Bullet or Cartridge? Magazine or Clip? July GUNS Magazine Explains the Difference
OutdoorHub 05.08.13
The flurry of attention surrounding guns and their distinguishing features has ignited a firestorm of misinformation from politicians and news media. The July issue of GUNS Magazine aims to clear up the confusion with a column from expert gun writer Mike Venturino entitled, “Not Just Bullets: Ammunition and Ammunition Feeding Facts.”
In his Montana Musings column, Venturino explains and clarifies common misconceptions about bullets and clips. He also discusses the difference between a semi-automatic and fully-automatic firing gun.
“First off, you do not load bullets by themselves into a gun. Nor are bullets held in clips,” writes Venturino. “Firearms ammunition consists of cartridges of which bullets are merely one component. They are the projectiles that leaves the firearm.” He also points out that some vintage guns do use clips to load cartridges into the gun but they are not the same as magazines.
“Clips for holding ammunition do exist. They are specifically called ‘stripper clips’ or ‘charger clips.’ Such clips are not attached to the firearm. Magazines are from where ammunition is fed into a firearm’s chamber. There are integral box magazines such as in bolt-action rifles and tubular magazines such as attached under the barrels of lever-action rifles. Then there are detachable magazines used in all sorts of different firearms including the modern sporting rifle.”
Venturino points out that large-capacity magazines are not new and have actually been around for over 100 years.
“Tubular magazines under the barrels of Winchester rifles in the 1860s could hold up to 17 rounds. It’s the detachable types used with autoloading firearms that are scaring the unknowing.”
“Auto,” which is short for autoloader, does not indicate how a firearm functions except that it automatically chambers a fresh cartridge after a fired case is ejected.
“There are two separate divisions of autoloaders: semiautos and full-autos. A semi-auto fires one round with each press of the trigger. A full-auto fires as long as the trigger is held back or until its magazine is empty.”
Full-auto firearms are tightly restricted by the Federal Government (and also some state governments) and have been since 1934. Tightly restricted means each legally owned one is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and each purchaser undergoes a background check that takes months before each purchase is approved.
“We hope our readers and any other people interested in providing correct information and proper gun terminology will share this article,” said Roy Huntington, publisher of GUNS Magazine. “Readers are welcome and encouraged to print the article and post it at their gun club or any other gun-friendly establishment.”
The July 2013 issue of GUNS Magazine is on sale now at most newsstands. The column is available for free in its entirety at gunsmagazine.com/not-just-bullets/.
