Ammunition reloading device

Abstract

An ammunition cartridge case reloading die has a die body defined by an interior bore and a bore opening, and a retention cap attachable to the die body. A cartridge case tool is fixed to the retention cap in axial alignment with the interior bore, and a tip of the cartridge case tool is at a proscribed distance relative to the bore opening. A centering shuttle is in sliding engagement in the interior bore of the die body, and defines a shuttle bore through which the cartridge case tool passes, and a reverse taper opening receptive to the cartridge case. The die may has a biasing element disposed within the interior bore between the centering shuttle and the retention cap, with movement of the centering shuttle within interior bore of the die body being dampened by the biasing element.

Claims

1. An ammunition cartridge case reloading die comprising: a die body defined by an interior bore and a bore opening; a cartridge case tool in axial alignment with the interior bore, with a tip of the cartridge case tool being at a proscribed distance relative to the bore opening; and a centering shuttle in sliding engagement in the interior bore of the die body, the centering shuttle defining a shuttle bore through which the cartridge case tool passes and a reverse taper opening with a taper base mouth coinciding with an end of the centering shuttle and receptive to the ammunition cartridge case, the tip of the cartridge case tool further being positioned proximally to a narrowed portion of the reverse taper opening with the centering shuttle in full extension relative to the die body.

2. The reloading die of claim 1, wherein an exterior of the die body is threaded for mounting to a reloading press toolholder and receptive to a toolholder lock nut.

3. The reloading die of claim 1, wherein the cartridge case tool is a decapping pin.

4. The reloading die of claim 1, wherein the cartridge case tool is a swager foot.

5. The reloading die of claim 1, wherein the cartridge case tool is a case expander.

6. The reloading die of claim 1, wherein the cartridge case tool has a unitary structure.

7. The reloading die of claim 1, further comprising a retention cap coupled to the die body.

8. The reloading die of claim 7, wherein the cartridge case tool is threadably mounted to the retention cap, the proscribed distance between the tip of the cartridge case tool and the bore opening being adjustable depending on the threading depth of the cartridge case tool into the retention cap.

9. The reloading die of claim 8, further comprising a tool locking nut threadable onto the cartridge case tool.

10. The reloading die of claim 1, wherein the centering shuttle is defined by a shuttle body with a diameter corresponding to a diameter of the interior bore of the die body, a shuttle neck having a diameter less than the shuttle body, and a shuttle shoulder.

11. The reloading die of claim 10, wherein the die body includes an inner flange defining an inner rim face abutting against the shuttle shoulder, the centering shuttle being blocked from further movement beyond the bore opening.

12. The reloading die of claim 1, wherein the cartridge case is defined by a body and a case mouth rim received within the reverse taper opening.

13. The reloading die of claim 1, wherein the cartridge case is bottlenecked and defined by a body, a neck narrower than the body, a tapered shoulder between the body and the neck, and a case mouth rim with a diameter corresponding to that of the neck, the case mouth rim being received within the reverse taper opening.

14. The reloading die of claim 7, further comprising a biasing element disposed within the interior bore between the centering shuttle and the retention cap.

15. The reloading die of claim 14, wherein the biasing element presses the centering shuttle against an inner flange of the die body.

16. A die for reloading an ammunition cartridge case, comprising: a hollow die body with an open end receptive to the ammunition cartridge case; a cartridge case tool, with a tip of the cartridge case tool being positioned at a predefined distance to the open end of the die body; and a sliding shuttle within the hollow body die and in receptive engagement with the cartridge case tool, the sliding shuttle defining a reverse taper opening with a taper base mouth coinciding with an end of the centering shuttle and the tip of the cartridge case tool being positioned proximally to a narrowed portion of the reverse taper opening with the sliding shuttle in full extension relative to the hollow die body.

17. The die of claim 16, wherein the sliding shuttle is defined by a shuttle body portion, a shuttle neck portion, and a shuttle shoulder face between the shuttle neck portion and the shuttle body portion.

18. The die of claim 17, wherein the die body has an inner flange defining an inner rim face abutting against the shuttle shoulder face.

19. The die of claim 17, wherein the cartridge case tool is a cartridge decapper.

20. The die of claim 17, wherein the cartridge case tool is a swager foot.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an ammunition cartridge case reloading die;

(3) FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the ammunition cartridge case reloading die shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present disclosure configured as a decapping die;

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present disclosure configured as a cartridge case swaging foot; and

(6) FIG. 5A-5C are cross-sectional views of the ammunition cartridge case reloading die over a typical decapping sequence with the cartridge case in different processing states.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) 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.

