Magazines vs clips: two of the most commonly misused words in the entire gun industry. What’s the difference between magazines and clips?
A magazine is a container that holds and feeds rounds of ammunition into a firearm. A clip is a device that holds rounds of ammunition together and is meant to load rounds into a magazine.
However, there are many intricacies here, as well as many different kinds of both magazines and clips. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know!
When to Say Magazine and When to Say Clip
The terms “magazine” and “clip” are often used interchangeably, but they do refer to slightly different things. In general, the term “magazine” refers to a container for a series of rounds of ammunition that are fed into a firearm.
Magazines are generally detachable from the firearm and hold several rounds of ammunition.
The term “clip,” on the other hand, usually refers to a device that holds a group of rounds of ammunition together in a single unit, but is not a container.
Clips are generally used to load magazines, but can also be used to load the chamber of a firearm directly in some cases.
So, you would use the term “magazine” to refer to the container that holds and feeds rounds of ammunition into a firearm, and you would use the term “clip” to refer to the device that holds rounds of ammunition together and helps loads rounds into a magazine, either internal or external.
Types of Magazines
Detachable Magazines
A gun magazine is a device that stores and feeds ammunition into a firearm. It is typically made of metal or plastic and holds a specific number of rounds of ammunition.
The magazine is inserted into the firearm, typically in the grip or stock of the gun. When the firearm is fired, the magazine feeds a new round of ammunition into the chamber, allowing the shooter to continue firing without manually loading each round.
Some magazines are designed to be detachable, allowing the shooter to quickly replace an empty magazine with a full one. The capacity of a gun magazine, or the number of rounds it can hold, can vary depending on the type of firearm and the size of the cartridges.
Internal Magazines
An internal gun magazine is a type of magazine that is built into the design of the firearm. It is not a separate detachable component like some other types of magazines.
Instead, it is an integral part of the gun and typically cannot be removed. When the firearm is fired, the internal magazine feeds a new round of ammunition into the chamber, allowing the shooter to continue firing without manually loading each round.
The capacity of an internal magazine, or the number of rounds it can hold, can vary depending on the type of firearm and the size of the cartridges. Some firearms, such as bolt-action rifles, have fixed internal magazines that cannot be reloaded without disassembling the gun.
Others, such as semi-automatic pistols, have detachable “internal” magazines that can be easily removed and replaced with a full magazine when empty.
Tube Magazines
A gun tube magazine is a type of internal magazine that is shaped like a tube and runs parallel to the barrel of the firearm. It is most commonly found on shotguns and some rifles.
The tube magazine is typically located underneath the barrel and holds a number of rounds of ammunition. When the firearm is fired, the magazine feeds a new round of ammunition into the chamber, allowing the shooter to continue firing without manually loading each round.
The capacity of a tube magazine, or the number of rounds it can hold, can vary depending on the type of firearm and the size of the cartridges.
Types of Clips
Stripper Clips
Stripper clips are devices used to load a magazine or internal magazine of a firearm. They are thin pieces of metal or plastic with a rectangular shape that hold a group of cartridges together in a single row.
To use a stripper clip, the shooter places the clip into a guide on the firearm, with the cartridges facing the magazine or chamber.
The cartridges are then pressed down into the magazine or chamber, and the empty stripper clip is removed. Stripper clips are used to quickly load a firearm without having to individually load each cartridge.
Stripper clips are generally disposable and are not designed to be reloaded or reused.
En Bloc Clips
An en bloc clip is a device used to load a magazine for certain types of firearms, such as the M1 Garand rifle. It is a single unit that holds a group of cartridges together, allowing them to be loaded into the magazine as a single unit.
When the clip is inserted into the rifle, the cartridges are pushed down into the magazine and the clip is released, falling out of the bottom of the gun.
The en bloc clip system was designed to allow soldiers to quickly reload their rifles in the field. It has largely been replaced by detachable magazines, which can be easily removed and replaced with a full magazine when empty.
