From: bobd@marune.acs.ohio-state.edu (Bob DeBula)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: trivia
Date: 4 Jan 93 13:32:28 GMT
Organization: The Ohio State University

In article <1315@blue.cis.pitt.edu> nahst6+@pitt.edu (Nathan A Horstman) writes:
#
#Some random questions:
#
#How does a stripper clip work?  Is it necessary?
#What type of action/feed system needs/uses one?
#

A stripper clip holds some number of cartridges (usually ten or
so) together via the case rims. It is usually a sheet metal
stamping and the cartridges slide onto it. Therefore, once
all the cartridges are mounted or loaded on a stripper clip, they
are all in a line. In the case of an SKS rifle (and many other
rifles using strippers) there is a "guide" for the stripper 
clip at the front of the bolt/bolt carrier. The stripper clip
can be inserted into the guide and then the cartridges may
be forced into the magazine by pressing on the topmost cartridge
on the stripper. Done right, all the cartridges should easily
load into the magazine in one clean stripping motion. (The 
stripper clip should be empty at the end of this sequence).
The above example uses the SKS stripper system as its' base.
In the case of, say, a metric FAL or an M-14/M1A, there is
a separate tool called a stripper clip guide which fits on the
detachable box magazine and allows the same process for
loading a magazine.

Most actions/feed systems do not *need* a stripper clip. They
can almost always be loaded by pressing cartridges in one at
a time from the top of the magazine. Stripper clips are
generally for convenience and speed (fairly important in
military applications for a rifle like an SKS). If there are
any actions/feed systems which require a stripper clip for
loading, I would expect them to be of early vintage.
I'm sure in the case of the Steyr-Hahn 1912
or the Mauser (Bolo?) without detachable magazines that
they'd come in handy for everyday loading.

#How do drop-in magazines for the SKS work?  Are they as good as SKSes
#modified to take AK magazines? 
#

The general consensus of what I've seen here in r.g. seems to
indicate that they don't always work well.

#What type of 7.62 cartridge did the WWII M1 Carbine take?  Is it still
#produced?  Can any current 7.62 brass be cut down if need be and loaded
#for it?  (Am I even assuming correctly that it IS 7.62?)
#

The M1 carbine uses the .30 Carbine cartridge. Nothing needs to be
cut down or formed as .30 carbine ammunition (and hence brass)
is still pretty readily available (in the US anyway). I can't even begin 
to speculate what brass which would be more common than .30 Carbine could be
formed into .30 Carbine. The .30 carbine cartridge is a relatively
low power rifle cartridge (110 grain bullet at ~1700 --> ~2000 feet
per second out of the M1 carbine). The only ammunition to really 
avoid for the M1 carbine is the old imported French stuff as it
was corrosive. All US produced .30 carbine ammunition has been 
non-corrosive since its' inception. I saw some .30 carbine ammo
this past Saturday (produced at Lake City Arsenal in 1952 (LC 52))
at a gun show for ~$7.50 per box of fifty. I also saw current production
USA (Winchester) .30 carbine ammo for around $9.00 per box of
fifty. If you can't find it anywhere else, get hold of a Shotgun
News and leaf through it. I hope this helps answer some of your
questions.
-- 
==========================================================================
              Disclaimer: These are my views, not the U's

        "If it's in the paper it must be true!" --- D. Doright