Fair Warning: reproduction Garand clips from Tapco

**Mebsuta** · February 17, 2005, 09:03

Be advised that the reproduction M1 Garand clips from Tapco do not fit or function as they should. Eventually, they may start showing up at shows or at gun shops mixed in with others as people try to unload them. On the left is the Chinese-made Tapco piece, and a GI clip is on the right. Superficially they resemble each other, but the GI has more pronounced ribs on the back, and there will be a code in the center circle.

If you get ahold of these reproductions, they will be a source of frustration.
I give you fair warning.

Muggzy · February 17, 2005, 10:02

I appreciate the heads-up AND the photo

Thanks

izaakb · February 17, 2005, 10:28

Quote:

Originally posted by Mebsuta
Be advised that the reproduction M1 Garand clips from Tapco do not fit or function as they should. Eventually, they may start showing up at shows or at gun shops mixed in with others as people try to unload them. On the left is the Chinese-made Tapco piece, and a GI clip is on the right. Superficially they resemble each other, but the GI has more pronounced ribs on the back, and there will be a code in the center circle.

If you get ahold of these reproductions, they will be a source of frustration.
I give you fair warning.

Did you call TAPCO? They will likely give you a refund with no hassle -- I've had plenty of good experiences with them, and very very few bad (none).

**K. Funk** · February 17, 2005, 17:32

Thankfully I purchased a sh*tload of GI clips a while back from New River Salvage, $18.00 a hundred not too many years ago. Tapco ought to be ashamed to hoist this crap.

krf

sf46 · February 17, 2005, 20:36

What sort of problems have you been noticing? Just curious what symptons.

16R40 · February 17, 2005, 21:11

although it's new here.......there was warning about those crapco clips at battlerifle.com under the garand forum, many many months ago.......this board is super for FAL stuff......but when it comes to other rifles, you get a much better overview, reviews, what products work, what products to stay away from if you go to specific board about that rifle. I'm not knocking this board......but if you want to learn about a certin rifle and it's products you are better off going to a rifle specific forum..........I learned a lot about my M1, then I could ever find here in.

16R40 · February 17, 2005, 21:14

*EDIT 1*

although it's new here.......there was warning about those crapco clips at battlerifle.com under the garand forum, many, many months ago.......this board is super for FAL stuff......but when it comes to other rifles, you get a much better overview, reviews, what products work, what products to stay away from, what companies have what parts and accesories, if you go to specific board about that rifle. I'm not knocking this board, for FALs it's top notch......but if you want to learn about a certain rifle and it's products you are better off going to that rifle specific forum..........I learned a lot about my M1, then I could ever find here

**Mebsuta** · February 18, 2005, 05:19

Quote:

Originally posted by sf46
What sort of problems have you been noticing? Just curious what symptons.

When fully loaded with 8 rounds, they spread out to the point where it is difficult if not impossible to insert them into the rifle. If you try to force it, you usually get stuck halfway.

Donut · February 18, 2005, 09:30

Damn, and I bought a box of them some time ago and have not had a chance to test them.

icormba · February 18, 2005, 11:22

fyi, not all USGI clips have a marking in the circle...
it's been noted that SA (Springfield) made some without the marking & Danish 30.06 ammo usually comes on clips made without the "circle" markings as well.
Both clips types are excellent & the Danish clips are in "Brand New" condition... if you can find any Danish 30.06 that is.

from the Jouster CSP site:
http://www.m1garand.net/Data_Files/clips.pdf

one possible way to tell a difference...
take a known good USGI clip and drop it on the ground... take a chinese made clip and drop it on the ground. See if you can tell a difference in the "ping" each makes? I have not tried it myself since I don't have any Chinese made clips & doing this test doesn't really help if you already spent the money on the clips

I can add that the new'er SKS clips made in China... SUCK also!

