A device which holds ammunition for a firearm together for ease of reloading, but does not attach to the firearm. Commonly found on military issue ammunition to ease the loading of a magazine.
A concrete example is the clip used by the M1 Garand, the WW II era US Army main battle rifle. The clip itself is an all-right-angles "C" of stamped sheet metal which holds 8 rounds of .30-06 ammo in two staggered rows of 4. Does that make any sense?
Use is as follows:
- PULL the bolt back with your right hand while the butt of the rifle is propped on your hip.
- LOAD the stripper clip into the magazine well with your left hand.
- RELEASE the bolt with your right hand. Don't let the bolt drop on your thumb, or it will nip the tip of your thump right off (this happened to a friend's father, in a firefight).
- SHOOT the rifle. The gun is now "hot" since the bolt grabbed a round and chambered it as you released the bolt.
How anyone managed to do this while getting shot at is beyond me. Loading the M-16, with its box magazine is a damn sight easier.