(8) Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an ammunition cartridge case reloading die 10, which may be referenced simply as the reloading die. In the illustrated embodiment, the reloading die 10 is 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 die 10 may incorporate additional features encompassing other cartridge case processing steps without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the features of the reloading die 10 disclosed 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.

(9) The reloading die 10 is generally comprised of a die body 12 with a first open end 14a and an opposed second open end 14b. A substantial entirety of the external portion of the die body 12 is threaded, that is, defines a continuous threading 16. Conventional reloading machines incorporate toolholders with a standard ⅞″-14 thread pitch, so the threading 16 of the embodiments of the reloading die 10 are the same to ensure compatibility therewith. Other threading pitches may be necessary for dies used to reload larger ammunition calibers such as 0.50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun) cartridge cases, in which case the threading 16 may be modified accordingly. The mounting depth of the reloading die 10 in 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 12, and after the desired mounting depth is achieved, such locking nut may be tightened against the toolholder.

(10) Threaded on or otherwise attached to the opposite second open end 14b of the die body 12 is a retention cap 18 that is defined by a first open end 20a and opposed partially closed end 20b. In an exemplary embodiment, the retention cap 18 includes a body coupling portion 22 with interior threading 24 that matches the pitch of the threading 16 on the die body 12. Furthermore, the retention cap 18 may include a central body 26 with a narrower diameter than that of the body coupling portion 22. Additional structural details of the retention cap 18 will be considered more fully below.

(11) With additional reference to the cross-sectional diagram of FIG. 3, the die body 12 defines an interior bore 28 with a first bore opening 30 and an opposed second bore opening 32. Enclosed within the die body 12 and the retention cap 18 is a centering shuttle 34, which is in sliding engagement with the interior bore 28. A biasing element 36, e.g., a coil spring, is also enclosed within the die body 12 and the retention cap 18. The biasing element 36 is accordingly defined by a shuttle end 38a and opposed retention cap end 38b. It is understood that the biasing element 36 exerts force against the centering shuttle 34, pushing the same towards the first bore opening 30 as particularly shown in FIG. 3. A portion of the centering shuttle 34 may project from the interior bore 28.

(12) Fixed to the retention cap 18 and in central axial alignment therewith is a cartridge case tool 40. In an exemplary embodiment, the cartridge case tool 40 is threaded on to the retention cap 18 and secured from the opposing side with a tool locking nut 42. With the cartridge case tool 40 being mounted to the retention cap 18 and the retention cap 18, in turn, being coupled to the die body 12, it is understood the cartridge case tool 40 is in a fixed position relative to the first bore opening 30. Likewise, the cartridge case tool 40 is understood to be in axial alignment with the interior bore 28. As will be described more fully below, a cartridge case is inserted into the interior bore 28 from the first bore opening 30, and then makes contact with the centering shuttle 34. The biasing element 36 provides 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 28. This also aids in aligning the cartridge case tool 40 with the center of the cartridge, which is where the cartridge case thereof is also located.

(13) Having considered the basic components of the reloading die 10 and its general functional inter-relationships, additional details specific to the illustrated embodiments will now be described. As indicated above, the centering shuttle 34 slides back and forth within the interior bore 28. Generally, the limit of travel of the centering shuttle 34 is the first bore opening 30. More particularly, the die body 12 includes an inner flange 44 that reduces the diameter of the first bore opening 30 relative to the remainder of the interior bore 28. The inner flange 44 is characterized by a cylindrical journal surface 46, along with an inner rim face 48 and an opposed outer lip 50 that are both substantially perpendicular to the cylindrical journal surface 46.

(14) The centering shuttle 34, in turn, may be defined by a shuttle body 52, with the diameter thereof generally corresponding to the diameter of the interior bore 28 of the die body 12. Thus, per the reference to the sliding engagement between the centering shuttle 34 and the interior bore 28, the shuttle body 52 is understood to be slightly undersized relative to the diameter of the interior bore 28 to permit such freely sliding relationship. The interior bore 28 is thus understood to be smooth, that is, having an unrestricted surface without substantial axial projections that would restrict the centering shuttle 34 from freely sliding therein. Along these lines, the shuttle body 52 is likewise understood to define a smooth, unrestricted surface that permits such a sliding engagement in the interior bore 28.

