--- title: "This is the difference between a magazine and a clip" description: "While people often confuse the terms, a clip and a magazine serve different purposes. Keep reading to learn the differences between the two." date: "2022-01-30" modified: "2022-11-22" authors: - name: "Shannon Corbeil" job_title: "Contributor, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/scorbeil/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-tactical/difference-between-a-magazine-and-a-clip/" categories: - "Tactical" - "Weapons" --- # This is the difference between a magazine and a clip ![]() Pop Quiz: Identify the clip/s in the image above. If you pointed to the bullet-holder-thingy on the left, congratulations! You know your weapons. Or you're gifted at taking stupid tests. Either way, you've got a bright future here in America. While people often confuse the terms, clips and magazines serve different purposes. [The simple way to think of it is this](): the magazine feeds the weapon whereas the clip feeds the magazine. A magazine is what you're used to seeing in films or loading into your weapon or snuggling with at night. ![pistol magazines]() *Don't google "gun jokes" — it's depressing af. (Image of 9mm magazine via wiki user Scoo)* The magazine stores ammunition and feeds it to the weapon. It commonly holds rounds under spring pressure for fast loading into the chamber. The name comes from the French word for storehouse or storage place, but [some guy in this forum]() says the word goes back to the time of Christ, and dammit, I believe him. (I don't. I'm not saying Mike is a liar, I'm just saying I need to see some proof.) Now, anyone who has loaded cartridges into a magazine can testify that it can be a bitch labor intensive. A clip, therefore, holds cartridges together for easy loading into the magazine. ![difference between a magazine and a clip]() *An M1 Garand en-bloc clip (left) compared to an SKS stripper clip (right).* If you want to dive a little deeper into it, this gent is all about them gunzzz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoSNHe413rY He's actually pretty forgiving about mixing up the lingo, but not me. I don't want you guys to run around looking like a bunch of idiots, so...you're welcome. Oh, and while we're on the subject. A cartridge goes into a gun (and contains the case, the projectile, the propellant, etc) and a bullet shoots out of it. ## Author Shannon Corbeil has worked for We Are The Mighty as a digital video producer, writer, and host, as well as a staff writer covering military history, trivia, and valor. Shannon is a fierce veteran advocate, covering the achievements of members of the military community and volunteering in multiple veteran non-profit organizations, including Pin-Ups for Vets and Warriors for Peace Theatre. Her undergraduate degree is in Humanities and Philosophy and her Masters is in Strategic Intelligence. A screenwriter and actor recently seen on SEAL TEAM and THE ROOKIE, Shannon writes about exciting projects in the entertainment industry. She is an alum of the Writers Guild Foundation Veterans Writing Project, a Finalist in the Disney TV Writing Fellowship, an inaugural fellow for the STARZ/VME #TakeTheLead Program, and has performed at the Geffen Playhouse and Kennedy Center as a writer, dancer, singer, and actor. As a U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer, Shannon supported the 25th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea, and conducted Cyber Threat Analysis at the National Security Agency. Her work has been seen in Business Insider, Task & Purpose, Military.com, and various other publications. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()