Abstract: A fully automated, integrated, end-to-end synchronized and compact manufacturing system produces polymer or metal case ammunition. Manufacturing stations support case assembly, sealing (gluing/welding), final product inspection, cartridge packaging or binning, and loading. Station modularity facilitates rapid changeover to accommodate ammunition of differing calibers. Sensors and apparatus may be provided to place a manufacturing cell in a wait state until all components or materials are received in a preferred orientation for proper assembly. The system may join and use multipart cases, each including a lower portion with a head end attached thereto and at least one upper portion having a necked-down transition to the open top end. Elevator feeders, vibratory bowl feeders, and robotic pick-and-place feeders may be used to deliver components for assembly.

Abstract: The present invention refers to equipment, for the recharging firearm cartridges, having four modules that can operate jointly or separately. The equipment includes a calibrating press, that calibrates and removes a deflagrated fuse of the case through the movement of the piston tool ports and a washing turbine having a rotating nucleus that moves angularly between 90 and ?90 degrees to facilitate loading, washing and discharging of the cases. The equipment also includes a fuse press for fuse assembly in the case, with automatic rejection of the defective cases through pneumatic auxiliary cylinders of high sensitivity. The press includes a case feeder system; a rotating disk; and a reservoir feeder of fuses. The press also includes a dosage press for the assembly and packing of the cartridges, with movements synchronized vertically, circular and lineal, with main cylinder and commanded by panel provided with commands for control of the gunpowder dosage.

Abstract: A case trimmer and chamfer tool preferably includes a trim die, an end cutter, a crank, an outer chamfer blade, an inner chamfer blade and a height adjustment ring. The end cutter is slidably retained in the trim die. The inner and outer chamfer blades are spring loaded. The end cutter trims a length of the cartridge case. The inner and outer wall of the cartridge case are chamfered by the inner and outer chamfer blades. An adjustment boss extends downward from one end of the crank and a rotating knob is retained on the other end thereof. The end cutter is retained in the adjustment boss. The height adjustment ring is retained on the adjustment boss. A second embodiment is adapted for handling straight cartridge cases instead of rifle cartridge cases. The case trimmer and chamfer tool and a cartridge case are retained in a loading press.

Abstract: An ammunition manufacturing machine has a frame with a die receptacle, and a reciprocating ram having a free end movable toward and away from the die receptacle. The free end of the die receives a removable shell holder having a recess shaped to receive the base of a casing. The recess has a flat floor portion, and the shell holder is removable along a path lateral to the axis of the ram's motion. A retention element removably encompasses at least part of the shell holder and of the free end of the ram, so that the shell holder is secured by the retention element against lateral removal. The retention element may have a flat upper surface aligned with the floor of the shell holder recess, to provide a guide for sliding the case into the shell holder. The retention element may also have an internal O-ring that compressibly surrounds the end of the ram, to provide a friction fit that holds the retaining element on the ram.

Abstract: A method for removing a damaged primer from the primer chamber of a cannon. The method comprises the steps of running a starter tap into a damaged primer, and shaking the damaged primer loose from the primer chamber so that the damaged primer comes out of the primer chamber on the edge of the tap.

Abstract: A device for machining a cartridge case that has a neck comprising a circular neck wall, a mouth and a primer pocket. The device includes a gripping assembly, adapted to accept and retain a cartridge case and a neck machining assembly, positioned to engage the cartridge case from a first direction and adapted to machine the neck of the cartridge case. Additionally, a primer pocket machining assembly is positioned to engage the cartridge case from a second direction, opposed to the first direction, thereby permitting simultaneous primer pocket and neck engagement, and adapted to machine the primer pocket.

Abstract: To permit operators to change dies quickly and easily and to remove shot shells from any station, inspect them and replace them, bayonet snap in dies may be easily inserted into a tooling section of a reloader and shot shells can be removed from shell plates by pivoting the retainer free.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for facilitating the removal of spent primers from a press having a ram is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of punching a primer hole at a specified location, drilling the primer hole to a specified diameter and specified angle, drilling the hole to a larger diameter, inserting a piece of thin wall tubing into the primer hole, attaching a length of plastic tubing to the thin wall tubing and extending a lower end of the plastic tubing into a receptacle of choice.

