Abstract: A bullet-seating die for precisely loading a bullet into a cartridge case is disclosed. In embodiments, the bullet die comprises: a die body; a bullet-nose-alignment stem configured to engage and center a front end of a bullet within the die body before and after bullet seating begins; a bullet-seating-depth-adjustment screw adjustable to control seating depth of the bullet in a cartridge case; a bullet-seating collet configured to surround an ogival portion of the bullet that will engage the rifling when the loaded cartridge is fired; a bullet-seating collet bushing configured to positively center the bullet-seating collet in the die body; a case-shoulder-alignment bushing configured to positively center a front end of the cartridge case, the bullet-nose-alignment stem, and the bullet-seating collet bushing along the axis of the die body during bullet seating; and a case-base-alignment bushing configured to positively center a base of the cartridge case in the case-shoulder-alignment bushing.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for producing varying sizes and types of small firearm cartridge cases using earlier produced cartridge cases as work stock. The preexisting cartridge cases are subjected to a number of machining operations to obtain the desired different sizes and/or types of cartridge cases. The invention considerably shortens the production cycle and substantially decreases the costs of production versus the conventional method of manufacturing new cartridge cases.

Abstract: A hand operated press for reloading metal rifle cartridges including indicating means for providing for an operator of the press discrete indications of the different forces that can be manually applied through the drive mechanism during use of the press to crimp the second end of a cartridge against a bullet in the cartridge to allow the operator to use one of those indications to manually apply the same force to form essentially the same degree of crimp of the second ends of identical cartridges against identical bullets in the cartridges.

Abstract: A hand operated press for reloading metal rifle cartridges including indicating means for providing for an operator of the press discrete indications of the different forces that can be manually applied through the drive mechanism during use of the press to crimp the second end of a cartridge against a bullet in the cartridge to allow the operator to use one of those indications to manually apply the same force to form essentially the same degree of crimp of the second ends of identical cartridges against identical bullets in the cartridges.

Abstract: An ammunition case reloading die assembly, and method of use, that provides calibrated adjustment of taper imposed on the mouth of an ammunition case. A calibrating ring or cap bears indicia in the form of polygonal faces, splines or radially-directed markings. The ring or cap rotates with an upper portion of the die for threaded adjustment of the position of the die within the frame of a reloading press. The die has a longitudinal bore, a lower portion whereof is tapered for imposing a tapered crimp upon the mouth of the case. The taper of the longitudinal bore is preferably chosen to make each partial rotation of the calibrating ring or cap through one indicium correspond to increasing the taper imposed on the mouth by one thousandth of an inch per case longitudinal inch.

Abstract: A reloading apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a support for supporting a casing and a casing feed station for placing the casing on the support. The apparatus also includes a primer removal station for resizing the casing and removing a spent primer from the casing. The apparatus further includes an expanding station for enlarging a diameter of a mouth of the casing. The apparatus still further includes a primer insertion station for inserting a charged primer into the casing. The apparatus also includes a gunpowder dispensing station for dispensing a quantity of gunpowder into the casing. The apparatus further includes a bullet setting station for setting a bullet into the casing so as to form a cartridge. The bullet setting station includes a bullet aligner for positioning a bullet adjacent the mouth of the casing, and a plunger. The plunger is movable between a first plunger position and a second plunger position.

Abstract: A method of closing the forward portion or region (u) of a cylindrical sleeve body (3) of a practice cartridge (1), wherein a predetermined number of inside and outside radial folds (8, 7, respectively) are created in the forward region (4) of the sleeve body (3) in two work cycles, and wherein circular arc-shaped inside folds (8) of predetermined depth are created during the first work cycle by the application of radial pressure using correspondingly shaped profiling tools. To achieve secure closing of the sleeve body (3) through folding in a simple and cost-effective manner and without predetermined fracture points resulting in the region of the inside folds (8) during closing, the inside folds (8) are created in the forward region of the projectile body (3) during the first work cycle so that a first, central opening having a diameter of at least 2 mm remains between the inside folds (8) after completion of this work cycle.

Abstract: A cylindrical die body has an axial bore in which there is an annular tapered shoulder. A cylindrical collet is adapted to fit coaxially in the bore of the cylindrical body. The collet has an axial bore extending over the majority of its length for accommodating the body of an ammunition case and has a smaller coaxial bore through which a bullet installed in the mouth of the case can extend. The fingers of the collet terminate in finger tips which surrounds the small bore. The mouth of the case which holds the bullet extends into the space between the collet finger tips such that when the collet is pressed into the cylindrical die body, tapered surfaces exterior of the collet run ionto the tapered shoulder in the die body to generate a wedging action which forces the tips of the collet fingers in a radial direction into the mouth end of the cartridge case to thereby crimp the mouth end of the case to the bullet.

Abstract: A shotshell die set to facilitate reloading shotgun shells when using a commercially available press. The shotshell die set includes a depriming pin and shell holder adaptor for supporting the spent shell casing in a position to remove the spent primer from the sheel casing by using the depriming pin in association with the press. A priming pin and another shell holder adaptor are utilized with the spent shell casing in order to insert a new primer in the shell casing. A sizing and crimping die together with an additional shell holder adaptor and crimping plug are utilized to enable complete reloading and reshaping of the shell by using existing devices so the shell is then ready for use in a firearm in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A loading die for use within an ammunition loading press that is designed for maximum accuracy. Whereas prior art loading dies are inaccurate due to angular and axial misalignment of the various die, ram and ammunition components, the invention has clearance between the sliding sleeves and the die body. The sliding sleeve locates accurately over the cartridge case and due to the clearance, any axial or angular misalignment between the sliding sleeve and die body will not affect the seating accuracy.

