03A3 - where to buy stripper clips?

[Lovesbeer99]

I've been shooting antique rifle matches with a Mauser, but I just bought an 03A3. Anyone know where I can get strippers for it? Thanks in advance.

 

[Owen]

look at surplus stores. I've been to more than one, where I saw them, and made an offer because the folks in the store had no idea what they were.

 

[Canuck-IL]

I followed the advice below from the CMP forum ...
"U.S. GI clips are fine for display purposes, but not for actual use. The tabs break off of the springs and the springs come adrift after one or two uses. They were designed for single use only.

Swedish Mauser clips work very well and are still available in large numbers at reasonable prices. SAMCO has them on sealed boxes of 40 for $14, or you can buy in much larger quantities.

South American 7mm Mauser clips fit perfectly and don't have tabs. they are reliable and durable."

As of last fall Samco still had cases of 40, NIB with minor tarnish from storage - work fine. I don't see them on their site right now but they might be worth a call.

You can find the Swedish Mauser clips at a few sites and on Gunbroker, but a lot more expensive than the Samco pricing.
/Bryan

 

[KSCCHTrainer]

Wonder if regular 8mm 98 Mauser clips would work. 8 X 57 and 30-06 have close enough to the same base diameter that I make a lot of 8mm brass out of old mil-spec 30-06 cases.

 

[BsChoy]

8mm and 30-06 have the same base diameter so they will work together. I would swear the 6.5x55 had a larger head diameter than the 30-06?

 

[Canuck-IL]

6.5 is .480, 30-06 is .473 - apparently good enough for government work as they function perfectly.

This (overpriced) ad has a pic of them beside a genuine '03 brass clip.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=157816011

/B

 

[CMP]

I'm pretty sure mauser clips work, if you have some laying around wouldn't hurt to try.

 

[Lovesbeer99]

I have 8mm mauser clips and they take the rounds fine, but they don't fit in the slot on the reciever. It's really loose.

 

[Lovesbeer99]

Any other feedback on Sweadish or 7mm mauser clips?

 

[hhmorant]

I've never used them, but Champion's Choice and Creedmoor Sports both offer stainless steel stripper clips for $4-$5 a pair.

 

[wcwhitey]

Springfield had to pay royalties to Germany for copying the stripper clip design. Same clip. Mauser ones seem to be a little better quality (8mm). Bill

 

[KODB]

The Swede stripper clips work absolutely perfectly and very smoothly in 03A3's; I bought a couple hundred last year from Samco and they all function great. In fact, when compared with USGI I'd gladly take the Swede clips as they are smoother to load into the clip and into the rifle from the clip.
Hope this helps since based on actual experience.
Bob

 

[1KPerDay]

+1 Get the swede ones from SAMCO. they take a month or so but mine were perfect and work way better than the originals.

info and pics here fyi

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=5381638