr 11, 2014 8:51 am

6,
Full moons were available by the mid 70s, I had a bunch of them along with my 25-2, six inch nickel that I shot in IPSC revolver class. Some were good and some were junk, made from old schlitz cans. I had lightened the action on the Smith to where is would barely fire a Federal primer and a slightly bent clip would cause a mis-fire from cushioning the blow. I always just used a long bolt that would go up in the spent case to unload them, a good stick will do. Loading was no problem but then I have a strong grip from spinning wrenches all my life. Well, I used to have strength. Getting old is a %^#@!

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Fri Apr 11, 2014 8:57 am

MM,
Yea....loading them is a breeze.

-----6

cas · Post by **cas** » Fri Apr 11, 2014 11:18 am

You want worse, try the clips that hold two. Getting them out of those is a giant PITA.

Full moon clips are for speed, anything else is easier to carry.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri Apr 11, 2014 11:27 am

H_Talon wrote:I have one from these guys ..

http://www.mooncliptool.com/

I use it with this old beat-up shooter

it's a cut down colt new service. the moon tool works great, and has de-mooning holes
fast and smooth..

That Moon Clip Tool is what I believe I'll get....Nice Pic/Toys

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri Apr 11, 2014 11:29 am

I'm sure everyone but me knew this, but, they spin/twist on and off easier than pushing/pulling.

jazman · Post by **jazman** » Fri Apr 11, 2014 11:40 am

From what I have read, whatever you do don't put beans and water into the empties, you'll never get them out!

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri Apr 11, 2014 11:41 am

jazman wrote:From what I have read, whatever you do don't put beans and water into the empties, you'll never get them out!

I never store my beans with the ammo....it's just asking for trouble.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Fri Apr 11, 2014 5:52 pm

Blaine, the answer to the question "how did they remove them in the old days" is simple. They didn't. They just dumped them out on the ground with the brass, and pulled another 1/2 moon clip from the pouch and stuffed it in. The clips weren't really intended for reuse. They were small, cheap and could be manufactured by the millions. .45 acp rounds came in boxes from the factory already in the clips.

Hairtrigger · Post by **Hairtrigger** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 7:21 am

[quote="BlaineG"]I'm sure everyone but me knew this, but, they spin/twist on and off easier than pushing/pulling.[/quote

This is how I dinit with my 610, this s gun gets shot very little

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 9:48 am

Like I posted somewhere else, these guys have two tools "super mooner" and "demooner" that make it a snap.
http://www.demooner.com/prodtype.asp?PT ... istory=cat

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 11:24 am

jeepnik wrote:Like I posted somewhere else, these guys have two tools "super mooner" and "demooner" that make it a snap.
http://www.demooner.com/prodtype.asp?PT ... istory=cat

I have on order a MoonClipTool (which has the demooner on one end), a bunch of moon clips, AND 500 Starline Auto Rim brass....Got the bases covered. Now, I can't afford gas to go to the range

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 11:32 am

I bought some Autorim brass. No idea why. I'll probably never use it. I love those moon clips. The whole reason I got my 325 was to shoot acp in it....

But...it sure is fun to accumulate stuff isn't it?

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 11:59 am

vancelw wrote:I bought some Autorim brass. No idea why. I'll probably never use it. I love those moon clips. The whole reason I got my 325 was to shoot acp in it....

But...it sure is fun to accumulate stuff isn't it?

I forgot about the 325....Thanks a lot

, I'll never have gas this summer

(I was looking, and I don't think they make those anymore

)

SteveR · Post by **SteveR** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 12:23 pm

Does anyone make a cylinder that headspaces off the rim? That would make loading and unloading slick and quick.

Steve

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 12:27 pm

SteveR wrote:Does anyone make a cylinder that headspaces off the rim? That would make loading and unloading slick and quick.

Steve

For ACP? Charter Arms has a DA revolver for 9mm, and 40 S&W (with plans for .45acp) Of course, the Blackhawk Convertible has a .45acp cyl.

