I recently picked a no lock 442 that came with a couple of moon clips. I only have a couple of revolvers and this my first one with moon clips. Is it a good idea to use them for carry? Normally the rare time I carry a revolver I would use a speed strip, would a moon clip be better? Is it a good idea to keep it loaded with a moon clip for easier extraction? I have never used them and would appreciate any feedback.
I think they’re too fragile for carry unless you are going to carry it in a specific dedicated pouch. I carry a speed strip for the reload but keep the rounds in the gun on the moon clips. Far easier to dump the reloads all in one shot. I also like the fact to load / unload administratively it’s very simple. I wouldn’t hesitate to keep a couple of loaded moon clips in a nightstand drawer though. Personally I keep a few speed loaders around loaded just because they feed any of my 5-shots, whereas the moon clip will only feed my 442 Pro.
Carry moon clips every day I’m not working…
Del Fatti makes a carrier that I like, and never had an issue with my 9mm J-frame moon clips.
TK Custom also puts similar out, but I always recommend smaller companies.
I don’t carry moons, but I have kicked around the idea of half moons before. It seems like they would be much easier to make work on a belt holder and probably still be faster than speed strips. Anyone play with half moons?
Same here, I’ve owned a S&W 940 for 30 years and always carried an extra moon clip or two, normally dropped into an empty pocket. I do like that carrier, may have to pick up a couple.
I have used an old 35mm film canister without the top.
Aren’t moon clips designed for auto ammo (like .45 acp) that you can’t normally load in a revolver because it isn’t a rimmed cartridge?
If it is a rimmed cartridge, I can’t think of a single reason to use anything other than a speed loader, unless you are just really handy with that speed strip thing.
If the revolver was originally designed for an auto round, probably headspaced in the cylinder, so clips come down to extraction. Rimless means the ejector has nothing to grab.
Now, my 642-1 that I had converted… 9mm headspaces off the clip. So I need them to run in that gun.
A lot of the Performance Center .357s are cut for moonclips. Easier to load/unload as a package. I like the moonclips now, but before I converted, I used HKS loaders. Just what I always used and had the best results with. Speed between single loading and speedloader is huge, but there is a noticeable difference between HKS and moonclips. Speedstrips… while comfortable to carry, they are somewhere between single loading and a speedloader. I personally don’t like them, but to each their own.
OP hasn’t responded.
Is your gun a .38 Spc.?
My revolver is in 38sp.
I have found the moonclips useful for the range and I keep it loaded with a moonclip, because I get better extraction. For extra rounds I carry a speed strip for ease of carry. I am thinking about ordering a moonclip carrier.
Moonclips were/are designed for extraction, and at this they are excellent. For reloading, speed loaders are easier to carry and more secure than moon clips. Speed strips are the easiest to carry but slower to reload than everything but loose rounds.
My experience as well. And if you are in a defensive shooting, you want the biggest EASY button you can find and that is gonna be speed loaders. And even there there is a small learning curve.
So using them at the range for better extraction, sure. Run some courses for time and accuracy and you’ll get your answers.
Cool.
If you can find one that is concealable and will prevent it from getting bent go for it. Let us know what you find I’m interested.
I’m one of the biggest fans of moon clips for revolvers out there. Over the years I’ve owned them in 9mm, 10mm, 45ACP, and even the rare .40. Wish I still had that one but the titanium cylinder sucked on extraction. Anyway, when I carried those revolvers for self defense the other rounds usually went in a dump pouch or speed strips. Speed loaders only if it was jacket weather. I carried a 940 as a back up and wanted at least 5 more rounds and ended up buying a box of 9mm Federal and carrying those in a speed strip as the reload. I always carry one reload.
I think the biggest downside to moon clips is the possibility of getting bent before they go in the gun. Not a big worry in competition but something to think about for carry. I have a moon clip revo that I really like but I do check the clips for flatness before loading.
Moon clips are kind of a hassle.
You have to match up cases with clip brand because some cases just wont fit. (And you damage the clip) or they fall out. Or they just flop too much. So you have to find ones that work right with your brass or vice versa.
Then you have to remove the brass when empty trying not to hurt your clips. I know they make tools for this but I haven’t used one. I’d definitely try a speciality tool if I ever tried moon clips again.
You’ll want moon clips enough for the maximum you may shoot in a day. Unless that clip-loading tool really works well. 300 rds? You’ll need 50 clips for you 6-shooter.
And you have to get ones that arent too thick or too thin.
I had a 940, and pocket carried loaded moon clips for reloads. Invariably, I’d eventually manage to bend them slightly. This would reward me with an inconsistent trigger pull that frustrated me to no end. I do like the Del Fatti holders and wish they had been available back then. I ended up making the decision to go back to 38/357 snubbies and speedloaders. I really haven’t regretted that decision.
I almost forgot bullet pull.
A lightweight revolver loaded with 147 gr JHP’s loaded warm for defense is an excellent recipe for a pulled-bullet jam.
I’m of the opinion auto cartridges in revolvers are much better suited to the range and competition with mild loads than self-defense. Unless you’re really dedicated and test out your ammo, brass, bullets, clips, etc. It’s less forgiving than a regular revolver cartridge.
Relevant to my interests because I’ve been thinking of getting another large-bore revolver in .44 spec, .44 mag, .45 acp, or .45 Colt. I’m going to drop the .45 acp from consideration.
Sorry, but that is not correct…
I have a 16.5 ounce 642-1 in 9mm, which I shoot Hornady 147 grain XTP. Not a cold round. I’ve tested multiple cylinders with a single test round (shoot four, reload new rounds in the clip… shoot four, reload new rounds in the clip; after five cylinders, I stopped wasting ammo), never an issue. By all rights, if you shoot four rounds without issue, you are good.
I’m not saying all 9mm crimps are identical, but Hornady is good to go. Airweight and warm 147 grain isn’t a recipe for anything if you do your homework.
That’s good. That ammo must have good neck tension. But not all of it does.you are wise to test it.