clip vs. magazine

[38 special]

I have pistols and bolt action 22 rifle that use, what I've always called "clips." In the case of my model 581 Remington bolt action .22 I have a clip that holds about 5 shells. In my Ruger Mark II .22 semi-auto pistol the clip holds about 10 shells. I never heard anyone call them "magazines" just seems like too long a word. Everybody always used the word clip.
Someone at work heard me refer to clip and they said "You mean magazine dont you? They argued that clip is NOT the right word. Seems stupid to me to call the little things magazines I kinda thought magazine was a military term for large capacity shell holders. Please let me know your opinions.

[gdmoody]

I've always called them clips, also

[USMC-03]

The basic definition is this...

A clip holds ammunition for handling outside of the firearm and may or may not inserted into the gun.

A magazine feeds the ammunition into the breech of the gun but may or may not be used to handle the ammunition outside of the firearm.

Although the devise that slides into the handle of your Mark II is used to store ammunition outside the pistol, it is a "magazine" because it FEEDS the ammunition also.

A clip is usually either a "stripper clip" used to handle ammo and then charge an integral magazine (think Mauser type bolt action rifles) or an "en-bloc clip" that is inserted into the magazine and holds the rounds together but does not feed them (think M-1 Garand).

Have I confused the issue enough?

[TranterUK]

I am pretty much with USMC. This is how I would explain...

A clip is typically a thin steel frame that holds the rounds, and is discarded after the rounds are stripped into the weapon. Most common might be the five round clips used in most WW2 era bolt action rifles.

A magazine is a box that is inserted into the weapon and once empty can be removed and replaced with a full one. Usually, but not always incorporating feed lips (Not the Tokerev).

I dont like it when someone calls a magazine a clip.

[SaddleSarge]

I'll try and muddy the waters some more.....

USMC is correct. The term "clip" became familiar due to the usage of the M1 Garand and became common slange, yet incorrect slang.

A "clip" merely "clips" the rounds together, a magazine (like a magazine bunker) is self contained housing/storage of the ammo. (Tubular magazine on a winchester 30/30 or a detachable magazine such as below or for pistols where they are inserted into the weapon.

Clip (M1 Garand-2rd):




Magazine (AR):

[mrkirker]

Hey 38, don't feel like the Lone Ranger
I have always been puzzled about the terms myself. Thanks for asking the question, and thanks, USMC, Tranter, and S-Sarge for those great explanations that not only answered the question, but explained the 'why', as well. (I shall 'clip' no more!)

[TranterUK]

We all clearly know our subject, but its fun to make a pudding of it.

So, yes the garand is the exception, where a clip goes into the weapon. The word clip for magazine seems most common among the untrained. Gamers, TV, movie watchers etc.

Perhaps we could say a magazine has a spring when a clip dose not. But then some flat stripper clips have a flat spring, Hm?

[artabr]

Clips.

http://www.buymilsurp.com/magazines-...s-c-24_27.html

Magazines

http://www.midwesthuntersoutlet.com/...Magazines.aspx


Art

[GunHugger]

I agree, but I don't like to see a guy put down when he says he needs a clip for his AR.

I have a few older Marlin mags still the wrapper and they are called "clips" by Marlin. It's a use of the wrong terms that has been going on for a long time. Not a big deal to me anyway.

[358 winchester]

Originally Posted by TranterUK

We all clearly know our subject, but its fun to make a pudding of it.

So, yes the garand is the exception, where a clip goes into the weapon. The word clip for magazine seems most common among the untrained. Gamers, TV, movie watchers etc.

Perhaps we could say a magazine has a spring when a clip dose not. But then some flat stripper clips have a flat spring, Hm?

Or say the Italian Carcaino ( not sure of the spelling) where the clip is also the magazine

[Crpdeth]

Originally Posted by GunHugger

I agree, but I don't like to see a guy put down when he says he needs a clip for his AR.

Exactly... We know what he means so there is no sense in being snotty about it.

