Thread: Shaft diameter for circlip

I am working on specifying some ball screws for one of my projects. At one end of the ball screw, I have a shaft that is 17mm. On this shaft I have a small bearing block. This bearing block is held in place (on one end) by a circlip which looks to have an inner diameter of 16mm (so a 1mm groove in the 17mm shaft). Ideally I want to use a circlip without reducing the 17mm shaft down prior to the circlip. I am thinking I can stretch the circlip with some circlip pliers and fit it over the shaft and wiggle down the shaft into place. That said, I am not 100% sure on this and do not want to have to re-purchase a replacement due to a silly mistake. Am I going to have all sorts of problems getting the circlip on the shaft if I do not reduce the diameter of the shaft prior to the circlip groove?