Firearms 101: Clips and Magazines Firearms 101: Dictionary of Misused Terms
Firearms 101: Clips and Magazines A "clip" and a "magazine" are not the same. "Clips" and "magazines" do not serve the same purpose. A "clip" is a device used to load cartridges into a magazine.* A "magazine" is a device which feeds cartridges into a firearm. *Exceptions include "full moon" and "half moon" clips used by some revolvers.
	To the left is an image of an "en-bloc" clip. This particular type of en-bloc clip is used to load cartridges into the magazine of the M1 Garand .30 Caliber rifle. The clip pictured holds eight rounds (two stacks of four).
	Here we see an M1 Garand being loaded. The en-bloc clip, holding the cartridges, is inserted into the magazine. After the last round is fired, the en-bloc clip is ejected from the magazine. Note: The Garands' magazine cannot be loaded without the use of an en-bloc clip.
	Here we see what are commonly referred to as "stripper" clips. The clips in this image are (most often) used to load the SKS Carbine.
	The SKS "stripper" clip fits into a slot in the face of the SKS bolt carrier. The rounds are pushed downward into the magazine, stripping them from the clip (hence the term "stripper" clip). After the rounds have been inserted into the magazine, the clip is removed. The bolt carrier handle is then pulled fully to the rear and released, chambering a round. Note: The SKS magazine can also be loaded using individual rounds.
	The image to the left is of a 30-round detachable magazine for the AK-47  assault rifle. It can also be used in civilian (semi-automatic only) AK-47 look-alikes, such as the WASR-10. As you can see, it bears no resemblence to a clip. This magazine uses a spring loaded follower, to feed cartridges into the firearm.
	The device to the left (two views) is often referred to as a "magazine loader" or "clip guide". This particular device allows the AK-47s' detachable magazines to be loaded via SKS stripper clips. The "magazine loader" fits on/over the top of the magazine. The SKS stripper clip fits into the guide slot (the thin part which protrudes from the top of the magazine loader). The rounds are then pushed downward, loading the magazine.
	Here we see two images of stripper clips for the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE). The British refer to these clips as "chargers". Note:  The SMLE was issued with a single detachable 10-round box magazine. The magazine was to be removed for cleaning purposes only. Loading of the SMLE magazine can be done with individual rounds, and/or through the use of five-round "chargers", seen here. The SMLE "charger" is used in a manner very similar to the SKS stripper clip. With the bolt open, the SMLE "charger" is placed in a slot in the rifles' receiver. The rounds are then pushed downward, "charging" the magazine. After the rounds have been stripped from the "charger" (clip), it is removed.
	To the left are stripper clips (top) and a detachable magazine (bottom) for the M1 .30 Carbine. In the top image, the straight devices are the clips (front and back views). The flared device to the right is a clip guide. The function of the M1 Carbine clip guide is very similar to that of the AK-47 magazine loader. The wide end of the M1 Carbine clip guide slides onto the M1 Carbine magazine (mating with the grooves towards the back of the magazine). The .30 Carbine stripper clip, holding ten rounds, is inserted into the narrow end of the clip guide. The rounds are then pushed downward, into the magazine.

