Firearm magazine capacity limiter

Abstract

The firearm magazine capacity limiter selectively limits the capacity of the magazine to comply with applicable laws or regulations. The capacity limiter has a rod including a follower contact end and an opposite attachment end that secures removably in a passage provided through a closure plate at one end of the magazine. The rod may have any length desired to limit the maximum capacity of the magazine as desired. Various attachment configurations are provided, including threaded attachment, quarter turn attachment, and sliding attachment via a capture flange on the attachment end of the rod. The capacity limiter may be used with detachable box-type magazines where the closure plate is the floor plate of the magazine, or with tubular magazines where the closure plate is the forward plug at the end of the magazine.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A firearm magazine capacity limiter, comprising:
 at least one magazine insert rod having a follower contact end, a closure plate attachment end opposite the contact end, and a shaft defining a length between the follower contact end and the closure plate attachment end; and   a firearm magazine having a loading end and an opposing end opposite the loading end, the magazine defining a compartment for holding ammunition between the loading end and the opposing end in a position ready for loading into a firing chamber, the opposing end having a mounting aperture defined therein, the magazine insert rod being selectively secured in the mounting aperture so that the shaft extends into the compartment in order to limit the quantity of ammunition loadable in the compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm magazine capacity limiter according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one magazine insert rod comprises a plurality of interchangeable magazine insert rods, each of the magazine insert rods having a different length so that the capacity of the magazine may be selectively limited. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm magazine capacity limiter according to  claim 1 , wherein said firearm magazine comprises a tubular magazine, the opposing end opposite the loading end being internally threaded, the limiter further comprising an externally threaded closure plate attachment bushing attached to the closure plate attachment end of said magazine insert rod, the bushing selectively engaging the internally threaded end of the tubular magazine. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm magazine capacity limiter according to  claim 1 , wherein said firearm magazine comprises a box-shaped magazine, the opposing end opposite the loading end of said firearm magazine comprising a closure plate having the mounting aperture defined therein. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm magazine capacity limiter according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the closure plate attachment end of the rod is externally threaded; and   the mounting aperture in the closure plate is internally threaded, the closure plate attachment end of the rod selectively engaging the mounting aperture of the opposing end of the magazine to secure the rod in the magazine.   
     
     
         6 . The firearm magazine capacity limiter according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 an internally threaded boss disposed in the mounting aperture defined in said closure plate; and   an externally threaded fitting mounted on the closure plate attachment end of said rod, the fitting selectively engaging the boss to secure said rod in said magazine.   
     
     
         7 . The firearm magazine capacity limiter according to  claim 4 , wherein the mounting aperture defined in said closure plate has a keyhole configuration, the limiter further comprising a bushing mounted on the closure plate attachment end of said rod, the bushing having a tab extending therefrom, the bushing and the tab defining a key insertable through the keyhole configuration of the mounting aperture, the key being rotatable in the keyhole to lock and unlock said rod in said magazine. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm magazine capacity limiter according to  claim 4 , wherein the mounting aperture defined in said closure plate has a keyhole configuration, the limiter further comprising an annular flange mounted on the closure plate attachment end of said rod, the flange being insertable through the keyhole configuration of the mounting aperture and slidable in the keyhole so that the shaft of said rod forms a friction fit with the keyhole to selectively lock said rod in said magazine. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm magazine capacity limiter according to  claim 1 , wherein said firearm magazine comprises a tubular magazine, the opposing end opposite the loading end being internally threaded, the limiter further comprising:
 an externally threaded bushing having an internally threaded bore extending axially through the bushing, the bushing defining a closure plate selectively engaging the internally threaded end of said magazine; and   an externally threaded fitting attached to the closure plate attachment end of said magazine insert rod, the fitting selectively engaging the internally threaded bore of the closure plate to secure said rod in said magazine.