Читать книгу Gun Digest 2011 онлайн

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Chambering a revolver for the .45 ACP cartridge isn’t a problem. Ejecting the rimless .45 ACP cartridge presented more difficulty. The now-famous moon clip solved this difficulty. The thin sheet metal clip was originally issued in pairs, with two three-round clips needed to fully load the revolver. After the gun load was fired, a rap on the ejector rod threw all six cases out at once. Naturally, fired and unfired cases would be ejected simultaneously. This system created the most efficient loading and ejecting system ever used in a revolver. No matter what the angle of the muzzle, there was no possibility of the spent cases jamming under the ejector star. All were ejected at once.

Also, a moon-clipped revolver is the fastest revolver of all to reload. Whether the muzzle is pointed up or down, it is possible to quickly load the .45 ACP revolver with moon clips and remain in business. It seems doubtful this system would have been developed outside the crucible or war, but it worked well. How much use the 1917 revolvers saw is another matter. Used they were, by military police, drivers, and tank personnel, while front line troops received the lion’s share of 1911 self loaders. If I could not have gotten my hands on a 1911, I would not have felt naked with a good 1917. I am sure a few doughboys preferred the familiar revolver.