45 ACP Revolvers

B

Bill Daniel

New member
A question from one less informed. Do 45 ACP revolvers require moon clips or do they head space on their rim in the cylinder?

Thanks,
Bill Daniel
Life Member NRA
 
Newer ones usually headspace on the case mouth, but a moonclip is used to give the ejector star something to grab. Some old military ones, however, are bored straight through and require the moonclip to function.
 
They are **supposed** to headspace off the case mouth against the end of the chamber, just like in an autoloader. Sometimes the chamber and brass tolerances add up and they won't. The revolver doesn't have the extractor hook and flying firing pin of a 1911 to make up for the slop. Best use clips or get a supply of Auto-Rim brass.

I have heard about those early production Colt 1917s with the cylinders bored straight through, requiring clips for any use. Turns out that the Army replaced the cylinders in all the guns they could get hold of and the straight chambers are really pretty uncommon. Anybody here got one?
 
My friend has a S&W Model 1917 , an original from the 1917 era, not the new 2002 copies that smith is selling for $1000.oo

His model 1917 --45acp rev. headspaces on the case mouth and he does not even own any half or full moon clips but instead picks each empty case out with his fingernail or a pocket screwdriver .

If you are interested in a 45 acp revolver , Taurus "will be" making the Stellar Tracker 445 ---45acp revolver in stainless
with 4 compensating ports on each side of the front sight [8 ports total] to reduce recoil and muzzle flip by 90 %.

Sometime this year, we hope, available barrel lenghts will be 2 in , 4 in and 6 in. The Stellar tracker is built on the Taurus heavy
frame and has a 5 shot swing out cylinder and a single & double action with adj W&E white outline rear sights and red ramp front sight and a neopreme grip.

Expect to pay around 430.oo and the revolver just might be availble, if Taurus gets the lead out and starts producing , sometime after aug 2002 or as late as dec 02/jan 03

This out classes the S&W model which is priced at 630.oo
and has " no compensating ports" although the Smith has a 6 shot cylinder.

Smith can provide compensating ports for an additional $200.oo
custom shop fee, pricing a comparable smith at $ 830.oo to the $430.oo Taurus. The longest smith barrell is 5.5 inch, not 6 in.


Me? I eagerly await the first oppritunity to buy my Taurus Stellar Tracker.
 
All of mine, including both Colt and S&W 1917, several Brazilian Contracts and a Pre-1917 Colt headspace from the cylinder. Still use moon clips though when competing for speed of reloads.

And the Tuarus must be one hell of a gun if it's sweeter than ANY of the old 1917's.
 
earnest2 . . .

I, too, look forward to seeing Taurus' new .45 ACP revolvers. However, I am NOT enthused about porting. While it will reduce recoil, it will also reduce muzzle velocity, which is the most limiting performance parameter in any .45 ACP handgun.
 
I've got 4 625's (1992 --> 2001) and all their cylinders have the sholder but none of them will fire without moon clips. Mine all headspace on the clip...

Joe
 
Joe:

Recall reading a column in the American Handgunner a number of
years ago that reported numerous misfires in the S&W Model 625
when not using half moon or full moon clips. The author of that column was extremely critical of S&W for producing these guns with incorrect headspace. Apparently guns manufactured during that era required the clips for reliable firing.

In any case I would presume your S&W Model 625 would be reliable with 45AutoRim brass and/or 45ACP in the clips.

My Model 25-2 works fine without the clips, with the clips, or with 45AR brass and this was the exact point made in the American Handgunner article. I understand S&W reverted back to the head space on the rim system after some complaints.
 
Use the moonclips if for no other reason than extraction. A 625, when used with moonclips, is probably the ultimate combat revolver. I can't think of one better.

justinr1
 
Even with proper case length and proper location of chamber step, use of loads with heavy roll crimp can blow the headspace.

Something usually not a consideration in revolvers.

Auto Rim cases or moon clips a good way to go.

Sam
 
A 625, when used with moonclips, is probably the ultimate combat revolver. I can't think of one better.
Click to expand...

I would agree with this statement. However, I've thought that the full moonclips place you at a disadvantage if you transition from melee to melee in a skirmish and want to top off your revolver with all 6 rounds. The full moonclips would require you to drop or waste ammo to top off quickly. Is this the reason that they invented the three round and two round moonclips?
 
Can't top off a full moon load with a three or two holder.

Only reason I can think of for the less than full moon clips would be flatter storage on the person.

But then you lose much of the reloading speed inherent with the full moons.

Interestipating.

Sam
 
The three round half moon clips were the original version. My "45 Cal Model of 1989" S&W 625-4 came with several of the half moon clips. I have not yet seen any of the two shot clips yet but cannot see any use for them for my shooting style. The full moons are great and yes you do have to pull the whole cylinder full to top off. Every weapon has its faults.

I have had no problems shooting the revolver at the range without the clips. Some of the cases fall out and the rest are easy to remove with the fingers or a wooden dowel rod. The clips are a pain to load and unload so for general plinking and such I load the cylinder straight.
 
taurus

Do any of you think Taurus is off-base with the decision to go with the 5-shot format instead of 6?
At their quality and pricing they could give s&w some competition.
 
If it does well, they may do a six shooter on their large-frame.

Going with the medium-frame Tracker for the debut makes sense, as that model has been a smash success for them so far.
 
"If it does well, they may do a six shooter on their large-frame."
_______________________________
That is what I was afraid of. I see a more limited market for the 5-shooter.
I think that there are more potential sales for the 6 shooter.
 
Stoic.

Topping off with moon clips is just like topping off with a mag. I don't drop or waste the rounds, they go in my pocket to be used if I need them. It's the same drill you use with a partial mag.
 
Dunno if it's applicable, but there was a guy hawking a 625-3 on GunBroker (IIRC) that claimed it would shoot both ACP's and .45 Colt ammo. Reckon if the boys at S&W are cooking up some sort of hybrid, even if by accident? I asked over at the S&W forum and the local gurus hotly denied that the 625 had a dual-caliber cylinder. Hmmmmmm.....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top