Ammunition Reloading Device

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/447,020 filed on Aug. 9, 2023, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/448,992 filed on Sep. 27, 2021, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,874,097, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/007,562 filed on Aug. 31, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,131,531, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/282,001 filed on Feb. 21, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,794,676, all of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

The present disclosure relates generally to reloading ammunition, and more particularly to dies for decapping and swaging cartridge cases of spent ammunition cartridges to prepare the cartridge for further processing.

In its most fundamental form, a firearm is device configured to launch a projectile from a barrel with a propellant. The pressure from the rapidly expanding gasses of the ignited propellant is partially contained within the barrel and directed to the projectile that is positioned at the barrel breech, propelling it toward the muzzle and beyond. Over the course of history, there have been numerous advancements to increase accuracy, rate of fire, longevity, and safety of firearms while still applying these operational principles.

Earlier forms of firearms such as muzzleloaders could be prepared for firing by the manual placement of propellant, e.g., black powder, for the muzzle end of the barrel, followed by the projectile. Modern firearms utilize a self-contained cartridge that is comprised of the same basic components of the projectile/bullet and propellant, but with the propellant being disposed within the interior of a metallic cartridge case, and the bullet being seated on the case mouth. Conventional ammunition cartridges utilize smokeless gunpowder, and ignition thereof is achieved with an explosive primer that is positioned at the case head. In use, the cartridge is fed into a chamber defined in the barrel toward the breech end, and locked into place by way of the firearm action. A firing pin or a striker is driven against the explosive, which momentarily explodes, causing the main propellant to ignite. The expanding gasses of the ignited propellant are contained within the chamber and directed to the projectile that is retained within the case mouth, and launching it down the barrel. After firing, the cartridge case is removed from the chamber by an extractor, and ejected from the firearm. In repeating actions, a fresh cartridge can be loaded and the process repeated.

The case is typically constructed of brass, though softer steel alloys may also be used. Brass is preferable for its malleability/expandability to safely contain the pressures of the ignited powder, as well as its structural rigidity that helps maintain the integrity of the cartridge during rough handling and loading into the firearm before use. One of the most expensive components of an ammunition cartridge is the cartridge case and is also the most readily retrievable; the bullet is far separated from the firearm after being launched, the powder has been burnt, and the primer has been spent and its rear face has been deformed by the striker/firing pin. Although the rapid expansion and contraction of the case walls also causes deformations, with appropriate processing, the case can be reused.

With the rising cost of ammunition, it is common for active participants in the shooting sports to reload ammunition. Additionally, by handloading ammunition, the reloader can exercise a greater degree of control over the final cartridge in terms of case dimensions, powder charge weights, primer placement, and crimping compared to mass-manufactured ammunition. Thus, a greater degree of accuracy and consistency in the ballistic performance can be achieved. Furthermore, with different types and charge weights of powder being selectable by the reloader, a cartridge can be tuned for optimal performance in a particular firearm.

Reloading a spent cartridge involves several steps. First, the cartridge case, which has expanded and slightly contracted after being fired, is resized to standard dimensions. Such resizing step may also including case length trimming, which is typically necessary with bottlenecked rifle cartridges. The cartridge is forced into a resizing die with internal dimensions that correspond to the standard. Simultaneously, or as a separate step, the case may be de-primed—that is, the struck primer is removed from the cartridge case in the case head. Thereafter, the exterior and interior surfaces of the case may be cleaned by mechanical tumbling or with an ultrasonic bath. The case mouth is then expanded with an expansion die, and a new primer is seated. Bottlenecked rifle cartridges further require a case neck resizing step. A measured charge of powder is placed into the case, and the bullet is placed on to the case mouth, where it is loosely held. Another die, referred to as a seating die, presses the bullet into the case mouth to a prescribed depth, to conform the overall length to the aforementioned standard. Depending on the ammunition type, a crimp may be applied to the case mouth to ensure retention of the bullet therein.