Abstract: A device and method for loading primers into primer receptacles of a rectilinear primer holder strip. The device includes an elongated track for longitudinally guiding the primer strip through a primer loading station. The primer strip includes a series of longitudinally aligned receptacles, each of which is designed to hold a primer in an interference fit that prevents dislodgement of the primer from the strip. Each primer strip also has a plurality of laterally extending castellations including teeth and depressions that slide on a ledge within the track. The track of the loading device is of substantially the same width as the strip, such that the strip slides through the track. A primer delivery slot in the device delivers a primer into the track, and a pressure application device is positioned to press the primer into a target primer receptacle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a retrofitting shell feeding attachment for shotgun shell reloading machines. The invention includes a declined tray held by a forked tray support, a funnel tube member leading from a discharge port located in the tray, and a feed tube leading from the funnel tube member and into a plunger block device. The plunger block device uses a linkage mechanism joined to a shell sliding member to automatically translate the vertical reciprocating motion of a plate member on the machine into sequential horizontal motions for sliding the shells discharging from the feed tube into proper loading position underneath the plate member.

Abstract: A multifunctional cartridge case processing apparatus for use in the handloading/reloading of ammunition. The apparatus resizing the cartridge case, trims the case to its precise standard length, decaps the cartridge case primer pocket, and evacuates the cartridge case trimmings. The apparatus can adapt to a variety of specific cartridge calibers with the proper selection of sizing ring, guide member and cutter height setting. The apparatus can be used as and integral part of a progressive handloading/reloading press or on a conventional single-stage press.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic feed mechanism for the assembly of ammunition. Ammunition is assembled in the feed mechanism by the joining of bullets with their respective shell casings, one at a time. The automatic feed mechanism is utilized in conjunction with a progressive reloading press. The automatic feed mechanism comprises a replaceable feed tube having a precise bore. The bore is designed to accommodate the free fall of a single bullet of a given caliber for precise alignment with a shell casing of the same caliber. The precision of this alignment stems from the precise bore tolerance for a given bullet caliber, with the union of the bullet and the shell casing only under the influence only of gravitational forces. Should it be desired to join a bullet of another caliber with a shell casing of the same or different caliber, the feed tube is easily removed and replaced by one having the proper dimensions and internal bore to assemble the new ammunition.

Abstract: A bullet holder for extracting a bullet from the cartridge casing that includes an elongated body portion having arm members pivotally connected at one end and movable toward one another in a pincer-type movement. Intermediate the arm members is positioned a bullet retaining portion having a plurality of oppositely positioned recesses forming holes of selected diameter corresponding to selected bullet calibers. The assemblied cartridge casing and bullet is secured in the chuck of a loading press. The chuck is moved to an initial position for engaging the bullet by the holder in a selected one of the holes formed by the recesses. The arm members are squeezed to frictionally engage the bullet so upon downward movement of the cartridge casing, the bullet is retained stationarily positioned to separate the cartridge casing from the bullet.

Abstract: The invention is a shotshell advancing mechanism on a shotshell reloader with rotating turret held on a work table, a relatively movable tool carriage, and means to move the tool carriage so that the tools are in contact with the shot shells. The shotshell advancing mechanism is a gas spring means for providing motive force to move the turret.

Abstract: An apparatus to recondition used ammunition cartridge cases in order that they can be reloaded and reused. A stand includes a base and an upright column. A plurality of bearing sleeves are located in the column disposed about parallel horizontal axes. A plurality of tool holders have shafts that are rotatably assembled in the column. The tool holders carry cartridge case reconditioning tools of the type that operate upon a cartridge case upon rotation with respect to it. The tool holder shafts are interconnected by circular gears. The rotation of one shaft results in rotation of the other shafts. A crank is connected to one of the shafts for rotation of all of the shafts. One of the cartridge case reconditioning tools is for deburring the inside mouth of the case, another is for deburring the outside mouth of the case, and a third is for cleaning the primer pocket.

Abstract: In a shotgun shell reloader, a manually operated lever drives a carriage reciprocally on a central post for shotgun shells mounted to the carriage to engage with reloading tools arranged on a support which mounts to the upper end of the post. A circular shot plate mounts to the carriage and has a central bore for surrounding the post. An indexer member mounts in the bore of the shell plate and surrounds the post. The indexer has a helical groove in its bore which rides onto a pin extending radially from the post when the carriage is beginning to be raised so that the indexer, which is engaged with the shell plate at that time, turns the shell plate through one angular increment so that a shell on the plate will be presented to tools on the tools support successively to perform the reloading process. A powder bar and a shot bar are mounted to the top of the tool support for moving under a hopper which has chambers for powder and shot.

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 combination ammunition re-loading die having an elongated housing. The housing is externally threaded at both ends to enable entry of either end into the die holder of a reloading press. An expander post is integrally formed at one end of the housing. The other end is provided with a cartridge receiving end opening. A threaded opening in the post receives a threaded shaft projected through to the cartridge receiving end opening. The projected end of the shaft carries a re-loading member, e.g. a bullet seating plug or de-priming pin. The shaft is adjustable within the post opening to adjust the position of the member. The housing can be inserted in the die holder to first present the expander post to the cartridge, and then inverted to present the bullet seating plug or de-priming pin.

