Stripper clips NOT making my life easier

[gnbrotz]

I recently picked up some stripper clips for my 91/30. IMO, these things SUCK. The rounds go into them extremely hard, and it's impossible to get them to push out into the magazine of the rifle. Obviously they are meant to improve loading efficiency, and I don't want to screw them up trying to bend them, etc. Is there something I'm missing on getting these things to work as intended (easily)?

[normanvin]

I have used stripper clips in my SKS. They seemed to work ok. Maybe you received a bad batch.

[gnbrotz]

I have used stripper clips in my SKS. They seemed to work ok. Maybe you received a bad batch.

Not sure if it matters, but I picked these up at the local military surplus store, so I assume they are 'surplus', not necessarily modern manufacture. This didn't particularly disturb me, as the rifles themselves obviously have some age to them too.

[Triggerh4ppy]

I recently picked up some stripper clips for my 91/30. IMO, these things SUCK. The rounds go into them extremely hard, and it's impossible to get them to push out into the magazine of the rifle. Obviously they are meant to improve loading efficiency, and I don't want to screw them up trying to bend them, etc. Is there something I'm missing on getting these things to work as intended (easily)?

It can be tricky to get them to feed right. When feeding into the stripper clip make sure the rims of the round are stacked directly over the previous rounds rim. otherwise it could lock up the bolt if you encounter a bolt lock up you can attempt to manipulate the round and slam the bolt home for some rock and roll.

Just keep practicing with your clips you'll get it. Took me a few weeks..

[GunLawyer001]

Are you sure that they are the right type? Labels are only as good as the person sticking the label on. If you had some known-good stripper clips, you could compare.

Or see if this Google link works:

http://www.google.com/search?pq=91+3...og&sa=N&tab=wi

Other than that, I'd try polishing them in a tumbler with some very fine media, or else using emory cloth.

[gnbrotz]

Are you sure that they are the right type? Labels are only as good as the person sticking the label on. If you had some known-good stripper clips, you could compare.

Not "sure". The rounds go into them, albeit tightly, and the stripper clips will fit into the intended spot on the stop of the receiver/magazine. Sounds like the polishing tip will be an easy first try to fix this.

[ROCK-IT3]

I recently picked up some stripper clips for my 91/30. IMO, these things SUCK. The rounds go into them extremely hard, and it's impossible to get them to push out into the magazine of the rifle. Obviously they are meant to improve loading efficiency, and I don't want to screw them up trying to bend them, etc. Is there something I'm missing on getting these things to work as intended (easily)?

I bought a 20-pack of stripper clips for my Mosin-Nagant, and had the same trouble you are experiencing with most of the 20. They were new manufacture, not surplus like I thought I was ordering. Not being afraid to try to fix things myself, I measured the diameter of a case near the rim, then the width of the clip (I cant remember the numbers, but it was way too tight). I found a scrap piece of plywood (7/16" I think) and wrapped the edge with a thin (like .010" thick) piece of sheet metal to make the thickness slightly thicker than what I thought would work, and put the clip over the edge of the wrapped plywood, and tapped on it with a hammer until it opened slightly. I then tried a few rounds in it and it was much nicer. I did it with all of them, and now they work just fine. It's not rocket science, and not everything with firearms will kill or maim you if you make a slight mistake. This is one of those things.

Something else I'll point out, although you probably know this already, when you are pushing on the cartridges you must put the pressure as close as possible to the clip as you can. If you push on the middle of the cartridge, or near the tip, they will most likely hang up.

On another related note, I can use the clips in my 91/30 without regard to how the rounds and rims are placed in relation to each other, and can easily press them into the magazine with my thumb while my hand is alongside the receiver, or the other method of holding up the tip of the top round and pushing with my thumb. It doesn't even matter if I turn the clip "upside-down" (if there is such a thing), all 5 rounds go into the magazine no problem. However, on my Finn M39, I have to make sure that each consecutive rim is placed in front of the rim below it to even have a chance of all five going in. That means I have to be careful when loading the clips, and charging the magazine (because if the clip is "upside-down" the rims will be behind the rim of the lower ones). Even if I do this, there is a good chance that only two or three will load properly.

On another related note, I did make a charging tool similar to a tool that someone showed me for an M14, to help reload quicker. It is a Tee-shaped tool made from 1/2" copper tubing, and peened to fit inside the clip so that I can push right back at the rim. I like to shoot my 91/30 in matches, and this tool really helps with getting off 10 aimed shots at 200 yards in 70 seconds. I can do it in about 66-67 seconds with the tool, only about 72-73 seconds without. It really helps to slam those rounds home into the magazine without any glitches, or tearing your thumbnail off. I'll take a picture of the tool if you'd like and give you some details as to how I made it.

[streaker69]

I need to stop reading things so quickly. I could've sworn this thread was titled "Stripper clubs NOT making my life easier".

That answer would be "well Duh!".

[West Chester]

I need to stop reading things so quickly. I could've sworn this thread was titled "Stripper clubs NOT making my life easier".

That answer would be "well Duh!".

Weird... strip clubs make my life much easier

[mak47]

I was never a big fan of stripper clips in my MN's. Remember, these were originally designed to be used by Russian soldiers who were fighting largely in the cold--i.e. wearing gloves.

As a recreational shooter, I'm irritated by pointy things that jab my fingers and I always seemed to end up with bloody fingertips when using them.

If I were a Russian soldier in WW2, who wore gloves and had numb fingertips all the time I probably wouldn't have minded given they are a nice orderly way to store ammo and know how much is left. As a casual shooter though, they were always more trouble than they're worth.