Box magazine for a firearm

Rod magazine for a firearm, having a channel for holding cartridges in a stack, and having a feed for feeding the stack to a channel end which is clasped by magazine lips, which hold the top cartridge in the stack back in the channel direction, but allow its movement approximately transversely with respect to the channel direction beyond the rod magazine, with the channel being equipped with guide strips, which run in the channel direction, for the shoulders of the cartridges, and with the guide strips projecting beyond the channel end and into the movement path, which is located in front of the magazine lips, of the top cartridge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rod magazine for a firearm, having a channel for holding cartridges in a stack and having a feed for feeding the stack to a channel end which is overlapped by magazine lips which hold the top cartridge in the stack back in the channel direction, but allow it to move approximately transversely with respect to the channel direction beyond the rod magazine, with the channel being equipped with guide strips, which run in the channel direction, for the shoulders of the cartridges.

FIGS. 1 to 3show a rod magazine1such as this according to the prior art in the form of a perspective view (FIG. 1) and in two different operating positions, in the form of a section, in conjunction with a repeating rifle2, a detail of which is illustrated (FIGS. 2,3) . The rod magazine1has a channel3for holding cartridges4,4′ in a stack. Side guide strips5in the channel3act as a stop for the shoulders of the cartridges4,4′ and as sliding aids during their movement upwards. A feeder6which is loaded by a magazine spring (not shown) feeds the stack to the channel end7.

In its rearward part, the channel end7is overlapped by magazine lips8which hold the respective top cartridge4in the stack back in the channel direction (at the top in the illustrated example), but at the same time allows movement of the cartridge4approximately transversely with respect to the channel direction (to the left in the illustrated example) beyond the rod magazine, in order to load the rifle2. For this purpose, an attachment9on the breech10engages between the magazine lips8and acts on the bottom of the cartridge4in order to insert it into the firing chamber11of the barrel12, by a forward movement of the breech10.

AsFIGS. 2 and 3show, the head or the neck of the cartridge4during this process runs on guide edges13,14of the firing chamber11, which can lead to slight deformation and asymmetry of the cartridge, adversely affecting the firing accuracy.

It has therefore already been proposed to use rod magazines which are matched to the respective weapon and to the respectively used cartridge caliber, in order to minimize the risk of deformation of cartridges during loading. However, the known designs are always restricted to the specific weapon/magazine/caliber combinations.

The object of the invention is to overcome the described disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a rod magazine for a firearm, which allows cartridges to be fed better, including cartridges of different caliber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing object is achieved by a rod magazine of the type mentioned in the introduction which, according to the invention, is characterized in that the guide strips project beyond the channel end and into the movement path, in front of the magazine lips, of the top cartridge.

This results in the guide strips of the magazine channel being used at the same time for feeding the cartridges to the firing chamber. The cartridges slide onto the projecting ends of the guide strips and are aligned obliquely upwards and with respect to the firing chamber in this way, without touching the edges of the firing chamber. This reliably avoids deformation of the cartridge during the loading process.

Furthermore, all that is necessary for use of cartridges of different caliber is to match the guide strips to the appropriate caliber. Rod magazines can therefore be manufactured for a wide range of calibers with one and the same magazine body and different guide strips. This simplifies the manufacturing logistics, allows larger batch sizes with parts such as the magazine channel, feed, magazine spring, magazine base, etc. remaining the same, and therefore achieves a significant cost reduction for the manufacture of magazines for different calibers.

The guide strips are preferably manufactured from metal or plastic. In the former case, this provides good wear resistance, and in the latter case it reduces the risk of damage to the cartridges even further.

One preferred embodiment of the invention is distinguished in that the end surfaces of the guide strips are inclined, and they project to a continuously greater extent as seen in the direction of the movement path. This further reduces the friction of the cartridges while they are sliding.

It is particularly advantageous for it to be possible to anchor the guide strips as separate modules in the channel and for then preferably to be interchanged in a modular manner. This allows the manufacturing logistics to be simplified even further on the basis of the modular combination of guide strips with magazine bodies; modular interchangeability also allows the user to adapt the caliber of the magazine by replacement of the guide strips.

In this case, it is particularly advantageous for at least one of the guide strips to have an inscription base on its outside, which can be seen from the outside through an opening in the channel. This allows a caliber identification to be applied to the guide strips, which can be read from outside on the magazine thus preventing confusion between magazines with different guide strips for different calibers.

According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the guide strips are integrally connected to one another via a common web, thus simplifying the manufacture of the guide strips and their installation in the channel.

The guide strips, which are connected to one another via the web, are preferably in this case anchored by means of projections in openings or notches in the channel, thus allowing particularly simple and quick assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The rod magazine15illustrated inFIGS. 4 to 13essentially corresponds to the rod magazine1shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, with the exception of its guide strips16and the details which will be described in the following text, with the same reference symbols being used inFIGS. 4 to 13for the same parts as inFIGS. 1 to 3. References should therefore be made to the description of the corresponding parts of the rod magazine1for an explanation of these parts of the rod magazine15.

The guide strips16of the rod magazine15are extended beyond the channel end7, so that they project into the movement path, in front of the magazine lips8, of the top cartridge4. The end surfaces17of the guide strips16run at a slight angle, to be precise such that they project to a continuously greater extent as seen in the direction of the movement path the cartridge4. The end surfaces17therefore result in the top cartridge4sliding and being slightly tilted upwards during the loading process, as will now be explained in more detail with reference toFIGS. 10 to 12.

FIGS. 10 to 12show the movement of the cartridge4during the loading process. The cartridge4slides over the inclined end surfaces17of the guide strips16into the firing chamber11. The end surfaces17are for this purpose matched to the external contour of the cartridges4, as can be seen in particular inFIGS. 7 and 8. The cartridge4therefore remains free of the edges13,14of the firing chamber11while it is being inserted into the firing chamber11, as indicated at13′ and 14′.

The guide strips16are preferably manufactured from plastic and are attached in any desired manner to the inner walls of the channel3, for example by screwing, adhesive bonding, soldering or riveting, see the examples of blind rivets18inFIG. 4.

The guide strips16may either be anchored firmly in the channel3, or else may be anchored in the channel3such that they can be interchanged in a modular manner.

FIG. 13shows an alternative embodiment of the guide strips16, which differs from that shown inFIGS. 4 to 12in that the two guide strips16are integrally connected to one another via a common, preferably elastic, web18which is integral with the inner wall of the channel3. Furthermore, on its outside facing the channel, each guide strip16has an inscription base19which can be seen from the outside through appropriate openings20in the channel3. The identification of the cartridge caliber to which the guide strips16are matched can be applied to the inscription base19.

FIG. 13also shows the magazine spring6′ of the feed6as well as the base3′ of the channel3in detail.

As illustrated, the inscription bases19may form projections on the outside of the guide strips16so that, using the spring effect of the web18, they latch into the openings20during insertion of the guide strips16into the channel3, and therefore anchor the guide strips16in the channel3. Alternatively or additionally, further projections21can be provided for anchorage purposes on the guide strips16, and corresponding notches22can be provided in the channel3, and, for example—if the web18is not elastic and the inscription bases19do not project—also allow insertion of the guide strips16, which are connected via the web18into the channel3from underneath before the base3′ is fitted.

The invention is not restricted to the described embodiments, but covers all variants and modifications which are within the scope of the attached claims.