Patent Publication Number: US-2021164745-A1

Title: Magazine structure and insert

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/397,546 (“the &#39;546 application”) filed Apr. 29, 2019, which is related to and claims priority benefit from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/663,627 (“the &#39;627 application”), filed on Apr. 27, 2018 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/742,044 (“the &#39;044 application”), filed on Oct. 5, 2018. The &#39;546 application, the &#39;627 application, and the &#39;044 application are each hereby incorporated in their entirety by this reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the invention relates to firearms, particularly methods and devices for magazines of a firearm. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Since the advent and standardization of self-contained metallic cartridge ammunition, firearms have included systems and devices for loading and/or storing ammunition. Many modern firearms (including handguns, rifles, carbines, shotguns, etc.) include a magazine for storing and/or feeding ammunition. Magazines may be integral/fixed to the firearm or may be detachable. Different magazine arrangements include tube, box, rotary, drum, casket, pan, helical, saddle-drum, or various other arrangements. 
     In some cases, particular firearm designs may be adapted to function with various calibers. For example, the popularity of AR-15 variant (civilian) or M16/M4 (military) firearms has inspired numerous variations for different calibers. Most typical AR-15 firearms are chambered for 5.56×45 mm NATO and/or 0.223 Remington. Many receivers and/or magazines may be modified to operate with 300 BLK (7.62×35 mm). However, conventional designs intended to use other calibers require a different receiver, modification to the receiver, and/or a different magazine. Accordingly, it may be desirable to retrofit a conventional magazine with an assembly such that a conventional magazine and a conventional receiver can be used with alternative caliber ammunition. 
     SUMMARY 
     The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention” and “the present invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings and each claim. 
     According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a magazine assembly for a firearm comprises: a floorplate; an insert that interfaces with the floorplate; a follower disposed adjacent to the insert, wherein the follower moves relative to the floorplate and the insert; and a spring disposed between the floorplate and the follower. 
     According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a method of retrofitting a conventional magazine with a magazine assembly comprises: removing a spring from inside of a main body of the conventional magazine; removing an old follower from the spring; attaching a new follower to the spring; inserting an insert into the main body of the conventional magazine; and inserting the spring with the new follower attached into the main body. 
     According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a firearm assembly comprises: an insert comprising a front strap, a leading member, a dowel member located at a lower end of the leading member, and a floorplate flexibly coupled to a lower end of the front strap, wherein the front strap and leading member extend between an upper end of the insert and a lower end of the insert; a follower configured to move vertically in relation to the insert; a rear strap removably attachable to the floorplate; and a spring disposed above the floorplate, wherein the front strap and rear strap are internally disposed in the spring and the follower is removably attached to an upper end of the spring. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a magazine assembly, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the magazine assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are perspective views of a follower of the magazine assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are perspective views of an insert of the magazine assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a magazine assembly, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the magazine assembly of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are perspective views of a follower of the magazine assembly of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of an insert of the magazine assembly of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8B  is a side view of the insert of  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 8C  is a perspective view of the insert of  FIG. 8A  with the leading member disengaged from the floorplate. 
         FIG. 8D  is a side view of the insert of  FIG. 8A  with the leading member disengaged from the floorplate. 
         FIG. 8E  is a bottom partial perspective view of a floorplate of the insert of  FIG. 8A . 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  are perspective views of a rear strap of the magazine assembly of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of a magazine assembly, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10B  is an exploded perspective view of the magazine assembly of  FIG. 10A . 
         FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of a firearm assembly that interfaces with a magazine assembly according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11B  is a perspective view of the firearm assembly of  FIG. 11A  without the upper receiver. 
         FIG. 11C  is a perspective view of the ejector of the firearm assembly of  FIG. 11A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described. 
