what happens if the moon clip breaks or is lost?

[Trigger Mike]

let's say you have a 45 ACP revolver or a 9mm revolver that require moon clips to load.  if the moon clip breaks or goes missing can you not fire the pistol?  will it just mean it will take effort and a punch to push out the expended rounds?  

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

It might take a minute to punch out the empties, but since you were smart enough to an extra 10 or 20 moon clips, you won't care.  

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

if it is a 45acp , ya reach over and drag out some 45autorim , 

 

  Federal USED to make a 9mm rimmed ctg , a bit tough to find 

 

  CB 

[Pat Riot]

From what I understand you "may" be able to shoot them but it depends on the way the chambers are cut. I have no experience with this but I was curious about it myself and did some google searches. It sounds like taking Colorado Coffinmaker's advice is the way to go.

 

Or, get yourself a Korth Nighthawk Skyhawk 9mm revolver. No moon clips needed...but ya gotta find one first and they aren't cheap.

[Warden Callaway]

My S&W 1917 will shoot 45ACP with or without moon clips.  Without,  they may not eject. 

[Jackson Rose, SASS #45478]

I just read a chapter in "101 Classic Firearms" on the 1917. Apparently some of the early  Colt 1917s were bored without a shoulder in the chambers. This allowed the cartridges to move forward and not fire. Later Colt 1917s had a ridge or shoulder in the chambers that headspaced the cartridges so they could be fired without the clips. The empties had to be plucked out by hand or poked out with a rod. Apparently the S+W 1917's were made with the shoulder from the beginning.

[Noz]

2 hours ago, Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001 said:

if it is a 45acp , ya reach over and drag out some 45autorim , 

 

  Federal USED to make a 9mm rimmed ctg , a bit tough to find 

 

  CB 

That was a Charter Arms effort, named the 9mm Federal.  They made them in 89, 90 and 91before it was pointed out to them by the terrible sales that no one really wanted a 9mm rimmed round.

I know this because I have one that has been bored to 38 special.

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

yep , heard you talk about it , just wonder how many looked it up , to see what I said was right 

 

  have not shot one , but did run across a box of ammo several years back 

 

 I have a couple Blackhawks , with the 9 and 357 cyls , short bbls and some 45 convertables 

 

 

[Warden Callaway]

I have a 3 screw Blackhawk in 45ACP and 45 Colt.  Can't use moon clips. 

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

well ya could , if ya was to trim the back of the cyl  

 

 would be a pain , pulling the base pin to reload 

 

CB

[Alpo]

The other problem with the 9mm Federal is that it worked fine in 38 S&Ws.

 

Until they blew up, because 9mm is about twice as powerful as they were designed for.

 

I have one 9mm, a Smith 940. Shoots fine, with or without clips, but without it is slow to reload.

 

Got five 45s. Four S&W, and a shaved Webley. The Webley is bored straight through, so the clips are necessary - either them or 45AR. The Smiths - a 1917, a 1937, a 625 and a Model of 1950, also all work with or without.

 

Except - the 1950 won't do my reloads without the clip.

 

They work fine in the other three, and in my 1911s, so I know THEY are good. The gum does fine with no clip with FACTORY ammo, so I know the shoulder is there. I guess its chambers are at max dimensions, and my dies are at min.

 

 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

All depends if the cyl is bored for the .45acp case to head-space in.

OLG

[Pat Riot]

7 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

All depends if the cyl is bored for the .45acp case to head-space in.

OLG

My "head space" is bored often...

 

 

 

 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Just now, Pat Riot, SASS #13748 said:

My "head space" is bored often...

 

 

 

 

YUP-Heard it was loose and sloppy too..........

OLG

[G W Wade]

2 hours ago, Warden Callaway said:

My S&W 1917 will shoot 45ACP with or without moon clips.  Without,  they may not eject. 

Some early models were bored straight thru. Easy to see by looking in cylinder or just drop the cartridge in. The gun will tell yes or no    GW

[Noz]

1 hour ago, Alpo said:

The other problem with the 9mm Federal is that it worked fine in 38 S&Ws.

 

Until they blew up, because 9mm is about twice as powerful as they were designed for.

 

I have one 9mm, a Smith 940. Shoots fine, with or without clips, but without it is slow to reload.

 

Got five 45s. Four S&W, and a shaved Webley. The Webley is bored straight through, so the clips are necessary - either them or 45AR. The Smiths - a 1917, a 1937, a 625 and a Model of 1950, also all work with or without.

 

Except - the 1950 won't do my reloads without the clip.

 

They work fine in the other three, and in my 1911s, so I know THEY are good. The gum does fine with no clip with FACTORY ammo, so I know the shoulder is there. I guess its chambers are at max dimensions, and my dies are at min.

 

 

 

9mm Federal pistol.

Yup. To shoot it I had to use 38 S&W brass and shell holder, size them in 9mm dies, powder with 9mm die, seat bullet with 9mm die and crimp with S&W die.  An awful lot of trouble for a weak 9mm.  I got an opportunity to have it bored for 38 Special and did so

[Trigger Mike]

thanks all.  I asked as I have a Governor and wondered and also thought of getting the Ruger LCR in 9mm

[Thunder Creek Kid]

34 minutes ago, Trigger Mike said:

thanks all.  I asked as I have a Governor and wondered and also thought of getting the Ruger LCR in 9mm

I believe the Governor has to be shot with moon clips because it is bored all the way through but on a

625 or 929 the case seats on the case mouth not the rim so you can shoot them with no moon clip, however you

have to extract them one at a time.

[G W Wade]

Have 1 box of 9m/m Federal       GW

[Chili Ron]

Howdy,

I have it on good authority from a close friend the Ruger 9mm LCR will work without

the moon clips.  Eject with a rod or pencil or whatever.

I lost the little tiny bitty bag that the clips arrive in.

Ruger promptly shipped me more and more and more.

So I now have a good supply.

I keep them FULL which makes em much harder to lose.

The original bag o clips did turn up.  It was stuck on an edge under the recliner.

I had turned the recliner to clean. I found the bag and a nice crisp $10.

Best

CR

 

[Capt. James H. Callahan]

I have a S&W 1989 model. Just dropped a loaded round in, seems to headspace nicely on the case mouth. Might be fun getting the spent cases out, never tried it.

JHC

[Chili Ron]

Howdy Capt.

Thanks for doin that.

Now I don't havta.

Best

CR