What is the primary function of the follower in a magazine?

The primary function of the follower in a magazine is to feed ammunition smoothly. The follower is a component that sits at the bottom of the magazine and, when the firearm is operated (either manually or by the action of the firearm), it moves upward in the magazine as rounds are fired or cycled through. This upward movement pushes the cartridges into position so they can be fed into the firearm's chamber effectively.

When the magazine is loaded, the follower ensures that each round is correctly aligned and ready to be stripped off by the bolt or slide of the firearm. A properly functioning follower is critical to the reliability of the feeding system, preventing issues such as misfeeds or jams that could occur if the ammunition is not presented correctly to the chamber.

While the other components of the magazine each serve their own important purposes, it is the follower's role in the feeding process that is crucial to the operation of the firearm during shooting.