     Although the illustrated embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-10B  focus on assemblies for box magazines for semi-automatic rifles/carbines, the features, concepts, and functions described herein are also applicable (with potential necessary alterations for particular applications) to magazines for other firearms including handguns, shotguns, or any other type of firearm. The magazine assembly  100 ,  200  described herein may be retrofitted into a conventional magazine to allow the magazine to be compatible with a different size, configuration, and/or caliber of ammunition (compared to the original intended design of the magazine). In some embodiments, as opposed to retrofitting an existing magazine, the magazine assembly  100 ,  200  may be the internal structure of a magazine such that the magazine assembly  100 ,  200  is integrally molded, formed, and/or machined into the magazine. The magazine assembly  100 ,  200  may function to make a magazine (either by retrofitting a conventional magazine or as part of a newly manufactured magazine) compatible with shorter/longer cartridges, smaller/larger diameter cartridges, and/or other changes in configuration of a cartridge. In some examples, the magazine assembly  100 ,  200  is compatible with conventional magazines and/or various commercially available magazines, such as a Standardization Agreement (STANAG) magazine, designed for 5.56×45 mm NATO ammunition or is part of a new magazine with a similar form factor such that the new magazine is compatible with firearms designed for such conventional magazines. The new magazine including the magazine assembly  100 ,  200  or a retrofitted conventional magazine including the magazine assembly  100 ,  200  ensure that the magazine is compatible with handgun caliber ammunition, such as 9×19 mm, .45 ACP, .40 S&amp;W, .380 ACP, .38 ACP, .38 Super, .22 Long Rifle, other handgun calibers, or any other reasonable caliber of ammunition. 
     According to certain embodiments of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , a magazine assembly  100  may interface with a receiver of a firearm. For example, the magazine assembly  100  may be inserted into a magazine well of a lower receiver of a firearm. The magazine assembly  100  may be a portable device capable of being inserted into and removed from a firearm (e.g., into a magazine well) or may be permanently attached. The magazine assembly  100  facilitates the loading of at least one round of ammunition into the firearm. The magazine assembly  100  may facilitate the loading of 10 rounds, 15 rounds, 30 rounds, or any other desired number of rounds. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the magazine assembly  100  is located within a main body  10  where a floorplate  12  is removably attached to the lower end of the main body  10 . The magazine assembly  100  may include a follower  101  located inside the main body  10 , an insert  102  located inside the main body  10 , and a spring (not shown) disposed inside the main body  10  extending between the floorplate  12  and the follower  101 . The main body  10  may include an upper opening  11  for the magazine and at least one feed lip  13  at an upper end. In some embodiments, the magazine assembly  100  may include an extension (not shown) attached to the lower end of the main body  10  with the floorplate  12  attached to the lower end of the extension. This extension allows the user to adjust the number of cartridges that will fit in the magazine assembly  100 . In some cases, the magazine assembly  100  includes the follower  101  and the insert  102 , which are retrofitted into a conventional magazine body. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the follower  101  may include a leading edge  101 . 1  and a trailing edge  101 . 2 . The follower  101  may be attached to a spring that extends between the follower  101  and the floorplate  12  such that the spring may be attached to the underside of the follower  101 . The follower may be capable of moving up and down inside the main body of the magazine assembly  100 . In some embodiments, the size and features of the follower  101  correspond with the size of the insert  102  and the type of ammunition chosen. In some embodiments, the follower  101  is configured to operate with handgun caliber cartridges and the insert  102  is configured to reduce the length (i.e., distance between the leading and trailing ends) of an open area inside the main body from a length appropriate for rifle caliber cartridges to a length appropriate for handgun caliber cartridges. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  (where the main body is shown transparent), the insert  102  extends a full height of the main body  10  (between the floorplate  12  and the opening  11 ) and a full width of the main body. The insert  102  does not extend a full length of the main body  10 . The insert  102  alters the length of the open area inside the main body  10  (i.e., the length between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the magazine), which allows a conventional magazine body to be used with the magazine assembly  100 . The insert  102  and follower  101  together approximately correspond to the length of the interior of the main body (i.e., the length between the leading edge and the trailing edge). The insert  102  and the follower  101  may be available in multiple sizes/configurations in order accommodate a wide variety of ammunition. The insert  102  may include a channel  103  at an upper end of the insert  102 . In some cases, the channel  103  extends above the main body  10 . The channel  103  guides the cartridge from the follower  101  toward the chamber as the cartridge moves forward. For example, in some embodiments, the bolt carrier group  304  of the firearm (see  FIGS. 11A and 11B ) pushes the cartridge forward from the follower into the channel  103 . In some cases, the channel  103  acts as a feed ramp (or a portion of a feed ramp) where the cartridge moves through the channel  103  from the trailing edge  103 . 