Priming Tool

Abstract

A handtool having a shell holder for clamping the head of an ammunition case on the tool to align the primer pocket of the case with a punch. The punch is advanced in an adjusted motion to press each primer a uniform depth into the pocket of each case regardless of variations in the rim thickness between cases.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related to tools for hand-loading ammunition, and more specifically to a handtool for uniformly seating primers in cartridge cases.

The hand loading of brass cartridge cases is very popular because of the economy of reusing such cases, and in addition, because of the greater shooting accuracy that can be achieved by using ammunition that has been carefully loaded to provide uniform and consistent shooting characteristics. In particular, some precision shooters employ only a few cases for a given rifle. The cases are reloaded by means of special tools and gauges in order to reduce any variances in the firing properties between the cases.

In reloading such ammunition, one step comprises pressing a primer into a pocket in the case head. Usually the case is supported on a tool by its rim to align the primer pocket with a punch which presses the primer into the pocket. Conventional primer tools are operated to seat the primer in its pocket either by "feel", or by a punch having an adjustable travel. However, the former method is not satisfactory because of variations in pocket size between cases. Thus, an oversize pocket will not receive a primer to the same depth as a standard size pocket where the primer is always seated with a given pressure. The resulting variations in seating depth can induce ignition and velocity error that result in less shooting accuracy.

In the typical adjustable primer, the case is supported by the front face of the rim during priming. The problem is that the seating depth then varies as the rim thickness. In rimmed cases, this dimension often varies up to 0.005 inches. Therefore, prior art adjustable priming tools also can introduce variations in shooting properties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The broad purpose of the present invention is to provide a hand operated, adjustable priming tool in which the primer is seated a predetermined depth from the end face of the case head. The seating depth is independent of rim thickness.

The preferred embodiment of the invention, which will be described in greater detail, employs a punch which is slideably mounted in a tubular body. An anvil having a face for supporting the head of a case, is mounted on one end of the body. The anvil has an opening in its case-supporting face for guiding the punch in its travel. When the punch is retracted, it forms a pocket in the anvil for receiving the primer. As the punch is extended, it moves the primer out of the anvil opening. The punch is so mounted that it can only be extended a predetermined, adjusted distance beyond the anvil face. Thus, the distance the punch can move the primer out of the anvil is limited by the distance the punch can be extended from the anvil opening. This distance remains fixed until the travel of the punch is readjusted.

A shell holder is threadably mounted on the tool for clamping on the tool such that the end face of the case head is in contact with the anvil face and the primer pocket is aligned with the punch. Since each case head is in contact with the anvil, the depth each primer is seated in each case remains constant for a given punch travel.

The shell holder comprises a threaded cap which supports an interchangeable head. Each shell holder head accommodates a different size of case so that the same tool can be used for most standard size cases.

Therefore, it is to be understood that the preferred priming tool provides means for seating primers to a uniform depth in a manner that is independent of rim thickness. The preferred tool has a shell holder that can be easily adapted to accommodate different size cases. The shell holder supports the case in a manner that eliminates any tendency of the case to become cocked as the primer is being pressed into its pocket. These and other advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains upon reference to the detailed description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description refers to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred hand-operated priming tool constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention:

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the preferred priming tool;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal-sectional view of the preferred priming tool; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the shell holder and anvil to show the manner in which the case is seated on the anvil.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawing, a preferred priming tool 10 is illustrated for pressing a primer 12 into the pocket 14 of a brass ammunition case 16. The priming tool 10 comprises a tubular, metal body 18 having a longitudinal slot 20. A lever 22 is received in slot 20 and pivotally connected to a plug 24, disposed in the body 18, by a pin 26.

A plug 28, mounted adjacent the lower end of the body 18, supports a screw 30 which functions as a stop to limit the motion of the plug 24 toward the body's lower end. A spring 32 is connected between the body 18 and the lever 22 to bias it toward an open position in which the outer end of the lever 22 is spaced from the body 18. A plastic handle 34, mounted in the lever 22, provides means for the user to move the lever toward a closed position in which a shoulder 35 abuts the inner wall of body 18. The shoulder 35 is disposed to prevent the lever from being pivoted over dead center.

A plunger 36 is slideably mounted in the body 18, and connected by a link 38 to the lever 22 so as to be moved toward the outer end of the body 18 as the lever is moved toward its closed position. A punch 40, having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the primer 16, is carried on the plunger 36.

An anvil 42 is seated on the outer end of the body 18 and partially received into the body 18 so as to align a bore 44 to slideably receive the punch 40.

A tubular, knurled cap 46 is threadably mounted on the outer end of the body 18, and carries a shell holder head 48. The head 48 is removably locked to the cap 46 by a pair of setscrews 50 (only one shown) which allow the head to be exchanged with another head which is suited for a case of another size. The head 48 is locked on the body 18 to suitably position an opening 50 for receiving the case when the priming tool is disposed in the user's hand.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the head 48 slideably receives the anvil 42 and is formed to receive the head of case 16 through the opening 50 to a position in which the primer pocket 14 is aligned with the punch 40. As the cap 46 is rotated in the body in one direction, the head 48 engages the rim 50 of the case 16 to securely clamp the case head and the anvil 42 in contact with one another between the outer end of the body 18, and the head 48. The case 16 is clamped in a position in which the priming pocket 14 is aligned with the punch 40, and the end face of case 16 is in contact with the outer face of the anvil 42.

In order to reload the case 16, the screw 30 is precisely adjusted to define the distance the punch 40 is to extend beyond the anvil face when the lever 22 is in its closed position. This distance defines the distance that each primer will be recessed into its priming pocket beyond the rear face of its case. The screw is not repositioned relative to the plug 28 except to change the primer-seating depth. The primer 12 is mounted on the tool by disposing it in a pocket formed by the punch 44 in its retracted position in the anvil bore 42. The cap 46 is rotated in one direction to expose the opening 50 for receiving the case 16, and then rotated in the opposite direction to clamp the case 16 against the anvil 42. The user then closes the lever 22 to press the primer 12 into the priming pocket 14. Because the punch 40 is extended out of the anvil bore the same distance each time the lever is closed, each primer is pressed to a uniform depth into its case until the screw 28 is readjusted to redefine the primer's seating depth.

It is therefore to be understood that I have described in detail a novel hand-operated priming tool for pressing a primer into a case head. The preferred tool has an interchangeable head, and a punch that can be adjusted to seat primers either to a precise uniform depth, or by feel. The tool securely positions each case on the anvil to prevent misalignment or cocking of the case as the punch is extended.

Claims

Having described my invention, I claim.

1. A tool for pressing a primer a predetermined depth into the pocket of an ammunition case having a rim adjacent one end thereof, comprising:

an elongated body having an axial bore;

a punch disposed in the bore for axial motion therein;

lever means mounted on the body and connected to the punch for moving it toward a position adjusted according to the depth the primer is to be pressed into the pocket of the case;

an anvil mounted on the body, the anvil having an opening for receiving the primer in a position in the path of motion of the punch; and

a shell holder having a head with an opening for receiving the rim of the case, and being movable on the body parallel to the motion of the punch from a first position in which the case is receivable in the opening, toward a second position depending upon the thickness of the rim in which the head prevents movement of the case from a position in contact with the anvil to receive a primer from the anvil opening, whereby as the punch is moved by the lever means toward said adjusted position, the primer is pressed into the primer pocket to a depth that is in accordance with the adjusted position of the punch and independent of the thickness of the case rim.