**bykerhd** · February 18, 2005, 14:59

Hadn't heard about the Chinese Garand clips.
Why would even they want to produce something where there is probably a more than ample supply currently around for very reasonable prices ?
Can't be THAT big a market for them. Is there ?

icormba · February 18, 2005, 16:09

for a time... they would go from $1 - $5 a piece for something that could be gone forever. A Garand isn't a semi-auto without the clips. SA clips can go for $40 for just 5 or 6 clips... WRA (Winchester) can sell for $40 for just one clip.

I think the China made ones average around $.30-.50 or so? in small quantity buying Chinese to USGI is no big deal... but if your buying 100 or more it does matter. Profit margins are probably a lot higher on the Chinese as well.

Brian in MN · February 18, 2005, 22:16

They could also have been made by the Chinese for Garands that were given to them during and shortly after WW II. We gave them scads of military stuff to fight the Japanese and later the commies. The commies ended up with the whole shebang. If you ever see a pic of a US GI holding a Thompson during the Korean war it is a pretty safe bet that some Chinaman carried that puppy all the way to Korea from China.

rhodesianmerc · February 20, 2005, 13:30

I like TAPCO customer service but much of their stuff is inferior. Their after market M-14 mags are far inferior to the USGI mags.

bnz42 · February 20, 2005, 14:55

Quote:

Originally posted by icormba
for a time... they would go from $1 - $5 a piece for something that could be gone forever. A Garand isn't a semi-auto without the clips. SA clips can go for $40 for just 5 or 6 clips... WRA (Winchester) can sell for $40 for just one clip.

I think the China made ones average around $.30-.50 or so? in small quantity buying Chinese to USGI is no big deal... but if your buying 100 or more it does matter. Profit margins are probably a lot higher on the Chinese as well.

I picked these up from the big Garand clip sale the
CMP had a year or so ago. I have 15 of the SA marked clips.

yovinny · February 20, 2005, 15:11

Quote:

Originally posted by icormba
SA clips can go for $40 for just 5 or 6 clips... WRA (Winchester) can sell for $40 for just one clip.

Would you kindly share where they get these kind of prices ???

Bet I'd be rich if I went through the 15+ cans of clipped ammo I have stashed

icormba · February 21, 2005, 15:40

Quote:

Originally posted by yovinny

Would you kindly share where they get these kind of prices ???

Bet I'd be rich if I went through the 15+ cans of clipped ammo I have stashed

That's what I sold them on ebay for. It's the price that people are willing to pay. I got mine from the same place bnz42 got them from, but I ended up with about 40-50 SA clips. I put them up from auction at ~ $5 per 8... my auctions ended for $20, $30, $40, & $50 each set.

I highly doubt you will be able to find any WRA clips... If you did, you could indeed find someone who would buy them from you for $20-$40 each clip. Winchester only made clips during WWII.

February 17, 2005, 10:02	#2
Muggzy Registered FALaholic #: 4396 Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,723	I appreciate the heads-up AND the photo Thanks __________________ Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ablility to learn from the experience of other, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. Douglas Graham Life is drawing without an eraser Judge me all you want, just keep the verdict to yourself a positve attitude may not solve all your problems, but will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort ~ Herm

February 17, 2005, 17:32	#4
K. Funk Real Life Metallurgist Gold Contributor FALaholic #: 38 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Myerstown, PA Posts: 3,941	Thankfully I purchased a shtload of GI clips a while back from New River Salvage, $18.00 a hundred not too many years ago. Tapco ought to be ashamed to hoist this crap. krf __________________ The Mason-Dixon FAL Association wants YOU!! Ask me for details. You never know what's going on inside the mind of a crazy man!! Check out username kandainv on Gunbroker; always some neat stuff!!* FYB!!!!

