Abstract: As described above, this new primer feed system is both accurate and consistent. The primer feed station begins by loading primers from the vendor packaging into the vibratory feed bowl via the primer chute. The bowl has an adjustable height polycarbonate guard that is inside the main safety polycarbonate doors and exits above the machine. The bowl then orients the primers open side up and discharges them into the primer track. Crimping can be done with 3 or 5 pins or a complete radial crimp. Previous versions of the crimp station on these crimping machines involved a pin mounted to the upper ram and a lower pin actuated by the lower ram. It was difficult to time and adjust properly for a consistent crimp. This new approach to crimping has proved much more reliable, accurate and easier to adjust. It still utilizes an upper pin mounted to the upper moving ram assembly but the lower pin is fixed.

Abstract: An automated filler for ammunition reloading primer tubes includes an upper feed assembly situated on a lower stand assembly. The upper feed assembly includes a base that holds a primer tube, anchors leaf springs, and houses an electromagnet. Leaf springs connect the base to a bowl situated directly above it. The bowl includes a metal plate, a cavity and ramp for receiving primers, features for rejecting improperly oriented primers, an exit that cooperates with a loading subassembly, which includes an exit channel fluidly connected to the bowl exit, a height adjustable lid, interchangeable resilient tubes, interchangeable tube adaptors, and a metal ring. The ring magnetically secures a primer tube to the base, and a resilient tube and tube adaptor connect the exit channel to the primer tube for loading primers with minimal interference. Optionally, a cover and concave receiving lid can partially surround and cooperate with the upper feed assembly.

Abstract: An attachment assembly includes a conically tapered missile body interface surface of a missile body attachment interface wedged against a conically tapered missile component interface surface of a missile body attachment interface. The missile body attachment interface also includes an engagement rod for locked engagement by a hook of the missile component attachment interface. Specifically, the missile component attachment interface includes an auto-adjusting assembly having a series of pivoting arms connected to a rotatable engagement drive at a first end thereof and a hook at a second end thereof. The auto-adjusting assembly is moveable between a first position and a second position, and between the second position and a third position. The missile component attachment interface includes a pre-loaded over-center mechanism operably coupled to the auto-adjusting assembly and configured to lock the hook in engagement with the engagement rod in the third position.

Abstract: An ammunition primer installation device is attachable to an ammunition reloading press and uses a sliding and rotating finger trigger attached to a primer transporting slide to receive a primer from a supply trough and transport the primer to position above a primer cup on an ammunition reloading press and a trigger actuated plunger to push the primer from the device into the primer cup while maintaining the proper primer orientation.

Abstract: A hand-held tool for loading a primer into a primer socket of an ammunition cartridge case includes an elongate body with a holder for holding a cartridge case with its primer socket in a target position in a priming station. An elongate track on the tool longitudinally guides a rectilinear primer holding strip through the priming station. A reciprocating advancing member moves in advancing and retracting directions, and in its advancing direction engages the primer strip to sequentially align successive primers in the strip with the target position. A detent holds the primer strip against retraction when the advancing member moves in its retracting direction. A plunger is mounted for shifting longitudinally of the body into and away from the priming station to push a primer out of the primer strip into the primer socket of the cartridge. An elongate operator handle is connected to the body for movement relative thereto.

Abstract: A holder for feeding components, such as primers or bullets, into a reloading machine is disclosed. The component holder is an elongate strip having notched longitudinal margins for indexing the strip as it progresses through the reloading machine. The strip includes a plurality of receptacles for holding components. Each receptacle has an inner surface that is a combination of a cylindrical portion, a prismatical portion, and a transition portion which cooperate, to allow easy loading of the component into the strip and which firmly holds the component in place. The holder also includes an engagement portion so that successive holders may be ganged together to provide a continuous component holder for continuous reloading operations. A tape is applied to at least one side of the holder to cover the component held therein.

