One is a clip and one is a magazine. Yes, they are different, non-interchangeable terms. Although, do a quick search of recent news covering the gun control debate and you’ll see how often the term “clip” specifically is used incorrectly. Like here, here and here just to point out a few instances.
TheBlaze spoke with Brandon Webb, the president of SOFREP media and a former Navy SEAL, about the difference between these two firearm components and why it’s important to be clear with your terminology.
“It’s common for people to get the two mixed up,” Webb said. “If you hear someone talking about clips … you know they don’t know the difference.
“No one uses clips anymore.”
A clip describes cartridges held together with a strip until they are loaded into a firearm.
A magazine on the other hand is is a container that holds the cartridges. Sometimes magazines themselves are loaded with cartridges by clips. On most firearms a magazine is detachable and replaceable.
by Liz Klimas