I will briefly introduce myself as a gun enthusiast. For credibility’s sake, I am a moderator on a firearm discussion forum. I moderate 1/10th of the activity put forth by over 40,000 active (not total) members. I specialize in the sections regarding the AR-15 and M16 rifles and subcategories.
Today we will look at the differences between a magazine and a clip. Both terms seem to be used interchangeably around here. I don’t expect everyone to change their “habits” and conform to what I say, but I think it’s fair to point out that the vast majority of people go around saying things that are flat out incorrect. While this might just be a “gaming forum” bare with me and you might learn something.
Take this example. We have a fork and we have a spoon. Both are feeding devices. In this case we eat with them. To call a fork a spoon, or a spoon a fork would get some looks. I guarantee they’d be confused and questionable looks. That is simply because even though they both serve similar purposes, they are not in fact alike.
Clip
Clips come in two varieties. Stripper clips, also known as “chargers” (Fig 1) and En-bloc clips (Fig 2).
1)
2)
A stripper clip is a unit of metal that holds rounds together for the purpose of charging a magazine. This magazine can either be situated within the rifle [An internal magazine] or as a box magazine that can be loaded via an adapter (Show below).
Stripper clips are most commonly associated with bolt action rifles. Famous rifles such as the Mauser K98 and the Lee-Enfield SMLE or Springfield 1903. Later semi/full auto variants that use stripper clips include the Simonov SKS. (And before people get huffy, there was indeed a full auto SKS).
Stripper clips used for the purpose of charging internal box magazines are a dieing breed. There are fewer and fewer ever seeing military action around the world, and if these rifles are in the hands of military personal, they are usually for the purpose of display or parade.
When a clip is inserted into a rifle, you charge the rifle by pushing on top of the rounds, loading them into the internal magazine. You then remove the clip and chamber a round.
To demonstrate I will show the proper way to charge a rifle with a “clip.”
The exception to this is the en-bloc clip. The en-bloc clip is a disposable piece of metal that clips rounds together. This unit is inserted directly into the internal magazine of the rifle, and when emptied, will eject from the rifle. This is most commonly seen with the M1 Garand. The distinctive “PING” when the rifle is emptied is due to the en-bloc clip exiting the magazine of the rifle.
Magazine
A magazine, which is also referred to as a “mag”, is a device that stores rounds to be fed into the action of the rifle. To properly feed them into the action, the magazine is affixed to the rifle. When it is emptied, it is then removed and either disposed of or reloaded. Magazines contain components such as followers and springs (Shown below). They are made from a variety of materials including, but not limited to (Aluminum, Steel, Polymer, Bakelite).
Magazines come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the typical types are box mags and drum mags. The 3 most common box magazines in the world are the STANAG M16 magazine, and the AK-47/74 magazines. More rifles use these 3 magazines than any other in existence. The M16 mag is the NATO standard, and to be quite frank, the AK-47/74 mags are the 3rd world and communist standards.
In conclusion, a clip is not a magazine is not a clip. If you think saying “clip” is just easier, then just say “mag.” 3 letters are easier to type than 4 . Use this knowledge to your advantage. If you ever have a conversation with anyone who is gun savvy, this will save them the frustration of either correcting you or biting their lip. If anyone who thinks they are gun savvy doesn’t know the difference between a clip and a mag, then they are not gun savvy in any regard. Quite possibly they’re just redneck instead.
Clips
Magazines
/END
Today we will look at the differences between a magazine and a clip. Both terms seem to be used interchangeably around here. I don’t expect everyone to change their “habits” and conform to what I say, but I think it’s fair to point out that the vast majority of people go around saying things that are flat out incorrect. While this might just be a “gaming forum” bare with me and you might learn something.
Take this example. We have a fork and we have a spoon. Both are feeding devices. In this case we eat with them. To call a fork a spoon, or a spoon a fork would get some looks. I guarantee they’d be confused and questionable looks. That is simply because even though they both serve similar purposes, they are not in fact alike.
Clip
Clips come in two varieties. Stripper clips, also known as “chargers” (Fig 1) and En-bloc clips (Fig 2).
1)
2)
A stripper clip is a unit of metal that holds rounds together for the purpose of charging a magazine. This magazine can either be situated within the rifle [An internal magazine] or as a box magazine that can be loaded via an adapter (Show below).
Stripper clips are most commonly associated with bolt action rifles. Famous rifles such as the Mauser K98 and the Lee-Enfield SMLE or Springfield 1903. Later semi/full auto variants that use stripper clips include the Simonov SKS. (And before people get huffy, there was indeed a full auto SKS).
Stripper clips used for the purpose of charging internal box magazines are a dieing breed. There are fewer and fewer ever seeing military action around the world, and if these rifles are in the hands of military personal, they are usually for the purpose of display or parade.
When a clip is inserted into a rifle, you charge the rifle by pushing on top of the rounds, loading them into the internal magazine. You then remove the clip and chamber a round.
To demonstrate I will show the proper way to charge a rifle with a “clip.”
The exception to this is the en-bloc clip. The en-bloc clip is a disposable piece of metal that clips rounds together. This unit is inserted directly into the internal magazine of the rifle, and when emptied, will eject from the rifle. This is most commonly seen with the M1 Garand. The distinctive “PING” when the rifle is emptied is due to the en-bloc clip exiting the magazine of the rifle.
Magazine
A magazine, which is also referred to as a “mag”, is a device that stores rounds to be fed into the action of the rifle. To properly feed them into the action, the magazine is affixed to the rifle. When it is emptied, it is then removed and either disposed of or reloaded. Magazines contain components such as followers and springs (Shown below). They are made from a variety of materials including, but not limited to (Aluminum, Steel, Polymer, Bakelite).
Magazines come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the typical types are box mags and drum mags. The 3 most common box magazines in the world are the STANAG M16 magazine, and the AK-47/74 magazines. More rifles use these 3 magazines than any other in existence. The M16 mag is the NATO standard, and to be quite frank, the AK-47/74 mags are the 3rd world and communist standards.
In conclusion, a clip is not a magazine is not a clip. If you think saying “clip” is just easier, then just say “mag.” 3 letters are easier to type than 4 . Use this knowledge to your advantage. If you ever have a conversation with anyone who is gun savvy, this will save them the frustration of either correcting you or biting their lip. If anyone who thinks they are gun savvy doesn’t know the difference between a clip and a mag, then they are not gun savvy in any regard. Quite possibly they’re just redneck instead.
Clips
Magazines
/END
Last edited by JE3146 (2006-05-05 03:01:38)