This article discusses firearm clips. For other uses of clip see clip (disambiguation)

A clip is a device that is used to store multiple rounds of ammunition together as a unit, ready for loading directly 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.

Common Misconceptions

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The term clip is commonly used to describe a firearm magazine, or more accurately, a specific type of magazine known as a detachable box magazine. This is an incorrect usage of the term. In actuality, clips and magazines perform two different functions. It may be said that clips are used to load magazines, and magazines are used to load firearms.

Types of Clips

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Stripper Clip

The stripper clip (also known as a charger) is a piece of stamped metal or molded plastic that is designed to hold several cartridges together by their case rims, usually in a column or stack configuration. They were developed by Mauser in 1889 for the purpose of expediting the process of loading military rifles. In this case, the firearm's bolt is opened and a loaded clip is placed in a slot located either on the firearm's receiver or directly on the bolt. The cartridges are then pressed down into the magazine, stripping them from the clip and so loading the magazine. The clip is then discarded.

At a later point in time, methods were devised to use stripper clips for the loading of detachable box magazines. This method generally requires the use of a disposable guide which connects the clip to the magazine. Both the clip and guide must be discarded before the magazine can be attached to the firearm.

En Bloc Clip

Several rifle designs have relied on an en bloc clip to load the firearm. In this method, the cartridges and clip are inserted as a unit into a fixed magazine within the rifle, and the clip is usually ejected by the rifle upon firing or chambering the last round. The first rifle to use an en bloc design was the M1895 Steyr-Mannlicher. Other en bloc-fed rifles include the M1891 Paraviccini-Carcano and the U.S. M1 Garand.

The major shortcoming of the en bloc design that prevented further adoption is that it is typically difficult, or in some cases impossible, to "top off" or refill a partially-loaded magazine without first cycling all unfired rounds through the action.

Moon Clip

A moon clip is a type of clip designed for use with revolvers. It is a ring-shaped piece of metal which holds a full cylinder of ammunition (generally 6 rounds) together as a unit. Therefore, instead of loading or extracting one round at a time, a full cylinder of ammunition can be loaded at once. Similarly, a half-moon clip is designed to hold a half cylinder of ammunition (generally 3 rounds). Two such clips are required to fully load the cylinder. Recently, plastic versions have been developed because one made of sheet metal can permanently deform if bent.

The difference between a moon clip and a speedloader is that the cylinder may be closed with the moon clip attached, whereas the speedloader must be removed before the cylinder can be closed.

Moon clips were devised during World War I to allow ammunition designed for semi-automatic pistols to be used in revolvers, simplifying logistics. Revolvers are designed to use rimmed cartridges. As such, their extractors are incapable of removing the rimless cartridges that semi-automatic pistols use. Moon clips are made from spring grade steel, and hold the cartridges firmly enough that a special tool is generally used to insert and remove them. The clips remain in place during firing, and after firing, are used to extract the cartridges.

Moon clips, in particular, may be even faster to use than a speedloader. Jerry Miculek, a top IPSC revolver shooter, has demonstrated the ability to fire six shots from a .45 ACP revolver, reload, and fire six more shots to the 6x11-inch A zone of an IPSC target at fifteen feet in under three seconds, including reaction time to the start signal. This feat was possible by using moon clips to allow quick and reliable ejection of the fired rounds, and a quick reload of all six chambers at once.

Links

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• Clips are not Magazines!
• Stripper Clips

Firearm components | Ładownik