A seating die assembly is provided that includes a die body having a longitudinal axis, a first end surface and a second end surface opposing the first end surface, the first and second end surfaces separated from each other along the longitudinal axis, an elongated cavity disposed along the longitudinal axis, a cartridge receiver defining an opening on the first end surface connected to the elongated cavity, a top punch for seating a bullet in a casing disposed at least partially within the elongated cavity and translatable within the elongated cavity along the longitudinal axis, and a biasing element disposed within the elongated cavity for urging the top punch toward the cartridge receiver to seat the bullet in the casing.

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.

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.

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.

A crimping tool for assembling a countermeasure expendable. The crimping tool includes a main body that has a top end, a bottom end vertically opposite to the top end, and an axis defined between the top end and the bottom end. The main body is configured to receive a cap of the countermeasure expendable, a spacer of the countermeasure expendable, and a cartridge case of the countermeasure expendable. The crimping tool also includes a presser that selectively operably engages with the main body and is configured to press the cap and the spacer of the countermeasure expendable into the cartridge case of the countermeasure expendable. The crimping tool also includes a set of crimpers that operably engages with the main body and is configured to crimp at least the cap, the spacer, the cartridge case with one another to collectively maintain the cap and the spacer with the cartridge case.

A crimping die assembly for crimping a cartridge is provided that includes a casing and a bullet seated in the casing. The crimping die assembly includes a die body with a longitudinal axis, an elongated cavity disposed along the longitudinal axis, a cartridge receiver opening for receiving the cartridge, disposed at a first end of the die body, and opening into to the elongated cavity, a crimping bushing for crimping the casing onto the bullet, disposed within the elongated cavity and translatable therein along the longitudinal axis, and a compliant member disposed at least partially within the elongated cavity for urging the crimping bushing toward the cartridge receiver opening.

A crimping tool for assembling a countermeasure expendable. The crimping tool includes a main body that has a top end, a bottom end vertically opposite to the top end, and an axis defined between the top end and the bottom end. The main body is configured to receive a cap of the countermeasure expendable, a spacer of the countermeasure expendable, and a cartridge case of the countermeasure expendable. The crimping tool also includes a presser that selectively operably engages with the main body and is configured to press the cap and the spacer of the countermeasure expendable into the cartridge case of the countermeasure expendable. The crimping tool also includes a set of crimpers that operably engages with the main body and is configured to crimp at least the cap, the spacer, the cartridge case with one another to collectively maintain the cap and the spacer with the cartridge case.

A bullet seating die for use with an ammunition press to seat a bullet in a case includes a die housing having an ammunition press mount for mounting the bullet seating die on the ammunition press. The die housing defines a bullet receiving space having an open end and a side window in communication with the bullet receiving space. The side window sized and shaped to permit the bullet to be inserted therethrough to position the bullet in the bullet receiving space. A seating stem is supported by the die housing. The seating stem is arranged to engage the bullet to press the bullet into the case when the ammunition press is operated. A spring biases the seating stem away from the open end of the bullet receiving space to permit the bullet to be inserted through the side window and into the bullet receiving space.

The present invention relates to a projectile, in particular a full metal jacket projectile or partial metal jacket projectile, for ammunition, for example with a caliber of at most 20 mm, in particular of at most 13 mm, comprising an at least partially hollow or solid projectile body with a circumferential and/or longitudinal groove arranged on its inner and/or outer surface, which transitions seamlessly into the adjacent inner and/or outer surfaces of the projectile body and/or has a radius of at least 0.05 mm.