2  toward the leading edge  103 . 1  of the channel  103 . The insert  102  may optionally include a small curved protrusion  104  (see  FIGS. 4A and 4B ) that extends from the bottom of the insert  102  and may press against the inside surface of the floorplate  12  to act as a spring to push the insert toward the top of the magazine assembly  100 . In some cases, the insert  102  is fixed in position when the floorplate  12  pushes against a lower surface of the insert  102 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the insert  102  may include an ejector  106  located at the upper end of the insert  102  along one side of the channel  103 . The ejector  106  may extend from an upper end of the insert  102 . For some firearms, an ejector is a component of the firearm (e.g., such as part of a receiver), not a component of a magazine or a magazine assembly. In some cases, the ejector  106  may be manufactured as an integral component of the insert  102  and/or, in some embodiments, may be molded as a polymer component. During operation of a firearm, after a projectile is fired from a cartridge, the empty shell is removed from the chamber by a spring loaded extractor  305  which is contained within the bolt carrier group  304  (see  FIGS. 11A and 11B ). In some embodiments, as the bolt carrier group  304  moves rearward, the extractor  305  pushes the shell until a portion of the shell contacts the ejector  106  (or ejector  306 , as described below) such that the shell is ejected out of the firearm. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 11A-11C , the ejector  321  may be a separate component. The ejector  321  may be attached to an upper receiver  302  of the firearm.  FIG. 11A  shows a firearm assembly  300  that includes the bolt carrier group  304 , the upper receiver  302 , and the ejector  321 . The ejector  321  may be arranged relative to the upper receiver  302  such that the arm  322  of the ejector  321  extends toward and is disposed within the ejection slot  306  of the bolt carrier group  304 . For example, the ejector  321  may be attached to the left-hand side of the upper receiver  302  and may be oriented so that the arm  322  extends upwards into the slot  306 . In some embodiments, the ejector  321  is disposed within the upper receiver  302  such that the arm  322  of the ejector  321  is positioned relative to the bolt carrier group  304  within the upper receiver  302  to eject the shell out of the firearm. The location of the ejector  321  relative to the upper receiver  302  may be adjusted based on the specific dimensions of the relevant components, the desired location for the start of the ejection sequence, or any other relevant factor. The ejector  321  may be attached to the receiver  302  using any suitable form of chemical or mechanical attachment including, but not limited to, nuts and bolts, screws, pins and rivets, a snap-fit connection, adhesive, welding, other mechanical fastener, and/or other chemical fasteners. The ejector  321  may be formed from any suitable material including carbon composite, plastic, thermoplastic, nylon, steel, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, other plastic or polymer materials, other metallic materials, other composite materials, etc. Forming the ejector  321  from a metallic material may increase the durability of the ejector  321  and/or enable smaller and/or narrower ejectors  321  to be used while maintaining the necessary strength for the proper functioning of the firearm. 
     As described above, in some cases, the magazine assembly  100  may be retrofitted into a conventional magazine. The magazine assembly  100  may be assembled by disengaging the floorplate  12  of a conventional magazine and removing the conventional follower and spring from the conventional magazine. The conventional follower is detached from the spring and the follower  101  is attached to the top end of the spring (or the follower  101  may be attached to a replacement spring). The insert  102  is inserted into the main body  10  so that the channel  103  extends above the main body  10 . The follower  101  is inserted into the main body and engages with the rear inner portion of the main body  10 . In some embodiments, the length between the leading edge  101 . 1  of the follower and the trailing edge  101 . 2  of the follower  101  approximately corresponds to the distance between the rear side of the insert  102  and the rear end of the opening  11 . The floorplate  12  is attached to the bottom end of the main body  10 . Once the conventional magazine has been retrofitted with the magazine assembly  100 , the magazine assembly  100  may be used in a similar manner as the conventional magazine. In some embodiments, an extension may be attached to the bottom end of the main body  10  and the floorplate  12  attached to the bottom end of the extension. 
