What's the difference between a magazine and a clip? I used to think they were the same thing, until I read some poasts that claim they are different. What am I missing here?

Ok, a magazine is like what you see put in most firearms today: pistol mags, automatic weapon mags, etc. A CLIP (from what I gather) is not as common any more. A clip cannot be just dropped. Where you might recognize a clip is like in the old Garand's of WWII. You hear the last shot and that metalic , where the clip is automatically ejected from the gun. You cannot just take out the clip to reload, you must go through the whole clip before you can reload (however if I'm incorrect, someone please let me know)

magazine

clip

http://www.angelfire.com/art/enchanter/clip.html. Enough said.

I see, thank you for making this clear for me.

Stripper Clips are what they are called, I got an SKS, and you can load it from the top, with a stripper clip. I love the SKS, freakin thing is a cannon. Shell extracts like 10 ft in the air, that gives off your position, and plus you cant hit anything with the iron sights, ^%$&^

A 'clip' does just that - Clips a series of rounds together. A magazine is where rounds are stored in the weapon. Technically, the hole in the receiver of the Garand can be referred to as the 'magazine', but since it is a non-detatchable magazine it's not called that. A magazine may be fed by a clip, be it a stripper clip (M16, SKS, KAR98, etc) ot an En-Block clip (such as the M1 Garand). No airsoft gun has a clip however, the 'clip' would be the loading rod, autoloader, what have you. Magazine is the proper term for the detatchable ammunition storage device of the weapon.

A magazine is a device which fully encases the ammunition, it is then fed directly from the magazine into the chamber. A magazine utilizes a spring and a follower.

Magazine
(Ignore the text, I made that image for a report on gun control)

A clip refers a a device, usually disposable, which is used to hold ammunition to either be loaded into the weapon or to load magazines.

Clips that I know of...

En Bloc Clip: This is used to load M1 Garands. It holds 8 rounds of 30-06.

En Bloc Clip

Stripper Clip: This is used to load various rifles, the cartridges are stripped off the clip into the weapon.

Moon Clip: Used to load autocartridges into revolvers... SUch as .45ACP in a .45LC revolver.

No offense, but is this really a issue? Come On!!

For some, it is an issue. I for one am now glad I know the difference. This explanation also clears up a few other misconceptions I had. I'm not sure about anyone else, but I'm smarter for it. (Although I always called a magazine a magazine refereing to airsoft.)

A - It's annoying to people who know the difference

B - You seem smarter if you know the difference

C - I'll be your friend if you know the difference. :)

From what I've heard. The term clip refers to the M-1 Garand and possibly stripper clips that other rifles from tht time used. A magazine is well a "box" holding all the rounds in a single or double line. Many misuse the term clip in place of mag/magazine. Remember this is what I've heard so don't cuss at me if im wrong. (FYI the M-16 dosen't use a stripper clip, at least not one directly to the gun like the Mauser K-98, Mosin-Nagant, ect just into the detached mag.

A clip is mandatory for the weapon to load ammunition and fire. Without it, the rounds will not chamber. Such as was used with the M-1, Kar98, Mousin-Negat, some AAA, some small artillery, etc etc. *stripper clips are completely different from regular clips, but they are included*

A magazine is really anything that holds ammo. The Parthenon was a magazine at one time, before they blew the ammo up for some odd reason. A weapon that uses a magazine does not need it to load ammo, it does it automatically.

You rarely see clip operated weapons in combat today.

If you still don't understand, as Sciencenerd most eloquently said:

http://www.angelfire.com/art/enchanter/clip.html enough said.

Welcome to the forums! Yes, that is correct. I don't know where you heard the M16 uses a clip, but it is wrong.

Thank you, thank you, I try. :laughing:

Don't the shell versions of the Kar98 (Marushin and Tanaka) use a clip, or do you have to load the carttridges by hand?

I believe it is both, you can put the clip in or if there is room, feed shells in through when the bolt is back.

Don't talk if you don't know what you're talking about.

Stripper clips are used to speed load M16 magazines in the case of an emergency, hence you do use clips in certain situations with M16s.

Just read my explaination...

No, the rounds WILL chamber. One can only chamber a single round at a time in the case of the M1Garand.

In the case of the mauser, one can load rounds into the chamber is necessary, but it's simply faster to use a clip.

Trust me, I've fired most of these guns before. I'm the real gun moderator for a reason.

I'm sorry. I thought I did, but I guess I don't know that much about real guns. I defer to you.

Oh man, I sounded like an a** right there. Haha, sorry, no offense meant, I just type like that I guess :-p

And I have fired them too.

Like I said, it is mandatory for the WEAPON to load and fire. YOU will be loading the rounds otherwise.
Technically, while the M1 round housing is a "clip", while it is in the gun, it was fed by the integral magazine. The magazine is too large without the clip inserted to properly load the loose rounds, and can cause problems. Trust me, I have spent more time working on M1s than anyone on this board has been in airsoft.
As for the Mauser, Mousin, etc etc. They use a stripper clip to load an integral magazine also. They can be hand loaded, and hand chambered, but once again, it is YOU that is doing it, not the rifle.
The whole reason of having clips and magazines is so that the RIFLE will load the rounds automatically, NOT YOU. If you do it, you defeat the entire purpose of the clip or magazine.

Edit: A couple of my marine buddies, who happen to own all those guns that I mentioned, and alot more, say I'm correct. So, ya. Don't have to believe me, but whatever.

None taken. I shouldn't post unless I'm sure of myself.

You're right, I had misread what you stated at first. I thought you were saying that they could not be handloaded whatsoever.

:)

Ya, I'll be more clear next time. I can see what you mean.