7.62x39 with or without stripper clips

[FiringSquad]

I've ordered my standard stash of ammo over the years, what I've noticed is some ammo comes with stripper clips and some comes without. I find the crates that come with them extremely handy. I can re-use the clips for those crates that didn't come with clips.
But it got me thinking, an army doesn't expect the soldiers to hang onto and return the clips for reloading, so my question boils down to this: what army orders the crates that come without clips, or is the stuff without clips really just made for us westeners?

 

[MikeRWK]

Good question, hopefully someone has an answer.

 

[Dsiwy]

Canada tosses them out, am sure the WARSAW pack did the same. I know some loose ammo was for MGs as Soviet belts were re-used.

So mabye the loose is for RPDs and VZ LMGs

 

[Denich]

I think it has to do with the type of military rifle that was in service at the time.

For example, Czechs have the vz58 which accepts stripper clips. Thus the Czech surplus comes with them. Poland and Russia use AK variants which dont accept stripper clips thus ammo is packed without them.

I think the early 7.62x54 came on clips as well because Mosin accepted them. The newer stuff comes in plain boxes because Russian machine guns and sniper rifles are not equipped to use them.

 

[Dsiwy]

I thought AKs had mag charges so they could load their 30 rd mags with stripper clips?

 

[Denich]

I thought AKs had mag charges so they could load their 30 rd mags with stripper clips?

To be honest i cant find a single example of the russian mag charger, as far as i know they were loaded by hand.

I found a few aftermarket ones though

 

[Dsiwy]

Might be after market "hard to tell"

AK74 has one forsure

 

[Denich]

Saw two versions of that one

Chinese surplus and new US manufacture, no russian

Ill ask my dad next time i see him, although he was issued ak-74 back in the day i think they would keep the mag charger if it worked

 

[Dsiwy]

Cool let us know "am always interested in these things "

 

[Hotwheels81]

Heh... For anyone interested the AR Lula loads x39 into AR mags not just .223... Not as fast as strippers but a lot easier on the thumb.

 

[Denich]

so 5.45 came on stripper clips, with chargers, He doesnt know about 7.62

 

[Denich]

bulgarian 7.62 comes on stripper clips, so there goes my theory.

However the crate of the polish stuff i got doesnt..... maybe to save money/space/weight??

 

[westrifle_sks]

There is tons of 7.62x39 and 7.62x54 strippers clips available.