An automatic ammunition reloading system includes an actuation assembly in communication with a control system. The actuation assembly is joined to a reloading press by attaching to a control lever of the ammunition press so as to put the reloading press in operative relation with the actuation assembly. The control system receives input from a control lever position sensor to sense an extremity position of the control lever and to determine an actuation distance of the control lever for a full stroke of the reloading press. The control system controls operation of the actuation assembly so as to oscillate the control lever through the actuation distance.

An ammunition reloading system is configured to be operatively coupled with an ammunition reloading press to enable automated operation of the press. The reloading system includes a motor and a power transmission assembly that enables rotational power in a single direction from the motor to drive the ammunition reloading press. A controller is communicatively coupled to the motor and to one or more press position sensors to determine a position of the press within a press stroke cycle and increase or decrease the speed of the motor accordingly.

Among other things, a digitally controlled actuator has a connector for coupling to a drive mechanism of an existing hand-driven cartridge reloader, to actuate a series of processing cycles of the reloader in which supplies of components are subjected to successive mechanical processing steps to produce reloaded cartridges ready for use. There are sensors associated with the actuator and the reloader to (a) acquire digital information that is indicative of a state of progress of each of the processing cycles and of conditions of the reloader related to the production of the reloaded cartridges, and (b) deliver the digital information to a digital controller for controlling the processing cycles of the reloader. The digital controller is connected to receive the digital information from the sensors and to control automatic operation of the reloader in successive processing cycles to produce reloaded cartridges without requiring human intervention.

A progressive press for loading or reloading ammunition casings has a base containing a reversible press motor with speed control, and vertically-oriented nuts mechanically connected to the motor and having vertically-oriented power screws extending from the nuts. The screws are affixed to a tool head which can receive dies and other tools for loading and/or reloading ammunition casings. A rotatable shell plate receives ammunition casings and advances the casings through a series of operations performed by different dies and other tools. Using a control system, the press motor can be operated to extend the screws and lift the tool head when the shell plate is advanced, and to retract the screws and tool head to perform operations on the casings when the shell plate is stationary.

This disclosure an improved progressive shell reloader machine with improved components to reduce friction and jarring, thereby reducing powder losses during the reloading process, components including a smooth ring indexer, a gripping shellplate, and an antifriction camming pin. Additional improved components allow easy halting of primer and shell casing feed, facilitating troubleshooting, components including a positionable and reversible case insert slide block and a slide back primer cam.

A progressive press for loading or reloading ammunition casings has a base containing a reversible press motor with speed control, and vertically-oriented nuts mechanically connected to the motor and having vertically-oriented power screws extending from the nuts. The screws are affixed to a tool head which can receive dies and other tools for loading and/or reloading ammunition casings. A rotatable shell plate receives ammunition casings and advances the casings through a series of operations performed by different dies and other tools. Using a control system, the press motor can be operated to extend the screws and lift the tool head when the shell plate is advanced, and to retract the screws and tool head to perform operations on the casings when the shell plate is stationary.

Herein described is a small caliber ammunition production loading machine with a novel measuring location and device. The machine will load one cartridge at a time and is referred to as a single-out machine (see FIG. 1). The machine will be similar in nature to existing loading machines with the following key novel aspects: a) The cartridge overall length (OAL) will be measured both as an overall dimension which is industry standard and also at a key datum location on a bullet's ogive. Measuring to a repeatable datum point on the bullet's ogive gives a more accurate representation of the cartridge's ballistic ability.

An automatic processing press preferably includes a lower die carrier, a pair of support posts, an upper die carrier, an actuation device, a case slider and an automatic feeder magazine. The lower die carrier preferably includes a base portion. The case slider is slidably retained on the case slider support. The automatic feeder magazine includes a feed plate, a tube holder and a threaded stud. The threaded stud is retained by the base portion of the lower die carrier. The pair of support posts are retained in the base portion. The upper die carrier is slidably retained on the pair of support posts. The actuation device is pivotally engaged with the upper die carrier and the lower die carrier to move the upper die carrier downward. A bullet resizing die system and a case resizing die system are capable of being threaded into the upper and lower die carriers.

An automatic ammunition reloading system includes an actuation assembly in communication with a control system. The actuation assembly is joined to a reloading press by attaching to a control lever of the ammunition press so as to put the reloading press in operative relation with the actuation assembly. The control system receives input from a control lever position sensor to sense an extremity position of the control lever and to determine an actuation distance of the control lever for a full stroke of the reloading press. The control system controls operation of the actuation assembly so as to oscillate the control lever through the actuation distance.

Progressive ammunition press system, components thereof, and associated methods. The press system may include a press control system integrated with the press. The press may include a case carriage including a case carrier supported by a bearing. Case retainer gates may be provided for retaining cases in the case carrier. A bullet feeding system can be arranged to permit bullet feeding and seating in a single station of the press. A primer feeder can be self-contained, gear-driven, and/or recirculating.