     In some embodiments, a magazine assembly  200  may be located within a main body  10 . The main body  10  is not shown in  FIGS. 5-9B  to better illustrate the components of the magazine assembly  200 . According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the magazine assembly  200  may interface with a receiver of a firearm (not shown). The magazine assembly  200  may be a portable device capable of being inserted into and removed from a firearm (e.g., into a magazine well) or may be permanently attached. The magazine assembly  200  facilitates the loading of at least one round of ammunition into the firearm. The magazine assembly  200  may facilitate the loading of 10 rounds, 15 rounds, 20 rounds, 30 rounds, or any other desired number of rounds, as is discussed in further detail below. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the magazine assembly  200  comprises a follower  201 , an insert  202 , a floorplate  204  flexibly coupled to the lower end of the insert  202 , a spring  206  extending between the floorplate  204  and the follower  201 , and a rear strap  208 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the follower  201  may include a leading edge  201 . 1 , a trailing edge  201 . 2 , a spine  201 . 3  extending vertically from the trailing edge  201 . 2 , at least one notch  201 . 4  located along the spine  201 . 3 , and an opening  201 . 5 . The follower  201  may attach to an upper portion of the spring  206  that extends between the follower  201  and the floorplate  204  such that the spring  206  may be attached to the underside of the follower  201 . The follower  201  may be capable of moving vertically in relation to the insert  202 . The lower end of the spine  201 . 3  may contact the floorplate  204  as the follower  201  moves vertically toward the lower end of the insert to define a maximum capacity for the magazine assembly  200 . 
     In some embodiments, the size and features of the follower  201  correspond with the size of the insert  202  and the type or amount of ammunition chosen. For example, the follower  201  may include any number of notches  201 . 4  located along the spine  201 . 3 . The notches  201 . 4  permit the magazine assembly  200  to be used with a variety of number of rounds by cutting the spine  201 . 3  at the desired notch  201 . 4  or by removing the material of the spine  201 . 3  below the desired notch  201 . 4 . Cutting or removing the material of the spine  201 . 3  alters the lower end of the spine so that the maximum capacity of the magazine assembly  200  changes. For example, the follower  201  may be provided at a full length (as illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7B ) where the follower  201  is designed to allow 10 rounds to be inserted into the magazine. In some embodiments, the follower  201  can be cut at one of the notches  201 . 4  to allow for 15 rounds, 20 rounds, 30 rounds, or any other suitable number of rounds. For example, notch  201 . 4   a  may correspond to a 15 round configuration, notch  201 . 4   b  may correspond to a 20 round configuration, and notch  201 . 4   c  may correspond to a 30 round configuration. In some embodiments, the follower  201  is configured to operate with handgun caliber cartridges and the insert  202  is configured to reduce the length (i.e., distance between the leading and trailing ends) of an open area inside the main body  10  from a length appropriate for rifle caliber cartridges to a length appropriate for handgun caliber cartridges. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 8A-8D , the insert  202  may extend approximately a full height and a full width of the main body  10 . The insert  202  does not extend a full length (front to rear) of the main body  10 . The insert  202  alters the length of the open area inside the main body  10  (i.e., the length between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the main body  10 ). The insert  202  and follower  201  together approximately correspond to the length of the interior of the main body  10  (i.e., the length between the leading edge and the trailing edge). The insert  202  and the follower  201  may be available in multiple sizes/configurations in order accommodate a wide variety of ammunition. As shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8C , the insert  202  may include a channel  203  at an upper end of the insert  202 , a leading member  212 , a dowel member  212 . 2 , a front strap  214 , and a floorplate  204 . 
     In some cases, a portion of the channel  203  extends above the main body  10 . The channel  203  guides the cartridge from the follower  201  toward the chamber as the cartridge moves forward. For example, in some embodiments, the bolt of the firearm (not shown) pushes the cartridge forward from the follower  201  into the channel  203 . In some cases, the channel  203  acts as a feed ramp (or a portion of a feed ramp) where the cartridge moves through the channel  203  from the trailing edge  203 . 2  toward the leading edge  203 . 1  of the channel  203 . In some embodiments, the channel  203  includes a ramp that provides additional guidance as the cartridge moves toward the chamber. The ramp is a compound, organic curve and longer than a normal ramp to allow the cartridge to enter the chamber at a shallow angle. Because the magazine assembly  200  is designed to function within a body of a magazine designed for rifle caliber cartridges and the cartridges are stored behind the insert  202  closer to a rear side of the magazine, the angle of the channel  203  is more gradual (i.e., less steep) compared to conventional magazines. 
