Built around how you train.
Every kit includes SCUSA Polymer Clips. Choose the system that fits your round count and range habits.
900 Rounds Ready
- 90 Polymer Stripper Clips
- Color-Coded System included
- SLB™ Loading Block
StripLULA
- 90 SCUSA Polymer Clips
- SLB™ Loading Block
- StripLULA® Speed Loader
- Full color-coded system
Organized
- 450 Polymer Clips total
- Full armory-scale system
- 2x SLB@ Loading Block
- 20x MIL-SPEC Desiccant packs included
- StripLULA®
What Are 5.56 Stripper Clips? A Beginner's Complete Guide
What 5.56 stripper clips are, how they work, why AR-15 owners use them, and how SCUSA polymer color-coded clips improve on the 60-year-old USGI steel standard.
The Short Answer
A 5.56 stripper clip is a small device that holds 10 rounds of 5.56 NATO or .223 Remington ammunition in a single stack. You load rounds onto the clip, then use a speed loader to strip all 10 rounds into your AR-15 magazine in one motion — instead of pushing in rounds one at a time by hand.
That's the core function. But for serious AR-15 owners, preppers, and range shooters, stripper clips are also the foundation of an organized, efficient ammunition storage and loading system. This guide covers everything you need to know.
Holds: 10 rounds of 5.56 NATO / .223 Remington
Used with: AR-15, M4, M16 magazines
Speed loader needed: Maglula StripLULA® Gen II
SCUSA clips weigh: ~3g each vs ~12g for USGI steel
Three colors available: Olive Drab, Black, Range Orange
How Stripper Clips Work
A stripper clip holds rounds by their rims in a single row. The rounds stay on the clip through spring tension — tight enough to hold securely, loose enough to strip off cleanly in one motion.
To load a magazine using a stripper clip you need two things: the loaded clip and a speed loader (called a StripLULA® for AR-15 magazines). Here's the sequence:
- Snap the StripLULA® onto the top of an empty AR-15 magazine
- Seat a loaded 10-round stripper clip into the StripLULA® guide
- Press down firmly — all 10 rounds strip into the magazine in one motion
- Remove the empty clip, seat the next loaded clip, repeat
- Three clips = one full 30-round magazine in under 10 seconds
Stripper Clips vs Loading by Hand
| Method | Time per Magazine | 10 Magazines | Thumb Fatigue |
|---|---|---|---|
| By hand (one round at a time) | 2–4 minutes | 20–40 minutes | ❌ Significant |
| Stripper clips + StripLULA® | Under 10 seconds | Under 2 minutes | ✅ None |
Types of 5.56 Stripper Clips
There are three types of 5.56 stripper clips available to civilian shooters. Here's how they compare:
| Type | Weight | Rust Risk | Color Coding | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USGI Steel | ~12g | ❌ Yes | ❌ None | Legacy / surplus use |
| Generic Polymer | ~3–5g | ✅ No | ❌ None — single color | Budget range use |
| SCUSA Polymer | ~3g | ✅ No | ✅ 3 load-coded colors | Storage, range, SHTF |
What Makes SCUSA Polymer Clips Different
SCUSA polymer 5.56 stripper clips — also called 556 stripper clips, .223 ammo clips, or AR-15 loading clips — are purpose-built for modern civilian use. They solve three problems that USGI steel clips and generic polymer clips both ignore:
- Weight — ~3g vs ~12g for steel. At 120 clips per ammo can, that's nearly 1kg of unnecessary weight eliminated
- Corrosion — polymer doesn't rust. Steel clips transfer oxidation to brass cases in long-term sealed storage
- Load identification — the patent-pending Color-Coded Ammo ID™ System assigns one color per load type. No other stripper clip on the market does this
The Three SCUSA Colors — What Each One Means
M855 green-tip. Long range and barrier defeat. Your 600m+ load.
M193 duty. Defensive and CQB loads. Your mission-ready stock.
M193 training. Bulk range ammo. Expendable practice stock.
How Many Stripper Clips Do You Need?
| Use Case | Rounds | Clips Needed | 30-Packs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Range day | 200–300 rounds | 20–30 clips | 1 pack |
| Small prepper stockpile | 1,000–2,000 rounds | 100–200 clips | 4–7 packs |
| One full AC50C can | ~1,400 rounds | 140 clips | 5 packs |
| Serious armory (10,000 rounds) | 10,000 rounds | 1,000 clips | 34 packs |
Are 5.56 and .223 Stripper Clips the Same?
Yes. 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington use the same case dimensions, so the same stripper clip works for both. SCUSA polymer clips are compatible with all standard brass-cased 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington ammunition including M855, M193, and commercial equivalents.
Do You Need a Special Loader?
For AR-15 / M4 / M16 magazines — yes. You need a StripLULA® or equivalent polymer-compatible speed loader. SCUSA polymer clips are NOT compatible with metal stripper clip guides (USGI spoons). Metal guides will damage the polymer clip. The Maglula StripLULA® Gen II is the recommended loader for all SCUSA clips.
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SLB Gen2 + 30 clips. Everything you need to start loading faster today.
Shop CORE Kit →SLB Gen2, StripLULA, all three clip colors, desiccants, and ammo can. The full system.
Shop ARMORY MAX →Frequently Asked Questions
What calibers do 5.56 stripper clips work with?
5.56 NATO and .223 Remington — they use the same case dimensions. SCUSA clips are not compatible with 7.62x39, .308, 9mm, or any other caliber. They are purpose-built for 5.56 / .223 only.
Can I reuse stripper clips?
Yes — SCUSA polymer clips are fully reusable. Load, strip, reload. They don't wear out under normal use. A 30-pack covers every range session and lasts for years.
What is a 556 stripper clip?
A 556 stripper clip is the same as a 5.56 stripper clip — just written without the decimal point. It holds 10 rounds of 5.56 NATO or .223 Remington ammunition for fast AR-15 magazine loading. SCUSA makes the only color-coded 556 stripper clips available.
What is the difference between a stripper clip and a magazine?
A magazine is a self-contained feeding device that attaches to your rifle and feeds rounds into the chamber. A stripper clip is a loading tool — it holds 10 rounds for fast transfer into a detachable magazine. The clip is removed after loading. The magazine stays in the rifle.
Are .223 stripper clips the same as 5.56 stripper clips?
Yes — .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO share the same case dimensions, so the same stripper clip works for both. SCUSA polymer clips are compatible with all standard brass-cased .223 and 5.56 ammunition including commercial loads, M855, and M193.
Do stripper clips work with all AR-15 magazines?
Stripper clips load rounds into magazines using a speed loader (StripLULA® for AR-15s). The StripLULA® is compatible with all standard AR-15 / M4 / M16 magazines including PMAG, Lancer, USGI aluminum, and most aftermarket options. Check Maglula's compatibility list for specific magazine models.
180 color-coded clips + dual SLB loading blocks + StripLULA® + 20× MIL-SPEC desiccants.
Load faster.
Organize smarter.
SCUSA polymer stripper clips, loading blocks, and MIL-SPEC desiccants. Everything you need in one kit.
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