Abstract: In order to increase the efficiency and reliablility of shotgun shell reloader apparatus of the type in which an empty shell is entered and removed at a single entrance/exit station and the shell is transferred in a circular path from station to station at which the several reloading operations are performed sequentially, an accessory ejection spring is employed to automatically eject a completed shell as it enters the entrance/exit station (thus eliminating the necessity for manually handling a completed shell at the entrance/exit station) and a spring pad including a magnetic member is employed at the priming station to positively receive and emplace a new primer just prior to the repriming operation (thus eliminating instances of incorrect orientation of the new primer with respect to the deprimed shell into which it is to be seated during the priming operation).

Abstract: An apparatus for resizing rifle cartridge cases comprising the die fixedly positioned with respect to a frame and a ram operated by a lever mechanism adapted to raise a case into a resizing cavity within the die. A punch is loosely supported in the die and includes an extractor pin at one end for removing the primer from the head of the rifle case. The die is covered by a head cap including a threaded stem adapted to abut against the punch. The head cap includes a lateral flange adapted to be engaged by levers for forcing the punch against the head of the case when the case is to be removed from the die. The punch also includes an expansion sleeve for resizing the neck of the cartridge as the case is extracted from the die and an expanded end of the punch loosely suspends the punch within the die when the case has been removed.

Abstract: A hand held cartridge case reloader has a first elongated handle body on which there are spaced apart laterally extending members. The upper member is threaded to receive standard cartridge reloading tools. The lower member is bored to receive a reciprocable ram for holding a cartridge case at its upper end. A second handle body has a pivotal connection to the lower end of the ram and another pivotal connection to the lower end of a link whose upper end is pivotally connected to the lower end of the first handle body adjacent the ram.

Abstract: A semi-automatic cartridge reloading machine of the type including a lower travelling platen with a rotatable support for sequentially positioning a plurality of cartridges in each of a series of operating stations and including an upper stationary platen with a plurality of tools or dies depending or extending downwardly and spaced circumferentially about the upper stationary platen and centered over the rotatable support defining a plurality of operating stations is provided with mechanisms for automatically rotating the support to reposition the cartridges in subsequent operating stations at the completion of each reloading step or operation, automatically centering cartridges and removing spent primers from cartridges, automatically belling and admitting powder into cartridges, automatically introducing and inserting new primers into cartridges, automatically introducing and inserting bullets into cartridges, and automatically crimping and seating bullets into cartridges simultaneously and in conjunction

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: The thermoplastic shotshell reconditioning tool includes an elongated member having a front conductive tip portion adapted to be heated to a high temperature sufficient to melt the thermoplastic material of the shotshell tubular portion. A reduced diameter portion of the member is disposed rearwardly of the tip portion to retard axial heat transfer toward a rear handle portion. A generally cylindrical shell conditioning portion is disposed immediately rearwardly of the reduced diameter portion for receiving the heated mouth portion of the melted shell tubular portion to permit it to cool as the heated tip portion advances axially toward the base end portion of the shotshell. The outer surface of the tip portion is heated with a blow torch to a high temperature in the range of 250.degree. F. and 350.degree. F. The heated tip portion is manually inserted into snug contact with the crimped mouth portion of the expended shotshell to melt it for reshaping purposes.

Abstract: A reloading device for metallic firearm cartridges, the reloading device incorporating improved means for depriming and resizing a previously fired cartridge, thereafter repriming the cartridge and subsequently seating a bullet in the cartridge to a desired controlled depth and, if desired, crimping the cartridge case, said reloading device comprising in combination a hinged, latched, base and cover portion, defining a longitudinally extending passageway, removably containing at each end, respectively, a cartridge holder means and a resizing and depriming means.

Abstract: A charging bar for loading or reloading small arm type shells or cartridges. The charging bar comprises adjustment means for incrementally varying the volume of a powder or shot measuring chamber of the charging bar. Such adjustment means may include a rotational means which causes the volume of the measuring chamber to increase when rotated in one direction and the volume to decrease when rotated in the opposite direction.

Abstract: An adjustable charge bar for a shotgun shell reloading machine includes an elongated body having longitudinally spaced powder and shot receiving slots open at the top and bottom of the body, and a longitudinally movable slider in each slot forms variable volume powder and shot receiving chambers respectively with an inner end of the respective slot. An adjusting nut is rotatably mounted at each end of the body and is threadingly engaged by a rod extending from a respective slider such that rotation of the nut adjusts the longitudinal position of the respective slider in the body and thereby varies the volume of the respective chamber. Each nut has a core portion into which the respective rod extends in threading engagement and a sleeve portion carrying scale markings alignable with reference marking on the body.