Is it a clip or a magazine?
A magazine has a spring and feeds rounds into the gun. A clip has no spring and just holds rounds together, either to load a magazine fast or to go into the gun with the rounds, like the M1 Garand. Most of what people call clips are magazines.
Does leaving a magazine loaded wear out the spring?
Springs wear from being compressed and released, not from sitting compressed. A quality magazine can stay loaded for years. If it ever gets weak, a new spring is cheap.
Should I download my magazine by a round or two?
Some shooters do it with new AR15 magazines to make seating easier on a closed bolt. A good magazine should seat fully loaded. If one will not, fix or replace it.
Are aftermarket magazines any good?
Many are excellent, and some are junk. Stick with factory magazines or proven makers, and test every new magazine at the range before you trust it.
How many magazines should I own?
At least three for a carry or home defense pistol and five or more for a rifle. More if you train often or live where bans are being pushed.
What is an extended magazine?
Strictly, a magazine longer than the standard one for that gun. In politics, it has come to mean any magazine over 10 rounds. See Extended Magazines.