Firearms 101: Dictionary of Misused Terms The left, including both the media and gun-control advocates, use firearms terminology with reckless abandon, and almost always incorrectly. Whether this is done out of ignorance, willful deception, or simple stupidity, is irrelevant. Neither the media nor gun-control advocates can be trusted to tell the truth.   Armor Piercing Ammuntion Small-arms (e.g. handgun) armor-piercing ammunition consists of a cartridge in which the bullets' core is of a hard metal, such as steel or tungsten carbide (rather than lead). Armor-piercing ammuntion is not defined by whether or not a given cartridge can penetrate a certain class of body armor. FYI: Ballistic Resistance of Personal Body Armor NIJ-Standard 0101.04 (PDF) (B) The term "armor piercing ammunition" means - (i) a projectile or projectile core which may be used in a handgun and which is constructed entirely (excluding the presence of traces of other substances) from one or a combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper, or depleted uranium; or (ii) a full jacketed projectile larger than .22 caliber designed and intended for use in a handgun and whose jacket has a weight of more than 25 percent of the total weight of the projectile. - 18 USC Sec. 921(a)(17)(B)   Assault Rifle To be defined as an "assault rifle", a rifle must be chambered for an intermediate cartridge, and be capable of both semi-automatic and fully automatic fire, most often through the use of a selector switch (aka "selective fire"). Both the liberal media and gun-control advocates often incorrectly refer to semi-automatic only firearms (e.g. the SKS Carbine) as "assault rifles". They also wrongly refer to firearms chambered for handgun cartridges (e.g. Uzi 9mm) and full-power rifle cartridges (e.g. M1 Garand .30-06) as "assault rifles". Note:  The term "assault rifle" comes from the German Sturmgewehr.  Both the term, and its' defintion, are documented, historical fact. Assault Rifle Military firearm that is chambered for ammunition of reduced size or propellant charge and that has the capacity to switch between semiautomatic and fully automatic fire. - Encyclopedia Britannica   Assault Weapon "Assault Weapon" is a pejorative propaganda term, used by the media and gun-control advocates to demonize virtually any type of firearm they do not like. The term "assault weapon" is used indiscriminately, to describe (demonize) handguns, rifles, and shotguns. It is used to describe civilian semi-automatic-only firearms, as well as military selective-fire weapons. (Perhaps this is because the media and gun-control advocates don't understand the difference?) Note: The terms "assault rifle" and "assault weapon" are not interchangeable.   Fully Automatic When the trigger of a fully automatic firearm is pulled, the weapon will fire continuously, until the trigger is released, or the weapon runs out of ammunition. Note: The media usually refers to any and every fully-automatic firearm as a "machine gun". Assault rifles, while being capable of fully-automatic fire, are not "machine guns".   High Powered "High Powered" is a relative term, favored by the leftist media and gun-control advocates. This term serves no purpose, other than to demonize certain firearms. Note: The media & gun-control advocates often use the term "high powered" to describe both weapons and cartridges. Perhaps this is because they do not understand the difference between the two.   Intermediate Cartridge An "intermediate" rifle cartridge is a cartridge which is more powerful than handgun cartridges, yet less powerful than full-power rifle cartridges. Examples of intermediate (reduced size/power) cartridges include: • The 7.62x39 cartridge, chambered in such firearms as the (semi-automatic only) SKS Carbine, selective-fire AK-47, and civilian (semi-automatic only) AK-47 look-alikes. • The .223 Remington (5.56 Nato) cartridge, chambered in such rifles as the selective-fire M-16, as well as numerous civilian rifles. The table below compares the ballistics* of three cartridges: A 9mm (handgun) cartridge, a 7.62x39 (intermediate) rifle cartridge, and a .30-06 (full power) rifle cartridge. Cartridge: Bullet Weight: Muzzle Velocity: Energy @ 50 yds: 9mm 124 grains 1120 fps 291 ft-lbs. 7.62x39 123 grains 2300 fps 1278 ft-lbs. .30-06 180 grains 2700 fps 2742 ft-lbs As you can clearly see, when compared to the .30-06, the intermediate 7.62x39 cartridge could hardly be described as "high powered". Even at the relatively close range of 50 yards, the 7.62x39 cartridge has less than half the energy of the .30-06. *Data from Shoot! V 3.0 ballistics software.   Machine Gun A fully automatic weapon. Considerably larger and heavier than a rifle. Most machine guns are belt-fed. Examples include: • M60E3 7.62mm Machine Gun  Weight: 18.75 pounds • M240G Medium Machine Gun  Weight: 24.2 pounds • M2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun    Weight: 84 pounds   Revolver A revolver is a handgun, which utilizes a revolving cylinder to advance cartridges, so each cartridge is, in turn, aligned with the barrel for firing. While all revolvers are pistols, not all pistols are revolvers.   Semi-Automatic A semi-automatic firearm fires one round (bullet), and one round only, with each pull of the trigger. After the round is fired, the firearm automatically chambers another round (unless the weapon is empty).   Sub-machine gun A sub-machine gun is a weapon which is chambered for a handgun cartridge (e.g. 9mm, 45 ACP), and which is capable of fully-automatic fire. Since sub-machine guns are chambered for handgun cartridges, they are considered under-powered, in relation to standard machine guns (chambered for full-power cartridges, such as the 7.62x51 Nato). Hence the prefix "sub-", meaning "under". Sub-machine gun = under powered.

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