Handgun and magazine therefor

Abstract

A handgun has a grip portion defining a magazine well, the grip portion having a web region configured to be grasped between a thumb and an index finger, a forward portion of the web region defining a first width. The grip portion also has a palm region configured to be grasped by a user's palm, the palm region defining a second width greater than the first width. A magazine is configured to be received in the magazine well and includes a hollow magazine tube with a single-stack portion and a double-stack portion positioned below the single-stack portion. For example, front portions of the opposite tube sidewalls have a stepped shape between the upper tube end and the double-stack portion.

1 . A handgun magazine comprising:
 a magazine tube extending along a tube axis from a lower end portion to an upper tube end defining feed lips, the magazine tube including a left sidewall with a left bottom lip extending inward from a lower end of the left sidewall, and a right sidewall with a right bottom lip extending inward from a lower end of the right sidewall;   a floorplate having left and right lateral protrusions each configured to engage a top surface of the respective left bottom lip and right bottom lip of the magazine tube when installed; and   a grip extension configured to be removably installed on the lower end portion of the magazine tube, the grip extension including left and right protrusions extending inward from respective sidewalls of the grip extension,   wherein, when installed, the floorplate is slidably received in a bottom portion of the grip extension with the left and right lateral protrusions engaging a respective top surface of the left bottom lip and the right bottom lip of the magazine tube, and the left and right protrusions of the grip extension engaging a bottom surface of the respective left bottom lip and the right bottom lip of the magazine tube.   
     
     
         2 . The magazine of  claim 1 , wherein the magazine tube has a single-stack portion below the upper tube end and a double-stack portion below the single-stack portion. 
     
     
         3 . The magazine of  claim 2 , wherein opposite sides of the magazine tube in the single-stack portion define a stepped shape with a first sloped portion extending downward and outward from the feed lips, an axial portion extending downward from the first sloped portion, and a second sloped portion extending downward and outward from the axial portion to the double-stack portion. 
     
     
         4 . The magazine of  claim 3 , wherein when the magazine is fully loaded, the stepped shape is configured to retain at least two cartridges in a single, descending column between the left sidewall and the right sidewall and the double-stack portion is configured to retain cartridges in exactly two offset columns. 
     
     
         5 . The magazine of  claim 4 , wherein the axial portion is parallel to the central axis. 
     
     
         6 . The magazine of  claim 4 , wherein the axial portion is parallel to sidewalls of the double-stack portion. 
     
     
         7 . The magazine of  claim 4 , wherein the axial portion and the second sloped portion each have a vertical height sufficient to accommodate one ammunition cartridge. 
     
     
         8 . The magazine of  claim 7 , wherein the first sloped portion has a vertical height sufficient to accommodate one ammunition cartridge. 
     
     
         9 . The magazine of  claim 4 , wherein a boundary between the first sloped portion and the axial portion is parallel to the feed lips at the upper tube end. 
     
     
         10 . A handgun magazine comprising:
 a magazine tube extending along a tube axis from an open lower end to an upper tube end defining feed lips, the magazine tube including a left sidewall with a left bottom lip extending inward from a lower end of the left sidewall, and a right sidewall with a right bottom lip extending inward from a lower end of the right sidewall; and   a baseplate configured to slidably engage the left bottom lip and the right bottom lip.   
     
     
         11 . The magazine of  claim 10 , wherein the baseplate has a base configured to abut the open lower end, a left side extending up from the bottom, a right side extending up from the bottom, left and right lateral protrusions spaced above the base defining a gap, wherein the left bottom lip and right bottom lip of the magazine tube are received in the gap when the baseplate is installed on the magazine tube. 
     
     
         12 . The magazine of  claim 11 , wherein the base defines a through opening and the magazine further comprises:
 a spring plate having a bottom surface and a protrusion extending axially away from the bottom surface, wherein the protrusion is received in the through opening of the base in an installed state;   a follower; and   a magazine spring between the spring plate the follower.   
     
     
         13 . The magazine of  claim 12 , wherein a lower end portion of the spring is between the base and the base plate. 
     
     
         14 . The magazine of  claim 13 , wherein a top surface of the base defines a recess sized and shaped to receive at least part of the base plate. 
     
     
         15 . The magazine of  claim 11 , wherein the left side and the right side of the baseplate are on an outside of the magazine tube when the baseplate is installed on the magazine tube.