Reloaders typically utilize a reloading press for the foregoing cartridge preparation and reloading steps. A movable ram holds the case by the rim, and raised to a stationary die that is positioned at a prescribed distance relative to the end of the ram. The simplest form is a single stage press, where the die is replaced for each step, and multiple cases under go the step(s) that is possible with a single die. Turret presses are also known in the art, where multiple dies corresponding to each of the case processing/reloading steps are installed onto a rotating turret, each at the required or proscribed depths. Cases may still be processed in batches, but the time-consuming removal and tuning of each of the dies is not necessary, as the turret may simply be rotated to the next station. There are also progressive presses, where a single press stroke is operative to apply multiple processing/reloading steps to a sequenced set of cases, that is, the case is progressively moved to each station or die. Thus, a first case may be undergoing an expansion step while a second case may be undergoing to resizing/decapping step, and so on.

Changing dies from step to step takes a significant amount of time, and so it is desirable to minimize the number of die changes needed. However, there is a significant compromise with dies that attempt to combine multiple processing steps, as any given step of a combined die may be inadequate with respect to the quality of the result achievable with a single, dedicated die. A progressive press diminishes such issues, as a larger toolholder may accommodate a large number of pre-installed dies, and thus more specialized, single-purpose dies may be utilized without the countervailing deficiency of multiple and repeated die changes.

The decapping step is challenging, particularly with bottlenecked cartridges. A typical die incorporates a long, thin shaft referred to as a decapping pin that is threadably attached to the interior extent of the die. The decapping pin must be long enough that when the press ram fully inserts the cartridge into the die, it extends beyond the cartridge case opening. The thickness of the decapping pin, as well as the die attachment may be limited in dies for bottlenecked cartridges that have a narrower opening. The pin and its base must fit within the narrower case mouth. To the extent the case, as positioned on the ram, is misaligned with the decapping pin, the case mouth may be crushed as the case is moved into the die. Additionally, the decapping pin may also make contact with the case, which can lead to breakage of the pin and/or damage to the case. Similar issues exist with cartridge case swaging dies, which remove any present crimp that assisted in holding the previous primer in place, and make the primer pocket uniform.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved reloading die that properly aligns the cartridge case with the die, particularly its decapping pin or swager foot tools, before making contact therewith. There is also a need in the art for decapping die that reduces the possibility of crushing the case mouths, as well as reducing decapping pin breakage.

An embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to an ammunition cartridge case reloading die. The die may include a die body defined by an interior bore and a bore opening, as well as a retention cap attachable to the die body. There may also be a cartridge case tool that is fixed to the retention cap in axial alignment with the interior bore. A tip of the cartridge case tool may be at a proscribed distance relative to the bore opening. The die may also include a centering shuttle in sliding engagement in the interior bore of the die body. The centering shuttle may define a shuttle bore through which the cartridge case tool passes, along with a reverse taper opening receptive to the cartridge case. The die may further include a biasing element disposed within the interior bore between the centering shuttle and the retention cap. Movement of the centering shuttle within interior bore of the die body may be dampened by the biasing element.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure contemplates a die for reloading an ammunition cartridge case. The die may include a hollow die body with an open end receptive to the ammunition cartridge case. Additionally, the die may include a cartridge case tool centrally fixed relative to the die body. A tip of the cartridge case tool may be positioned at a predefined distance to the open end of the die body. There may also be a sliding shuttle within the hollow body die that is in receptive engagement with the cartridge case tool. The die may further include a biasing spring in the hollow body die and against the sliding shuttle. Movement of sliding shuttle in the hollow body die may be dampened by the biasing spring.

The present disclosure will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the several presently contemplated embodiments of an ammunition cartridge case reloading die. This description is not intended to represent the only form in which the embodiments of the disclosed invention may be developed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and features in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure. It is further understood that the use of relational terms such as first and second, front and rear, left and right, distal and proximal and the like are used solely to distinguish one from another entity without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities.

