Magazine safety device

Abstract

Devices and methods for converting a magazine capable of holding live rounds to being capable of only holding blanks at the bottom of the magazine. A magazine safety device includes a spacer and a follower in one embodiment. The spacer can be sized and shaped so as to be placed generally between the front and rear walls of a magazine, with a portion of the spacer being disposed adjacent to a round loading opening of the magazine. Embodiments of the magazine safety device can allow a user to quickly and efficiently inspect the magazine to confirm the magazine is not loaded with live rounds. In one embodiment, the magazine safety device includes a highly visible spacer that can allow a user to confirm the magazine is loaded with blanks. Additionally, embodiments of the magazine safety device can prevent the magazine from being loaded with a plurality of live rounds.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The invention relates generally to training safety devices and methods, and, more particularly, to weapons safety devices for use during blank fire operations.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Police and military forces conduct drills, simulated combat, and training exercises using blank ammunition instead of real, or live, ammunition. Extra precaution is required to ensure that firearm magazines are only loaded with blank cartridges during these exercises. Blank fire operations are nonetheless inherently dangerous, however, because a live cartridge, or round, may be mistakenly inserted into a firearm magazine or inadvertently left in a magazine, creating the possibility that a user will discharge the live round and injure or kill another participant. For example, in order to simulate combat against the enemy, blank-fire training often calls for a participant to “fire” a blank-loaded weapon at other participants in the traini...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]One embodiment is a kit for converting a magazine capable of holding live rounds to being capable of only holding blanks at a bottom of the magazine. The blanks have a length less than a length of the live rounds. The magazine includes an upper portion, a lower portion, a front wall, and a rear wall, the front and rear walls defining at least part of an opening in the upper portion and into the magazine. The front and rear walls are spaced apart along an axis by a predetermined length that is greater than the leng

Problems solved by technology

Blank fire operations are nonetheless inherently dangerous, however, because a live cartridge, or round, may be mistakenly inserted into a firearm magazine or inadvertently left in a magazine, creating the possibility that a user will discharge the live round and injure or kill another participant.

When a live round is accidentally introduced into the weapon and fired at a participant, serious injury and death may result.

Further, the shape of many types of magazines can hinder inspection of the magazine to determine if a live round has been inadvertently introduced into the magazine.

Thus, preventing a live round from accidentally being discharged during blank fire exercises and facilitating inspection of blank-loaded magazines during such operations remains a significant challenge in military and law enforcement operations.

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