Ammunition magazine
View Patent ↗The present invention is an ammunition magazine, preferably made of a glass fiber reinforced polymer, utilizing a structurally enhancing ridge, angular guide rails and a follower made to interface with said guide rails to reduce wobble. The preferred embodiment also features a protective cover that distributes forces from the spring to more structurally sound areas of the magazine, thus reducing feed end splay, and may include an ammunition indication system comprised of at least one window and a noticeable marker on the follower spring. The follower and magazine casing are also designed to interface to prevent the follower from popping out of the feed end and the floor plate of the magazine utilizes a locking plate and sliding relationship between the floor plate, locking plate and magazine to secure the floor plate onto the magazine casing.
1. An ammunition magazine comprising:
a. A hollow casing having a mostly rectangular cross-section and first and second open ends, the casing further comprising a forward rib extending the length of the magazine along a front internal side, said rib further comprising a tab projecting inwardly therefrom, and two guide rails extending a length of the magazine, from the first open end to the second open end and the guide rails situated along side walls of the casing, the guide rails extending at least mostly to the first open end and each presenting an angular cross-section throughout;
b. A follower residing within the casing, said follower further comprising:
i. A follower platform with two opposite tines, a forward tine and a rearward tine, extending generally perpendicularly and distally therefrom, the rearward tine barely extending below the level of the platform while the forward tine is significantly longer and the platform further comprising a detent situated to interface with the tab;
ii. Two side fins situated to interface with the casing's guide rails;
c. A floor plate capable of interfacing the magazine at the second end; and
d. A follower spring residing between the follower and floor plate;
wherein the tines and the two side fins limit rotation of the follower within the casing and the tab and detent interface in a manner to prevent the follower from exiting the casing through the first end.
2. The magazine of claim 1 , the magazine further comprising a rim about the second end and the floor plate being capable of a sliding relationship over said rim.
3. The magazine of claim 2 , the floor plate further comprising and interior locking plate with a tab and an exterior floor plate with a mating slot and a ledge capable of interfacing with the rim.
4. The magazine of claim 1 , further comprising a protective cover and interfacing geometry on the casing with which to secure the protective cover, the protective cover capable of forcing the follower downward and absorbing at least some pressure applied to the magazine by the spring.