Cartridge reloading dies

• US 4,385,546 A
• Filed: 10/13/1981
• Issued: 05/31/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard J. Lee
• Original Assignee: Richard J. Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sebastian, Leland A.
• Application Number:
  US06/310,558
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 86/23, 86/25, 86/28, 86/36, 86/37, 86/43
• US Class Current: 86/36
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/005 Crimping cartridge cases on projectiles

Abstract

An ammunition casing reloader die set. The sizer and decapping die employs a decapping rod that is frictionally held in the die body with a collet so it can yield without damage. The decapping pin is press fitted in the rod. The bullet seater die is provided with a capped adjusting screw in which the bullet seater element floats so it adjusts itself into alignment when a bullet on a casing is rammed into it.

Claims

1. A device for use in ammunition casing reloading apparatus comprising:

a body having a bore for receiving a casing,

a decapper rod for being held in the bore coaxially therewith, said rod having a pin extending from one end for driving a cap from a casing when said casing is forced a sufficient distance into the bore,

clamping means having means for fixedly engaging with said body and for frictionally gripping said rod in a region remote from said pin such that if more than a predetermined force is imposed on said rod by said casing said rod will slip to avoid being damaged.

2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said rod has an unthreaded hole in said one end coincident with the axis of the rod and said pin is unthreaded and tightly fit into the hole to be coaxial with said rod.

3. The device as in any of claims 1 or 2 wherein said body is generally cylindrical and has an external thread for screwing it into said reloading apparatus,

a locknut having a thread for turning it onto the thread of said cylindrical body, said locknut having a counterbore coaxial with its thread, and

an o-ring disposed in said counterbore for being deformed into said threads when said locknut is tightened, to thereby prevent said body from turning in said reloading apparatus.

4. A device for use in ammunition casing reloading apparatus, comprising:

a generally cylindrical body having an external thread for being screwed into reloading apparatus and having an axial bore for admitting a casing coaxially into one end of the bore,

a decapper rod for being held in the bore coaxially therewith, said rod having a pin extending from one end for driving a cap from a casing when said casing is forced a sufficient distance into the bore,

said body having an internal axially extending thread in the other end of said bore opposite from said one end,

a clamping element having an axial hole for said rod to extend through it and having an axially extending external thread on at least a portion thereof for permitting it to be screwed into said internal thread in said other end, said clamping element having an axially extending slot for permitting said portion to flex radially inwardly to grip said rod frictionally when said element is screwed into said body.

5. The device defined in claim 4 wherein said rod has an unthreaded hole in said one end coincident with the axis of the rod and said pin is unthreaded and tightly fit into the hole to be coaxial with said rod.

6. The device as in any of claims 4 or 5 wherein said body is generally cylindrical and has an external thread for screwing it into said reloading apparatus,

a locknut having a thread for turning it onto the thread of said cylindrical body, said locknut having a counterbore coaxial with its thread, and

an o-ring disposed in said counterbore for being deformed into said threads when said locknut is tightened, to thereby prevent said body from turning in said reloading apparatus.

7. A bullet seater die for use in ammunition casing reloading apparatus, comprising:

a die having a bore into whose one end a casing having a bullet thereon may be forced incidental to performing a bullet seating operation,

an externally threaded adjusting screw means for screwing into said body coaxially to said bore,

a bullet seater element arranged in said die for moving axially and shifting laterally by a small amount, said element having a recess in an end thereof that is presented toward said one end of the bore, said recess being shaped such that it will cause said element to shift laterally to align said element with said bullet when a bullet on a casing is advanced into the bore, said element being adapted to shift axially and be stopped by said screw means to thereby seat said bullet in the casing.

8. A bullet seater die for use in ammunition casing reloading apparatus, comprising:

a die body having a bore into which a casing having a bullet extending from it may be forced incidental to performing a bullet seating operation,

an externally threaded adjusting screw means for screwing into said body, said adjusting screw having a cylindrical hole of predetermined diameter opening at one end toward said bore and coaxial with said bore, and

a bullet seater element disposed in the hole of said screw means, said element having a recess in an end presented toward said bore for a bullet that is to be seated to register therein, the diameter of said element being slightly less than the diameter of said hole to enable said seater element to float in said hole for aligning with said bullet.

10. The device defined in claim 8 wherein said adjusting screw means is provided with an annular groove adjacent its thread and there is an o-ring in said groove for frictionally engaging said thread in said opening to maintain said screw means in adjusted position.

9. A device for use in ammunition casing reloading apparatus to seat a bullet in a casing, comprising:

a body having a bore for receiving a casing that has a bullet extending from it and having a threaded opening coaxial with the bore,

adjusting screw means having an axially extending external thread for screwing it into said opening, said screw means having an axially extending hole of predetermined diameter opening toward said bore and stop means remote from the opening, and

a bullet seater element disposed in the adjusting screw means hole, said seater element having a recess in an end that is presented toward said bore into which recess the nose of said bullet registers for being seated in said casing when said casing is forced into said bore, said seater element having a diameter slightly less than said hole so it can shift to align with said bullet before said element is stopped by said stop means.

11. A bullet seater die for use in ammunition casing reloading apparatus, comprising:

a die body having a bore into whose one end a casing having a bullet extending from it may be forced incidental to performing a bullet seating operation,

a bullet seater element disposed in said die body, said element having a cylindrical portion substantially coaxial with said bore and sized to permit said portion to shift laterally relative to the axis of the bore, said cylindrical portion having a flange at one end and having a recess in an end that is presented toward said one end of the bore, said recess being shaped such that it will cause said element to shift laterally to align itself with said bullet when entered by the nose of a bullet on a casing that is being advanced into the bore,

externally threaded adjusting screw means for being screwed into said body coaxially to said bore and in spaced relation relative to said flange on the cylindrical portion of said seater element for allowing said element to move axially and for said adjusting screw means to stop said axial movement to thereby seat said bullet in said casing.