Abstract: An ammunition press for manufacturing or reloading ammunition cartridges. The ammunition press includes an adjustable shell holder for holding ammunition shells (sometimes called cases) of various sizes. A catch tray is provided for collecting spent primers or other debris. According to a user's preference, the ammunition press can be customized to provide an over-center actuated configuration or a non-over-center actuated configuration. A light is integrated with the press for illuminating the shell holder. Components of the press and associated methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An ammunition press for manufacturing or reloading ammunition cartridges. The ammunition press includes an adjustable shell holder for holding ammunition shells (sometimes called cases) of various sizes. A catch tray is provided for collecting spent primers or other debris. According to a user's preference, the ammunition press can be customized to provide an over-center actuated configuration or a non-over-center actuated configuration. A light is integrated with the press for illuminating the shell holder. Components of the press and associated methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An inertia bullet remover and associated methods for removing a bullet from an ammunition casing. The inertia bullet remover includes a carriage for carrying the ammunition casing. The carriage is movable with respect to a base between a first position and a second position. Movement of the carriage is guided by a guide. Movement of the carriage is stopped by a stop, which causes the bullet to exit the ammunition casing via inertia.

Abstract: An apparatus for correcting an aberration in a bullet casing's neck, the apparatus incorporating a support frame; a collet chuck and collet sleeve combination whose collet chuck presents a circumferential array of jaws having longitudinal ends, wherein the collet chuck further has a throat extending longitudinally from the jaws' longitudinal ends; a bullet ogive centering annular land fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the collet chuck, the bullet ogive centering annular land being positioned at an oppositely longitudinal end of the throat; rotatable mounting conical bearings and bushings which attach the collet chuck and collet sleeve combination to the support frame; and a turn wheel connected operatively to the collet chuck and collet sleeve combination.

Abstract: A device (2) for pulling a cartridge case (4) in a pulling direction (10) out of an axial bore of a die (6) which, as seen from the axial bore, comprises a male thread (20) on the outside to hold the die (6) in a reloading press is provided. The device (2) comprises: a support plate (12) for holding the die (6) aligned with its axial bore in the pulling direction 10) and secured against a movement in the pulling direction (10) in a die bore (18) a lifting plate (14) arranged at a distance (16) before the support plate (12) as seen in the pulling direction (10), comprising a pulling element (24) with retaining members aligned against the pulling direction (10), wherein the retaining members are arranged in such a way to hold the cartridge case (4) at an end of the pulling element (24) opposite the lifting plate (14), and drive members (32, 34) for driving the support plate (12) and the lifting plate (14) apart in and/or against the pulling direction (10).

Abstract: A cartridge retention tool may be used for restraining a spent cartridge during primer pocket cleaning. The tool may have jaws that may be sized to approximately fit the cartridge and secure it from moving during the cleaning process. The tool may employ mechanical leverage to reduce the amount of force required to restrain the cartridge within the jaws.

Abstract: A cartridge retention tool may be used for restraining a spent cartridge during primer pocket cleaning. The tool may have jaws that may be sized to approximately fit the cartridge and secure it from moving during the cleaning process. The tool may employ mechanical leverage to reduce the amount of force required to restrain the cartridge within the jaws.

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 shot shell such as would be utilized in a shotgun or the like, wherein the cartridge forming the shell has a collapsible extension removably or permanently engaging the shot end of the cartridge, with the cartridge configured to provide a un-compressed length of, for example, 2.50 inches (the minimum length of shell for conventional automatic or semi-automatic, magazine fed shotguns. The collapsible extension is configured to be compressed when placed in a spring-fed magazine, so as to provide increased magazine capacity when compared to standard length shells, while expanding when removed by from the magazine during a loading cycle, so as to facilitate reliable placement of the shell into the breach from the magazine. The collapsible extension in the loaded cartridge of the present invention is configured to be ejected from the barrel upon firing of the cartridge. The present system thereby provides a means to increase the capacity of conventional automatic or semi-automatic (i.e.

Abstract: Ammunition reloading apparatus includes a shell case support for holding a shell case, a container spaced above the support for holding shell loading material to be placed in a shell case during reloading, and an elongate charge bar underlying the container having a charge opening therein. The bar is mounted for movement between a first position in which the opening underlies the container to receive a charge of material and a second position where the material may be released to an underlying shell case. Control mechanism is operable to sense the presence or absence of the shell case on the support when the charge bar is in its second position. The control mechanism prohibits release of material from the charge opening when a shell case is absent and permits release of material to be dispensed to the shell case when a shell case is present.

