Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to address one of the most common sources of confusion in firearms terminology today: the difference between clips and magazines. These terms are frequently misused in popular media and everyday conversation, leading to widespread misunderstanding among both new and experienced shooters. Today we will clarify what each device is, how they function, their historical development, common examples, and practical applications.
Fundamental Differences
The essential distinction between clips and magazines comes down to their basic function and design:
A magazine is a container that holds ammunition and uses a spring and follower mechanism to feed rounds into the firearm’s chamber. Magazines fully enclose the ammunition and actively feed rounds through spring tension. They are typically removable components that attach directly to the firearm, though some designs are fixed and integral to the gun itself.
A clip, by contrast, is a simple device designed to hold ammunition in the correct orientation for charging (loading) a magazine. Clips do not have springs or moving parts—they merely hold rounds in alignment for faster loading. Once the ammunition is loaded, the clip is either removed and discarded or remains in place until emptied, depending on the specific design.
Simply put: magazines feed ammo into the firing chamber of a firearm, while clips feed ammunition into magazines. This fundamental functional difference forms the basis for properly distinguishing these devices.
Historical Development
The historical development of these feeding devices helps explain their purposes and the occasional confusion between them:
Early firearms were predominantly single-shot or required manual loading of each round. The development of repeating firearms in the 19th century created the need for efficient ammunition feeding systems. Clips emerged as simple solutions for quickly loading groups of cartridges rather than handling each round individually.
The Mauser M1893 introduced one of the first successful clip designs—the stripper clip, which allowed soldiers to quickly charge internal magazines with five rounds simultaneously. The en bloc clip, famously used in the M1 Garand, represented another approach where the clip itself was inserted into the firearm along with the ammunition.
Detachable box magazines evolved as firearm technology advanced, offering the ability to quickly reload a weapon by exchanging empty magazines for full ones rather than reloading the same magazine. This innovation proved particularly valuable in combat situations where loading speed directly impacted survival.
The terminology confusion likely stems from the fact that many early magazine-fed firearms used clips to load their fixed magazines. Since the clip was the visible component soldiers handled during reloading, the term “clip” became colloquially associated with the ammunition feeding process, regardless of whether the firearm used a detachable magazine or fixed internal magazine fed by clips.
Common Types of Clips
Several clip designs have been prominent throughout firearms history:
Stripper clips (also called charger clips) hold cartridges in a straight line for pushing (“stripping”) into an internal magazine. The shooter holds the clip against the receiver, pushes the rounds into the magazine, and then discards the empty clip. These were common with military bolt-action rifles like the 1903 Springfield, Mauser 98, and Mosin-Nagant. Semi-automatic carbines like SKS rifles still often use stripper clips for loading their fixed magazines.
En bloc clips hold cartridges in a self-contained unit that inserts entirely into the firearm’s action. The clip remains in place until all rounds are fired, at which point it is typically ejected automatically. The M1 Garand’s distinctive “ping” sound comes from the empty en bloc clip ejecting after the last round is fired. The Italian Carcano and some Mannlicher rifles also used versions of en bloc clips.
Moon clips are circular devices that hold revolver cartridges in proper alignment for loading into cylinders. Originally developed for revolvers using rimless automatic pistol cartridges (which lack the rim needed for extraction), moon clips now exist for various revolver calibers. These clips remain with the ammunition during firing and are extracted along with the spent casings.
Half-moon clips function similarly to full moon clips but hold fewer rounds (typically half a cylinder’s capacity) in a semicircular arrangement. These provide a balance between capacity and ease of handling for revolver shooters.
Common Types of Magazines
Magazines exist in numerous designs suited to different firearms and applications:
Detachable box magazines represent the most common type today, used in pistols, rifles, and shotguns across various platforms. These self-contained units attach to the firearm and can be quickly removed and replaced when empty. Magpul PMAG offerings for AR-15s and AR-10s, Glock pistol magazines, and AK-47 magazines exemplify this ubiquitous design.
Internal box magazines are built into the firearm and cannot be removed for reloading. These typically load through the top of the action and may accept rounds individually or via stripper clips in some cases. Lever-action rifles, many bolt-action hunting rifles, and the SKS use internal box magazines.
Tubular magazines store ammunition in a linear tube, typically beneath the barrel or in the buttstock. Pump-action and semi-automatic shotguns often use tubular magazines, as do many lever-action rifles. These load individually through a port in the receiver and feed via spring pressure.
Drum magazines use a spiral design to achieve higher capacities than standard box magazines while maintaining a relatively compact form factor. Thompson submachine gun drums, AK-47 drums, and AR-15 drum magazines demonstrate this approach to increasing ammunition capacity.
Helical magazines, like those used in the Calico firearms system, wrap ammunition in a tight spiral to achieve very high capacities. These complex feeding systems pack more rounds into a given volume than conventional designs but add complexity and potential reliability concerns.
Common Misconceptions and Correct Usage
The most prevalent misconception involves calling detachable box magazines “clips.” This error appears throughout films, television, video games, and casual conversation. For example, referring to an AR-15’s 30-round magazine as a “30-round clip” is technically incorrect.
Some specific instances where terminology confusion commonly occurs:
- The M1 Garand uses an en bloc clip, not a magazine.
- The SKS has an internal magazine that can be loaded with stripper clips.
- Revolvers use neither magazines nor clips in their standard configuration, though some use moon clips for certain ammunition types.
- Pistols like the 1911 and Glock use detachable box magazines, not clips.
Using proper terminology not only demonstrates technical knowledge but also aids in clear communication when discussing firearms. Precision in language reflects precision in understanding how these systems function, which ultimately contributes to safer and more informed firearms handling.
Practical Relevance Today
While clips may seem like historical artifacts, they maintain relevance in modern shooting:
Military surplus firearms like the Mosin-Nagant, Mauser, and SKS remain popular among collectors and shooters. These platforms often function best when loaded with their original clip designs, driving continued production of stripper clips compatible with these historical firearms.
Some modern internal-magazine rifles include provisions for stripper clip loading to increase reloading efficiency. Certain precision bolt-action platforms maintain this feature despite the prevalence of detachable magazines in contemporary designs.
Moon clips continue to serve competitive revolver shooters, particularly in divisions requiring quick reloads. Their ability to hold multiple rounds in perfect alignment allows for faster reloading than individual round insertion, providing a competitive advantage in timed events.
For modern sporting rifles and pistols, detachable magazines dominate due to their practical advantages in quick reloading and reliable feeding. Magazine design continues to evolve with innovations in materials, follower geometry, and capacity optimization.
Conclusion
The distinction between clips and magazines goes beyond mere terminology—it reflects fundamental differences in how ammunition feeds into firearms. Clips generally hold ammunition temporarily for loading into the actual feeding device (the magazine), while magazines serve as the firearm’s feeding device itself, actively delivering rounds to the chamber through spring pressure.
Understanding this difference enhances overall firearms knowledge and contributes to clearer communication within the shooting community. While casual conversation might forgive mixing these terms, precision in language reflects a deeper understanding of how firearms function—something every serious shooter should aspire to develop.
We here at True Shot Ammo carry ammunition, magazines, and clips in addition to our range of ammo for sale. Our inventory covers popular calibers like 9mm, 5.56, 12 gauge, and .22 LR. Whether you want to buy magazines or purchase bulk ammo, we have you covered. As always, happy shooting.
