Walt S

I have now been shooting Steel and IPSC for 1 ½ years. Started out the right way, I think. Used my existing guns, bought what I thought I needed, didn’t jump into anything. All this as the old timers say a new shooter should start out. Shot my Dan Wesson 357/38 until it broke, then used my Colt snub nose until I got a S&W model 10, and then a 9mm largo bottom feeder (Oooops). When it broke I got another one, that broke. In the mean time I have bought dies, bullets, different powders, speed loaders (all kinds) and many mags. NOW I ASK YOU, have I really saved any money. Got a nice S&W model 66 that had been tuned. Had it ported for moon clips. Thin moon clips at .022 of and inch. Hard to load as the 38 specials flexed to much while in the clips. My friend and mentor (Jerry V) had been suggesting that I get a 625 if I was really going to try and do something with a revolver. Well I got one three weeks ago and Jerry tuned it for me. We all know you don’t take a new gun out and compete with it till you have broken it in and gotten used to it. Well, Jerry gave me 350 rounds and off I went to the Idaho Spud Gun State Championship. The next day I shot at the Nampa clubs meet. I shot better than I ever have Saturday and even better on Sunday. Now I’m going to break it in and get use to the sight pattern and handling characteristics. BOTTOM LINE, I should have done this long ago. Would have saved time, money and been doing a better job of competing. And …………….. thanks to my friends like Jerry V that have stuck by me and helped me during my first year. This is a great sport made up of many fine people.

QUESTION .... What kind of gun are you shooting and are you right or left handed ? IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. Walt

Sounds like you are discribing my new 625-8 that I bought a week ago at Sportsmans Warehouse. It had been fire at least once for the ballistics round that goes on file. The front of the cylinder was dirty all the way around. It looked like it had been dry fired many many times. Don't know what to tell you as I had the same thoughts. I was also greatly disappointed when I couldn't drop full moon clip loads into the cylinder without it hanging up all the time. I have since had it chamfered.

GO FOR IT, YOU'LL HAVE FUN. Glad to have you join us, good luck, good shooting.

Good going Vic, Dan. Dan, thought I'd congratulate you before Jerry V does. Now I know why you didn't come this way to shoot. Still hope to see you in the north west soon.

Good going. If you like the Berry's 158 gr RN, you might want to try their 158 gr FN. I used the RN with my moon clips which are more sensitive to the load than the COMP II or III. I find the FN loads easyer, faster. Good luck and continue the good shooting.

I use a Wal-Mart plastic tool box. Can carry cleaning tools, extra ammo. lunch, stapel gun, etc. in the bottom while using the top for moon clips and/or speed loaders.

Hey Walt, I find it interesting you don't think you compete against anyone else .....isn't there another class C wheelgunner that shoots at the same matches you do ??? ==================== I only compete against myself because that is where my mind MUST BE until I get the bugs worked out. YES, there is another class C shooter but he kicks my butt, so there really isn't any competion YET. Think his name is Jerry V

Glad to hear both of you had a reason to try the round gun. IT IS FUN and we are only competing against ourselves. In my case, only against me. I'm glad you had fun, please keep it up, we welcome you both ???? Where in S Calif are you located ????

The holster is a SIDEARMOR made for a 5" N frame. I shoot at 5" SW moel 66 K frame and it works great. picture attached for a different view of my "weight belt"."

I carry 8 plus 4 plus 2. The more the better for me. I hate dropping a clip or speed loader or two and then not having that extra 6. Carry 8 in dual holders (takes up no more space than 4), then 4 moon clips in holders to the left side followed by 2 COMP III holders in the left back. OVER KILL, probably.

Wanted to give Jerry V more practice before I come after him. THANKS GUYS, now I have more work to do to LIVE IN THIS GROUP. Looking forward to a fun year. THANKS JERRY for all your help this last year.

CHANGE THE SPRING EVERY "three" YEARS. I'm sorry, with all the problems I'm having I JUST COULDN'T RESIST THIS ONE. I'll be watching to see if you get a proper answer I can learn from. GOOD LUCK.

I have the same problem. I use the .022 thick TK Custom moon clips for my 38/357. I don't see a way to flatten the clips in a mass operation. I compete with them 4 times a month sooooooooooo, I take needle noose pliers and carefully bend whatever portion needs to be fixed. It is becoming a way of life. Do it while your watching TV.

I have tried several moon clip holder configurations. I currently us the Duel moon clip holders from TK Customs. I have 4 on my belt, not much space taken up, more than enough rounds.

