The discussion about likely (.... 'potential'? .....) permitted use of moonclips and "period correct" speedloaders with revolvers induces me to ponder how this may affect the "levelness" of the playing field among revolver shooters. Admittedly, this concern affects me personally because, in the long run, I would prefer to use a suitable wheelgun over my original 1914-Canadian-purchase Government Model pistol, which is likely too valuable to be subjected to a steady regimen of this type of shooting and handling. (Besides, it still has its original "umpteen-pound" trigger pull, but I really don't want to ruin its collector value by having it "slicked" .....)
However ..... as I understand the drift of the discussion so far, anyone using a M'1917 Colt or S&W - or even a Webley or other revolver originally chambered for .455 but which has been "shaved" to use .45ACP - would be permitted the advantage of using moonclips for loading/reloading. - and, of course, those devices are readily available at very modest cost.
On the other hand, anyone using a revolver in an original chambering other than was intended to use .45ACP in moonclips - such as any unaltered .455 or, say, a Model 1909 chambered in .45 Colt - would apparently be limited to using original (or at least "period correct") speedloaders.
Thus my question - wouldn't the proposed allowance of Model 1917 revolvers, and moonclips for loading them, actually create an unfair advantage for the shooters who use them ...... even though they didn't exist prior to the likely Black Jack Match chronological cutoff of 1916 or earlier? Indeed, both could properly be considered to be "WWI-specific" innovations ..... things we apparently want to intentionally avoid in setting the uniform and equipment parameters for this whole proposed side match.
Think about it - even if speedloading devices did exist for period-correct revolvers, the chances of a shooter being able to find even one such original device (let alone afford it) are likely "slim to none" .... For example - speaking from my personal perspective - although speedloaders actually did exist "back in the day" for British .455 revolvers (notably the Prideaux and Watson "rapid loading devices for revolvers", both originally patented in 1893) originals are extremely rare - the price of a single operational one of either design, if such could even be found, would likely run in the range of $500! And, of course, no reproductions of these devices are made ..... I assume similar difficulties would exist with regard to any other "period correct" speedloading devices.
So ..... am I all wet here, or is this a very valid concern? Shooters who choose to use period correct revolvers would be effectively prevented (mainly by rarity and cost) from using speedloaders, whereas those permitted to use M'1917's (through an intentional stretching of the time-frame limits to specifically allow such use) would have the advantage of loading with moonclips!
That is about as far as I have pondered the problem ..... but at this point two possible solutions occur to me (either of which would undoubtedly need to be considered and 'tweaked' ...) -
1. Permit the use of M'1917 revolvers (or any others, such as "shaved".455 revolvers) with moonclips, but lump them in with the automatic pistols .... or, because that in itself might not be fair either, perhaps in a separate category for "revolvers used with loading aids".
2. Leave all revolvers together as one class, but don't permit the use of any revolver with moonclips .... indeed, I would then suggest that the fairest rule in this regard would simply disallow any speedloaders or other such loading aids at all in revolver class. Voila .... level playing field!
- Admittedly, option 2 (which I prefer) would require shooters of M'1917's (or other revolvers configured for .45ACP in moonclips) to use .45AR cartridges ..... but at least those are readily available, at fairly reasonable cost. (The relatively modest cost of gearing up to shoot .45AR could be the "price" of being allowed to use a revolver which doesn't actually fit within the chronological limits.)
- My suggestion that no loading aids be permitted in revolver class is intended as a further leveling of the playing field ..... Nobody would be tempted to go to the cost and expense of trying to acquire rare and costly original speedloaders (or have them reproduced somehow) and this restriction would also avoid any possible future pressure to stretch the rules yet again to allow "modern" speedloaders .....
OK ...... those are my thoughts ...... What say the rest of you?