     In some embodiments, the insert  202  may include a leading member  212  that extends the height of the insert  202 . The leading member  212  may have a free end  212 . 1  that is movable with respect to the insert  202  and located at a lower end of the leading member  212 . The free end  212 . 1  may include a dowel member  212 . 2 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 8B and 8D . The dowel member  212 . 2  may engage a corresponding front receptacle  204 . 1  of the floorplate  204 . In some embodiments, the dowel member  212 . 2  removably engages the front receptacle  204 . 1 , while in other embodiments, these components are permanently attached to one another. The interface between the dowel member  212 . 2  and the front receptacle  204 . 1  may be designed as a snap-fit or may be designed merely to locate the dowel member  212 . 2  relative to the floorplate  204  (in the fore/aft direction). Additionally, the insert  202  may include a front strap  214  that extends the height of the insert  202  and is attached to the floorplate  204 . For example, the front strap  214  may be molded with a permanent attachment to the floorplate  204 . In some embodiments, the front strap  214  is flexibly coupled to the floorplate  204  at a lower end of the front strap  214 . In some cases, the insert  202  is fixed in position in the main body  10  when a baseplate (not shown) of the main body  10  pushes against the lower surface of the floorplate  204 . The front strap  214  may define a forward limit for the spring  206  such that the front strap  214  is located inside the front side of the spring  206  and, as the spring  206  compresses (e.g., when cartridges are loaded into the magazine), the spring  206  follows the contour of the front strap  214 . In some embodiments, the front strap  214  also prevents cartridges from moving too far forward (i.e., under the channel  203 ). 
     In some embodiments, the insert  202  may include a finger  211  and an ejector  210  both of which may extend from an upper end of the insert  202  and are disposed above the channel  203 . The finger  211  and the ejector  210  assist in holding the magazine assembly  200  in place when the magazine assembly  200  is inserted into a main body  10 . In some embodiments, to remove the magazine assembly  200  from the main body  10 , the finger  211  and the ejector  210  must be pressed together in order for them to move past the feed lips of the main body  10 . 
     For typical firearms, an ejector is a component of the firearm (e.g., such as part of a receiver or lower receiver), not a component of a magazine or a magazine assembly. In some cases, the ejector  210  may be manufactured as an integral component of the insert  202  and/or, in some embodiments, may be molded as a polymer component, though the ejector  210  may be made of any suitable material. By molding the ejector  210  out of a polymer, the ejector  210  may flex and adjust to different slots to allow for different bolt carriers to be used with the same magazine assembly  200 . During operation of a firearm, after a projectile is fired from a cartridge, the empty shell is removed from the chamber by a spring loaded extractor  305  which is contained within the bolt carrier group  304  (see  FIGS. 11A and 11B ). In some embodiments, as the bolt carrier group  304  moves rearward, the extractor  305  pushes the shell until a portion of the shell contacts the ejector  210  (or ejector  306 , as described above) such that the shell is ejected out of the firearm. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 5, 6, 9A, and 9B , the rear strap  208  extends the height of the insert  202 . The rear strap  208  may include at least one protrusion  208 . 1  located on the uppermost end of the rear strap  208  and at least one cylindrical member  208 . 2  located at the lowermost end of the rear strap  208 . In some embodiments, the at least one cylindrical member  208 . 2  may engage a corresponding rear receptacle  204 . 2  of the floorplate  204  to removably attach the rear strap  208  to the floorplate  204  (see  FIGS. 8A, 8C , and  8 E). The rear receptacle  204 . 2  may include an approximately T-shaped cross-section such that the at least one cylindrical member  208 . 2  may pass through lateral portion  204 . 2   a  (such that the at least one cylindrical member  208 . 2  is below the floorplate  204 ). The at least one cylindrical member  208 . 2  is then moved rearward until the at least one cylindrical member  208 . 2  is aligned with recess  204 . 2   b . Tension from spring  206  creates sufficient pressure to secure the at least one cylindrical member  208 . 2  within the recess  204 . 2   b . The rear strap  208  helps to keep the spring  206  in place when the magazine assembly  200  is inside the main body  10 . Additionally, the rear strap  208  helps to keep the ammunition in the proper position, and, with the assistance of the front strap  214 , helps to guide the ammunition as the ammunition moves up and down within the magazine assembly  200 . The rear strap  208  may define a rear limit for the spring  206  such that the rear strap  208  is located inside the rear side of the spring  206  and, as the spring  206  compresses (e.g., when cartridges are loaded into the magazine), the spring  206  follows the contour of the rear strap  208 . The at least one protrusion  208 . 1  will stop and press against the feed lips (not shown) of the main body  10  when the magazine assembly  200  is inserted into the main body  10 . In some embodiments, the at least one protrusion  208 . 1  permits the rear strap  208  to keep the correct arch and prevents a user from loading the wrong type of ammunition, e.g., the wrong caliber of ammunition, into the magazine assembly  200 . In addition, the at least one protrusion  208 . 1  may act as a barrier to prevent longer calibers from being loaded into the magazine assembly  200 . 