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 2:10 pm

You can load acp rounds in the 625 and 325 with no clips, you just have to rely on gravity for extraction or use a poker to eject them

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 3:54 pm

vancelw wrote:You can load acp rounds in the 625 and 325 with no clips, you just have to rely on gravity for extraction or use a poker to eject them

I learn something new every day

44-40 · Post by **44-40** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 5:07 pm

The magic word is RIMZ. No tools required & hold up quite well. My metal full moons have been collecting dust ever since I switched to these:
http://www.brownells.com/shooting-acces ... 20526.aspx

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sat Apr 12, 2014 5:11 pm

44-40 wrote:The magic word is RIMZ. No tools required & hold up quite well. My metal full moons have been collecting dust ever since I switched to these:
http://www.brownells.com/shooting-acces ... 20526.aspx

I looked at those...how do they hold up?

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 12:28 pm

BlaineG wrote:
vancelw wrote:You can load acp rounds in the 625 and 325 with no clips, you just have to rely on gravity for extraction or use a poker to eject them
I learn something new every day

Early Colt 1917's did not have a step in the chambers to head space on the from of the case. But the S&W's did. Colt added the step somewhere along the way. Since then, I can't think of a .45 acp revolver that didn't have the stepped chambers.

Richardx · Post by **Richardx** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 12:49 pm

A quick way around moon clips is to get a 25-5 in .45 colt and amaze yourself at the accuracy of your pistol that needs no accessories.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 12:55 pm

Richardx wrote:A quick way around moon clips is to get a 25-5 in .45 colt and amaze yourself at the accuracy of your pistol that needs no accessories.

I have 500 Auto Rim brass on the way, and a large supply of acp loading material....I have several .44mags if I ever need more than an acp.

cas · Post by **cas** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 3:29 pm

vancelw wrote:You can load acp rounds in the 625 and 325 with no clips, you just have to rely on gravity for extraction or use a poker to eject them

Maybe. Neither of mine will.

That is to say... you can load them, but don't expect them to go off regularly.

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 7:06 pm

Richardx wrote:A quick way around moon clips is to get a 25-5 in .45 colt and amaze yourself at the accuracy of your pistol that needs no accessories.

Why? The whole purpose of having a revolver that shoots .45 acp is to shoot .45 acp in it.
I always wanted .45 Colt/.45 acp convertible, but found out it's more fun to own both....or two or three of each.

The beauty of the revolver i I can load shotshells using capsules made for .45 Colt. I keep a half-moon loaded and in my pocket or in the gun at all times.

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 7:09 pm

cas wrote:
vancelw wrote:You can load acp rounds in the 625 and 325 with no clips, you just have to rely on gravity for extraction or use a poker to eject them
Maybe. Neither of mine will.

That is to say... you can load them, but don't expect them to go off regularly.

Is that with factory ammo, or reloads, or both? I haven't had that problem yet......

44-40 · Post by **44-40** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 10:28 pm

44-40 wrote:
The magic word is RIMZ. No tools required & hold up quite well. My metal full moons have been collecting dust ever since I switched to these:
http://www.brownells.com/shooting-acces ... 20526.aspx

I looked at those...how do they hold up?

I haven't kept track of how many times each has been used, but I've been using the original dozen I bought for my 625 for several years and haven't had to ditch any yet.
P.M. me a mailing address and I send you one to play with.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sun Apr 13, 2014 10:48 pm

44-40 wrote:44-40 wrote:
The magic word is RIMZ. No tools required & hold up quite well. My metal full moons have been collecting dust ever since I switched to these:
http://www.brownells.com/shooting-acces ... 20526.aspx

I looked at those...how do they hold up?

I haven't kept track of how many times each has been used, but I've been using the original dozen I bought for my 625 for several years and haven't had to ditch any yet.
P.M. me a mailing address and I send you one to play with.

That's very kind of you, Sir......Thank You

Richardx · Post by **Richardx** » Thu May 08, 2014 9:26 pm

vancelw wrote:
Richardx wrote:A quick way around moon clips is to get a 25-5 in .45 colt and amaze yourself at the accuracy of your pistol that needs no accessories.
Why? The whole purpose of having a revolver that shoots .45 acp is to shoot .45 acp in it.
I always wanted .45 Colt/.45 acp convertible, but found out it's more fun to own both....or two or three of each.

The beauty of the revolver i I can load shotshells using capsules made for .45 Colt. I keep a half-moon loaded and in my pocket or in the gun at all times.