Abstract: An ammunition reloading die having a generally cylindrical axially bored body and an external thread for mounting it in a reloading press. In one embodiment, a case sizer element is threaded onto and is removable from the nominally lower end of the die body into which cases are pressed for sizing the outer diameter. A stepped mandrel is insertable in the die body. It has a decapping pin extending from its nominally lower end. A bullet seating plug is screwed into the upper end of a body's bore for backing up the mandrel when a case is being pressed onto the mandrel to expand and flare the mouth end of the case and to expel the spent primer from the case. A new primer is installed and the case is charged with powder and a bullet is set in the mouth after which the case is pressed into the die body while the mandrel is removed but the bullet seating plug is installed in the die body in which case pressing the case into the die body seats the bullet and crimps the case in the bullet.

Abstract: A slug assembly for a shotgun shotshell having a case in which the slug assembly is incorporated, comprising a metal slug having a center axial cavity, an elastically deformable stabilizer which is fitted in the cavity, and a filler which is charged in the cavity. The stabilizer has a plunger having a diameter larger than a diameter of the opening of the cavity of the slug and an annular flange having a diameter substantially identical to a diameter of a barrel bore of a shotgun in which the slug assembly is to be used. The plunger and annular flange are coaxial to each other. The plunger cooperates with the cavity of the slug to maintain a distance between a rear end face of the slug and a front end face of the annular flange of the stabilizer at a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method and device (A) for cutting a shotgun shell (14) for shooting in a shotgun chambered for shorter shotgun shells includes a base (10) and shell receiving tube (12). A shell (14) is held in tube (12) above a knife (32) in such a manner that a circumferential slit is formed in shell casing (20) around the inside edge (24) of crimp (22). The knife is carried on a movable knife blade holder (40) which moves toward base (10) to engage the knife in the crimped edge as the shell is rotated. Upon shooting of shell (14), the crimp material separates from casing (20) leaving the shell of a shorter length. In this manner a two and one half inch (21/2") shell is obtained from a two and three-quarter inch (23/4") and three inch (3") shells which may be reloaded or disposed of.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for resizing a spent firearm cartridge using a press for reshaping the cartridge is disclosed. The press includes a base block, two parallel rods vertically positioned transversally with respect to said block, and a pressure bar slidably attached to the rods. A U-shaped handle operates the pressure bar to force a cartridge into a die, and thereafter removing the cartridge from the die.

Abstract: A cartridge reloader having a base. A turret ring mounted to and above the base. A turret having a radially extending flange or rim, the turret being rotatable in the ring for positioning dies that act on a cartridge to be reloaded. Radially inwardly extending lugs on the wall of the ring surrounding a large bore therein. Radially outwardly extending lugs on the turret which interlock with the lugs on the ring while at the same time the turret flange is bearing over its area on the margin of the ring surrounding the large hole. An axially slotted ram having a cartridge holder. A T-shaped priming arm having multiple primer holders. The priming arm nesting in and pivotal in a V-shaped socket in the base. A box having inserts for mounting the reloader base on it.

Abstract: A method of making a cartridge, in particular a blank or propellant gas cartridge which has a casing of generally tubular form with a telescopically reverse in-folded star-crimp-closed integral tubular end section, and within which is contained a blank propellant powder charge, with a readily rupturable wad of low heat conductivity initial restraining mass formed between the propellant powder charge and the in-folded telescoping star-crimp-closed end of the casing, in which method the cartridge is formed by front loading a propellant charge and the low-heat-conductivity wad, and then star-crimping and telescopically reverse in-rolling the cartridge casing, after which the recessed in-rolled star-crimped casing is heat sealed.

Abstract: A shot shell progressive reloading press particularly including a single step crimping device comprising interiorly protruding equally spaced deflectors of mid-upper diameter of die body and downward protruding cooperating deflectors of abutting surface of elongated finalizing compression plunger, of which is maintained and supported by a heavy spring of which allows restricted reciprocal movement of said plunger of which finalizes crimp of which has been initiated by said protruding deflectors of said die body upon actuation of said reloading press, said crimping device having a capability of initiating and finalizing the crimp of new plastic casings, new paper casings, used plastic casings and used paper casings.

Abstract: A crimping die which is movably mounted in one end of a shotgun shell crimping sleeve has a conically shaped side wall which permits the crimped end of the shell to overhang the crimping die to cause ironing of the crimped end of the shell against the rounded crimping corner of the crimping sleeve when the crimping die is withdrawn from the crimped shell.

Abstract: A manual cartridge loading machine. The machine has six stations at which cartridges are operated on. Cooperable with the stations is a manually actuatable head carrying dies which execute the operations on the cartridge cases. The operations which are executed at the stations include: feeding the cartridge case; sizing the case and removing the old primer; belling the mouth of the case and seating the new primer; feeding the powder; feeding the bullet in the case; and taper crimping the case. Cartridges are shifted from station to station by a manually actuatable shifting plate which is constrained for quadrilateral movement, that is, in and out with respect to the stations, and right and left in a direction parallel thereto. A safety latch is provided so that the head cannot be manually pulled down unless the cartridges have been shifted by the shift plate.