MAGNUM MAGNUM - Jeffersonian

WINNINGEDGE
Dave Anderson
Mooning
SOLID ADVICE
TO KEEP YOU
AHEAD OF THE
COMPETITION
Pro Series J-Frames
Smiths?
Smith & Wesson must have known they had a winner
when the first J-frame revolver was built on Oct. 24,
1950. I wonder if they had any idea just how popular
these light, compact revolvers would become.
Sixty years later the J-frame Smiths are selling better then
ever. These compact revolvers are tremendously popular
with private citizens empowered by recent state-legislated
“shall issue” carry permits. And although most law enforcement
officers now carry autopistols as their primary duty
arm, tens of thousands (hundreds of thousands?) of J-frames
still serve in a backup role.
The J-frames draw their share of criticism. Critics say they
are too small, too short-barreled, too feeble, too hard to
shoot, have too much recoil and are too slow to reload.
But they do have one big advantage. They are too handy
to get left at home.
Below: The BMT Mooner makes loading and unloading clips
fun rather than a chore. It’s well designed, well made, fast
and reliable. I’d consider it an almost essential accessory to
moon clips. One side of the metal wheel is designed to load
cartridges into clips, the other side unloads the fired cases.
A regular S&W 640 (left) and a Pro Series S&W 640 (right) with
cylinder machined for moon clips. Moon clips provide an additional
option for loading. Shooters can still load single rounds or use
regular speedloaders such as the Safariland.
Versatile Pro Series
T
he examples shown here are part of the “Pro Series.”
They address the only criticism I consider as valid, the
issue of reloading. These models have the rear of the cylinder
machined to accept moon clips for faster reloading.
The moon clips provided with these J-frames (three with
each revolver) are made of thin but very strong, springy steel.
The system on these J-frames does not sacrifice any other
methods of operation. If you like, you can load the cylinder
with individual rounds. The ridge along the circumference of
the cylinder, and the ejector star, engage the cartridge rims.
Cartridges headspace properly for normal firing and eject
when the ejector rod is activated.
Above: S&W J-frames from left: Regular style satin nickel 442, 640; Pro
Series 640, 442 and 642. The Pro Series models provide all the features of
regular J-frames and can be reloaded with single rounds, with speedloaders
or speed strips, but add the option of using moon clips. The two
442s and the 642 wear aftermarket “Secret Service” grips from Eagle
Grips, my favorites for J-frame revolvers.
I also tried reloading with some Safariland speedloaders I
had on hand, and these too worked perfectly. In short, whatever
method you use to shoot and reload any other J-frame
works just fine with these revolvers. The moon clips simply
add another option.
Along with a couple of friends, both very good shooters, I
tried timing reloads, using a CED timer to measure from shot
to shot. Both onscreen and in person I’ve seen Jerry Miculek
consistently do revolver reloads in the 1.5 second range with
some around a second flat. Two points: (1) these are with .45
ACP revolvers using short, fat, FMJ cartridges which funnel
easily into the charge holes, and (2) Jerry is the best revolver
shooter in the world.
On the other hand: (1) we were using .38 Special cartridges
which are long and skinny, with flat profile JHP
bullets, and (2) we are not the best revolver shooters in the
Continued on page 88
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