The magazine has a capacity of 20 rounds and may be loaded with any amount up to that capacity. The magazine follower has a raised portion generally resembling the outline of a cartridge. Cartridges are loaded into the magazine so the tips of the bullets point in the same direction as the raised portion of the follower (fig. 3-21).

CAUTION

Do not load or attempt to load more than 20 rounds in the magazine. Overloading deforms the lips of the magazine and causes malfunctions.

UNLOADING THE MAGAZINE

To prevent damage to the lips of the magazine, remove the ammunition in the following manner:

1. Hold the magazine in your left hand with the open end away from your body and with the nose of the cartridge down (fig. 3-22, view A).

2. Depress the center of the second round in the magazine using the nose of the cartridge, allowing the first round to drop out of the magazine (fig. 3-22, view B). Repeat this procedure until you remove all the rounds from the magazine except the last one.

3. Use the nose of the cartridge to depress the follower to remove the last round, allowing the last round to drop out of the magazine (fig. 3-22, view C).

Figure 3-22.-Unloading the magazine with the nose of a cartridge.