Abstract: A cartridge priming device having a cartridge receiver for holding a cartridge to have a primer inserted therein, a primer receiving station for holding a single primer for insertion into a cartridge, a primer reservoir operable to hold a plurality of primers, a passage for directing primers from the reservoir to the primer receiving station, and a guard shiftable between a first position, allowing primers to pass from the passage into the primer receiving station, and a second position in which the guard isolates the primer receiving station from the primer passage to shield following primers from a primer in the primer receiving station. The tool may be a hand-held and operated tool having a swingable handle, with the guard being an arcuate plate member connected to and movable with the operator handle between its first and second positions.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for installing primers in ammunition shells, comprising a primer holder having walls defining a pocket opening to an upper surface of the holder for receiving a primer. The pocket has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of a primer so that there is an interference fit between the pocket and the primer sufficient to prevent the primer from being inadvertently dislodged from the holder during shipment, handling or use of the holder. The holder has a hole extending from a bottom of the pocket to a bottom surface of the holder for receiving a pin which pushes the primer out of the pocket and directly into a shell in response to relative movement between the holder and the pin. The holder preferably is disk shaped and has a plurality of pockets. The invention further comprises a shell reloading machine which utilizes the new primer feed system.

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 method for orienting and stacking primers one on top of another in a vertical upright position inside of a tubular receptacle.An apparatus with a slotted hopper and a gate to orient and stack primers in a removable tubular receptacle one on top of another in a vertical fashion. The apparatus can include a vibrator to facilitate orientation of the primers in the hopper and to speed passage of the primers through the apparatus. The apparatus may further include a handle to allow it to be held in one hand. In an alternative embodiment, the tubular receptacle is not removable from the gate. Another embodiment has a smooth hopper and a tubular receptacle to receive and stack primers one on top of another.An alternative embodiment of the apparatus has a removable gate and a removable receptacle to accommodate different sized primers.

Abstract: An improved shell reloading machine incorporating in addition to the essential features of utility convenience and low cost, an effective means for the prevention of primer cap detonation which might otherwise occur due to improper alignment of the primer feed mechanism.

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: A body having an axial bore is fixed in an ammunition cartridge reloading press which has an actuated ram. The bore contains a punch that is retracted by a spring away from a cartridge that is mounted in a holder and is to have a primer inserted. An open trough conducts primers in a row from a storage tray to a chamber at the upper end of the punch. A pin on the ram of the press drives the punch for it to press a primer into the cartridge in opposition to the spring. The terminal end of the trough is cylindrical and fits into the body's axial bore to allow the trough to pivot and advance primers by vibration. The terminal end has a hexagon bore to provide clearance for the round punch that passes through it so stray propellant dust can sift away safely. In one embodiment a rod extends laterally from the trough and rubs on the press frame during a ram stroke to thereby flex and vibrate the trough and tray to induce advancement of the primers.

Abstract: To enable a shell to be automatically primed during operation of a loader, the primers are mounted within a chute to fall by gravity to an opening where a lever is pivoted by a cam as the shell carriage of the loader moves in a vertical direction within the frame of the loader. The motion of the lever moves one of the primers from the chute into position underneath the shell carriage for insertion into the shell casing as the carriage moves downward against the base of the loader frame. The lever arm is spring-biased into position underneath the rim of the holder and contacts a cam mounted to move up and down with the carriage upon the actuating of the loader handle by an operator. The shell is deprived during the upward movement of the carriage and the downward movement.

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: An improved shell reloading machine employing a movable four-position shell plate carried by a single shaft and actuated by a swinging toggle linkage.

Abstract: In a shell loading device, a sizing station is provided wherein a sizing ring is forced onto the head of a shell while depriming. A second station is provided for priming the shell. The priming post at the second station is provided with a freely exposed top face and a central vertical bore through which the primer may be manually dropped onto a support surface. The priming post is vertically movable to force the shell onto the primer. The primer support surface is surrounded by a well having an upwardly extending wall. The upper end of the wall is such that when the priming post forces the shell into the well, the wall end engages and strips the sizing ring from the head of the shell.

Abstract: A tool for reconditioning and reloading spent shotgun shells is disclosed. The tool has a movable table upon which is mounted a rotating die cage. The cage contains a series of floating dies for sizing the spent shells. A fixed tool head at the top of the apparatus carries a series of filling tubes and crimping dies. Means for rotating the die cage and the operation of the floating dies is described.