I call them magazines and in times past had guys say "you mean the clip?" I just smile and say "yep".

Then of course there is the Stripper Clip that has been mentioned already. If you've never seen a Stripper Clip, it is a short movie of a... Well, I'll hush.


Crpdeth

[38 special]

Wow Great information. I've been educated. Thanks All. This is a great forum.

[TranterUK]

As I said, I dont much like it when someone calls a magazine a clip, but agree its not nice to go around correcting people. I myself inadvertently called the top edge of a cartridge case the rim last week. I should know better, but hey!

So, is a revolver cylinder a clip or magazine? My monies on magazine.

[USMC-03]

Originally Posted by TranterUK

So, is a revolver cylinder a clip or magazine? My monies on magazine.

It's a chamber; neither clips nor magazines contain the round when it goes boom...

[Pistolenschutze]

Originally Posted by TranterUK

So, yes the garand is the exception, where a clip goes into the weapon. The word clip for magazine seems most common among the untrained. Gamers, TV, movie watchers etc.

Gosh, and here I thought a clip was what was used to hold papers together or women used to hold their hair back,, and a magazine was was something to read or look at the pictures. . . except Playboy and Page 3 of the Sun, of course, because I "never" look at the pictures there.

[bluesea112]

I was taught that a clip is disposable and a magazine is not. (Gerand uses a disposable clip, and my Sig P220 uses a magazine.)

[LurpyGeek]

Originally Posted by Pistolenschutze

Gosh, and here I thought a clip was what was used to hold papers together or women used to hold their hair back,, and a magazine was was something to read or look at the pictures. . . except Playboy and Page 3 of the Sun, of course, because I "never" look at the pictures there.

This is actually the entirely honest reaction of a lot of people who don't have much exposure to firearms. Before we were married and before I had taken my wife to the range, I was telling her that I had purchased some new magazines for my .22 and she had no idea what I was talking about.

[delta13soultaker]

A clip is what your sister puts her hair up with and a magazine is what you load your ammo in.

[GunHugger]

I was wrong, thought those old Marlin "mags" were marked "clip".

How does this confuse things? Clip Magazines

[38 special]

Now that is great post!!

[ponycar17]

I've always thought of 'clips' as something 'gangsta rappas' use to 'gat 'em hatas 'til 'da clip run dry'... And for that reason I've always referred to them as magazines.

[ysacres]

Clip: A device, normally of pressed steel, which holds a group of cartridges and which is inserted into the magazine, along with the cartridges it contains, in order to reload the Gun.

Magazine: the part of a firearm containing the reserve ammunition supply, and out of which cartridges are mechanically fed to the chamber for firing.

[delta13soultaker]

"Clip" is a word that among some circles will indicate your firearm experience level.

It's like asking a tattoo artist about his "tattoo gun". In that industry it's called a tattoo machine. As soon as you say gun you're categorized by your vocabulary.

It's like all industries, there are words that people inside the industry use that outsiders don't.

I'm not saying look down on anyone or assume things about people. I try hard to be non-judgmental.

But it's an undeniable fact that in many places if you say "clip", certain people in the firearm industry or members of professions that depend on firearms to earn a living, will err towards judgment that says, "Watch out, driver in training!"

Call it unfair. Call it silly or a stereotype. But it is true.

[Mr. Nameless]

Personaly i always say magazine, but when someone says clip i instinctivly know wat they r talking about. its like aying frag grenade instead of fragmentation grenade, or molotov instead of molotov cocktail, it dosnt matter to me one way or another

[JLA]

Originally Posted by 358 winchester

Or say the Italian Carcaino ( not sure of the spelling) where the clip is also the magazine

and to even further confuse the situation, the SMLE 10 rd. box magazines are detatchable and can be used as detatchable magazines like you would an AK or AR... However were designed to be charged with 2-5 rd. stripper clips and left stationary in the rifle until cleaning necessitated removal. I have used them both ways but preferr to charge with stripper clips....