Difficulty with charger clips

[eric3446]

Hey there, folks. I recently purchased a No 1 MK3 made at Ishapore in 1952. The rifle is in very good condition, no problems whatsoever. Where I am finding myself having difficulty is with the charging clips. They're either too tight and impossible to move the rounds into the magazine, or they are too loose and won't line up long enough to properly load the rounds into the magazine.

Most recently I tried the ones sold here -- 5 NEW 5 RD 303 Caliber LEE ENFIELD STRIPPER CLIPS SMLE No. 1/3/4/5 Mk. 1/111 - Hunting -- but I've tried from other sellers as well at other locations.

Is there something I can be doing to make these charger clips just a bit more functional and easy to use? I'm loading them down, up, down, up, down as intended so I'm led to believe I'm just purchasing poor quality chargers.

Any thoughts or help is appreciated.

Information

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[Strangely Brown]

You need to fettle them, try bending them until they are slightly looser.
The insides could probably do with a bit of emery paper as well to the rounds slip easier into the magazine.

[CINDERS]

Welcome to milsurps, as #2 says bit of judicial bending the end tab lightly mind you also the rim groove though substantial my need a polish up one of the ladies popstick nail files would suffice just do not say what you have re purposed it for.
I always give my charge clips a light coat of oil & wipe down after handling.

[eric3446]

Thank you, guys. I'll report back a bit later after I have some time to work on it.

[CINDERS]

No basically my clips are dry when used as I wipe them with a dry rag after charging them, its only after I have handled them on the range and won't get back to re-charging them for a few days-weeks stopping the rust getting going from handling them, you do not want any oil on your cartridges or hands when charging the magazine that causes all sorts of problems by itself.

[Strangely Brown]

I shot alongside a bloke last year who had his chromed............I guess he thought it would give him the edge in the rapids...

[Stanforth]

I always buy used, original clips. They may not look very pretty but they work.

[Mk VII]

Buff the inside with a fine wire wheel (or a pencil will help a bit if nothing else is available)

[green]

The earlier blued chargers strip much easier than the later phosphated ones. As said above polish the interior.

[ed skeels]

I media (walnut) tumble my M1 clips. Seems to help a bit.