I made a smart aleck remark in this thread and then I saw Vacelw's post and I remembered something I had seen in the past-a smith who was machining cylinders to accept moon clips AND would head space the original cartridge-- ONE cylinder TWO cartridges, well I found it TKscustoms:

http://www.moonclips.com/

Check it out, I am about to send my 25-5 cylinder off and get it cut to accept .45 Colt and .45 acp.

I love you guys, y'all really get my gears spinning and I learn more here than anywhere else!

RichardX

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Thu May 08, 2014 11:37 pm

Richardx wrote:
vancelw wrote:
Richardx wrote:A quick way around moon clips is to get a 25-5 in .45 colt and amaze yourself at the accuracy of your pistol that needs no accessories.
Why? The whole purpose of having a revolver that shoots .45 acp is to shoot .45 acp in it.
I always wanted .45 Colt/.45 acp convertible, but found out it's more fun to own both....or two or three of each.

The beauty of the revolver i I can load shotshells using capsules made for .45 Colt. I keep a half-moon loaded and in my pocket or in the gun at all times.
I made a smart aleck remark in this thread and then I saw Vacelw's post and I remembered something I had seen in the past-a smith who was machining cylinders to accept moon clips AND would head space the original cartridge-- ONE cylinder TWO cartridges, well I found it TKscustoms:

http://www.moonclips.com/

Check it out, I am about to send my 25-5 cylinder off and get it cut to accept .45 Colt and .45 acp.

I love you guys, y'all really get my gears spinning and I learn more here than anywhere else!

RichardX

What's that gonna set you back? It's interesting. I don't think I'd want to do that to my Redhawk and all my other .45 Colts are single action....but something may end up in my hand one day that I might have that done to.

H_Talon · Post by **H_Talon** » Fri May 09, 2014 3:01 am

Richardx wrote:
vancelw wrote:
Richardx wrote:A quick way around moon clips is to get a 25-5 in .45 colt and amaze yourself at the accuracy of your pistol that needs no accessories.
Why? The whole purpose of having a revolver that shoots .45 acp is to shoot .45 acp in it.
I always wanted .45 Colt/.45 acp convertible, but found out it's more fun to own both....or two or three of each.

The beauty of the revolver i I can load shotshells using capsules made for .45 Colt. I keep a half-moon loaded and in my pocket or in the gun at all times.
I made a smart aleck remark in this thread and then I saw Vacelw's post and I remembered something I had seen in the past-a smith who was machining cylinders to accept moon clips AND would head space the original cartridge-- ONE cylinder TWO cartridges, well I found it TKscustoms:

http://www.moonclips.com/

Check it out, I am about to send my 25-5 cylinder off and get it cut to accept .45 Colt and .45 acp.

I love you guys, y'all really get my gears spinning and I learn more here than anywhere else!

RichardX

that was were I sent mine to.... only the clips he sales only works with certain brass, and the head space for the 45 colt is diff
for the 45acp ... I would only get 4 for 6 to fire in colt and maybe 3 for 6 in acp ... I talked a gun smith in to replace the cylinder

lesson learned, won't do that again.. good luck !!!!!!

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Fri May 09, 2014 7:51 am

jeepnik wrote:Blaine, the answer to the question "how did they remove them in the old days" is simple. They didn't. They just dumped them out on the ground with the brass, and pulled another 1/2 moon clip from the pouch and stuffed it in. The clips weren't really intended for reuse. They were small, cheap and could be manufactured by the millions. .45 acp rounds came in boxes from the factory already in the clips.

Yep. That makes sense. I always figured the clips were cheap and the idea was load the whole-day's ammo in them and shoot afield, not to reload the clips there. Just makes less loose ammo to carry and loose empties to tote home.

You might need a loading/unloading tool at home, but none to take afield.

junkbug · Post by **junkbug** » Fri May 09, 2014 9:31 am

I read all the responses, but did not see the method I use when working with full moon clips.

Put a pencil or pen in the center of the clip. A second pencil or pen goes in the empty you want to pull. Put yur thumb on the top of the casing, and pull the two pencils apart. Repeat 5 more times.

Hope this helps.

MrMurphy · Post by **MrMurphy** » Fri May 09, 2014 10:06 am

What jeepnik said. No reuse intended, and the original issue were half-moons.

trapper45 · Post by **trapper45** » Fri May 09, 2014 1:29 pm

RIMZ are the way to go. Rounds easy in; cases easy out. Work just fine in a 625-4.