SKS Stripper Clip question

[tmajors]

I've got a Norinco SKS that for the last 10 years I've been feeding manually. About 3 months ago I *finally* got a package of stripper clips. Do strippers have to be broke in or something? And yes my SKS has the stripper verticle guide rail on the charging handle.

Right now I can reload 10 shots into the magazine faster then I can get the stripper clip to feed. Each round gets to the bottom of the stipper and I gotta jiggle it or press HARD to get it to feed into the magazine. I still use the stripper clips though because it's nice having the rounds all lined up together and makes it easy to grab 10 then it is to have them all loose in a pouch.

I don't *think* I'm doing anything wrong but it really seems like more work then it's worth. Any suggestions?

 

[Ifishsum]

If they're the painted ones, I found that inserting one empty steel casing into the stripper and quickly rubbing it up and down the length of the clip for a couple of minutes helped immensely.

There is some technique to using the stripper clip as well. Push down quickly in the right spot (near the base of the top one) and don't be gentle - I use the thumb side of my hand.

 

[Plink]

It sounds like you might have gotten a bad batch of clips or something. They're usually quite fast to load with once you get a feel for it. I use my thumb to push down on the top case near the clip and they all zoot right in. Check your clips for rust, paint, dirt or whatever else could be causing the cases to hang up. If all looks well, keep tinkering and you'll pick up the technique after a while. Good luck!

 

[Matt Dillon]

I have had this problem in the past, and have tried taking 0000 steel wool and a bit of paste wax to the stripper clip. If they sit around awhile, not used, it seems as though they take a set and are more difficult to use. :banghead: They have a proclivity to bind up and not allow the rounds to easily slide off into the magazine, and the was and steel wool helps that. You might try working one stripper clip at a time until the rounds slide off without binding.

 

[distra]

I've tried a small file and 300 grit sand paper to soften the edges so the catridge will slide easier. For me, it seems the Winchester cases work fine, but Remington seem to hang up. I'm going to try the wax as well.

 

[kis2]

mine were pretty stiff too. i used a pliers to take a bit of the bend out of the inner metal piece, then used basically a screwdriver to make sure the edge the rims slide around weren't getting any narrower in spots.

all this and a little more than half of them feed really really smooth, and the others are still way better than hand loading.

also i sanded the face of them, i cut myself once on a rogue edge when loading and decided to put a stop to that.

good luck

 

[cuervo]

Make sure you're pushing down at the base of the cartridges. It is very easy to push near the bullet, but all that does is make the case bind in the clip. Your thumb should be rubbing against the clip as you push the cartridges down into the magazine.

 

[hksw]

What cuervo said.

 

[possum]

Make sure you're pushing down at the base of the cartridges. It is very easy to push near the bullet, but all that does is make the case bind in the clip. Your thumb should be rubbing against the clip as you push the cartridges down into the magazine.

+1 which is true when using any kind of stripper clip!