Steel-cased. I was going to buy some stripper clips, but except for the 30 rounds in the pic above I intend to reload for the VZ-52 using re-formed 6.5 Mannlicher-Schoenauer cases, and I don't know if they'll work in the 7.62x45 stripper clips or not. So for now, I think I'll just pop them loose into the mag.
It does look good in dark wood. I had planned on changing the stock but it's just right. I was surprised when i picked it up. It was "luck of the draw". She shoots perfect. No need to change anything. Wouldn't mind getting another c&r rifle after this one.
My latest acquisition was a rifle that I've always wanted (as has every C&R collector...), but had never seen in person until yesterday. It's an M1941 Johnson, which was in competition with the Garand at the beginning of World War II. It eventually lost the competition, but some Johnsons still saw action with the Marines, and a few were exported. It's a .30-06 and has a 10-round rotary magazine.
Also in the photo is a 1999 edition of American Rifleman, which has a good article about this rifle, and a serial-number matched box for the rifle. This particular rifle was made in 1941 (first year of real production), and was later restored by Miltech. Miltech made the box; it wasn't original issue.
Rather than me prattling on, check out the Forgotten Weapons video; Ian does a great job of showing off the features of the rifle: