US3710497A

US3710497A - Magazine loading guide

Info

Publication number: US3710497A
Application number: US00152072A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Musgrave
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-06-11
Filing date: 1971-06-11
Publication date: 1973-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-16

Abstract

A loading guide is provided for attachment to the casing of a cartridge magazine so that a clip of cartridges can be correctly positioned for stripping into the mount of said magazine. In order that the guide may be useable with different models of magazines, which might differ in shape or dimensions, different means for attaching the guide to a magazine are provided at each end of the guide.

Description

United States Patent 1 Musgrave 54'] MAGAZINE LOADING GUIDE [76] lnventor: Daniel D. Musgrave, 8201 Caraway Street, Cabin John, Md. 20731 [22] Filed: June 11, 1971 [21] App1.No.: 152,072

[52] US. Cl ..42/87 [51] Int. Cl ..F42b 39/06 [58] Field of Search ..42/87, 50

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,462,836 3/1949 Barker et a1... ..42/87 3,191,332 6/1965 Ardolino ..42/50 [11] 3,710,497 [451 Jan. 16, 1973 3,222,810 12/1965 Musgrave I, ..42/50 2,856,720 10/1958 Kuntz ..42/87 Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant ExaminerC. T. Jordan 57 ABSTRACT A loading guide is provided for attachment to the casing of a cartridge magazine so that a clip ofcartridges can be correctly positioned for stripping into the mount of said magazine. In order that the guide may be useable with different models of magazines, which might differ in shape or dimensions, different means for attaching the guide to a magazine are provided at each end of the guide.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures MAGAZINE LOADING GUIDE The detachable box magazine has become the dominant type for military rifles throughout the world. The term box magazine is a broad one, for it includes several geometric variations, such as curved box magazines. The variation is in details, rather than in the general principle of operation. The dominant type today holds the cartridges in two staggered rows, and the cartridges advance to the feed position, under spring pressure, as a group. Feeding takes place alternately from the left and the right feed lip of the magazine. The space between the lips is greater than the maximum diameter of a cartridge, thus allowing convenient filling of the magazine.

It is the common practice to issue cartridges on stripper clips, holding some convenient number such as five or ten. The cartridges are easily stripped from the clips, but some means must be provided to position the clip in a correct location relative to the space between the lips of the magazine. It is the common practice to issue with the stripper clips of cartridges a simple mechanical guide which attaches to the magazine and supports the clip during filling of the magazine. The described practice has developed over a long period of time, and is efficient and convenient.

In a few rifles using detachable box magazines a clip guide is built into the rifle, to permit refilling the magazine without detaching it. With such a rifle, the detachable box magazine can be filled with cartridges either while attached to, or detached from, the rifle. But the common practice in military forces today is to fill the magazines while detached from the rifle. The present invention relates to the filling of magazines while detached from the firearm. It is not intended to limit the invention to any particular class of firearm, and the discussion of rifles as examples should not be considered limiting.

Another common practice today is the use of interchangeable cartridges by several or even many nations. This simplifies supply, particularly among nations participating in joint military operations. Standardization of cartridges may be followed by standardization of stripper clips, but there has been a definite tendency toward a diversification of magazines. This is because the magazine is considered part of the rifle and its design will reflect the likes and dislikes of the designer. To use the standardized stripper clips of interchangeable cartridges with diverse magazines it becomes necessary to provide a diversity of loading guides. If a suitable guide is not available, the cartridges must first be removed from the stripper clip and then placed in the magazine by hand, one at a time. In some instances, magazines differ only slightly and a loading guide can be designed to fit two or more different magazines.

But it is usually not possible to make a simple guide to fit all the magazines in use for the same cartridge. This is the situation for example, with the 5.56 X 45 mm cartridge now used in the US. Rifle M16. Rifles firing this cartridge have appeared in Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. Their magazines differ from each other and from that of the Ml 6.

