"Clip" vs. Magazine CLARITY....

[CountGlockula]

O.K. I apologize for beating a dead horse. Quoting my firearms instructor: "Magazines are for guns and CLIPS are for the hair."

I was watching either Foxnews or MSN last night and Ted "The 'Nuge" Nugent was on and gave an applaudable response to the VT massacre...then comes Brady Campaign president Paul Helmke gave his speil (sp?). Helmke being the "president", kept saying the killer, and note giving emphisis to the host, used "CLIPS"!!!! Another way to keep the public ignorant by misinterpreting, misdefining and supporting misinformation.

I just want to make sure that we, as intelligent and responsible gun owners, know the difference and need to teach others the truth. As I explained it to my wife, eyes were opened.

Definition of Clips:

A clip is a device that is used to store multiple rounds of ammunition together as a unit, ready for insertion into the magazine of a repeating firearm. This speeds up the process of loading the firearm as several rounds can be loaded at once, rather than one round being loaded at a time. Several different types of clips exist, most of which are made of inexpensive metal stampings that are designed to be disposable, though they are often re-used.

Definition of Magazines:

A magazine (also called a mag or, commonly but incorrectly, especially when removable, a clip) is an ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a firearm. Magazines may be integral to the firearm (fixed) or removable (detachable).

I made a nice picture too:


Thank you, rant over.

[davera]

R Lee said it best with "the clip loads the magazine and the magazine loads the gun".

[bogie]

It doesn't matter.

EXCEPT...

You're talking to a non-gunny person, who has a possibility of conversion. He asks a question about pistols and clips.

Rather than get bent outta shape, just answer the damn question. Because YOU KNOW what he means. HE KNOWS what he means. And you don't come across as a pedantic know-it-all and alienate the fellow.

[steveracer]

Why should I take a different position when they misspeak about firearms. We know the difference, and they should, too.
I have been in the Navy a little more than ten years, and every time a Sailor calls a ship a "boat" I correctly tell them they are mistaken and explain the difference.
When they call a surface combatant a "small boy", it's time to really give them Hell!
Non-gun types deserve the education we all got, and we need to remeber that, to them, we are mostly all nuts. Coming across as ignorant or contradictory isn't going to help our case. I hear someone refer to a magazine as a "clip" and it's like nails on a chalkboard. If we don't correct them, we are in effect encouraging their ignorance.
"I seen one the other day" is just as bad. My stance is the same.
Call me a Nazi, but they will become better educated if we help them. We cannot help them if we won't all get on board.

[JesseL]

Oleg did this one a while ago:

[Joe Demko]

Yeah, nothing helps bring people over to our side of the fence like correcting them on a (to them) arcane bit of terminology rather than answering their real concerns about the place of guns in modern society.

[Popov]

Nevermind, I can't figure this attachment thing out.

[Mikee Loxxer]

The bullet comes out of the muzzle the cartridge goes into the breech.
As you are mindful of your apparel you should be careful with your speech.-Paraphrased from Jeff Cooper.

[Biker]

Bogie and Joe share my views.

Biker

[bogie]

And for beginners...

The bullet goes in this end, and then comes out this end - do not point this end at anything other than that hill over there.

KEEP THINGS SIMPLE... And FUN!

[SSTHitman]

My thoughts exactly Joe...

[Jim Watson]

Mikee is of course correct, but I have heard all too many of the clip vs magazine geniuses refer to loading their ammunition feeding devices with bullets. Even shotgun bullets.

These people who think they know it all are a great aggravation to those of us who really do.

[Sean Dempsey]

Why can't "clip" become a lay colloquialism for a magazine, and the gun-nuts let it rest?

I assume you all actively blow your nose or use a tissue? Do you correct someone every time they say "kleenex" when it is not, in fact, a Kleenex brand of tissue.

A man sneezes, "ACHOO!! oh jeez, can you hand me a kleenex?"

Gun-nut01 drops and does a tactical roll, pointing his Glock Fotay (wich a clip full of bullets) at the man, "IT'S A GENERIC BRAND TISSUE, NOT A KLEENEX, WHICH IS ACTUALLY JUST THE BRAND NAME OF A POPULAR LINE OF TISSUES!!! NOW SAY IT RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1"

[JesseL]

Whenever I'm having a conversation with someone who is using incorrect terminology, I simply continue using the correct terminology. Usually they catch on or ask me about the different terms, allowing me an opportunity to educate them.

It's a struggle for me to not come across as arrogant and pedantic, because I truly am (just ask my wife). Incorrect word usage hurts my brain.

[Biker]

That got a belly laugh outa me, Sean!

Biker

[Hawk]

The magazine v. clip thing has been dissected sufficiently I would think. I give anyone and everyone a "pass" on the terms with the exception of those that would legislate against the things. Helmke doesn't get a pass, Marlin does.

Someone (certainly not me) should start a thread in the handgun section as to whether or not there is any such thing as a .45 long Colt, and whether Colt using the term makes it legitimate.

[ravencon]

A number of the giants of the gun world have referred to magazines as clips. Having just read a couple of his books, Col. Charles Askins comes to mind.

According to the pedantic gun experts someone like Col. Askins is ignorant when it comes to guns. Yeah, right.

[JesseL]

Why can't "clip" become a lay colloquialism for a magazine, and the gun-nuts let it rest?

I can't let it rest because they have very different meanings and they are important. What am I supposed to call a clip when everyone assumes I'm talking about a magazine?

Is it the end of the world when you ask for a Kleenex and someone hands you a Puffs facial tissue? No.

Is it the end of the world when you desperately need a clip and someone tosses you a magazine? For you, it could be.

Language becomes useless when nobody cares about using it correctly.

[steveracer]

"whether or not there is any such thing as a .45 long Colt"
No such animal. Major pet peeve of mine.
Steve

[Biker]

Well Hawk, my main carry gun is a Taurus 450 which just happens to hold 5 rounds of 45 LONG COLT!
Got a problem with that!!??

Biker

[kellyj00]

it's a video game thing. a lot of shooter games call them 'clips' instead of magazines... maybe because it's four letters or maybe because computer programmers aren't too keen on the verbage.

In an interview with one of the VT students, he kept saying "clips" ... "he looked like he knew what he was doing, he was very fast when he put in new clips"

Unfortunately, too many guys have played a lot of video games and not done the real thing. A real tragedy, I think, that young American's think video games are so close to the real thing.

[Geronimo45]

In response to this thread, I've made sure to top off the clips for my 1911.

CLIPS! CLIPS! CLIPS! CLIPS! CLIPS!

All done now. Have a nice day.

[AndyC]

Jeez - what a complete non-issue

[Joe Demko]

I can't let it rest because they have very different meanings and they are important. What am I supposed to call a clip when everyone assumes I'm talking about a magazine?

Is it the end of the world when you ask for a Kleenex and someone hands you a Puffs facial tissue? No.

Is it the end of the world when you desperately need a clip and someone tosses you a magazine? For you, it could be.

Language becomes useless when nobody cares about using it correctly

I'm interested in exactly what circumstances you foresee this becoming an end of the world issue for you.

[RNB65]

Who cares...