Magazine (firearms)

A magazine is an ammunition storage and feeding device for a repeating firearm, either integral with the gun (internal or fixed external) or detachable. The magazine functions by holding several cartridges within itself and sequentially pushing each one into a position where it may be readily loaded into the barrelchamber by the firearm's moving action. The detachable magazine is sometimes colloquially referred to as a "clip," although this is technically inaccurate since a clip is actually an accessory device used to help load ammunition into the magazine or cylinder of a firearm.

Magazines come in many different shapes and sizes from integral tubular magazines on lever-action and pump-action rifles and shotguns that may hold more than 5 rounds to detachable box magazines and drum magazines for automatic rifles and light machine guns that may hold more than 50 rounds. Various jurisdictions ban magazines over a certain capacity, often 5 or more rounds.