Referring now to, various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an ammunition cartridge case reloading die, which may be referenced simply as the reloading die. In the illustrated embodiment, the reloading dieis a dedicated decapping die, that is, its sole function is to remove the primer from a fired or spent ammunition cartridge. This is by way of example only and not of limitation, however, and it is expressly contemplated that the reloading diemay incorporate additional features encompassing other cartridge case processing steps without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the features of the reloading diedisclosed herein may be adapted to other dies beyond the illustrated decapping and swaging dies. Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize the modifications for making such adaptations, and thus such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

The reloading dieis generally comprised of a die bodywith a first open endand an opposed second open endA substantial entirety of the external portion of the die bodyis threaded, that is, defines a continuous threading. Conventional reloading machines incorporate toolholders with a standard ⅞″-14 thread pitch, so the threadingof the embodiments of the reloading dieare the same to ensure compatibility therewith. Other threading pitches may be necessary for dies used to reload larger ammunition calibers such as .50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun) cartridge cases, in which case the threadingmay be modified accordingly. The mounting depth of the reloading diein the reloading press toolholder relative to the maximum extension of the press ram with a shell holder attached thereto can vary from die to die and is therefore understood to be individually set. In order to maintain such position, there may be a locking nut (not shown) also threaded on to the die body, and after the desired mounting depth is achieved, such locking nut may be tightened against the toolholder.

Threaded on or otherwise attached to the opposite second open endof the die bodyis a retention capthat is defined by a first open endand opposed partially closed endIn an exemplary embodiment, the retention capincludes a body coupling portionwith interior threadingthat matches the pitch of the threadingon the die body. Furthermore, the retention capmay include a central bodywith a narrower diameter than that of the body coupling portion. Additional structural details of the retention capwill be considered more fully below.

With additional reference to the cross-sectional diagram of, the die bodydefines an interior borewith a first bore openingand an opposed second bore opening. Enclosed within the die bodyand the retention capis a centering shuttle, which is in sliding engagement with the interior bore. A biasing element, e.g., a coil spring, is also enclosed within the die bodyand the retention cap. The biasing elementis accordingly defined by a shuttle endand opposed retention cap endIt is understood that the biasing elementexerts force against the centering shuttle, pushing the same towards the first bore openingas particularly shown in. A portion of the centering shuttlemay project from the interior bore.

Fixed to the retention capand in central axial alignment therewith is a cartridge case tool. In an exemplary embodiment, the cartridge case toolis threaded on to the retention capand secured from the opposing side with a tool locking nut. With the cartridge case toolbeing mounted to the retention capand the retention cap, in turn, being coupled to the die body, it is understood the cartridge case toolis in a fixed position relative to the first bore opening. Likewise, the cartridge case toolis understood to be in axial alignment with the interior bore. As will be described more fully below, a cartridge case is inserted into the interior borefrom the first bore opening, and then makes contact with the centering shuttle. The biasing elementprovides a slight resistance to or dampening of the insertion of the cartridge case, with such resistance forcing a slight adjustment in the positioning of the case within the interior bore. This also aids in aligning the cartridge case toolwith the center of the cartridge, which is where the cartridge case thereof is also located.

Having considered the basic components of the reloading dieand its general functional inter-relationships, additional details specific to the illustrated embodiments will now be described. As indicated above, the centering shuttleslides back and forth within the interior bore. Generally, the limit of travel of the centering shuttleis the first bore opening. More particularly, the die bodyincludes an inner flangethat reduces the diameter of the first bore openingrelative to the remainder of the interior bore. The inner flangeis characterized by a cylindrical journal surface, along with an inner rim faceand an opposed outer lipthat are both substantially perpendicular to the cylindrical journal surface.

The centering shuttle, in turn, may be defined by a shuttle body, with the diameter thereof generally corresponding to the diameter of the interior boreof the die body. Thus, per the reference to the sliding engagement between the centering shuttleand the interior bore, the shuttle bodyis understood to be slightly undersized relative to the diameter of the interior boreto permit such freely sliding relationship. The interior boreis thus understood to be smooth, that is, having an unrestricted surface without substantial axial projections that would restrict the centering shuttlefrom freely sliding therein. Along these lines, the shuttle bodyis likewise understood to define a smooth, unrestricted surface that permits such a sliding engagement in the interior bore.

In addition to the shuttle body, the centering shuttleis also defined by a shuttle neckwith a reduced diameter compared to the shuttle body. The shuttle neckis understood to have diameter corresponding to the first bore openingsuch that the shuttle neckis in a freely sliding engagement with the cylindrical journal surface. Like the interface between the interior boreand the shuttle body, the shuttle neckand the cylindrical journal surfaceare both understood to be smooth and without restrictions that would limit such sliding engagement. Between the shuttle neckand the shuttle bodyis a shuttle shoulder. At the maximum extent of travel, the shuttle shoulderabuts against the inner rim facedefined by the inner flange. The inner flangethus blocks the centering shuttlefrom further movement beyond the first bore opening, though portions of the shuttle neckextend beyond the outer lip.

