Can a revolver that takes moonclips be fired without the clips?

[scarville]

Most autoloading cartridges headspace on the crimp and can be used without moonclips. Ejection can be a problem with a swingout cylinder because, with a couple of exceptions, the ejector star cannot push the empties out. A SA ejects the empties normally.

Calibers designed for revolvers headspace on the rim. If you have a revolver set up correctly for mooclips in 38/357, it will work normally either way.

[nitroxdiver]

When i had a .45 acp thunder ranch special, I shot without the clips almost exclusively.
If I was shooting steel competition, then Id obviously use the clips for speed.
Always worked. To extract, I just tilted the gun up, usually 4 or 5 empties would fall out. I just picked out any that were stuck. I remember calling s&w to confirm that it was safe to do so prior.

[CapnHawk]

In 1970-71, when I was partcipating in the South East Asian War Games (the U.S. took the silver medal), I had a 1917 Colt New Service as an unauthorized back-up sidearm. I used .45 ACP ammo without moonclips. I just used a pencil to remove the expended casings until I acquired some half-moon clips.

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

My 25-2 (Model 1955) and 325 both fired perfectly well without moon clips. Getting cases out of the 25 was an issue, but they dropped cleanly out of the 325 just by elevating the muzzle.