Ammunition reloading apparatus with case holder and resizing die

Abstract

Reloading apparatus for reloading ammunition shell cases includes a shell case holder having a pair of yieldably biased gripping fingers positioned to engage and hold the rim at the base of the shell case. A resizing die mounted for sliding about a shell case has a lower rim adapted to engage and move the holding fingers away from engagement with the rim and thus provides substantially full length case resizing. Ejector mechanism in the resizing die is operable to urge the shell case out of the die and hold it in position to be regripped by the holding fingers as the die and support are moved away from each other.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to apparatus for reloading ammunition, and more particularly to such apparatus having mechanism for holding a shell case and a resizing die.

BACKGROUND

[0002] It is very common for active shooters to load or reload ammunition. The savings to the shooter can be substantial. Just as important to many is that ammunition can be custom-tailored to fit the shooter's concept of the ideal ammunition for the shooter's particular needs.

[0003] Where previously-fired ammunition is to be reloaded, several steps are involved. For reloading hard case rifle or pistol ammunition, the spent primer is removed, the case is resized due to expansion which occurs during prior firing, a new primer and powder are inserted, a bullet is seated in the mouth of the shell case, and the case mouth is crimped to hold the bullet therein.

[0004] In the reloading of shot shell cases, the spent primer is removed and the case is resized to bring it into conforming shape from any expansion which may have occurred from previous firing. A new primer then is inserted and the shell case is loaded with powder, an overpowder wad, and shot. Following these operations the mouth of the shell case is crimped to close its forward end.

[0005] All of these operations may be accomplished in a single stage reloading press, or more advantageously in a progressive loader in which several shell case are held in a support for movement between a number of sequential stations for producing each of the operations set out above in its proper sequence. Where a progressive loading apparatus is used, mechanism must be provided for receiving and releasably holding each shell case in the apparatus as it is moved sequentially through the various operations.

[0006] In the resizing operation it is desirable to be able to resize the shell case throughout substantially its full length. However, in the past, this has been difficult to achieve since mechanism for gripping the base of the case impeded movement of a resizing die fully along the length of the case, and if the holding mechanism were released to allow full length resizing then as the resizing die attempted to separate from the case there had been nothing to maintain the shell case in position to be regripped by shell case holding mechanism.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0007] The present invention includes novel reloading apparatus having gripping fingers adjacent opposed sides of a shell case, which fingers are yieldably biased into a position overlying a radially extending rim on the base of the shell case to hold it in the apparatus.

[0008] Further the invention includes a novel resizing die which is constructed to permit substantially full length resizing of a shell case.

[0009] An object of the invention is to provide a resizing die operable when moved toward the base of a shell case to shift shell case holding fingers outwardly and away from the case to permit substantially full length resizing of the case and further including an ejector operable to shift the resized case out of the resizing die as the resizing die is withdrawn, such that the case will be held in position to be regripped by the gripping fingers.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide in such a resizing die a decapping pin which is operable to remove a primer cap from a spent shell case at the same time resizing occurs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of ammunition reloading apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of shell case holding mechanism in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the shell case holding mechanism of FIG. 2 with portions broken away;

[0014] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view taken along the line 4-4 illustrating a shell case held in the mechanism for movement through the loading process;

[0015] FIG. 5 is an enlarged prospective view of a gripping finger removed from the shell holding mechanism;

[0016] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the gripping finger of FIG. 5;

[0017] FIG. 7A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a resizing die in the apparatus with a shell case held on a case support as shown in FIG. 4 beginning the resizing process; and

[0018] FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 7A with the resizing die positioned for substantially full length resizing of the shell case.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] In FIG. 1 a perspective view of a shot shell reloader 10 is shown. While the reloader will be described herein for reloading shot shells, it should be understood, the invention can be used in other types of reloading, such as for rifle and pistol shell reloading.

