Quick loading ammunition magazine

A method of loading an ammunition magazine comprises:

• a. providing an ammunition magazine, the ammunition magazine comprising:
• i. a casing having a mostly rectangular cross-section with fore and aft sides and two longer lateral sides and first and second open ends,
• ii. a floor plate capable of interfacing the magazine at the second end;
• iii. a follower residing within the casing, said follower further comprising:
• 1. a follower platform extending generally horizontally from a fore end to an aft end, and
• 2. a fore tine located at the fore end of the follower platform and extending generally perpendicularly from the follower platform fore end to a fore tine end, and/or an aft tine located at the aft end of the follower platform opposing the fore tine and extending generally perpendicularly from the follower platform aft end to an aft tine end, and
• 3. a pull receiving passage defined by at least one passage wall extending from an underside surface to a head engaging surface;
• iv. a follower spring residing between the follower and floor plate;
• and
• v. a pull extending through the follower at the pull receiving passage, through a port in the floor plate, the pull defined by a head at a head end connected by a semirigid elongated body to a tail at a tail end, the body adapted and sized to slide within the pull receiving passage of the follower, the head being larger than the pull receiving passage and disposed to engage with head engaging surface of the follower when the pull is pulled towards the floor plate to compress the follower spring
• b. compressing the follower spring by drawing the pull through the releasable lock, causing the head of the pull to engage the head engaging surface, and causing the follower to travel towards the floor plate;
• c. inserting ammunition cartridges into the first open end;
• d. after inserting ammunition cartridges into the first end, releasing the pull causing the follower spring to bias the follower towards the first end;
• e. after releasing the pull, pushing the pull in a direction towards the first end into the casing;
• f. decoupling the head of the pull from the head engaging surface of the follower;
• and
• g. sliding the body of the pull through the pull receiving passage of the follower in a direction towards the first open end.

A kit for retrofitting an ammunition magazine, the kit comprising a follower, a pull, and a base plate,

• said follower comprising:
• a. follower platform extending generally horizontally from a fore end to an aft end,
• b. a fore tine located at the fore end of the follower platform and extending generally perpendicularly from the follower platform fore end to a fore tine end, and/or an aft tine located at the aft end of the follower platform opposing the fore tine and extending generally perpendicularly from the follower platform aft end to an aft tine end;
• c. a pull receiving passage defined by at least one passage wall extending from an underside surface to a head engaging surface;
• and
• d. one or more of the following:
• i. the head engaging surface defined as an outside surface of the aft tine or the aft end of the follower platform located at or near to the intersection of the aft end of the follower platform and the aft tine;
• ii. the head engaging surface defined as an outside surface of the follower located along the follower platform at a location between the fore end and the aft end;
• iii. the head engaging surface defined an exterior surface of the fore tine located at or near to the intersection of the fore end of the follower platform and the fore tine;
• iv. the head engaging surface of the follower further being a recess adapted to contain the head of the pull such that the head does not protrude from the follower when a force is exerted on the pull in a direction that compresses the follower spring;
• v. the underside surface being an inside surface of the aft tine;
• vi. the underside surface being a tip of the aft tine;
• and/or
• vii. the passage wall being a groove or channel located on an outside surface of the fore tine;
• said pull defined by a head at a head end connected by a semirigid elongated body to a tail at a tail end, the body adapted and sized to slide within the pull receiving passage of the follower, the head being larger than the pull receiving passage and disposed to engage with head engaging surface of the follower when the pull is pulled towards the floor plate to compress the follower spring;
• and
• said floor plate capable of interfacing an ammunition magazine at a second end, the floor plate comprising:
• a. a port for receiving a pull, and/or
• b. a releasable lock located at the floor plate and adapted to cooperate with the pull such that, normally, the lock only allows the pull to travel incrementally in a direction that causes the follower to compress the follower spring, but, when a release is engaged, the pull may travel in a direction that allows the follower spring to push the follower away from the floor plate;
• wherein said magazine is retrofitted by inserting the pull into the pull receiving passage of the follower such that the head end of the pull engages the head engaging surface, inserting the follower into the magazine, inserting the tail end of the body of the pull into the port and/or releasable lock of the floor plate, and fixing the floor plate onto the second end of the magazine.