Magazines and clips are not the same when it comes to firearms as clips feed magazines which feed firearms, and magazines feed the firearm directly eliminating a step in the firing process. Although both hold and load ammo into the chamber, and both can be attached to the firearm, they serve different purposes and have different uses.
The term clip comes from the ammunition being fastened or “clipped” to the holder and loading to the firearm as needed, where a magazine loads based on the shooting action of the firearm. Clips can be used to load ammo into a magazine, but magazines cannot load ammo into a clip, and that is the main difference between the two.
Clips tend to load cartridges more accurately and in some cases faster than a magazine because they hold the ammo together in storage, while magazines feed the ammo in more of a real time situation. But even though magazines can be better in a live fire situation, clips may be able to change in and out faster giving you more shots which come in handy for security and self-defense situations.
The last main difference between a clip and a magazine is that clips are older technology and more common in revolvers and single-shot firearms. Magazines are newer technology and can be used with modern firearms. And with the differences there are similarities.
For example both magazines and clips have three types. Magazines come in internal meaning they’re attached to the firearm and are an older technology, detachable which are able to be removed and replaced, and tubular which is similar to the internal but used for more modern firearms.
Clips come in half-moon or circular which describes the shape of the storage chamber, stripper clips which reference the side strip where the ammo loads to the chamber, and en bloc which like internal magazines are nestled inside the gun. Both clips and magazines can also be stored the same way in your gun safe.
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