     As described above, in some cases, the magazine assembly  200  may be installed into a conventional magazine (or into a conventional magazine body). The magazine assembly  200  may be assembled by flexing or pivoting the floorplate  204  relative to the front strap  214  so that the spring  206  may slide onto the insert  202  over the floorplate  204 . The floorplate  204  and the front strap  214  may be inserted through the interior of the spring  206  (e.g., see  FIG. 5 ). In some embodiments, the floorplate  204  is capable of pivoting such that the floorplate  204  is approximately parallel to the front strap  214 . Additionally, the front strap  214  and the floorplate  204  may be rotated approximately 90° about a longitudinal axis (of the front strap  214 ) relative to the spring  206  to permit the front strap  214  and the floorplate  204  to pass through the spring  206 . The spring  206  may be positioned in between the front strap  214  and the leading member  212  such that the front strap  214  is internal to the spring  206 . After the floorplate  204  passes through the full height of the spring  206 , the floorplate  204  may be released from its flexed position, which allows the floorplate  204  to return to its original position and retain the spring  206  on the insert  202 . Once the spring  206  is in place with the front strap  214  located inside the spring  206 , the leading member  212  may be flexed such that the free end  212 . 1  moves toward the front strap  214  and the dowel member  212 . 2  engages with the floorplate  204  (as described above). The follower  201  may engage with and/or attach to the upper portion of the spring  206 . The rear strap  208  is inserted through an opening  201 . 5  in the follower  201  and through the spring  206  (see  FIG. 5 ) until the cylindrical member  208 . 2  engages with the floorplate  204  (e.g., as described above). The magazine assembly  200  may be inserted into a main body  10  and a baseplate (not shown) may be attached to a lower end of the main body  10  to hold the magazine assembly  200  in the main body  10 . Once the conventional main body  10  has been retrofitted with the magazine assembly  200 , the magazine assembly  200  may be used in a similar manner as the conventional magazine. In some embodiments, the follower  201 , the spring  206 , the insert  202 , and the rear strap  208  may be removed from the main body  10  by squeezing together the finger  211  and the ejector  210 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , some or all of the components of the magazine assembly  200  may be integral to a magazine  20  such that some or all of the components of the magazine assembly  200  are molded, machined, or otherwise integrally included in the magazine  20 . For example, the ejector  210  may be an integral component of the magazine (e.g., on a lip of the magazine  20 ). In some cases, some or all of insert  202  may also be an integral component of the magazine. The channel  203  and the finger  211  may also be an integral component of the magazine. In some embodiments, the magazine may be manufactured with integral protrusions that form a channel for guiding a cartridge through the magazine such that the integral protrusions correspond to front strap  214  and/or the rear strap  208 . In some embodiments, where portions of the magazine assembly  200  are integral to a magazine, the spine  201 . 3  of the follower  201  is disposed inside the spring  206 . 
     The components of the magazine assembly  100 ,  200  described herein may be formed of materials including, but not limited to, carbon composite, plastic, thermoplastic, nylon, steel, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, other plastic or polymer materials, other metallic materials, other composite materials, or other similar materials. Moreover, the components of the firearms may be attached to one another via suitable fasteners, which include, but are not limited to, screws, bolts, rivets, welds, co-molding, injection molding, or other mechanical or chemical fasteners. 
     Different arrangements of the components depicted in the drawings or described above, as well as components and steps not shown or described are possible. Similarly, some features and sub-combinations are useful and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Embodiments of the invention have been described for illustrative and not restrictive purposes, and alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this patent. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or depicted in the drawings, and various embodiments and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims below.