What is a common term used for the mechanism that holds cartridges in place until fired?

The correct term for the mechanism that holds cartridges in place until they are fired is a magazine. A magazine is an essential component of many firearms, serving as a storage device for ammunition and facilitating the feeding of cartridges into the chamber of the firearm. It can take various forms, such as detachable boxes, integrated tubes, or fixed systems.

In semi-automatic and automatic firearms, the magazine allows for continuous fire as it supplies cartridges one at a time to the action, which then chambers and fires them. Understanding the role of a magazine is crucial for operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting firearms, as it directly affects the firearm's reliability and functionality.

The other components mentioned serve different purposes. The extractor is responsible for removing spent cartridges from the chamber after firing, the feeder relates to the process of moving cartridges from the magazine into the chamber but is not a common term like magazine, and the chamber is the part of the firearm that holds the cartridge when it is ready to be fired.