Difference Between Clip and Magazine

clip vs magazine

In firearms, clip and magazine are terms that are always misused. Even experts in firearms often make mistakes when referring to a clip and magazine. It is a fact that clip and magazine are words that cannot be interchanged.

A magazine is an ammunition compartment and also a feeding devise attached to a firearm. Magazines can be fixed or detachable compartments.

A clip is what holds the ammunition and is not a feeding device like that of magazine. Clips are just metal pieces.

A magazine has springs attached to it, which makes it a feeding device. As springs are not seen in a clip, it does not act as a feeding chamber. So in simple terms, if a spring is present, then it is a magazine and if no spring is present, it is a clip.

While a magazine is used to feed ammunition into a firearm, a clip is a device that feeds a magazine. A clip is what fits within a magazine. While magazines are exposed, clips are not.

A magazine can be termed as a container that holds the ammunition.

The earliest use of magazines were seen in air guns and not on firearms. The clips started to be in use by 1800’s.

With clips, one can very quickly reload weapons with a fixed magazine. Clips are known to speed up loading and reloading process of firearms.

The clip comes in various types; stripper clip, En bloc, Moon clip and half-moon clip. Magazines come in types like Box, Casket, Rotary, Tubular, Drum, Pan and Helical.

Summary

1.
Magazine is an ammunition compartment and also a feeding devise attached to a firearm.
2.
A clip is what holds the ammunition and is not a feeding device like that of a magazine. Clips are just metal pieces.
3.
While a magazine is used to feed ammunition into a firearm, a clip is a device that feeds a magazine.
4.
While magazines are exposed, clips are not.
5.
Clips are known to speed up the loading and reloading process of firearms.
6.
The clip comes in various types; stripper clip, En bloc, Moon clip and half-moon clip. Magazines come in types like Box, Casket, Rotary, Tubular, Drum, Pan and Helical.

Sharing is caring!