The travel path of the centering shuttleinto the interior boreis beyond the inner rim face, and so the shuttle neckcan be disengaged from the inner flange. The shuttle neckdefines a case engagement end, while the shuttle bodydefines a spring contact end. Upon the centering shuttlereturning toward the first bore opening, there may be a slight tilt or axial misalignment with respect to the centering shuttle. To avoid binding of the tip of the shuttle neckagainst the inner rim faceupon returning, the case engagement endmay incorporate a conical taper.

The centering shuttleis further defined by a shuttle borethat extends axially therethrough. As illustrated, the cartridge case toolis positioned within the shuttle bore, and thus the centering shuttleis likewise in sliding engagement with the cartridge case tool. The case engagement endof the centering shuttledefines a reverse conical/tapered openingto the shuttle bore. In other words, the openinghas a wide mouth that narrows to the shuttle bore. The presently disclosed reloading diemay be adapted for decapping bottlenecked cartridges that are defined by a case body portion and a narrower neck portion, with tapered section between the body portion and the neck portion. The reverse conical openingis understood to be sized and shaped to interface with the tapered shoulder of such a bottlenecked case, while the shuttle boremay be sized and configured to receive the neck portion of the same. Furthermore, the reverse conical openingmay help guide the narrower case mouth at the neck portion toward the shuttle bore, as there may be a slight axial misalignment.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the cartridge case toolis a decapping pinthat is characterized by a base portionand a pin portion. The base portionwith the larger diameter is understood to provide structural rigidity and prevent breakage over numerous impact cycles, while the pin portionwith the reduced diameter compared to the base portionis sized and shaped to pass through the cartridge case flash hole. Between the base portionand the pin portionthere is a tapered neck portionthat assists with centering the case in relation to the decapping pinand makes contact with the case mouth. This is also understood to prevent the binding of the cartridge case to the decapping pin. The shuttle boremay be oversized relative to the decapping pin, so as to provide clearance for the case wall/neck portion when the cartridge case is fully seated within the shuttle and the cartridge case toolis within the case interior to engage the primer.

The decapping pinmay be configured as a replaceable unit that is removably engageable to a ram shaft, which in turn is mounted to the retention capas generally described above in the context of the overall cartridge case tool. A variety of coupling mechanisms for the decapping pin/ram shaft, though commonly, male/female threading may be used. Alternatively, the entirety of the cartridge case tool, that is, the decapping pinand the ram shaft, may be a single, unitary structure

illustrates another embodiment of the reloading diein which the cartridge case toolis a swager foot. As will be recognized by those having ordinary skill in the art, in some ammunition cartridges, the cartridge case is crimped around the primer to prevent dislodging during firing. Although the primer may be removable, the pre-existing crimp may obstruct a new primer from being seated. Accordingly, it may be necessary for the cartridge case to be swaged, and a swaging tool may be inserted from the case base to make the primer pocket uniform.

Because of the substantial force being applied to the case head that is transmitted through the case wall to the mouth, deformation of the case wall may be prevented with the use of the swager foot. Like the decapping pin, the swager footis inserted into the case, and presses against the inside of the case base. From opposite the swager foot, the primer pocket swager may be pressed into the primer pocket to remove any previous applied crimp. The swager footis thus understood to counter the force of the swager, and support the case base from deformation during this operation. The swager footmay also be adapted for use during priming, where a primer is inserted into an empty pocket. A similar support function as provided by the swager footis understood to stabilize and align the cartridge case as the primer is being inserted.

The swager footmay have a diameter that is substantially larger than that of the pin portionof the decapping pin. In some embodiments as the one illustrated in, the swager footmay be defined by a base portionthat is coupled to the ram shaft, with a reduced diameter anvil portion, with a tapertherebetween. Alternatively, the swager footmay have a continuous diameter throughout its axial extent.