NOW WHAT DID I DO. WHY the congrats. All I'm trying to do is be able to stand close to you guys. I am having fun and feel there will be another slight breakthrought soon. I think this will be the year for improvement. Why not I've gone through 7 guns already my first year.

Yes, you shoot all 7 rounds as you have stated. I often hear that some classifiers are not revolver friendly. Sooooooooooo what. We only compete with other revolvers. Plus there are 6 round shooters, 7 round and 8 round. shooters. NOT A PROBLEM

TIME TO CLOSE THIS TOPIC OUT I took all your advice and things worked GREAT. Was using Dan's weak hand reload and DROPPING the moons into the cylinder instead of PUSHING them in. Practiced 3 nights at home before last Sundays competition. Well, the adrenaline set in, I used a strong hand reload which meant that the moons tried to go in at a slight angle. DAMN. Didn't work so I pushed harder. Glad people video these events because I would not have believed what I was doing unless I saw it. Back home, more weak hand reloading, barrel vertical, dropping the moons into the cyliner. WORKED GREAT AGAIN. Soooooo, I've ordered more moons and the new Twin Full Mon Clip Holder, of which I had one already. Since I know THE PROBLEM IS MINE and not the vendors I will now say that I'm please with the product and the support from TK CUSTOMS. Thanks again for all you suggestions. This is a GREAT FORUM

I'd love to go. However, I'm not good enough. I read about this and feel the enthusiasm. My goal is to work hard this year and then try for the "LIST" in 2007. Wish all of you the very best.

WOW ! ! ! A lot of info, and very good info. The more I read the more it all makes sense. In the last hour I have tried what you guys have suggested, starting with Dan's suggestion of having the gun pointing toward the ground and letting gravity feed the cylinder. Then I stopped "gripping and shoving" the moon clip into the cylinder. I do load the clips before a match. In fact I have all 27 clips loaded now. I run each round through the cylinder right after reloading, setting aside any case that hanges up. Then I load the moon clips and drop them into the cylinder. NOW, I have dropped, not jammed the 27 clips, three times each, into the cylinder. I had one, the same one hang up. It is now set aside for the "LOAD AND MAKE READY" command. The rest of the clips WORKED FINE. I used every different case manufacturer that I had. Even mixed them. Since that works I will sort them out and load the same in each moon clip. I currently favor R-P but will pay more attention to START-LINE brass. Now for some practice every night and practice while moving. WHO KNOWS, ONE OF THESE DAYS I MAY BECOME A HALF WAY DESENT COMPETITOR. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU

DAN, I have been feeding the shells in at a small angle. One or two of the bullets stick out at 30 degrees. I WILL TRY THIS WEEK-END during Speed Steel to bend over the cylinder, pointing the brass toward the ground and the cylinder, giving it the gravity to point straight down into the cylinder. If this doesn't straighten the lose brass so they all point in the same direction, I'll ......................... ???? Thanks for the suggestion Dan.

Thanks for the suggestions. I was not using HearthCo moon clips. I did however have some prior advise about which brass to use. I was using R-P, but after the problems I have tried them all. An interesting comment on how you hold the clip when loading it. I'll pay more attention to that item. I also realized that I'm loading used brass (shot several times). This is probably the least of my worries, but I think I'll try some new brass. Again, my biggest problem is the wobbly cartrige or two in the clip that does not line up with the cylinder. And yes, I did have the cylinder chamfered and I am using Berry's 58 grain RN copper bullets. p.s. I've been shooting for a year now. Tried just about every load, had the gun tuned, bought the right equipment (?), etc. Hope I can settel down and find something I can stay with for 2006. Would like to become a better shooter, but must have a stabel environment for a fixed period of time. THANK AGAIN guys.

I shoot a S&W model 66 that I recently had set up for moon clips. Thought I'd get faster by using them over speed loaders. Going back to "firm speed loaders". Seems the thickness of the moon clips isn't as sturdy as those for the larger4 calibers. That makes them weak, flimsy. They twist when the 38 special cartrige is in the moon clip, thus causing the brass to be out of line with the cylinder ports. I have practiced with fast loading at home but the bullets don't always line up. It is great/fast when they do. During my last two competions I've had to toss a total of five fully loaded moon clips on the groud after NOT being able to get the bullts to stay in a cemetrical circle and then drop into the cylinder. Sooooo, I will now use the moon clips when told to "load and make ready" and when I reload I will go back to the speed loaders. They hold the bullets steady and aligned so they drop into the cylinder. I hope others haven't had this problem, but I don't know of anyone using a 38/357 in a model 66.

SORRY, I be working the event and shooting early. BEST OF LUCK to all you wheel gunners. This should be a great event. See you all there, Walt