[0020] The reloading apparatus illustrated is a progressive reloading press in which multiple ammunition shell cases are held in the press and upon each actuation of the press the cases are moved into engagement with successive tools in work stations with a series of operating elements to reload the cases. The successive positions, or stations, include a station in which a spent primer is removed from the base of a previously fired shell case and where the outer diameter of the case is sized, another where a primer is inserted, and another where a selected measure of powder is placed in the case. Where shot shell ammunition is reloaded a station is provided where a wad is placed over the powder, another where a measure of shot is placed over the wad, and successive stations where appropriate crimping of the mouth of the shell occurs. Where rifle or pistol ammunition is to be reloaded following placement of powder in the shell case a bullet is inserted.

[0021] The progressive reloading press 10 is mounted on a workbench 12. The press includes a base 14 secured to the bench and a die holding shelf 16 supported a distance above base 14 by a plurality of pillars 18. A plurality of dies and other operating mechanism for performing selected reloading operations are connected to and depend from shelf 16.

[0022] A shell case support including a shell plate holder 20 is mounted atop an upright ram, or rod, 22. The ram is shiftable vertically from a lowered position, as illustrated in FIG. 1 with shell plate holder 20 adjacent base 14, to a position raised therefrom toward shelf 16. A user may forcefully swing handle 24 to the left from the position shown in FIG. 1 which serves to raise ram 22 and shell plate holder 20. Return of the handle to the position illustrated lowers shell plate holder 20 to the position shown. Appropriate operating linkage is provided between ram 22 and handle 24 to produce this raising and lowering of the ram and shell plate holder. Shell plate holder 20 mounted atop ram 22 moves vertically with ram 22, but does not rotate about an upright axis.

[0023] Mounted atop shell plate holder 20 is a shell plate 30 which is mounted on shell plate holder 20 for rotation in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by arrow 31. A top plate 32 is secured to the top of shell plate 30 by screws 40 and the top plate and shell plate are able to rotate as one during operation of the apparatus. Shell plate 30 and top plate 32 have a plurality of spaced apart cavities 34A-34H formed in their circumferencial outer edges adapted to receive the bases of ammunition shell cases to be reloaded.

[0024] Each of the cavities 34A-34H has a pair of spring biased shell holding, or gripping, fingers, or members, 44A, 44B which project into each of the cavities.

[0025] The operation of fingers 44A, 44B is best illustrated in FIG. 4. Here a shotgun shell case 50 is shown held in one of the cavities in the shell holding support by a pair of fingers 44A, 44B. The shell case 50 has a substantially cylindrical main body portion 50a, and a base 50b with a radially outwardly projecting rim 50c at its lower end. A primer 52 is held in a primer-receiving pocket 50d in the shell case. The base of the shot shell case 50b rests on shell holder plate 20 and overlies a bore 20a extending through the shell plate holder. Such a hole 20a underlies each of cavities 34A-34H.

[0026] All of gripping fingers, or members, 44A, 44B are similar, and receiving cavities formed in shell plate 30 and top plate 32 are similar.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 4-6 each finger, such as finger 44A shown, includes an arcuate inwardly facing gripping rim 44a and an upwardly and outwardly beveled leading face 44b. A substantially planer undersurface 44c extends rearwardly from rim 44a. A generally cylindrical projection 44d depends from surface 44c and is positioned on the longitudinal centerline 44e for the finger. A top surface 44f is spaced above and parallels bottom surface 44c. An upstanding guide portion 44g projects upwardly from top surface 44f. The body of the finger has laterally spaced rearwardly extending projections 44h, 44i, which provide a space 44j therebetween.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 3, where portions of top plate 32 have been broken away, it will be seen that finger receiving cavities are formed in shell plate 30 at opposite sides of each of the shell receiving cavities. The positions and configurations of the finger receiving cavities are best illustrated where the top plate has been broken away for illustrative purposes adjacent cavities 34A and 34B.

