I have a S&w 340 revolver that would reload much easier with moon clips, imo.
If I pay to convert it, what are the negatives?
I'm not familar with that specific model, so I looked it up. What I found said it was a J frame, 5 shot, DA only .357 Magnum with a titanium alloy cylinder and a scandium alloy frame.
and you want to have it cut to use moon clips??
What are the negatives?
well, lets see, first, are there clips to fit a 5 shot .357 J frame cylinder???
IF not, kind of makes the idea moot, doesn't it?
IF clips are not an issue, consider, who is going to be doing the work, cutting metal from the titanium cylinder for the clip clearance. And what is the cost, compared to the benefits? Is the gun still under warranty? How will having it worked on that way affect the warranty?
I'm curious, does your gun fully extract .357 cases? Is it going to matter if all the cases are clipped together?
Can clips be loaded and unloaded by hand for small volume shooting?
IF "by hand" you mean without any tools, it depends on the clips and the hands doing it. First, the clips, it depends on what the clips are made of, and their design. And the hand strength needed to "roll" the cases out of the clip. Note, I did not say "pry".
I have no personal experience with moon clips in .357/.38 size, but I do with metal clips in .45acp size. I can do it with my fingers alone, but its not easy and care must be taken so the metal clips don't get bent. Someone else might not be able to. There are simple tools made for loading/unloading the cases from the clips, and they make it simple and easy for anyone to do.
Something else to consider is how are you going to be carrying the spare clips?? Loose in a pocket? Think there might be any possibility of the long .38/357 rounds carried around unsupported possibly bending the clip?
It doesn't take much for the clip to be bent enough the cylinder won't close, or even worse, will close, but won't turn.
If you're serious about the idea, the first thing you need to do is get a few of the clips you plan to use. Whatever gunsmith you approach to have the work done will need to see them and measure them to see if they are willing to take on the job. All clips are not created equal. Nor are all gunsmiths...
I have a 1917 Webley Mk VI, which, at some point in the past, was cut to use .45acp brass and half moon clips. This was a fairly common practice 60 some years ago when the supply of .455 Webley ammo ran out.
HOWEVER, the work was done by various importers or individual gunsmiths, and some are not quite the same as others. The gun I have was "just barely shaved". It will work with ONE kind of half moon clip, a very thin one. Some half moon clips are too thick. It will not work with any moon clip I have found, they are too thick. It will also not work with .45 Auto Rim cases (unlike Colt and S&W 1917s) the rims are too thick.
If you're going to have your revolver cut, it must be cut to work with a clip you have (and can get), and may not work with every clip you might find.
I'd seriously consider just sticking with a few good speedloaders, but that's just me.
Moon clips aren't hard to load or unload with your fingers and make for much faster reloads than the best speed loader. Just make sure no one steps on them.
I'd agree with the don't step on them part, but I'm not so sure about "much" faster than the best speed loader. Measurably faster with high tech equipment, possibly, IF its something the individual is capable of. But "much faster"? I don't see how. I've used speedloaders with the "auto" button release, shove it in, and drop it as you close the cylinder. Don't see how clips can be faster than that.
I mostly use the HKS speedloaders, with the twist knob release. Sure, they're about the slowest speedloaders, but they are very good at holding the rounds securely, and fractions of a second in my personal speed of reloading a DA revolver are not a concern in my world.
If they are, in yours, go for it, Its your gun, and your money.