What is the difference between a clip and a mag

Many think clips and magazines are the same. But, a clip holds cartridges together for easy loading into a magazine. A magazine, on the other hand, feeds cartridges into the gun’s chamber when you shoot.

Most guns use a magazine, except for revolvers and single-shot guns. You’ll find different types like detachable box magazines and tubular magazines. Clips aren’t needed for all guns to work.

Magazines have three main parts: the body, spring, and follower. The body holds the cartridges, the spring pushes them up, and the follower moves them towards the feeding mechanism. Together, they ensure ammo feeds reliably into the chamber, boosting the gun’s performance and ammo capacity.

Not All Guns Use Clips, But Most Have Magazines

Most modern guns use magazines for ammo, but not all need clips. Many popular rifles and handguns use detachable box magazines that can be loaded directly. These magazines are easy to remove and replace, making quick reloading possible in various situations.

But, some older guns like the M1 Garand rifle and certain bolt-action rifles use clips. The clip goes into the magazine, and rounds are loaded as the bolt is closed. After the clip is empty, it’s ejected, and the magazine is ready for the next round.

Types of Magazines

Detachable Box Magazines

Detachable box magazines are the most common in modern guns. They can be taken off the firearm for quick reloading. You’ll find them in semi-automatic pistols and rifles, like the AR-15. These magazines can hold from a few rounds to over 30, based on the gun and laws.

Internal Box Magazines

Internal box magazines are set inside the gun and can’t be taken out without taking the gun apart. They’re in older rifles, like the M1 Garand from World War II. The number of rounds they hold varies, from a few to over 10.

Tubular Magazines

Tubular magazines are fixed and found in lever-action rifles, pump-action shotguns, and some .22 caliber rifles. They’re tubes along the barrel, stacking rounds end-to-end. The number of rounds depends on the tube’s length and cartridge size. These magazines are reliable and popular with hunters and sport shooters.

Magazine TypeCharacteristicsCommon Firearms
Detachable BoxRemovable, various capacitiesSemi-automatic pistols and rifles
Internal BoxFixed, cannot be removedOlder rifle designs (e.g., M1 Garand)
TubularFixed, parallel to the barrelLever-action rifles, pump-action shotguns, .22 caliber rifles

Types of Clips

There are three main types of clips used in firearms: stripper clips, en bloc clips, and moon clips. Each type has its own purpose and fits different guns.

Stripper clips are the most common. They load internal box magazines by holding ammo in a metal strip. This strip is then pushed into the magazine, loading the gun quickly. After loading, the clip is taken off, and the gun is ready to fire. These clips work with detachable box magazines too, but that’s less common.

En bloc clips work like stripper clips but are made for internal magazines. They stay inside the gun after loading. When the last round is fired, the empty en bloc clip is ejected, making a “ping” sound. This clip type was used in the M1 Garand rifle during World War II.

Revolvers use moon clips, which come in full and half-moon types. Full moon clips hold six rounds, and half-moon clips hold three. These circular devices have spaces for bullets. The rounds are loaded into the revolver’s cylinder all at once, making reloading quick. Like en bloc clips, moon clips also stay in the gun while in use.

Clip TypeCompatibilityLoading MethodRemains in Gun
Stripper ClipInternal and detachable box magazinesInserted into magazine, rounds pushed downNo
En Bloc ClipInternal magazinesInserted into magazine, rounds loaded at onceYes
Moon Clip (Full)RevolversRounds snapped into circular device, loaded into cylinderYes
Moon Clip (Half)RevolversRounds snapped into semi-circular device, loaded into cylinderYes

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