M1 Garand Clip Hard to Seat

[Der Jagar]

The subject of the enbloc clip working ok in my '55 M1, but not my '42 M1 I can see possibly in the posts referencing US and foreign made one. When I bought my '55 M1 four years ago, I bought a small quantity of clips from a on-line supplier that specializes in M1 Garand parts and accessories. Being new to the game, I bought figuring if made for M1, they'd work and they did in my '55 rifle. They also had for sale marked US made WW2 era and other US made ones, but I bought a dozen of the cheaper ones for what 3-4 of the marked US ones cost. I did check the ones I have and on the circle on the outside of the bottom of these clips there is no letters/numbers, just a blank circle. My Poyer M1 Garand book indicates these are of Tiawan manufacturer. Maybe the problem of my problem.

OK, when I wrote this post this AM, I had to be some place, but wanted to get this posted before I left. I grabbed two of the clips I had been using and checked their backsides and couldn't see any markings. Didn't use any light or other aids. Looked like a blank circle which Poyer's M1 Garand book indicated they were of Tiawan origin. I did buy some clips from 'AmmoGarand' which the majority of them were still in the box they came in. I assumed the two I checked were from AmmoGarand. NOT! When I bought my '55 Garand via Gunbroker, the seller tossed in six clips and those were the ones I was using most. That part of my history with my '55 Garand was recalled when I started examining the clips. Wetting the back of the clips and using a light, I could see BRW 6 which indicated Borg Warner post WW2 manufacture according to Poyer's book. The stamping was covered up a lot with the packerizing, but wetting them, the stamping was readable. Checked the box of clips from AmmoGarand and they were all AEC 3 clips (Aggressive Engineering Corp).

I did some measuring of the three factory 30/06 ammo brass I have 1) PPU 150g. FMJ (ammo designed for M1 Garand) 2) Remington UMC 150g FMJ and 3) Remington Corelokt 150g SP. I was curious about the brass dimensions as reported by Hcompton79 reference the PPU being different in the rim/groove area. ( All in inches) Both Rem brass measured 0.466 rim diameter while the PPU was 0.468--0.002 larger. Both Remingtons diameter at the base of the brass wall was 0.463, while the PPU was 0.467--0.004 larger. The diameter of the Remington's grooves were 0.406, while the PPU's was 0.413---0.007 larger. As reported by Hcompton79 the groove width of PPU ammo is shorter and it was. The Remington brass had approx. (as far as I could determine) a groove width of 0.090- 0.093, while the PPU's groove width was 0.067-0.069 making the PPU's 0.023-.0024 narrower. I could visually see the difference. With the PPU brass being a bit fatter at the base of the wall, I thought maybe that extra 'meat' might be pressing the sidewall of the clips out making them a tight fit, but they work fine in my '55 Garand. What Hcompton79 advised about the extractor groove is noted, but my '55 Garand ate up the PPU ammo like a hungry dog in a butcher shop.
Question--even though the back of the clips indicate they are of US manufacturer, have there been any foreign (maybe Chinese) made clips with US stampings, ie counterfeit, made to look like US made?

I tried both types Remington ammo in the same clips I had previously loaded the PPU ammo in and tried them in my '42 Garand. Same hard seating and problems with bolt chambering first round. I tired some of the AEC 3 clips with all three variety's of ammo and had the same problems, ie. hard insertion and bolt not chambering first round. It doesn't even strip the 1st, moves it ahead approx. 1/4", then I have to push on the Op Rod, even slightly lifting the point of the bullet up some. After the first round is chambered, I'll pull back on the Op rod to unload and at the same time push on the clip latch release and the clip with seven rounds will come out flying with wings. THIS makes me wonder if the Ejector Clip Spring that has been talked and written about as a possible culprit of my Garands problem could be at fault. I wouldn't think if a spring has that much power to eject a clip with seven rds could be weak. ??

Not sure what is going on?? Would it be possible even though when I inspected all of the parts for any damage, worn areas, etc they looked fine and seemed to function while the stock, barrel/receiver, and trigger groups were separate, that once they are as a unit, something is binding. One area that I checked but couldn't see any problems when the three major goups were apart was any biding by the follower rod and the bullet guide. Once everything is together there is some binding. All above my knowledge and 'pay grade' as it's said. As I previously advised, the FFL holder that was selling the gun on behalf of the owner (estate) advised as far as he knew the gun functioned without any problems.

Hcompton79--noted your info on loading the PPU ammo different in the clip. Will give it a shot. It's been rainy and not shooting weather here in Iowa lately, so will try when I can take the Garand out and shoot.
AFJon---I figured out what you were referring to in your ammo/clip picture.
Steve762---Your last comment on not holding back on the op rod handle is taken. I was doing it as loading normal with the op rod being held back with the outside of my little right hand finger and trying to push the loaded clip down with right hand thumb didn't work. I would have to hold the op rod back with right hand thumb and push the loaded clip down with pressure using my left hand thumb. Not the way its supposed to work.

Any and all suggestions welcome. When the weather becomes better, I need to take Garand out and do some shooting vs just inserting loaded clips and ejecting. Want to see what happens. Some of the experience a lot of you have will be needed to solve this-has me frustrated. I never had been around a M1 until four years ago so I'm a fairly 'NewBe'! Thank you in advance.