SP101 9MM Luger

[Daddyo]

Hi guys,
New member here with a lot to learn. I'm considering the above mentioned gun, but I'm concerned about something I saw on a YouTube video. Is it required to use moon clips in order to use this gun properly? Does the ejector not work if the moon clips are not used? And if the moon clips are not used, is there a possibility of misfire due to improper cartridge alignment?
Sorry for my ignorance.
Chris

 

[contender]

Welcome to the Forum!
A 9mm caliber headspaces off the mouth of the case. As such,, chambers are bored in a manner to where the cases would fall further into a chamber than they should. This could create a misfire issue if clips are not used to hold the cases in the proper position. So,,, yes, moon clips are required. I do not have a SP-101 in 9mm,,, but I do have a Speed-Six and a LCR in 9mm,, and both use moon clips. I also own two S&W handguns that use moon clips. I do not know if the ejector in the SP-101 in that model will or will not work w/o the moons.
BUT,,,, if you are considering a SP-101 in 9mm,,, I would not let the issue of moon clips prevent me from owning one. It makes for faster reloading!

Here is a picture of me during a USPSA match,,, shooting one of my S&W revolvers that uses moon clips. Note the one moon of empties falling.

 

[Daddyo]

thanks for responding Mr. Guru. Do you happen to know if the Smith and Wesson 60 .357 also reques moon clips? I trying to decide between the two guns and I would like to avoid moon clips. I don't like the idea of moon clips for a concealed carry revolver.
Thank you.

 

[contender]

Glad to help.
As far as I know, no 357 mag revolver requires moons UNLESS they have been specially machined to accept them only. The 357 has a rimmed case & as such, headspaces on the rim, not the mouth like 9mm, 40 S&W, or 45 acp.
If moons are objectionable to you, then by all means,,, go with the Smith. (Or,,, look at the SP-101 in 357 also!)

 

[Thel]

The 9mm (and 10mm and .45 ACP) are autoloader rounds and are rimless (or more correctly the rim is the same outside diameter as the case) and this is why most extractors will not extract them on a revolver without moon clips to give something for the extractor to grab. Years ago Ruger made some revolvers in 9mm with a special extractor so the 9mm did NOT require moonclips. Those are far and few between. S&W made some revolvers in 9mm that did not require moon clips (547 for one). And there is Charter Arms.

If one does not desire to use moon clips there are Ruger SP101's in .32 cal, .38 SP and .357 Mag along with LCRs.
The alternative if you desire to use 9mm is to look at Charter's line or find an older S&W 547 or J frame that has the special extractor to work with 9mm without moon clips.

Depending upon how Ruger bores the chambers in the cylinder it may be possible that the 9mm case would headspace off the mouth which would allow firing without a moon clip but would require the cases to be pushed out by something such as a pencil from the front of the cylinder.

 

[rangerbob]

Smith revolvers that have been cut for moon clips in 357 Magnum with still extract without the moonclips as they still headspace off of the cartridge rim. Moon clips for them is just for speed loading convenience. If you like the SP-101, look at the 327 Federal version, close to 9mm energy and six shots to boot and no moonclips. If one is going to carry a 5 shot, make it a 357. It'll shoot everything from wadcutters to full house magnums with a bunch of stuff in between. Bob!! 8)

 

[WAYNO]

Moon or half-moon clips are not required for shooting 9mm in a 9mm cylinder. The cartridges continue to headspace on the case mouth and not the moon clip. Of course you cannot eject without the clips, but the empties can be pushed out with a dowel or pencil. I have 9mm DA revolvers, and I purposely avoid the use of moon clips, as they are a bigger hassle than they are worth. Further, other than the cheapest ammo to shoot, I see no benefit of automatic pistol cartridges in a DA revolver.





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[Coyote Hunter]

Moon or half-moon clips are not required for shooting. The cartridges continue to headspace on the case mouth and not the moon clip. Of course you cannot eject without the clips, but the empties can be pushed out with a dowel or pencil. I have 9mm DA revolvers, and I purposely avoid the use of moon clips, as they are a bigger hassle than they are worth.

