Is it a clip or a magazine?
These two terms are used interchangeably these days, however, they are not really interchangeable concepts.
While some may argue that cutting this distinction is splitting hairs, I would argue that it is a matter of precision and understandability– rather like an article I have seen which calls a Hakim breech-cover the ‘‘dust cover, I know what this means once I have translated it in my mind. Besides, a breech cover is actually more important for what it keeps in (hot gasses) than for simply keeping dust out.
What then is the difference?
The magazine is that which holds the cartridges so that they can be fed into the firearm and fired. A clip is a device designed to hold cartridges so that they can be fed easily into the magazine for use.
There are essentially only two types of magazine, the fixed (or integral) and the detachable. Fixed (integral) magazines are just exactly that. They are a permanent part of the firearm designed to hold the cartridges at ready to be fed either by working a bolt or by the rechambering action of a semi- or fully automatic firearm. One MIGHT go so far as to suggest the cylinder on a revolver could be considered a ‘‘fixed magazine. More frequently, however, the fixed or integral magazine is found on long guns.
There are three common types of fixed/integral magazine:
- The Fixed Box as found on the Moisin Nagants, Mauser 98s and most field issue SKS.
- The Integral Tube as seen on pump-action shotguns, Winchester 94s and Marlin 39As.
- The integral Spool Magazine as found on the Mannlicher Schoenauer.
The detachable magazine is quite well-known (and getting far more public attention than it deserves) via the assault weapons argument. This is the removable or drop-free magazine that is filled independently of the rifle itself. Whether a 5-round box for a Marlin .22; a 10-round box for Hakim; a 30-round banana on a pre-Bush-ban SKS or AK; the 100 round drum on a Thompson Submachine Gun or the C-Mags for AR15, you’re talking detachable magazine. Same for the sticks you slap into a Glock, Tec9 or 1911A– detachable MAGAZINE.
What then are clips?
A clip or “stripper clip” holds cartidges that are to be fed (stripped) into the magazine– sort of like speedloaders for semi-automatics. The clip is never left in the magazine. It is either removed or used and then kept out of thefirearm itself. The most typical “stripper clip” is the slightly bowed 5 - to 10-rounders we see for SKS and Mauser rifles. The Mauser Broomhandle pistol mags can also be loaded with rectangular-looking metal stripper clips.
“Chargers” or “charger clips” are designed to be placed complete with cartridges into the firearm, with the clip becoming an essential part of the magazine/loading mechanism. When the last cartridge is fired, the empty clip portion falls or is removed from the magazine. This is the typical M1 configuration.
An “en bloc clips” holds the cartridges together by their bases and their bodies; the clip and the rounds are inserted into the magazine as a unit. When the last round is loaded, the clip is automatically ejected from the magazine. Weapons loaded with en bloc clips include the Steyr-Mannlicher straight pull bolt action, the Mannlicher-Carcano rifles, and the US M1 Garand. (In the M1, the clip is ejected up after the last round is fired.)
There are also “half-moon clips” and “moon clips” for certain revolvers, however, this is the point at which (I believe) we begin to muddy the line between “clips” and the revolver “speedloader”.
Now you know the difference, never attempt to fire a firearm using a loaded “clip”, unless it uses a en bloc clip.
Use a magazine instead.