Clip vs Mag : terminology review

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In that Thompson photo, they used "clip magazine" so I guess they wanted to be sure. My brother told me he thought clip meant a magazine that was detachable, and that magazine was one that could not be detached. I explained that this was incorrrect, but he still uses it anyway. It bugs me but I tried to help him and he refused. I guess if he wants to sound stupid, it's none of my business.

JDillinger, do you think we're all going to just say "Oh, yeah, this guy is right. We've been wrong all along!" What are you trying to accomplish here? You've made your point, what's the point of arguing?
 
words mean things

......it's CLIP has a spring.
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*sigh* "it's" = "it is"

Don't get me started on "their" vs. "they're" vs. "there".

Errors in communication result in misunderstandings between individuals. Misunderstandings seldom result in favorable outcomes. Should you not, therefore, endeavor to be as accurate as possible while communicating? Saying "you know what I mean", or accepting such an approach to communication, is an admission of laziness.

Rush says it best: "words mean things." If you want to be understood, make sure what you say, or write, expresses your intent.
 
J Dillinger, first of all the person who wrote that may have been mistaken about the terminology. Second of all they called it a "clip magazine" which is telling about their mixing of terms aqnd possible improper usage. And third, try and say "50 round drum clip", it just doesn't sound right.
 
Yes, and Colt sold "Revolving Pistols" and "Automatic Pistols" for many years before the pedants decided that "pistol" could refer only to a single - chambered handgun and that "automatic" could refer only to a fully automatic weapon, e.g. a machine gun.
 
Now we've done it! The Grammar Special Police are here!
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:D

Yeah......typing too quickly and I didn't 'edit' or proof-read my post.

I promise to do better. :rolleyes:

FWIW : Magazine - early definition : b. The contents of a storehouse, especially a stock of ammunition.

Not sure how far back that goes, definitely to Colonial days. Any place for storing ammo would be considered a 'magazine' by definition. Hence all 'clips' are magazines, so let me clarify that using the word magazine to describe a Thompson box clip is also correct.

English is a strange language and over the years the term 'clip' has been abandoned with the evolution of automatic machine guns, semi-autos, and other firearms. The modern accepted use for a semi-auto 'box clip' is in fact a magazine. My purpose for the thread is to learn but also point out that firearm terminology has been revised several times with the largest impact being from the Military.

As been pointed out, terms are very important on the battlefield. Please note I am a civilian so my terminology is not 'standardized'.

Do you think the legendary Dillinger himself would be bothered by me referring to a 30-round box clip for my Tommy ? - I think not.
 
1911 Tuner,
Personally, I use both terms in a technically correct sense, but gettin' my panties in a wad because somebody calls a magazine a clip isn't worth the time and elevated blood pressure, and it could well alienate a new shooter or even a potential new best friend. Same goes for saying that "The bullet'll go in the barrel but it won't go off." as opposed to the technically correct "The cartridge will chamber, but won't fire." He knows what he means, and I know what he means...so why waste time quibblin' over silly things?
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I believe the correct term is "women's undergarments" now. :p
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/#mea=103580
 
Yes, and Colt sold "Revolving Pistols" and "Automatic Pistols" for many years before the pedants decided that "pistol" could refer only to a single - chambered handgun and that "automatic" could refer only to a fully automatic weapon, e.g. a machine gun.
Click to expand...
I was once talking with a few LEOs and I mentioned that a semi auto pistol can also be called an automatic and it was often done so just fifty years ago. They said there is an important difference. I asked why and they explained it so that it all made sense:
When testifying in a court of law whenever a police officer calls a semi auto pistol an automatic, the defense lawyers jump on it and claim the officer was either confused about which gun was used in the crime because the one in evidence cannot fire with one function of the trigger, or they claim the officer had a lack of knowlege about the subject and try to discredit them.
Sometimes the exact meaning of the words means a lot.

(Note: this is the Maryland court system and may not be the same way in other states)
 
As been pointed out, terms are very important on the battlefield. Please note I am a civilian so my terminology is not 'standardized'.
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Seems to me that you are admitting you are using the term incorrectly, but it is not a big enough deal to you to care. Fine with me.
 
I have always had serious doubts (and no...I am NOT kidding) about the mental and social stability of people who feel it's necessary to correct others over such unimportant minutia.
 
I have always had serious doubts (and no...I am NOT kidding) about the mental and social stability of people who feel it's necessary to correct others over such unimportant minutia.
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I guess I'm unstable then.
As someone said once, "Anyone who loves knowledge wants to be told when he is wrong. It is stupid to hate being corrected."
I believe it was Solomon in Proverbs.
 
Yes, and Colt sold "Revolving Pistols" and "Automatic Pistols" for many years before the pedants decided that "pistol" could refer only to a single - chambered handgun and that "automatic" could refer only to a fully automatic weapon, e.g. a machine gun.
Click to expand...

Hmmm... shouldn't that be "machine rifle"?

:rolleyes:
 
The terminology is not interchangable.

Magazines are reusable spring loaded 'boxes' used to feed ammunition into the reciever. The may or may not be removable. (detachable and fixed) They are integral to the weapon when in use.

Clips are disposable metal devices used to hold/align rounds for loading ammunition into magazines. They 'may' be integral to the weapon when in use (as is the case of the M1 Garand rifle) and mechanically ejected when the last round is fired.

'Far as I can determine... 'clips' were first used by Mauser to load the C-96 'Broomhandle' magazine thru the top of the reciever. This magazine was also detachable. A very advanced concept in 1896.
 
Wheels Vs. Tires

Wheels vs. Tires


You want to sound like someone who got his firearm knowledge from watching "Die Hard", be my guest. Call me what you like, but if you start calling magazines "clips", I tend to downgrade my expectations from you.
 
I'll never understand why anyone would persist in being wrong when they know what's right, and being right doesn't even require any extra effort.

Understanding why anyone would argue in defense of being wrong is even further beyond me.

I guess some people just don't want to burden themselves with a vocabulary that's any larger than they feel is necessary. They'll have to forgive me for seeing this as the beginning of a regression back into communicating by grunts and gestures.
 
I could understand calling it a clip if the word for magazine was Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, but its just "magazine," or if you the same amount of syllables, "mag." Sorry guys/gals, I just wanted a reason to use "Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis":D

44 responses with no end in sight.:rolleyes:

In the words of the wise El Tejon, "only at THR."
OK, OK, OK, I dont know how wise, but El T nontheless :p
 
All I know is I load my bullets into the clip, put the clip of bullets in my automatic, pull the trigger and hear those bullets explode in the barrel. Magazines are what I read to become a more knowledgable gun expert.:rolleyes::scrutiny:
 
While it doesn't *bother* me to hear someone say "clip" instead of "magazine", my question is:

If you know "clip" is incorrect, why insist on using it when you really mean "magazine"?
 
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