(15) In addition to the shuttle body 52, the centering shuttle 34 is also defined by a shuttle neck 54 with a reduced diameter compared to the shuttle body 52. The shuttle neck 54 is understood to have diameter corresponding to the first bore opening 30 such that the shuttle neck 54 is in a freely sliding engagement with the cylindrical journal surface 46. Like the interface between the interior bore 28 and the shuttle body 52, the shuttle neck 54 and the cylindrical journal surface 46 are both understood to be smooth and without restrictions that would limit such sliding engagement. Between the shuttle neck 54 and the shuttle body 52 is a shuttle shoulder 56. At the maximum extent of travel, the shuttle shoulder 56 abuts against the inner rim face 48 defined by the inner flange 44. The inner flange 44 thus blocks the centering shuttle 34 from further movement beyond the first bore opening 30, though portions of the shuttle neck 54 extend beyond the outer lip 50.

(16) The travel path of the centering shuttle 34 into the interior bore 28 is beyond the inner rim face 48, and so the shuttle neck 54 can be disengaged from the inner flange 44. The shuttle neck 54 defines a case engagement end 58, while the shuttle body 52 defines a spring contact end 60. Upon the centering shuttle 34 returning toward the first bore opening 30, there may be a slight tilt or axial misalignment with respect to the centering shuttle 34. To avoid binding of the tip of the shuttle neck 54 against the inner rim face 48 upon returning, the case engagement end 58 may incorporate a conical taper 62.

(17) The centering shuttle 34 is further defined by a shuttle bore 64 that extends axially therethrough. As illustrated, the cartridge case tool 40 is positioned within the shuttle bore 64, and thus the centering shuttle 34 is likewise in sliding engagement with the cartridge case tool 40. The case engagement end 58 of the centering shuttle 34 defines a reverse conical/tapered opening 66 to the shuttle bore 64. In other words, the opening 66 has a wide mouth that narrows to the shuttle bore 64. The presently disclosed reloading die 10 may 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 opening 66 is understood to be sized and shaped to interface with the tapered shoulder of such a bottlenecked case, while the shuttle bore 64 may be sized and configured to receive the neck portion of the same. Furthermore, the reverse conical opening 66 may help guide the narrower case mouth at the neck portion toward the shuttle bore 64, as there may be a slight axial misalignment.

(18) According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the cartridge case tool 40 is a decapping pin 68 that is characterized by a base portion 70 and a pin portion 72. The base portion 70 with the larger diameter is understood to provide structural rigidity and prevent breakage over numerous impact cycles, while the pin portion 72 with the reduced diameter compared to the base portion 70 is sized and shaped to pass through the cartridge case flash hole. Between the base portion 70 and the pin portion 72 there is a tapered neck portion 74 that assists with centering the case in relation to the decapping pin 68 and makes contact with the case mouth. This is also understood to prevent the binding of the cartridge case to the decapping pin 68. The shuttle bore 64 may be oversized relative to the decapping pin 68, 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 tool 40 is within the case interior to engage the primer.

(19) The decapping pin 68 may be configured as a replaceable unit that is removably engageable to a ram shaft 76, which in turn is mounted to the retention cap 18 as generally described above in the context of the overall cartridge case tool 40. A variety of coupling mechanisms for the decapping pin 68/ram shaft 76, though commonly, male/female threading may be used. Alternatively, the entirety of the cartridge case tool 40, that is, the decapping pin 68 and the ram shaft 76, may be a single, unitary structure

(20) FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the reloading die 10 in which the cartridge case tool 40 is a swager foot 78. 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.

(21) 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 78. Like the decapping pin 68, the swager foot 78 is inserted into the case, and presses against the inside of the case base. From opposite the swager foot 78, the primer pocket swager may be pressed into the primer pocket to remove any previous applied crimp. The swager foot 78 is thus understood to counter the force of the swager, and support the case base from deformation during this operation. The swager foot 78 may 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 foot 78 is understood to stabilize and align the cartridge case as the primer is being inserted.

(22) The swager foot 78 may have a diameter that is substantially larger than that of the pin portion 72 of the decapping pin 68. In some embodiments as the one illustrated in FIG. 4, the swager foot 78 may be defined by a base portion 80 that is coupled to the ram shaft 76, with a reduced diameter anvil portion 82, with a taper 84 therebetween. Alternatively, the swager foot 78 may have a continuous diameter throughout its axial extent.

(23) Aside from the above-described decapping pin 68 and the swager foot 78, the reloading die 10 may be adapted for other cartridge case tools 40 such as bullet seating stems and the like. As described above, the cartridge case tool 40 is attached or otherwise mounted to the retention cap 18, which in turn is mounted to the die body 12. Thus, a tip 86 of the cartridge case tool 40 is maintained at a proscribed distance relative to the first bore opening 30. In the case of the decapping pin 68 and the swager foot 78, the respective tips 86 thereof extend beyond the first bore opening 30 and at a set dimension from the outer lip 50 of the die body 12. 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 30.

