What is a Magazine on a Gun?
A magazine is the part of a firearm that stores ammunition and feeds it into the chamber using a spring and a follower. It's one of the most critical components on any gun — when you pull the trigger and cycle the action, the magazine presents the next cartridge for firing. Depending on the firearm, it's detachable (removable for reloading) or fixed (built into the gun).
Where the name comes from
The term has military roots — a "magazine" originally meant a place where ammunition and supplies were stored. As repeating firearms needed a portable ammunition container, the word carried over to the device that holds and feeds cartridges inside the gun itself.
Where magazines sit on different firearms
On pistols, the magazine is usually inserted into the grip. On rifles, it's generally located just in front of the trigger guard. Shotguns often use tubular or fixed magazines instead. Hunting rifles typically use detachable or fixed box magazines forward of the trigger guard.
Types of gun magazines
- Detachable box magazines — the most common type, holding cartridges in a straight or staggered line, removable for quick reloading. Both Marlin rimfire rifles and the Remington 783 use detachable box magazines.
- Detachable drum magazines — shaped like a drum, holding more rounds than a box magazine but heavier and bulkier.
- Detachable rotary magazines — rounds sit in a circular arrangement, as in the Ruger 10/22.
- Fixed (internal) magazines — built into the firearm, common on older rifles and some shotguns, often loaded one round at a time or with a stripper clip.
- Tubular magazines — found on lever-action rifles and pump shotguns, holding cartridges nose-to-tail in a tube beneath the barrel.
How a magazine works
- Loading: cartridges are pressed down against the magazine's spring, which compresses under the pressure, with each round resting on the follower.
- Spring and follower: together they push each cartridge upward as others are fired, keeping a round ready at the top.
- Feeding: the firearm's action draws the top cartridge from the magazine into the chamber, and the spring maintains the tension needed to keep the stack lined up without jamming.
What magazines are made of
- Steel — durable and reliable, common in factory-pattern rifle magazines, though heavier than other materials.
- Aluminum — lightweight and corrosion-resistant, often used where weight matters.
- Polymer — lightweight and dent-resistant, increasingly common for magazine bodies and followers.
Keeping a magazine reliable
Dust, dirt, and ammunition residue accumulate inside a magazine over time and can affect feeding. Periodic cleaning — wiping the follower and feed lips and checking spring tension — extends service life. See our Rifle & Magazine Care and Maintenance guide for a full routine.
Which magazine do you need?
- Marlin rimfire (.22LR, .22 WMR, .17 HMR): Marlin .22 Cal. Magazines collection
- Remington 783, any caliber: Remington 783 Magazines collection
- Not sure which model or caliber you have? Rifle Magazine Basics & Buying Guide
Frequently asked questions
What is a magazine on a gun?
A device that holds and feeds ammunition into a firearm's chamber using a spring and follower, so the gun can fire without loading each round by hand.
Why is it called a magazine on a gun?
The term comes from military language — a magazine was originally a place ammunition and supplies were stored. As firearms needed a portable ammunition container, the name carried over to the device inside the gun.
What's the difference between a detachable and a fixed magazine?
A detachable magazine can be removed from the firearm and reloaded separately, then reinserted. A fixed magazine is built into the firearm and typically loads one round at a time or with a stripper clip.
Do Marlin and Remington 783 rifles use detachable box magazines?
Yes — both use detachable box magazines, not clips or fixed internal magazines, on the models ARM builds replacement parts for.
How do I know which magazine fits my rifle?
Check the model number stamped on the barrel, then match it against the compatible models listed on the magazine's product page. Caliber and model both have to match — not just the general rifle family.
Every magazine we build is a factory-pattern, US-made replacement — not an imported copy — for Marlin rimfire and Remington 783 rifles.
Buying for a shop, a range, or more than one rifle? See our wholesale purchasing terms for volume pricing.
