Stripper clip
A stripper clip (also known as a charger, especially in British and in Commonwealth military vocabulary) is a speedloader that holds several cartridges (usually consisting of 5 or 10 rounds) together in a single unit for easier loading of a firearm's magazine.
A stripper clip is used only for loading the magazine and is not necessary for the firearm to function. It is called a 'stripper' clip because, after the bolt is opened and the stripper clip is placed in position (generally by placing it in a slot on either the receiver or bolt), the user presses on the cartridges from above, sliding them down and off the clip, thereby 'stripping' them off the stripper clip and into the magazine. After the magazine is loaded, the stripper clip is removed and set aside for reloading. Depending on the firearm, magazine, and cartridge, stripper clips come in a variety of shapes, some quite complex, though most are either straight or crescent-shaped pieces of stamped metal - usually brass, steel (often blued), or plastic.
Stripper clips were first employed in infantry rifles, such as the Mosin-Nagant M91/30, the Enfield 303, and the Mauser K98. They were also employed in newer, semi-automatic rifles, such as the SKS and Hakim.
Confusion with 'magazine'
In common usage, particularly among those who have only a passing familiarity with firearms, the term 'clip' is often used interchangeably with or instead of 'magazine'. This is incorrect as the magazine is the actual component, either detachable or fixed, that holds cartridges and makes them ready for use by the firearm; the clip is merely an accessory for loading the magazine.
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An SKS being loaded from a stripper clip, from a US Army manual.
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