Magazine

From GunCounter

A storage device for ammunition on a firearm. There are several types:

1. Internal: The magazine is contained entirely within the body of the firearm. The user loads it either by placing single rounds into the magazine or by use of a clip of ammunition. Examples of firearms with fixed magazines are the K-98 Mauser and the M-1 Garand rifles.

2. Fixed: The magazine extends beyond the body of the firearm, but is not intended to be detached and replaced in a field situation. It is reloaded in the same manner as the internal magazine, either with individual rounds or by use of a clip of ammunition. An example is the SKS Carbine.

3. Tube: The magazine is cylindrical in shape, and ammunition is held “nose to tail”. Examples are the Winchester 94 lever action carbine and the Mossberg 500 shotgun.

4. Detachable. The magazine is designed for easy removal from the firearm and the weapon is reloaded by swapping out magazines. Magazines are re-loaded by either loading the rounds one at a time or with the use of a clip of ammunition. Examples are the M-16 rifle and the1911A1 Government .45 pistol.

This type of magazine is often incorrectly referred to as a “clip”. An easy way to remember the difference is that magazines feed ammo to the firearm, and clips feed ammo to the magazines. Also, magazines tend to fully enclose the ammunition, while clips simply hold the ammunition together in easy to manipulate groups, and do not fully enclose the ammunition.

(Note: Apparently in areas outside the US, particularly in the British Commonwealth, use of either term is considered correct).