Increased capacity ammunition magazine

Abstract

An increased capacity replacement firearm ammunition magazine for a polymer or polymer-over-metal single stack firearm ammunition magazine for a Glock® handgun, comprises a metallic body dimensioned to compatibly replace the single stack magazine for the Glock® handgun, the single stack magazine having a body having exterior dimensions defined by polymer or polymer-over-metal forward, aft, and side walls, the metallic body having exterior dimensions defined by metallic forward, aft, and side walls, an exterior width dimension of the metallic side walls compatibly matching an exterior width dimension of the side walls of the single stack magazine body, the metallic walls being thinner than the walls of the single stack magazine, the thinner metallic walls allowing an at least partially laterally offset arrangement of cartridges in the metallic body, the forward wall of the metallic body including at least one spacer extending along the forward wall, the spacer sized such that a forward-to-aft exterior dimension of the metallic body compatibly matches a forward-to-aft exterior dimension of the single stack magazine body, a length dimension of the metallic body compatibly matches a length dimension of the single stack magazine body, a cut-out in the metallic body adapted to receive a firearm magazine catch therein, the cut-out including an upper edge, and polymer over at least the upper edge of the cut-out.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pistol magazine, comprising:
 a metallic tubular body defining a hollow interior and having a forward wall, a rearward wall, a first side wall, a second opposite side wall, an open top with feed lips, and an open bottom,   a removable closure member enclosing the open bottom of the body,   at least one spacer associated with the forward wall and projecting forwardly therefrom,   an edge associated with at least one of the first and second side walls configured to interact with a magazine catch of a polymer frame pistol configured to accommodate a single stack polymer or polymer-over-metal magazine,   a first internal dimension between the forward wall and the rearward wall dimensioned to fit 9×19 mm cartridges,   a second internal dimension between the first side wall and the second opposite side wall dimensioned to fit 9×19 mm cartridges with a staggered arrangement of the cartridges,   the body having a height dimension configured to fit within a handgrip of the polymer frame pistol and locate the removable closure member directly adjacent to the bottom of the handgrip when the magazine is inserted into the handgrip of the polymer frame pistol,   a first external dimension of the body from the forwardmost surface of the spacer to the rearmost surface of the rearward wall matching the corresponding exterior dimension of the single stack polymer or polymer-over-metal magazine, and   a second external dimension of the body from the external surface of the first side wall to the external surface of the second side wall matching the corresponding exterior dimension of the single stack polymer or polymer-over-metal magazine,   wherein the edge is formed of polymer.   
     
     
         2 . The magazine of  claim 1 , wherein the magazine has an increased ammunition capacity of at least 50% over and above that of the single stack polymer or polymer-over-metal magazine. 
     
     
         3 . The magazine of  claim 1 , wherein the magazine has an ammunition capacity of fifteen rounds and the single stack polymer or polymer-over-metal magazine has an ammunition capacity of ten rounds. 
     
     
         4 . The magazine of  claim 1 , wherein an upper portion of the body is formed such that a first upper cartridge is centered side-to-side, a third cartridge down from the first cartridge is fully staggered side-to-side, and a second cartridge down from the first cartridge is only partially staggered side-to-side. 
     
     
         5 . The magazine of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer is integrally formed as a part of the forward wall of the body. 
     
     
         6 . The magazine of  claim 5 , wherein the spacer is a protrusion stamped into the forward wall. 
     
     
         7 . The magazine of  claim 6 , wherein the protrusion is a rib. 
     
     
         8 . The magazine of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer is formed at least in part of polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The magazine of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first and second side walls has a cut-out with an upper edge, the polymer covering the upper edge of the cut-out. 
     
     
         10 . The magazine of  claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second side walls has a cut-out with an upper edge, the polymer covering the upper edges of the cut-outs. 
     
     
         11 . The magazine of  claim 10 , wherein the polymer extends from the cut-out in the first side wall, around the forward wall, and to the cut-out in the second side wall. 
     
     
         12 . The magazine of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second side walls has a polymer edge associated therewith, wherein the polymer extends from the first side wall, around the forward wall, to the second side wall. 
     
     
         13 . The magazine of  claim 9 , wherein the polymer is overmolded over the upper edge of the cut-out. 
     
     
         14 . The magazine of  claim 9 , wherein the polymer is formed as a resilient clip which snaps into the cut-out and over the upper edge of the cut-out. 
     
     
         15 . The magazine of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer has a height wise dimension along the forward wall. 
     
     
         16 . The magazine of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer has a width wise dimension across the forward wall. 
     
     
         17 . The magazine of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer has a height wise dimension along the forward wall and a width wise dimension across the forward wall. 
     
     
         18 . The magazine of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one spacer has a height wise dimension along the forward wall. 
     
     
         19 . The magazine of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one spacer has a width wise dimension across the forward wall. 
     
     
         20 . The magazine of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one spacer has a height wise dimension along the forward wall and a width wise dimension across the forward wall. 
     
     
         21 . The magazine of  claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second side walls has a polymer edge associated therewith, and wherein the spacer and the edges are formed of polymer overmolded to the first and second side walls and the forward wall.