Moon Clips
A moon clip is a thin piece of metal or plastic with a semi-circular or circular shape that is used to hold a group of cartridges together for loading into a revolver.
The moon clip is designed to hold a number of rounds that is equal to the capacity of the revolver’s cylinder.
To load a revolver using a moon clip, the shooter places the moon clip into the cylinder with the cartridges facing inward towards the center of the cylinder. The cartridges are then pressed into the chambers of the cylinder, and the moon clip falls out of the gun.
Some revolvers are designed to be used with moon clips and others are not, so it is important to check the manufacturer’s recommendations before using moon clips with a specific revolver.
Moon clips can allow for faster reloading of a revolver, as the shooter does not have to individually load each cartridge into the chambers of the cylinder.
Stripper Clips vs Actual Clips
As you’ve probably figured out by now, stripper clips are used to load external detachable magazines, and “regular” clips, or en bloc clips, are used to load internal magazines.
A stripper clip is a device that is used to hold a group of rounds of ammunition together in a single unit, with the rounds stacked on top of one another in a specific configuration.
Stripper clips are generally used to load a magazine, with the rounds being stripped off the clip and loaded into the magazine.
An en bloc clip is a device that holds a group of rounds of ammunition together in a single unit and is used to load the chamber of a firearm directly. En bloc clips are designed to be inserted into the chamber as a single unit, with the rounds being loaded into the chamber all at once.
En bloc clips are most commonly associated with certain types of rifles, such as the M1 Garand.
Clips vs Magazines for Pistols
By now you’ve probably understood the main differences between the two, but adding handguns into the mix can make things even more confusing. Do pistols use magazines or clips?
Pistols generally use magazines to hold and feed rounds of ammunition into the firearm. Again, a magazine is a container that holds several rounds of ammunition in a specific configuration and is designed to be inserted into the grip of the firearm.
The rounds are then fed into the chamber of the firearm from the magazine as the gun is fired.
Some pistols may also be designed to use a clip to load the magazine, with the rounds being stripped off the clip and loaded into the magazine one at a time.
However, the term “clip” is generally used to refer to a device that holds a group of rounds of ammunition together in a single unit. In the context of pistols, the term “magazine” is usually the more appropriate term.
It's evident that the confusion between "magazines" and "clips" in the realm of firearms is widespread. The distinction between the two is crucial for understanding their roles in ammunition management. Magazines serve as containers that hold and feed ammunition into firearms, while clips act as devices to hold rounds together, aiding in loading ammunition into magazines or chambers.
Magazines, be they detachable or internal, differ in their construction and function. Detachable magazines, often made of metal or plastic, allow for swift replacement when empty, feeding rounds into the firearm's chamber. Internal magazines, integral to the firearm's design, can either be fixed within the firearm or detachable, like those found in some semi-automatic pistols.
Tube magazines, a specific type of internal magazine, are prevalent in shotguns and select rifles, shaped as tubes running parallel to the barrel, allowing for sequential feeding of rounds into the chamber.
On the other hand, clips come in various types. Stripper clips, thin pieces of metal or plastic, facilitate the quick loading of magazines or internal chambers by holding cartridges in a single row. En bloc clips, used in firearms like the M1 Garand, load a group of cartridges into the magazine as a single unit, falling out of the firearm once the cartridges are loaded. Moon clips, often used in revolvers, hold rounds in a circular shape, enabling faster reloading of the revolver's cylinder.
The distinction between stripper clips and actual clips (like en bloc clips) is notable. Stripper clips primarily load external detachable magazines, whereas en bloc clips directly load internal magazines or chambers.
When it comes to pistols, the majority utilize magazines for holding and feeding ammunition into the firearm's chamber. While some may be designed to use clips to load the magazine, the term "magazine" remains more fitting in the context of pistols.
Understanding the nuances between these components is vital for firearm enthusiasts, ensuring proper terminology and utilization of these mechanisms.