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: Disclosed is a machine for re-sizing spent ammunition cartridges, such as spent brass cartridges for hand guns. A pair of forming rails which move with respect to one another to roll the cartridge between the rails in order to restore the cartridge to the original cylindrical specifications. The forming surface of one of the forming rails includes an inclined step which lengthens the cartridge as the bulge is rolled out of the cartridge neck.

Abstract: A shell plate for being indexed in angular steps is on a carrier which is, in turn, mounted to the upper end of the reloader ram. Indexer rod engageable elements such as cylindrical equiangularly spaced apart pins project downwardly from the bottom of the shell plate. An indexer rod is carried in the shell plate carrier. When the ram is driven to nearly its lowermost position, the manual operating lever is near the end of its swing at which time it abuts the indexer rod for the latter to engage one of the pins to rotate the shell plate. The indexer rod is retracted and reset by having it slide down a guide track from the uppermost position of the ram and the guide track is angulated in part to be engaged by the rod and retracted. The reloader is distinguished by indexing the shell plate only when the ram is within a few millimeters of its lowermost limit.

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: A machine to trim a used shotgun shell to an adjustable precise length with a uniform length around the circumference of the trimmed shell. The cut edge is smooth and lies in a plane of cutting essentially normal to the longitudinal axis of the trimmed shotgun shell.

Abstract: A battery operated, portable hand controlled cartridge case trimmer which indexes on the entire length of the case and permits resizing based on the total explosive expansion of the cartridge. A special clamping means secures the cartridge case for trued engagement by a cutter assembly having a cutting edge for length, a cutting edge for inside chamfer and a cutting edge for outside chamfer.

Abstract: To permit automatic ejection of shells in a progressive shell loader, a cam is mounted near the turret holding the shells. As the carriage is raised and lowered, two pawls and an index wheel turn it so that the shells advance toward a final station. Immediately prior to the final station, the cam engages a spring-biased lever to cause it to eject the reloaded shell. The pawls engage camming surfaces formed on the bottom of a single-piece index wheel to turn it.

Abstract: A speed-loading device comprising a container having an interior chamber and a discharge opening leading from the chamber to the exterior of the container. The container has a storage section in the chamber for storing cartridges in side-by-side relationship and an orienting section in the chamber between the opening and the storage section. The container can be oriented so that the cartridges in the chamber can fall by gravity from the storage section through the orienting section and out through the discharge opening. A removable blocking member blocks the flow of cartridges out through the discharge opening. The orienting section rotates the cartridges as they fall through the orienting section toward the discharge opening so that the cartridges fall end first through the discharge opening.

Abstract: The casings are guided through a supply duct to a sorting roller which possesses an arresting duct with a pin extending axially and, in the same cross-sectional plane, a transit duct. Those casings which arrive with the casing base directed upwardly penetrate into the arresting duct, with the case base resting on the free end of the pin. On subsequent rotation of the sorting roller through 180.degree., the casing falls into the outlet duct with base directed downwardly. Casings, which arrive with base pointing downwardly, run up against the pin and rest on the periphery of the roller until, after 180.degree. rotation of the transit duct, they align with the supply duct and can fall unhindered into the outlet duct. All casings fall into the outlet duct with their base directed downwardly.

Abstract: A shotgun shell dispenser for efficient hand loading, the dispenser having a hopper into which a plurality of empty cases or hulls are oriented and stacked, a carousel reel for serial transport of casings from the hopper to a dispenser opening and a trip mechanism for releasing a single shell to a dispenser trough for convenient manual removal of the casing from the dispenser.

Abstract: An in-line bullet feeder including a tubular member having a passage forming a path of travel through the member, a first bullet stop assembly formed by three balls positioned at equally spaced positions around the passage, the balls being biased inwardly by a resilient ring and a second bullet stop assembly formed by three balls positioned above the first stop assembly a spaced distance at equally spaced positions around the passage, the balls of the second stop assembly being retained in the passage by a tubular member having a camming surface and a retaining flange for selectively locking the balls in the passage, the first stop assembly being cammed out of the passage by the open end of the shell case as it enters the passage and the second stop assembly preventing upward movement of the bullet to seat the bullet in the casing.

