Mags vs. Clips
Oct02
If there’s one word that can set off certain shooters like a spanked, angry monkey, it’s saying “clip” when you mean “magazine.” Not all shooters, by far, mind you, but certain ones I’ve met absolutely lose their shit over it. One started to go apeshit on me a few years back, until I pointed out that I was talking about actual clips for my SKS. There will probably be a comic about that at some point.
This… is so retarded. Forgive me for polluting your head with it. I searched “dubstep guns” and this is what I get.
ALSO: “bullets” when you mean “cartridges”. RAAAAAAR.
It amuses me when I’m watching something on TV and they’re supposed to be ‘operators’ but keep saying things like ‘changing clips’ (I’ve recently been watching Strike Back, for example). It amuses me because I know someone, somewhere, just had a conniption.
To me ‘magazine’ has another meaning, mag could mean other things (e.g. magnum), but ‘clips’ rolls off the tongue & everyone knows what you mean straight off the top of their head, even if it’s technically incorrect. Heck, for me it’s easier to connect the word ‘clips’ to ‘thing that holds bullets*’ than ‘magazine’ because people go on about it so much. *Again I know it’s wrong, but my brain just can’t change; it’s like learning another language.
I’d probably feel differently if I actually owned guns. And didn’t have some weird dyslexia that messed with my sense of nouns.
Here’s one for you: I know someone who seriously thought that all handguns were called glocks. Granted in New Zealand you need an endorsed firearms license to own a handgun, and you’ll only ever be allowed to use it at a range; so I’m not surprised people here don’t know what’s what.
I have a coworker who occasionally asks me what’s the difference between a Glock and a magnum.
OH HELLO THERE SIR. i feel my world’s just collided…facebook and comics and blogger and…
heh. a Thunder .380 was my first gun. it is my primary carry gun both in the home and when i’m in states other than my home state.
When I was working for the police department (as a civilian computer guy), I did a lot of work at the armory. In fact, got to fire a vintage Thompson .45 machine gun and use the projection TV training simulator. They had a policy that if anyone said ‘clip’ when referring to a magazine in an academy class, they had to bring donuts the next day.
So, back in my office, one day we were talking about shooting. Two of my co-workers, Bruce and Bob, who were both retired cops were in the discussion. Bruce said clips, Bob and I simultaneously shouted ‘Donuts!’ Bruce looked very confused, apparently they started that rule after he went through the academy, so we explained it to him. If I recall correctly, Bruce did bring donuts the next day.
Awww, you’re showing my gun! My hubby bought me the Bersa .380 Thunder as my first gun. It’s great if you’ve got small hands. Now if I could just find a holster that works for a 5’2″ woman with big boobs, I’d be set.
Sorry . . . using it for primarily for home defense. However, we’re also bikers and I’ll have it on me if I decide to take off alone for a ride into the wilds of KY. There be crazy folks out there.
It looks like a toy in the hands of my 6’5″ son. Ridiculous, actually, He liked firing it, though. I see firearms in his future (after he takes the CDW course and gets his license).
That video was utter balls. Thanks for the need for brain bleach. Loving the comic, though.
i know a guy in OK who could make you one to your specifications. his site is http://theholstersite.com and i can’t recommend his work enough.
Semantics…This is recent history (for me). For example, the manual that came with my Detonics says “clip” all through it. Let the freaking out begin.
You really need to put that “clip” use behind a trigger warning.
…
(That said, even despite the retardedness warning I still clicked on that video so I suppose warnings only go so far. I want those brain cells back…)
I’m a civil engineer, and I have both that reaction, and a similar one when someone says “cement” when they mean “concrete” or give a force in PSI.
Engineers tend to be very careful with terminology, at least when speaking or writing professionally. Because when we’re not, things fall down.
Y’know, it was a bit slow at work today so I actually got around to looking up what the difference was.
I feel like I’ve learned an entire new thing today… been a while since that’s happened.
I once had a situation much like this when I asked a guy that I had taught to shoot to “hand me that bandolier of clips.” Much mockery ensued.