[0029] The finger receiving cavities at opposite sides of a shell receiving cavity are indicated generally at 46, 48 respectively. The cavities are all substantially similar, and thus only that indicated at 46 will be described in detail. Cavity 46 extends only partially downwardly into shell plate 30, and has a height throughout a major portion of the cavity which is slightly greater than the distance between upper and lower surfaces 44f, 44c of a finger. The bottom surface 46a of the cavity provides a support surface on which bottom surface 44c of a finger slideably rests as shown in FIG. 4. A guide slot 46b extending downwardly from surface 46a, is slightly wider than the projection 44d and extends substantially radially outwardly from its associated shell-receiving cavity in the shell plate 30. The finger-receiving cavity 46 has a width slightly greater than the width of a finger 44A to be received therein and has three substantially parallel cavity extensions 46c, 46d, and 46e as illustrated in FIG. 3. Cavity extensions 46c, 46e are adapted to slideably receive projections 44h, 44i of the fingers therein. Cavity extension 46d is adapted to receive a compression spring 56 which is received in space 44j between projections 44h, 44i to urge a finger radially inwardly toward the center of its associated shell case receiving cavity.

[0030] Top plate 32 overlies the finger-receiving cavity to hold a finger 44A therein. The top plate 32 has a slot 57 formed therein receiving guide portion 44g on the finger allowing the guide portion to slide therein with its associated finger.

[0031] Compression springs 56 engage the rear sides of each of fingers 44A, 44B to urge the fingers inwardly toward the center of the associated cavity in the shell support plate. Each finger is prevented from sliding fully out of its position in the shell support plate by projection 44d being captured within the bounds of slot 46b.

[0032] As is seen in FIG. 3, the shell holding cavities, or stations, in the shell plate holder are laterally spaced apart and arranged in a circular pattern with a centerline 58 extending through each of the shell receiving cavities. Referring still to FIG. 3, the longitudinal centerline and direction of motion, or movement, for each of holding fingers 44A is disposed at an angle a outwardly from centerline 58. The longitudinal centerline and direction of motion, or movement, for each of fingers 44B is disposed at an angle &bgr; inwardly from centerline 58. With this orientation of fingers 44A, 44B the size of the rotating shell holding plate and the overall apparatus in which it is included may be made of much smaller diameter than if all of the shell holding fingers were aligned along centerline 58. As best seen in FIG. 3, the shell holding finger 44A of one cavity is offset laterally outwardly from a finger 44B on an adjacent cavity. This angular offset not only permits ease of insertion of a shell case within the various cavities, but also provides more compact configuration as discussed above.

[0033] Referring again to FIG. 4, a shell case 50 is illustrated held in one of the shell plate cavities by the arcuate inwardly facing rims 44a of fingers 44A, 44B overlying and engaging rim 50c of the shell base. Springs 56 urge fingers 44A, 44B inwardly to maintain this gripping relationship. However, the gripping fingers 44A, 44B may be urged outwardly against the biasing forces of their associated springs 56 to release the shell case therefrom as described below.

[0034] Referring again to FIG. 1, shell-receiving cavities 34A-34H are illustrated in a selected orientation in the reloading apparatus.

[0035] Cavity 34A is in an initial station in the progressive reloader where a shell case would be inserted laterally as illustrated in FIG. 3 to rest on shell plate holder 20 and be held therein by a pair of fingers 44A, 44B. Each time handle 24 is swung to the left as seen in FIG. 1 the shell plate holder and its associated apparatus are raised toward shelf 16 and a shell case held thereon is moved toward operating tools and equipment depending from shelf 16 to perform an operation on a shell case. As handle 24 is swung again to the right the shell plate holder 20 is lowered and actuating mechanism which is known in the art causes shell plate 30 to rotate one station in a counterclockwise direction so that shell cases held thereon move progressively and sequentially into position relative to successive reloading operation stations.

[0036] Describing the operations at each of the stations illustrated, a shell case held in cavity 34A would be resized and have its primer cap removed upon actuation of lever 24. This would occur through the use of a tool positioned thereover as will be described in greater detail in relation to FIGS. 7A, 7B.