Abstract: Cartridge reloading presses wherein either a turret carrying multiple dies or a turret carrying multiple cartridges is caused to index rotationally relative to the axis of a vertically reciprocable ram. The indexing mechanism includes a ratchet element having a circular array of downwardly pointed teeth surrounding a vertical hole. This element is fixed to the ram. A hexagon rod having a nominal 120 degree twist near its lower end fits through said hole with clearance. A plastic ratchet element having upwardly pointed complementary teeth surrounding a hexagon hole fits snugly on the hexagon rod. When the ram moves upwardly the two ratchet elements are disengaged so the rod does not turn. During the ram downstroke, the ratchet elements engage while the plastic element is still on the untwisted part of the rod. Near the end of the downstroke, the engaged and locked plastic element runs onto the twist, causing the rod to rotate to thereby rotate a turret engaged therewith.

Abstract: A bullet feed assembly for a shell casing reloader, the assembly including a housing having a passage, a gravity feed bullet reservoir connected to the upper end of the passage, a first pair of catch members pivotally mounted in the housing for movement into the passage, to catch the bullets, the catch members including cam surfaces engageable by movement of a shell casing into the passage to release the bullet, and a pair of latch members mounted for pivotal movement into and out of the passage to prevent upward movement of the bullet in the passage.

Abstract: A bullet sizing and lubricating attachment for an arbor-type bullet reloading press is provided, the attachment being mountable to an existing press such that the stroke of the bullet loading plunger is utilized to drive a bullet through a sizing die in which it is lubricated as it is sized.

Abstract: Apparatus for holding a cartridge case during a reloading operation that includes a jaw holder having a first groove extending linearly thereacross, second and third grooves intersecting the first groove at right angles and extending away therefrom in opposite directions and a bore opening to the first groove and centered relative the grooves for having a primer moved therethrough, three elongated jaws having elongated slots, each jaw having a lip at each of its longitudinally opposite ends, and screws extended through the jaw slots and threaded into the jaw holder to permit adjusting the jaws in the grooves relative the bore and retain the jaws in the adjusted positions. Two jaws are mounted in the first groove on diametrically opposite sides of the bore, the third jaw is mounted in the third groove and the second groove is provided for translating a cartridge case to have the lips of the three jaws extend into the case cannelure.

Abstract: A powder measuring device for use in connection with reloading cartridges has a powder transfer member supported for translating or, alternatively, rotating between a position where at least one cavity in the member is filled with powder from a hopper to another position wherein the powder is discharged through a tube to an empty cartridge. A cartridge to be reloaded is driven upwardly by a manually operated ram. The force for actuating the mechanism that drives the transport member is transmitted through the cartridge which means that unless a cartridge is positioned on the ram for receiving the powder the transport member will not be moved in response to operation of the ram and unintended discharge of powder will be prevented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cartridge primer seating tool which combines a seating tool with a primer feed system and includes a housing provided with a shell holder, in combination with primer stem for loading a primer into a shell and a primer dispenser for placing a primer in the primer stem communicating with a cam drive mounted in the housing.

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: An apparatus for reloading spent ammunition shells includes a plurality of tools supported on a shaft above an elevatable carriage which define a plurality of reloading stations spaced circumferentially about the shaft, one of the stations having a priming tool and a power recharging tool, and a shell holder plate supported on the carriage for coincident vertical movement therewith and adapted for rotation about the shaft and to receive a plurality of separate spent ammunition shells and to position these shells simultaneously and sequentially in different reloading stations.

Abstract: A tool for inserting primers in shell casings comprises an elongated body, a carrier element engageable with the body, a primer cap driving pin slideable in the carrier element in opposition to a coil spring surrounding the pin, a shell holder supported in the body, a hand operating lever hooked onto a pin in the body, and a toggle link pivoted on the lever for driving the pin axially wherein all parts are constrained in assembled condition by force derived from the spring.

Abstract: For resizing an ammunition cartridge casing, an expandable and contractible collet is surrounded by an axially movable internally tapered sleeve. An axially movable headed shaft for supporting a cartridge casing from its flanged end is in the collet. Shifting the sleeve in one direction opens the collet and simultaneous retraction of the shaft lets the cartridge casing drop into the collet. Shifting the sleeve in the opposite direction causes the collet to contract and resize the cylindrical casing and its flange. Returning the sleeve to its initial position allows the collet to expand and simultaneous elevation of the shaft lifts the resized casing up to the top of a work table in position to be removed by hand or to be moved to a new work station for performance of other steps connected with cartridge reloading if the resizer is built into a reloading device.