A detachable magazine for storing and delivering ammunition to a firearm
having a magazine well. The magazine has a body with a column adapted for
insertion into the magazine well. The column has a passage for
transmitting ammunition to the firearm. The body includes a drum housing
defining a substantially cylindrical chamber communicating with the
column passage. A first sprocket element is rotatably received in the
chamber and has a serrated periphery, with each serration adapted to
receive an ammunition cartridge. A second sprocket element is rotatably
received in the chamber, and is concentric with the first sprocket
element, having a serrated periphery with each serration adapted to
receive an ammunition cartridge. A spring element is connected to at
least one of the sprocket elements, and operates to rotatably bias the
sprocket elements to transmit cartridges from the drum chamber to the
column passage. The magazine may have a pair of drums, and the sprockets
may be tapered, to facilitate feeding of tapered cartridges. The magazine
may include a counter to indicate the quantity of ammunition consumed or
remaining. The magazine may include the ability to power and de-power
spring motor.