[0037] In the position, or station, of cavity 34B a shell case would have a primer inserted in its base end. At position, or station, 34C a selected quantity of powder from a hopper 60 would be dispensed via a slidebar measuring mechanism 62 into the waiting shell case. At station 34D an appropriate wad would be placed over the powder and tamped therein. At station 34E a measured quantity of shot from a hopper 64 would be dispensed via slidebar mechanism 62 into the shell case over the inserted wad. At successive stations 34F, 34G the mouth end of the shell case would be crimped over to close the mouth of the shot shell case. At station 34H appropriate mechanism would roll crimp and operate to force reloaded shell from the apparatus.

[0038] Referring now to the resizing station and resizing die, reference is made to FIGS. 7A, 7B. Here a shell case 50 is shown held on shell plate holder 20 by a pair of gripping fingers 44A, 44B. As noted previously the base of the shell case is held on shell plate holder 20 with spent primer cap 52 overlying bore 20a.

[0039] When cavity 34A is in the position illustrated in FIG. 1, a spent, or used shell case hold therein underlies a resizing and decapping die indicated generally at 70 in FIGS. 7A, 7B. Die 70 is substantially cylindrical in configuration, but is shown in cross-section in FIGS. 7A, 7B for illustrative purposes. The die includes an elongate cylindrical outer case 72 which has external threads 72a screwed into a threaded opening 16a in shelf 16. A locknut 74 secures the die in a selected vertical position. The lower end of the die has a sizing ring 76 screwed into the lower end of outer case 72. A cylindrical inner shoulder 78 of sizing ring 76 has an internal diameter, or cross-section, conforming to the selected external size desired for shell case 50. A larger diameter relief portion 80 is provided at the lower mouth end of ring 76 having a size to receive the rim 50c at the base of shell case 50.

[0040] A holding block 82 is screwed into the upper end of outer case 72 and has a threaded bore 82a extending vertically therethrough. An elongate shaft, or rod, 84 is screwed into block 82 and extends downwardly through outer case 72. A primer extractor pin 86 is screwed onto the lower end of shaft 84. Screw adjustment of shaft 84 determines the distance which extractor pin 86 extends below the lower of end of ring 76.

[0041] A cylindrical shell ejector sleeve 88 having an internal bore 88a is slideably mounted on shaft 84. A shoulder 88b near the lower end of sleeve 88 engages the upper end of primer extractor pin 86 to limit the extent of downward movement of sleeve 88. A second shoulder 88c at the upper end of sleeve 88 supports the lower end of a spring 90 which is interposed between shoulder 88c and block 82. Spring 90 is a compression spring which urges sleeve 88 downwardly. The lower end 88d of sleeve 88 surrounds extractor pin 86.

[0042] In operation shell case 50 held by fingers 44A, 44B is moved upwardly upon raising of shell plate holder 20 by swinging of handle 24. As the shell case is raised its mouth end enters the lower end of sizing ring 76 and it slides upwardly therethrough into outer case 72 as shown in FIG. 7A. As the shell case slides upwardly into the resizing die the outer dimension of the case is properly sized by shoulder 78. Continued raising of shell case 50 brings it into a position in the resizing die as illustrated in FIG. 7B. As the parts moved toward the position shown in FIG. 7B the outer edge of ring 76 which has a beveled lower rim engages the beveled faces 44b of fingers 44A, 44B and urges fingers 44A, 44B outwardly and away from the shell case so that the sizing die can resize the outer dimension of the shell case substantially fully to rim 50c. At the same time primer extractor pins 86 pushes primer 52 from the lower end of shell case 50.

[0043] As the shell case has been moved up and into the resizing die, the lower end 88d of ejector sleeve 88 has engaged an inner surface of the base 50b of shell case 50 and has been shifted upwardly against the urging of spring 90 from the position illustrated in FIG. 7A, to the position illustrated in FIG. 7B.

