Picking up a 25-2 next week

L

Lavan

New member
Am I going to need moon clips or HALF moon clips?

Any difference in accuracy between them?
I've been looking for this gun for years.

What about a special tool for loading the clips? Will I need that, too?

:confused:
 
Yes... full (6-shot) moon-clips really speed up ejection and reloading. I have half-clips, but rarely use them, they are slower. I suppose tactically, if you wanted to shoot 3 and top back up to 6, you might consider half-clips.

You load up as many as you need for range or carry use, for carry I might carry one, sometimes 2 loaded moon-clips. They are pretty sturdy, do not come apart in my pocket (like speed-loaders).

For loading, you just roll a 45 ACP cartridge into the clip, pushing it in. Its pretty easy. Getting them out is difficult, I use a small pair of cotter-pin pliers, very quick. Any set of long nose tipped pliers will work, just bring the plier tips to the bottom of the shell base before pulling off.

Congrats on your aquisition.

PS: Accuracy? Haven't noticed any difference between 3 or 6 shot moon-clips.
 
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The full moon clips are harder to fill with bullets and to remove empty cases but not that hard. The full moon clip are kinda like speedloaders and easy to load the gun with. I used'm with 1917s and never noticed any difference in accuracy. You can made a cheap clip loading/unloading tool with a short piece of PVC, off hand I don't remember which sized PVC but if you take a spent case with you to the lumber yard/hardware store you can try and see which fits best. I think it was 3/8 in but don't bet on it. If you buy a long enough piece of the pipe and a 'T' coupling you can put a handle on your tool to make things easier.
 
I've used both and now will only use full moon clips. I use a loading/unloading tool I bought from Dillon Precision. $16.95.

18169_demooner_m.jpg


http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/25111/catid/30/Moon_Clips_B__Demooner_Tool

Nothing like trying to load and unload half moon clips with your bare hands on a really cold day. /s
 
Cool tool. Neat.

Thanks all. I can hardly wait to shoot it.
Waiting sorta makes it fun.....but not as many years as I did.
;)
 
If you reload, I'm real sure you can get .45 Auto Rim Brass from Star Line. Since you're using a revolver you have a good selection of bullets some of which don't always work well in an Auto.
 
Coolest "rig" I ever saw was an early S&W (maybe Colt) WW1 model w/ bbl chopped to 4".

Then he put it in a hand tooled black leather gunbelt/holster with bullet loops all filled with auto rim ctgs.

SWEET!
 
Been shooting Colt and S&W 1917's for years.Full moon clips from Ranch Products are the way to go.Shot full moon,half moon,and 1/3 moon with no change in accuracy.
 
I use the Rimz clips and have had no issues with them. I've loaded them up and taken them to the range about a dozen times and the have held up without losing their shape.
 
Half Moon, Full moon, or 1/3 moon, all are effective. 45 autorim is also available if you want to avoid loading and unloading of the clips. Congrats on your gun by the way. It's probably the finest large frame gun S&W ever made.
 
Some of the moon clip ads I see specify certain ammo brands.
Will they work with Blazer aluminum ammo?
It's cheap locally.

:confused:
 
45 ACP case dimensions are standard. There are so many brands of firearms in that caliber and so many manufacturers of ammo they'd have to be standardized.

Cart45acp.jpg


All the cartridges will fit all the clips.
 
I like the full moon clips, even faster than a speed loader with a bit of practice. Have no problem loading the clips but do use an unloader to save my fingers.
 
When I had a Model 625 Smith I used full moon clips, but they were a pain after a day's shooting. I used my Dremel tool and slotted the clips between cartridges to ease loading and unloading. I also had a "pea sheller" tool that popped the empties out easily.

But my supply of ACP and AR brass began to dwindle and finally gave up the .45 ACP.

I did get one load with a 185 gr. Sierra JHC using Accurate powder that topped out at 1325 fps and was pretty good on groundhog and crows out to around 75 yards or so. Not for use in auto pistols, though!

Bob Wright
 
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