Follower and methods for weapons magazine

A follower for a firearm magazine, the follower comprising:

• an upper region having a cartridge interface shaped to support a cartridge in a firearm magazine;
• a magazine housing interface shaped to orient the follower relative to the firearm magazine;
• and
• a magazine spring receiving space shaped to receive at least a portion of a magazine spring;
• wherein
• a lower region of the follower comprises a nonlinear end profile having a concave portion, a first convex portion forward of the concave portion, a second convex portion aft of the concave portion, the first convex portion having a radius of curvature that is less than a radius of curvature of the concave portion and no linear portions between the first and second convex portions;
• and wherein
• at least a portion of the nonlinear end profile is shaped to translate a lateral spring force into a longitudinal spring force.

A method of using a follower for a firearm magazine, the method comprising:

• providing a follower in a firearm magazine, the follower having a receiving space defined by a plurality of walls;
• loading the firearm magazine such that the follower compresses at least a portion of the magazine spring into the receiving space;
• and
• causing a nonlinear end profile in at least one of the plurality of walls to deflect the magazine spring from catching on the nonlinear end profile, the nonlinear end profile having a first convex region, a second convex region, a concave region positioned between the first and second convex regions, and no linear regions between the first and second convex regions.