Plastic magazines for use with firearms

Abstract

Plastic magazines for use with firearms are described. An example plastic magazine for use with firearms includes a plurality of sidewalls along which cartridges are to be moved during a reloading of a firearm. Each of the plurality of sidewalls comprises a plastic material. Additionally, the example plastic magazine includes a metal coating adjacent a first surface of a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, wherein the interior surface of the first sidewall is in a direction of fire.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This patent is a continuation of International Patent Application Serial No.-PCT / EP2007 / 002020, filed Mar. 8, 2007, which claims priority to German Patent Application 10 2006 011 278.4, filed on Mar. 10, 2006, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE[0002]This patent relates generally to plastic magazines and, more specifically, to plastic magazines for use with firearms.BACKGROUND[0003]Different styles and types of magazines are used with various types of firearms. Typically, all magazines include sidewalls that guide the cartridges as well as prevent the cartridges from falling out of the magazine. Some magazines such as box magazines and drum magazines have been made of plastic. However, other types of magazines, such as pan magazines that may be used in connection with Lewis machine guns, may also be made of plastic.[0004]In recent years, plastic magazines have become popular for use with semia...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, as a result of an impact, sheet metal magazines have a tendency to dent, which may not be readily detectable to marksmen and, thus, the marksmen may not identify this defect.

Alternatively, plastic magazines may break from an impact, which makes the defect readily apparent to the marksmen.

Some difficulties were encountered when plastic magazines were initially experimented on for use with, for example, the 1947 Kalashnikov rifle, because sand or other derby would enter and jam the feed mechanism and the cartridges within the magazine.

However, sheet metal magazines have straight sides because curved sheet metal magazines are significantly more expensive to produce and may pose issues associated with production defects.

The size difference between plastic magazines and sheet metal magazines leads to incompatibilities between plastic magazines and rifles manufactured solely for use with sheet metal magazines.

As with all firearms manufactured during this era, the G3 rifle was manufactured for use with sheet metal magazines, as plastic magazines were not a feasible production option at the time.

While known plastic magazines may be configured to hold smaller rounds, which would enable the size of known plastic magazines to be compatible with a G3 rifle, it is extremely unlikely that an army affiliated with NATO supplies would agree to use cartridges that are, for example, a half millimeter shorter than a NATO round (e.g., not a NATO round).

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