As a result of the aforementioned situation the advantages of the standardized stripper clips for refilling various magazines can only be fully utilized by supplying several different loading guides with every shipment of ammunition. Such an arrangement is obviously inefficient.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a magazine loading guide for stripper clips which will be useable with two or more different magazines.

Another object is to provide such a guide which will be simple and economical to fabricate.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent upon reference to the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows details of the top rear portions of a typical detachable box magazine. This is the portion to which a loading guide is usually affixed.

FIG. 2 shows details of the top rear portion of another typical detachable box magazine, differing slightly in shape and dimensions from the magazine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a magazine loading guide which is an embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4 shows the same magazine loading guide as FIG. 3 but it is affixed to a magazine and is supporting a stripper clip.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows a portion of a magazine casing 10, having feed lips 11 and 12 and a cartridge follower I13. Attached to and moveable with the follower are last round stops l4 and 15 which cooperate with a mechanism in the firearm (not shown) to indicate to the user that the magazine is empty. The casing has a rear rib 17 in which is formed notch 16 which cooperates with a latch on the firearm (not shown) to retain the magazine on the firearm. A groove 28 is formed in casing 10 as a means for affixing a loading guide as will be described later.

FIG. 2 shows a portion of a magazine casing 20, having

feed lips

21 and 22 and a cartridge follower 23.

Grooves

24 and 25 are formed in the sidewalls of the casing as means for affixing a loading guide as will be described later. Also in one wall of the casing is formed a hole 26 which cooperates with a latch on the firearm (not shown) to retain the magazine on the firearm. A rib 27 is formed on the rear of the casing.

The two magazines are illustrated only as examples of the state of the art. The selection of the examples is merely to indicate difi'erences in typical magazines. It is not intended to limit the invention to any particular magazine or magazines. Nor is it intended to be limited to any particular cartridge or clip. This invention will be useful with various combinations of magazines, clips, and cartridges.

FIG. 3 shows a magazine loading guide 30, having a first end portion 31 and a second dissimilar end portion 32. The first and shape of the details of each end portion will depend on the configuration of the particular magazine or magazines it is to be used with. Each end of the guide is provided with means for engaging a magazine. Associated with end portion 31 are

tounges

35 and 36 which can engage grooves on a magazine such as

grooves

24 and 25 on FIG. 2. Associated with end portion 32 are

tounges

40 and 41 which can engage grooves on a magazine.

Still referring to FIG. 3, the guide has stops 33 and 34 which limit the extent to which it can engage with a magazine, by contact with some portion of the magazine. A stiffening rib 37 is formed in the guide which also has

holes

42, 43, 44 and 45 which are used to allow changes in cross section of the guide. Approximately half way between ends 31 and 32 the guide has a FIG. 4 shows the method of using the guide 30 to fill v a magazine, the casing of which is indicated by numeral 10. End portion 32 has been engaged with the magazine and a stripper clip 50 has been inserted into 7 guide 30 at end portion 31 so as to engage

lips

38 and 39 which are not visible in FIG. 4. The clip is thus correctly positioned for stripping cartridges into the magazine. 7

It will readily be apparent that for some suitable magazine the guide could be installed so that end 31 would engage the magazine while the clip would be inserted into the guide at end portion 32. This permits a simple guide to be employed with two completely dissimilar magazines.

The embodiment of this invention shown in the drawings is merely for illustration. To adapt the principle to various lips and magazines changes may be made in details.

What I claim is:

1. A magazine loading guide comprising: first end means for attaching said guide to a magazine; second end means for attaching said guide to a magazine, said second means being disposed oppositely to said first means on said guide; and support means positionally adapted for retaining a cartridge clip in a loading position relative to a magazine when said guide is attached to said magazine.

2. The guide claimed in claim 1 further characterized by said first end means being dissimilar from said second end means.

3. The guide claimed in claim 1 further characterized by said first end means, said second end means, and said support means being integral.

4. The guide claimed in claim 1 further characterized by said support means being located substantially midway between said first and said second end means for attaching said guide to a magazine.