(24) A portion of the cartridge case tool 40 includes threading 88 that is engageable to a corresponding threading 90 on the retention cap 18. Again, the retention cap 18 is defined by the first open end 20a and the opposed partially closed end 20b, and includes the body coupling portion 22 that is threaded onto the die body 12, as well as the central body 26. The retention cap 18, and specifically the central body 26 thereof, defines a cap bore 92 extending from the first open end 20a. The central body 26 has a base portion 94, which terminates the cap bore 92. Within the base portion is a threading hole 96 through which the cartridge case tool 40 is coupled to the retention cap 18.

(25) Because the cartridge case tool 40 is threadably engaged to the retention cap 18, the cartridge case tool 40 can be variably positioned in relation thereto. The cartridge case tool 40 can be extended outwardly such that the tip 86 extends further out from the first bore opening 30 and the opposite shaft base end 98 is retracted into the retention cap 18, or vice versa. Thus, the aforementioned proscribed distance between the tip 86 of the cartridge case tool 40 and the first bore opening 30 is understood to be adjustable depending the threading depth of the cartridge case tool 40 into the retention cap 18. Further threaded onto the portion of the cartridge case tool 40 extending from the retention cap 18 may be the aforementioned tool locking nut 42 that is tightened against a distal end wall 100 of the retention cap 18.

(26) The cap bore 92 is understood to have a diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter of the interior bore 28. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the biasing element 36 is disposed within the interior bore 28 and the cap bore 92, with the shuttle end 38a thereof abutting against the spring contact end 60 of the centering shuttle 34, and the retention cap end 38b abutting the base portion 94.

(27) Referring now to FIGS. 5A-5C, an exemplary sequence of utilizing one embodiment of the reloading die 10 to remove the primer 102 from a cartridge case 104 will now be described. Initially, in the state illustrated in FIG. 5A, the cartridge case 104 positioned within a shell holder 106 that captures it by its rim 108. The spent primer 102 is held within a primer pocket 110 of the cartridge case 104. By way of example, the cartridge case 104 is a bottleneck type with a primary case wall 112, a neck 114, and a tapered shoulder 116 therebetween. The centering shuttle 34 is in its fully extended position relative to the die body 12 as a consequence of the spring force applied to the centering shuttle 34 toward the first bore opening 30 by the biasing element 36, and the cartridge case tool 40/decapping pin 68 remains sheathed within the centering shuttle 34 in the shuttle bore 64 thereof.

(28) Next, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, the reloading press ram to which the shell holder 106 is attached is raised, also raising the shell holder 106 and the cartridge case 104 placed therein. The case mouth 118 of the cartridge case 104 may make contact with the centering shuttle 34 if there is any axial misalignment, though the tapered opening 66 thereof is understood to direct, channel, or otherwise funnel the neck 114 of the cartridge case 104 such that it fits within the shuttle bore 64. This is also understood to place the entirety of the cartridge case 104 in axial alignment with the cartridge case tool 40. To the extent the upward movement of the cartridge case 104 is not converted to the sliding movement of the case mouth 118 and begins moving the same toward the narrower shuttle bore 64, and the force being sufficient to overcome the spring bias, the centering shuttle 34 is moved upwardly into the interior bore 28 of the die body 12.

(29) Once the cartridge case 104 is fully engaged within the centering shuttle 34, the entirety of the upward force applied by the reloading press ram is directed against the centering shuttle 34, driving the cartridge case 104 and the centering shuttle 34 into the interior bore 28 of the die body 12. By this point, the tip 86 of the cartridge case tool 40 is aligned with the center axis of the cartridge case 104, as well as the flash hole 120 between the primer pocket 110 and the cartridge case interior.

(30) FIG. 5C illustrates the ram of the reloading press continuing to raise the shell holder 106, the cartridge case 104, and the centering shuttle 34 into the interior bore 28 of the die body 12. The decapping pin 68, which is stationary relative to the moving centering shuttle 34, enters the cartridge case 104 and the flash hole 120, eventually pressing against the primer 102 to remove the same from the primer pocket 110.

(31) Once the primer 102 is removed, the reloading press ram may be lowered, also lowering the shell holder 106 and the cartridge case 104. Although the centering shuttle 34 is understood to return its maximum extension toward the first bore opening 30 due to the force exerted by the biasing element 36, the neck 114 may become dislodged from the shuttle bore 64 in the further downward stroke of the shell holder 106.

(32) 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.