[0044] As operating handle 24 is swung back toward the position illustrated in FIG. 1 to lower the shell plate holder, spring 90 urges ejector sleeve 88 downwardly from the position illustrated in FIG. 7B against the inside of the base of the shell case 50. This forces the shell case out of the sizer die and holds it in engagement with shell plate holder 20. As the resizing die moves out of the region of rim 50c on the shell case and the shell case continues to be held against shell plate holder 20, fingers 44A, 44B will move inwardly under the urging of their operator springs again to engage and hold the rim of the shell case as illustrated in FIG. 7A.

[0045] The apparatus thus described provides mechanism for receiving and releasably holding the radially projecting rim of a shell case to be reloaded, such as by the operation of fingers 44A, 44B. The resizing die described is capable of moving fully down along the outer sides of the shell case to provide substantially full length sizing of the shell case and, in the process, shifts the gripping fingers outwardly to permit such full length sizing. As the resizing die and shell plate holder are moved away from each other the ejector sleeve within the resizing die holds the shell case against the shell plate holder for a sufficient amount of time during withdrawal to allow the gripping fingers 44A, 44B to re-engage and hold the shell case for movement to the next operation station.

[0046] While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described herein, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications are possible with departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A reloading press for reloading an ammunition shell case having a substantially cylindrical body and a radially projecting rim at the base end of the body, the press comprising

a shell holder comprising a support for the base end of the body and at least a pair of holding fingers movable between a gripping position engaging said rim to hold the shell case on the support and a release position spaced from said rim,

a resizing die mounted above the support to be pressed onto a shell case to resize the shell case,

operating mechanism operable to shift said support and die toward each other to press said die onto a shell case, and

release means for shifting said fingers from their gripping positions toward their release positions as said die is pressed onto said shell case to permit substantially full-length sizing of said case.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mechanism is operable to shift said support and die whereby said die and shell case are moved axially relative to each other and said die has a lower end portion having an internal configuration which slides along said shell case to conform said shell case to a selected size.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said means for shifting said fingers is operable to shift said fingers toward their release positions as said lower end portion of said die nears the rim of said shell case.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said fingers are yieldably biased radially inwardly toward said gripping position and said die has an engaging portion adjacent its lower end operable to engage and urge said fingers radially outwardly toward said release positions.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said fingers have beveled radially inwardly facing surface portions positioned to be engaged by said engaging portion of said die, which beveled surface portions diverge on extending outwardly from said support.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, which further comprises springs which yieldably bias said fingers toward their said gripping positions.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said operating mechanism further is operable to move said die and support away from each other and which further comprises ejector mechanism operable to urge said shell case out of said die and retain case in position to be re-gripped by said holding fingers as said die and support are moved away from each other.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said ejector mechanism comprises a plunger movably mounted in said resizing die positioned to engage a base end portion of the shell case and yieldably biased for movement between a first position permitting said shell case to be received in said die for substantially full-length resizing and a second position ejecting said shell case to be re-gripped by said fingers.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said ejector mechanism comprises a spring urging said plunger toward its second position.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, which further comprises an elongate decapping rod extending longitudinally through said resizing die and projecting axially outwardly from a lower end portion of said die, and said plunger comprises a sleeve mounted for sliding movement along said decapping rod.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said shell case holder has multiple laterally spaced shell holding cavities thereon and each cavity has at least a pair of said holding fingers associated therewith, each finger having a shell-engaging lip portion extending into its associated cavity and a mounting portion extending away therefrom, and said mounting portions between adjacent cavities are offset relative to each other to permit closer spacing of said cavities.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the centers of adjacent cavities are disposed on a line and the mounting portion of at least one of said holding fingers in a pair is disposed at an angle relative to said line.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said line is an arc of a circle and the mounting portion of said one of said holding finger is angled inwardly toward the center of said arc from its lip portion.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a lip portion of a holding finger is formed in an arc of a circle having a radius substantially similar to the radius of a shell case to be held thereby.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support has a plurality of laterally spaced shell case holding cavities formed therein each cavity adapted to receive a shell case, and each cavity has a support surface on which the base end of the body may rest and a pair of said holding fingers associated therewith, each finger having a shell-engaging lip portion extending into its associated cavity and a mounting portion extending away therefrom, and said mounting portions between adjacent cavities are offset relative to each other to permit closer spacing of said cavities.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said support has guideways formed therein receiving the mounting portions of said holding fingers and permitting movement of said fingers between said gripping and release positions.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, which further comprises springs interposed between said support and said fingers to yieldably urge a finger toward its gripping position.

