The present disclosure generally relates to ammunition accessories, and more particularly to a press for manufacturing or reloading ammunition and components of such a press.
When loading or reloading ammunition, an ammunition press is commonly used to perform various operations. Ammunition presses can have various configurations. In many instances, a die is mounted on the press, and a lever actuated ram having a shell holder holding an ammunition shell (sometimes called a case) is used to move the shell into engagement with the die to perform an operation on the shell. For example, the shell may be moved into a sizing or resizing die to size the shell to desired dimensions. As another example, the shell may be moved into engagement with a decapping die for pushing a spent primer out of the shell.
In one aspect, a case holder for holding an ammunition case comprises a frame including a bed configured to support an end of the ammunition case. A first jaw is supported by the frame and configured to engage the ammunition case to hold the ammunition case. The first jaw has a first jaw member on a first side of the first jaw and has a second jaw member on a second side of the first jaw. The first jaw is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation with respect to the bed to selectively present one of the first and second jaw members in a case engagement position to engage the ammunition case for holding the ammunition case.
In another aspect, an ammunition press comprises a base configured to engage a support surface to support the ammunition press on the support surface. A die holder is supported by the base and configured to hold a die for ejecting a spent primer from an ammunition case. A ram is supported by the base and movable toward the die holder to move an ammunition case toward the die holder. A spent primer catch tray having an upper opening is supported by and movable with the ram, the spent primer catch tray located in an operational position with respect to the ram in which the ram covers the upper opening of the spent primer catch tray. The ram includes a spent primer opening arranged to permit a spent primer to fall into the spent primer catch tray from the ammunition case when the spent primer catch tray is in the operational position.
In yet another aspect, an ammunition press comprises a frame having a base configured to engage a support surface to support the ammunition press on the support surface. A die holder is supported by the frame and configured to hold a die for performing an operation on an ammunition case. A driver is supported by the frame and movable with respect to the frame to engage an ammunition case with the die holder. The driver includes a ram, a linkage, and a lever. The ram is movable between a home position and a pressing position for engaging the ammunition case with a die on the die holder. The lever is pivotable with respect to the frame in an actuating direction from a non-actuated position to an actuated position in which the lever is prevented from further pivoting in the actuating direction. The linkage is connected to the lever such that pivoting of the lever in the actuating direction toward the actuated position moves the ram toward the pressing position. The driver is adjustable to change the actuated position of the lever in which the lever is prevented from further pivoting in the actuating direction.
Other objects and features of the present invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out herein.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to
Referring to
The frame 18 includes a base 22 having a bottom surface adapted for engaging a table top or a bench top for supporting the ammunition press on the support surface. Four openings 24 are provided in the base 22 for bolting the base to the table top, bench top, or other support. The frame 18 further includes two columns 26 extending upward from the base 22 and a head 28 mounted on upper ends of the columns. The columns 26 are cylindrical shafts that support the ammunition case drive assembly 20 and guide movement of the drive assembly. The press 10 includes a die holder 30 at the head 28 for holding various types of dies. For example, a sizing die (not shown) configured to shape a neck of the ammunition case can be supported by the die holder 30. The sizing die can include a pin configured to eject a spent primer from the ammunition case. The die holder 30 comprises a receiver configured to laterally receive a collar 32. The collar has a threaded opening and is threadable onto the die. A set screw 33 can be threaded into the collar to fix the position of the collar on the die. The collar 32 is usually threaded onto the die apart from the press 10, and then the collar on the die is moved laterally into the die holder 30, which captures the collar and thus holds the die in position so ammunition cases can be moved by the press into engagement with the die. It will be appreciated that other frames and other die holders can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The ammunition case drive assembly 20 (broadly “driver”) includes a ram 40, a lever 42, and the linkage 16 connecting the lever to the ram. The lever 42 is pivotable to move the ram 40 toward the die holder 30 to engage an ammunition case with the die held by the die holder. The lever 42 includes a yoke 42A pivotally connected to opposite sides of the head 28 at pin connections 44. The lever 42 includes an arm 42B extending away from the yoke 42A and a knob 42C connected to a distal end of the arm. The lever 42 is shown in a non-actuated position in
The linkage 16 includes left and right links 50. The left and right links 50 have upper end portions 50A pivotally connected to the yoke 42A by pins 52. The links 50 have lower end portions 50B pivotally connected to the ram by pins 54. The links 50 convert pivoting movement of the lever 42 to linear travel of the ram 40 toward and away from the die holder 30. As shown in
The ram 40 is movable by the lever 42 between a home position shown in
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the ram 40 includes the integrated universal case holder 12. Referring to
The jaws 64 are configured to automatically grip an ammunition case at a circumferential groove of the case near the primer end of the case. As shown in