February 17, 2005, 20:36	#5
sf46 Registered FALaholic #: 590 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: USA Posts: 802	What sort of problems have you been noticing? Just curious what symptons. __________________ For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Romans 13:4 - God's description of cops http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member1194.png

February 18, 2005, 09:30	#9
Donut Registered FALaholic #: 7236 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: West "BY GOD" Virginia, USA Posts: 378	Damn, and I bought a box of them some time ago and have not had a chance to test them. __________________ A wise man one said that only accurate guns were interesting... He forgot to mention that fast shooting rifles are too ! " Come see the violence inherent in the system! Help, Help, I'm beeing repressed!! " Monty Python

February 18, 2005, 11:22	#10
icormba Registered FALaholic #: 16288 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: San Jose, Ca Posts: 72	fyi, not all USGI clips have a marking in the circle... it's been noted that SA (Springfield) made some without the marking & Danish 30.06 ammo usually comes on clips made without the "circle" markings as well. Both clips types are excellent & the Danish clips are in "Brand New" condition... if you can find any Danish 30.06 that is. from the Jouster CSP site: http://www.m1garand.net/Data_Files/clips.pdf one possible way to tell a difference... take a known good USGI clip and drop it on the ground... take a chinese made clip and drop it on the ground. See if you can tell a difference in the "ping" each makes? I have not tried it myself since I don't have any Chinese made clips & doing this test doesn't really help if you already spent the money on the clips I can add that the new'er SKS clips made in China... SUCK also! __________________ Chris http://www.m1garand.net

February 17, 2005, 21:11	#6
16R40 Banned TROLL FALaholic #: 8227 Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 2,754	although it's new here.......there was warning about those crapco clips at battlerifle.com under the garand forum, many many months ago.......this board is super for FAL stuff......but when it comes to other rifles, you get a much better overview, reviews, what products work, what products to stay away from if you go to specific board about that rifle. I'm not knocking this board......but if you want to learn about a certin rifle and it's products you are better off going to a rifle specific forum..........I learned a lot about my M1, then I could ever find here in.

February 17, 2005, 21:14	#7
16R40 Banned TROLL FALaholic #: 8227 Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 2,754	EDIT 1 although it's new here.......there was warning about those crapco clips at battlerifle.com under the garand forum, many, many months ago.......this board is super for FAL stuff......but when it comes to other rifles, you get a much better overview, reviews, what products work, what products to stay away from, what companies have what parts and accesories, if you go to specific board about that rifle. I'm not knocking this board, for FALs it's top notch......but if you want to learn about a certain rifle and it's products you are better off going to that rifle specific forum..........I learned a lot about my M1, then I could ever find here

February 18, 2005, 14:59	#11
bykerhd Dinosaur Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 2798 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Burlington Vermont area Posts: 13,262	Hadn't heard about the Chinese Garand clips. Why would even they want to produce something where there is probably a more than ample supply currently around for very reasonable prices ? Can't be THAT big a market for them. Is there ?

February 18, 2005, 16:09	#12
icormba Registered FALaholic #: 16288 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: San Jose, Ca Posts: 72	for a time... they would go from $1 - $5 a piece for something that could be gone forever. A Garand isn't a semi-auto without the clips. SA clips can go for $40 for just 5 or 6 clips... WRA (Winchester) can sell for $40 for just one clip. I think the China made ones average around $.30-.50 or so? in small quantity buying Chinese to USGI is no big deal... but if your buying 100 or more it does matter. Profit margins are probably a lot higher on the Chinese as well. __________________ Chris http://www.m1garand.net

February 18, 2005, 22:16	#13
Brian in MN Registered FALaholic #: 289 Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 4,927	They could also have been made by the Chinese for Garands that were given to them during and shortly after WW II. We gave them scads of military stuff to fight the Japanese and later the commies. The commies ended up with the whole shebang. If you ever see a pic of a US GI holding a Thompson during the Korean war it is a pretty safe bet that some Chinaman carried that puppy all the way to Korea from China. __________________ Kalashnikov: The most successful point and click interface in the world.

February 20, 2005, 13:30	#14
rhodesianmerc Registered FALaholic #: 15785 Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 239	I like TAPCO customer service but much of their stuff is inferior. Their after market M-14 mags are far inferior to the USGI mags.

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