18. A reloading press for reloading an ammunition shell case having a substantially cylindrical body and a radially projecting rim at the base end of the body, the press comprising

a shell holder comprising a support for the base end of the body and at least a pair of holding fingers movable between a gripping position engaging said rim to hold a shell case on the support and a release position spaced from said rim,

a resizing die mounted above the support having a lower end portion having an internal configuration which is adapted for sliding along said shell case to conform said shell case to a selected size.

operating mechanism operable to shift said support and die toward and away from each other such that the die and a shell case held on the support are moved axially relative to each other to press said die onto a shell case and withdraw said die from a shell case, and

release means for shifting said fingers from their gripping positions toward their release positions as said die is pressed onto said shell case and nears the rim of the shell case to permit substantially full-length sizing of said shell case, and

ejector mechanism operable to urge said shell case out of said die and retain said shell case in position to be re-gripped by said holding fingers as said die and support are moved away from each other.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said ejector mechanism comprises a plunger movably mounted in said resizing die positioned to engage a base end portion of the shell case and yieldably biased for movement between a first position permitting said shell case to be received in said die for substantially full-length case sizing and a second position ejecting said shell case to be re-gripped by said fingers.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said ejector mechanism comprises a spring urging said plunger toward its second position.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, which further comprises an elongate decapping rod extending longitudinally through said resizing die and projecting axially outwardly from a lower end portion of said die, and said plunger comprises a sleeve mounted for sliding movement along said decapping rod.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said shell holder has multiple laterally spaced shell case holding cavities thereon and each cavity has at least a pair of said holding fingers associated therewith, each finger having a shell-engaging lip portion extending into its associated cavity and a mounting portion extending away therefrom, and said mounting portions between adjacent cavities are offset relative to each other to permit closer spacing of said cavities.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the centers of adjacent cavities are disposed on a line and the mounting portion of at least one of said holding fingers in a pair is disposed at an angle relative to said line.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said line is an arc of a circle and the mounting portion of said one of said holding fingers is angled inwardly toward the center of said arc from its lip portion.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said support has a plurality of laterally spaced shell case holding cavities formed therein each cavity adapted to receive a shell case, and each cavity has a support surface on which the base end of the body may rest and a pair of said holding fingers associated therewith, each finger having a shell-engaging lip portion extending into its associated cavity and a mounting portion extending away therefrom, and said mounting portions between adjacent cavities are offset relative to each other to permit closer spacing of said cavities.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said support has guideways formed therein receiving the mounting portions of said holding fingers and permitting movement of said fingers between said gripping and release positions.

27. A multiple station ammunition reloading press for reloading shell cases having a substantially cylindrical body and a base with a radially projecting rim, said press comprising

a shell case support plate having laterally spaced shell case holding regions said support thereon mounted for movement to carry a plurality of shell cases along a path to specified reloading stations,

a shell case holding region having a pair of holding fingers mounted on said shell case support for movement between a gripping position for engaging the rim of a shell case to hold the shell case on the support and a release position spaced from said rim,

a resizing die mounted above the support plate, said die having a defined cross sectional configuration to which a shell case is to be resized,

operating mechanism for producing relative movement of said support plate and die toward and away from each other and for producing movement of said support plate to position shell cases held thereon in registry with selected stations in sequential reloading steps, said die being positioned to slide over a shell case on the support plate when the support plate and die are moved toward each other to resize the shell case, and

release means for shifting said fingers from their gripping positions toward their release positions as said die is pressed onto said shell case to permit substantially full-length resizing of said shell case.