Navy Small Arms Practice Test

The correct component that houses the bullets in a magazine is the follower. The follower is a crucial part of the magazine that sits at the bottom and supports the cartridges, allowing them to be pushed upwards into the feed lips as rounds are fired. Its design ensures proper alignment and movement of the ammunition, which is essential for reliable feeding into the chamber of the firearm.

The follower’s role is to keep the bullets properly positioned and maintain pressure against the spring above it, which in turn pushes the bullets up and into the firearm’s action. This function is vital for the magazine’s operation, facilitating smooth and efficient cycling of the firearm during use.

Understanding the function of the follower also helps clarify the roles of other components like the spring, which provides the necessary pressure to push the rounds upward, and the feed lips, which guide the rounds into the chamber. The base plate serves as the bottom closure of the magazine, not involved in directly housing the bullets. Each piece contributes to the overall functionality, but the follower is specifically designed to house and guide the ammunition.