Aside from the above-described decapping pinand the swager foot, the reloading diemay be adapted for other cartridge case toolssuch as bullet seating stems and the like. As described above, the cartridge case toolis attached or otherwise mounted to the retention cap, which in turn is mounted to the die body. Thus, a tipof the cartridge case toolis maintained at a proscribed distance relative to the first bore opening. In the case of the decapping pinand the swager foot, the respective tipsthereof extend beyond the first bore openingand at a set dimension from the outer lipof the die body. In the case of a bullet seater (not shown), its tip may be within the body at a set distance from the first bore opening.

A portion of the cartridge case toolincludes threadingthat is engageable to a corresponding threadingon the retention cap. Again, the retention capis defined by the first open endand the opposed partially closed endand includes the body coupling portionthat is threaded onto the die body, as well as the central body. The retention cap, and specifically the central bodythereof, defines a cap boreextending from the first open endThe central bodyhas a base portion, which terminates the cap bore. Within the base portion is a threading holethrough which the cartridge case toolis coupled to the retention cap.

Because the cartridge case toolis threadably engaged to the retention cap, the cartridge case toolcan be variably positioned in relation thereto. The cartridge case toolcan be extended outwardly such that the tipextends further out from the first bore openingand the opposite shaft base endis retracted into the retention cap, or vice versa. Thus, the aforementioned proscribed distance between the tipof the cartridge case tooland the first bore openingis understood to be adjustable depending the threading depth of the cartridge case toolinto the retention cap. Further threaded onto the portion of the cartridge case toolextending from the retention capmay be the aforementioned tool locking nutthat is tightened against a distal end wallof the retention cap.

The cap boreis understood to have a diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter of the interior bore. As best shown in, the biasing elementis disposed within the interior boreand the cap bore, with the shuttle endthereof abutting against the spring contact endof the centering shuttle, and the retention cap endabutting the base portion.

Referring now to, an exemplary sequence of utilizing one embodiment of the reloading dieto remove the primerfrom a cartridge casewill now be described. Initially, in the state illustrated in, the cartridge casepositioned within a shell holderthat captures it by its rim. The spent primeris held within a primer pocketof the cartridge case. By way of example, the cartridge caseis a bottleneck type with a primary case wall, a neck, and a tapered shouldertherebetween. The centering shuttleis in its fully extended position relative to the die bodyas a consequence of the spring force applied to the centering shuttletoward the first bore openingby the biasing element, and the cartridge case tool/decapping pinremains sheathed within the centering shuttlein the shuttle borethereof.

Next, as illustrated in, the reloading press ram to which the shell holderis attached is raised, also raising the shell holderand the cartridge caseplaced therein. The case mouthof the cartridge casemay make contact with the centering shuttleif there is any axial misalignment, though the tapered openingthereof is understood to direct, channel, or otherwise funnel the neckof the cartridge casesuch that it fits within the shuttle bore. This is also understood to place the entirety of the cartridge casein axial alignment with the cartridge case tool. To the extent the upward movement of the cartridge caseis not converted to the sliding movement of the case mouthand begins moving the same toward the narrower shuttle bore, and the force being sufficient to overcome the spring bias, the centering shuttleis moved upwardly into the interior boreof the die body.

Once the cartridge caseis fully engaged within the centering shuttle, the entirety of the upward force applied by the reloading press ram is directed against the centering shuttle, driving the cartridge caseand the centering shuttleinto the interior boreof the die body. By this point, the tipof the cartridge case toolis aligned with the center axis of the cartridge case, as well as the flash holebetween the primer pocketand the cartridge case interior.

illustrates the ram of the reloading press continuing to raise the shell holder, the cartridge case, and the centering shuttleinto the interior boreof the die body. The decapping pin, which is stationary relative to the moving centering shuttle, enters the cartridge caseand the flash hole, eventually pressing against the primerto remove the same from the primer pocket.

Once the primeris removed, the reloading press ram may be lowered, also lowering the shell holderand the cartridge case. Although the centering shuttleis understood to return its maximum extension toward the first bore openingdue to the force exerted by the biasing element, the neckmay become dislodged from the shuttle borein the further downward stroke of the shell holder.

The particulars shown herein are by way of example only for purposes of illustrative discussion and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the various embodiments of the ammunition cartridge case reloading die set forth in the present disclosure. In this regard, no attempt is made to show any more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the different features of the various embodiments, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how these may be implemented in practice.