The jaws 64 include the plurality of jaws members 64A-64D for use with ammunition cases of different sizes. Each jaw member 64A-64D includes an arcuate edge configured to be received in the circumferential groove of the case. The user can select which pair of jaw members 64A-64D is appropriate for use with the particular ammunition case based on the diameter of the case and the jaw members having the arcuate edge most closely conforming to the circumferential groove of the case. The jaws 64 include the small jaw members 64A for cases of small diameters, medium jaw members 64B for cases of medium diameters, large jaw members 64C for cases of large diameters, and extra-large jaw members 64D for cases of even larger diameters. The user can orient the proper set of jaw members 64A-64D for gripping an ammunition case without using any tools and without disassembling the case holder 12. Handles or knobs 80 connected to each jaw 64 are located above the cover 66. Referring to
To change which jaw member 64A-64D of a jaw 64 is oriented to engage the case, the user grips the handle 80 of a jaw and moves the jaw against the bias of the respective spring 72 away from its operational position (e.g.,
In another aspect of the press 10, the spent primer catch tray 14 is carried by the ram 40 for collecting spent primers ejected from ammunition cases. If a decapping die is held by the die holder 30, the pin will be received in the mouth end of the ammunition case as the ram 40 moves the case toward the die. The case will be moved sufficiently toward the die such that the pin forces the spent primer out of the primer end of the case. The platform 62 includes a primer opening 62B positioned to permit the spent primer to be pushed out of the case while the case is resting on the bed 62A and is gripped by the jaws 64. An ejected primer falls through the primer opening 62B into the spent primer catch tray 14. The catch tray 14 has an interior sized to collect several spent primers and can be periodically emptied. In the illustrated embodiment, the primer catch tray 14 is supported by the ram 40 to act like a drawer in sliding into an operational position on the ram where the catch tray is held to collect primers. As shown in
It will be appreciated that when the tray 14 is in the operational position, the tray is relatively tight to the bottom of the ram 40 such that the ram covers the open top of the tray. The closer the rim 94 of the tray 14 is to the ram 40, the better job the ram will do of covering the open top. Covering the open top helps to capture spent primers and other debris in the tray. In the illustrated embodiment, the front portion of the peripheral rim 94 of the tray 14 is configured to be very close to the ram 40. However, portions of the peripheral rim 94, or all of the peripheral rim can be spaced from the ram 40, yet the open top still be effectively covered by the ram, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the peripheral rim 94 engages the bottom of the ram 40 in some locations and is spaced from the bottom of the ram in other locations (e.g., rear side of the tray 14). Moreover, it will be appreciated that the tray 14 can include a cover (not shown) covering part of the open top of the tray body yet still have an upper opening (e.g., opening through the cover).
Referring to
The adjustability of the press 10 to provide the user with the sensation of “cam over” or not when the lever 42 is in the actuated position will now be described in further detail. In the illustrated embodiment, the linkage 16 of the ammunition case drive assembly 20, and more particularly the left and right links 50, are adjustable to change whether the press 10 cams over or not. Some users find it desirable to feel a press cam over at the actuated position of the lever, and other users prefer the press to not cam over. The adjustability of the press 10 permits users to select from a cam-over mode and a non-cam-over mode to suit their preference.
As shown in
To change the configuration from the cam-over mode to the non-cam-over mode, the left and right links 50 are inverted. The pins 52, 54 are removed to disconnect the pin connections. The links 50 are then inverted to position the upper end portions 50A where the lower end portions 50B were previously. The pins 52, 54 are then reinstalled to form the pin connections at the opposite end portions 50A, 50B of the links 50. As shown in
In another aspect of the press 10, a light assembly 110 is provided on the head 28 of the frame 18 and can be used to illuminate the case holder 12. The light assembly 110 includes a light unit 112 comprising at least one LED 114 (broadly, “light emitting element” or “light source”) and is secured to an underside of the head 28 by a fastener 116 (e.g., bolt). The light assembly 110 includes a power port 118 (e.g., USB or micro USB port) for powering the light unit via a cord (not shown) plugged into a power outlet or other power supply (e.g., battery) and plugged into the power port. Alternatively, or in addition, the press could include a battery compartment (not shown) for housing a battery. The power port 118 is electrically connected by appropriate wiring (not shown) to a switch 120, which is electrically connected by appropriate wiring (not shown) to the light unit 112. In the illustrated embodiment, the switch 120 comprises a toggle push button 120A having an on position for powering the light unit 112 and an off position for turning the light unit off. A cavity 122 is provided in the head 28 of the frame 18 for receiving of the power port 118 and the switch 120. A passage 124 in the head 28 extends from the cavity 122 to the rear of the light unit 112 for wiring to be routed in a hidden manner to the light unit. The light unit 112 is mounted to aim the LED 114 forward at an angle to illuminate the case holder 12. A rear cover 126 is provided to cover an opening of the cavity 122 on the rear of the head 28. For example, the cover 126 can be secured to the head by suitable fasteners such as screws or bolts. Accordingly, the light assembly 110 is integrated with the press.
It will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. For example, the press could be configured such that the case holder remains stationary while the die holder is moved by the driver toward the case holder. In such a configuration, the driver may have an arrangement as shown herein but the location of the die holder on the frame and the case holder on the ram be swapped. Alternatively, the driver could be configured to move an upper die holder downward to a stationary lower case holder. Moreover, the die holder and the case holder may move toward each other.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.