Any rimless cartridge in a revolver is a non-starter for me. Cartridges designed for revolvers have rims larger than the cartridge body for a reason, moon clips are just a needless hassle given standard revolver cartridge options. .327, .38, .357, .44, .45, etc.

YMMV

 

[rangerbob]

While I'm in total agreement with wayno and coyote hunter, I can see the use of 9mm in the Flat top 357 Blackhawk, 45 acp in the Flat top 45 Colt Blackhawk, and if ever Ruger was to make it, the flat top 10mm/40 Blackhawk and the current large frame Blackhawk, as ejection is manual with the ejector rod. The point is with DA revolvers, in 327, 357, 38, 41 magnum & Special, 44 special & magnum, 45 Colt, 454, 460, 480, and 500, there is very little that can't be done with those, except shoot cheap 9mm ammo. Bob!! 8)

 

[WAYNO]

While I'm in total agreement with wayno and coyote hunter, I can see the use of 9mm in the Flat top 357 Blackhawk, 45 acp in the Flat top 45 Colt Blackhawk, and if ever Ruger was to make it, the flat top 10mm/40 Blackhawk and the current large frame Blackhawk, as ejection is manual with the ejector rod. The point is with DA revolvers, in 327, 357, 38, 41 magnum & Special, 44 special & magnum, 45 Colt, 454, 460, 480, and 500, there is very little that can't be done with those, except shoot cheap 9mm ammo. Bob!! 8)

I agree there, too. Although rimless cartridges in a DA revolver is a pain, shooting them in SA revolvers is very pleasurable. I have multiple convertible Blackhawks and New Vaqueros, and I shoot auto cartridges in them almost exclusively. 8)

 

[Daddyo]

thanks gentleman. Your knowledge is appreciated. You've helped me to make up my mind.
Chris

 

[Tom W]

Since my chemotherapy I've gotten a severe case of neuropathy. I can't disassemble my Glock 19 anymore, so I am looking for a revolver that shoots .45 acp..
Charter Arms is the only one I've found that doesn't use moon clips. I don't know, but I suppose that they would give me fits, as I have little or no feeling in my fingers. Maybe I can adapt, but it looks like another revolver is in my future.....

 

[JStacy]

My SP101 9MM shoots fine with out moon clips, rounds head space on end of chamber and work 100% in my gun. Yes I flick them out with a fingernail but it works fine for me. I chose a 9MM with moon clips for CC work because the 9MM +P gets excellent velocity from the 2.25" barrel, look up the Gun Blast review of the LCR in 9MM. The 357 mag is pretty stout with full loads for arthritic hands and the 38 sp +P loads are about 200 fps slower than the 9 MM +P loads. Moon clips or speed loaders you will usually carry extra ammo when you carry. I put the loaded moon clips in a coat pocket or cargo shorts pocket in the summer. I also have a 3" 357 I carry sometimes but the 9MM is a little easier on me to shoot and they shoot more than accurate enough at 15 yards or less.
Sorry Tom , been there doing that !

 

[cmonti77]

I wish Ruger would make the 9mm model with a bobbed hammer.

 

[lark63]

How about buying one of the new releases and bob-ing the hammer?
At the same time you can clean off the many burrs that they come with.
I am doing that with mine- The burrs.

 

[5of7]

Moon or half-moon clips are not required for shooting 9mm in a 9mm cylinder. The cartridges continue to headspace on the case mouth and not the moon clip. Of course you cannot eject without the clips, but the empties can be pushed out with a dowel or pencil. I have 9mm DA revolvers, and I purposely avoid the use of moon clips, as they are a bigger hassle than they are worth. Further, other than the cheapest ammo to shoot, I see no benefit of automatic pistol cartridges in a DA revolver. .

This pretty well covers it.

I would only add that a revolver in 9MM makes a certain amount of sense from the perspective of cheap ammo, thus making range time more feasible to the non-handloader, while providing adequate power for the PD carry gun. 8)