US2680988A

US2680988A - Cartridge reloading device

Info

Publication number: US2680988A
Application number: US209153A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward I Watson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-02-02
Filing date: 1951-02-02
Publication date: 1954-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 1971-06-15

Description

June 15, 1954 E. WATSON CARTRIDGE RELOADING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2. 1951 INVENTOR. EDWARD 1. WA'rsoN FIG. 2

ATTORNEYS June 15, 1954 E. 1. WATSON CARTRIDGE RELOADING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2, 1951 INVENTOR. Epwmzu I. WATSON r/Um'a aan ATTO QM EYS mm N O w Ill!!! vllltllin.

June 15, 1954 E. L YVAT$ ON CARTRIDGE RELOADING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 2, 1951 INVENTOR. Eowano I WA-rsoN BY 7%9Zmfimvzm w Wad/ Mean ATTOQNEYs Patented June 15, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to cartridge reloading devices and more particularly to a hand operated device for reconditioning and reloading empty cartridge casings or sh lls, such as the metal shells used in rifle ammunition.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved hand operated device which is effective to accomplish all of the steps required for reprirning, reconditioning and reloading empty cartridge shells; which accurately resizes,

trims to length, chamiers and deburrs the empty shell cases before they are reloaded; which does not subject the rims of the shells to force or pressure during the reconditioning and reloading operation; which greatly facilitates the loading of empty cartridge shells and renders it possible to complete the entire reloading operation with a single device; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, and efficient and eifective in operation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a cartridge reloading device illustrative of the invention, portions being broken away and shown in cross section to better illustrate the construction thereof;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view on the line 3-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the moving parts of the device in elevation and in different operative positions from those illustrated in Figure 4;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but with the parts in still diiTerent operative positions;

Figure 6 is a transverse cross sectional View on the line 6-4; of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a transverse cross sectional view on the line 1-7 of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a transverse cross sectional View on the line 88 of Figure 3;

Figure 9 is a transverse cross sectional view on the line 99 of Figure 3;

Figure 10 is a transverse cross sectional view on the line 50-40 of Figure 3;

Figure 11 is a transverse cross sectional view on the line I III of Figure 3;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line I2--I?; of Figure 9- Figure 13 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of the device at the right-hand end thereof as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a slotted sleeve member disposed at the right-hand end of the device as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 15 is a perspective view of an elongated sleeve on which the bushing illustrated in Figure 14 is mounted; and

Figure 16 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 12 showing a modified form of the components shown in Figure 12.

With continued reference to the drawings, the cartridge reloading device of the invention comprises a triangular, sheet metal base I!) preferably formed of a single piece of sheet metal bent to a U-shaped cross section so that it provides a bight portion II constituting the hypotenuse of the right triangular form of the base and two triangular legs I2 and I3 extending from respectively opposite edges of the bight portion II in spaced apart and substantially parallel relationship to each other.

Along their base edges the legs I2 and I3 are provided with outwardly projecting flanges I d and I5 having apertures spaced apart longitudinaliy thereof and receiving bolts IE5 which extend through bolt holes provided in a horizontal supporting structure I 1, such as a bench or table top, on which the device is mounted for convenience in use.

When the triangular base It is mounted on the horizontal supporting structure I? by the base flanges I l and I5 the bight portion II of the base is inclined upwardly from one edge of the support I'I.

Two side rails I8 and I9 are mounted on the bight portion II of the base, one at each edge of the bight portion and in spaced apart and substantially parallel relationship to each other.

These side rails are secured to the bight portion of the base by suitable means, such as the cap screws 28 extending through spaced apart apertures in the bight portion II and threaded into '0 tapped holes provided in the rails I3 and I9 and opening to the edges of the rails adjacent the bight portion II of the base.

A hand lever 2| has at one end a portion 22 of substantially square cross sectional shape and disposed between the side rails I8 and I9 at one end of the guideway provided by these side rails and the bight portion II of the base. The lever portion 22 has a distal end of substantially semicylindrical form, as indicated at 23, and a pivot pin 2 extends through the lever portion 22 substantially coaxially of the semicylindrical portion 23 and extends through registering apertures provided in the side rails I3 and as to pivotally secure the handle to the side rails.

The portion 22 is preferably bent intermediate its length so that the fiat front side of this portion can be brought down into the space between the guide rails I8 and I 9 and substantially in contact with the outer surface of the bight portion 5 I of the base While leaving the remaining portion of the hand lever inclined away from the guide rails in a direction away from the pin 2 Adjacent the mid-length location of the guide way, the side rails l8 and 59 are provided with elongated registering slots and 2% respectively, and a plunger or plunger head 21 is mounted in the guideway between the slotted portions of the side rails.

This plunger head 21 may comprise a metal block of square or rectangular cross sectional shape having a width substantially equal to the distance between the inner sides of the guide rails 18 and i9 and having an aperture therethrough receiving a pin 28 which is received at its ends in the slots 25 and 2B in the side rails to pivotally mount the plunger in the guideway.

The block 2? is recessed at its opposite sides adjacent the pin 28 and links 29 and 39 disposed adjacent pivotally connect the hand lever 2! to the plunger head 2?. The

links

29 and 36 are provided at their ends adjacent the lever 2i with registering apertures which receive a pivot pin 32 which extends through an aperture in which is substantially parallel to and spaced from the aperture receiving the pin 2Q. At their other ends the links 25 and 353 are provided with apertures receiving the pin 28 so that the plunger 21 will be moved longitudinally of the guideway in which it is mounted for a distance substantially equal to the length of the

slots

25 and 26 when the hand lever B! is swung about the pivot pin 24 from one limiting position to its other limiting position.

A set screw 33 is threaded through an aperture in the bight portion H of the base adjacent the pivot pin 26 and is locked by a lock nut 3 3 in adjusted position to catch the portion 22 of the hand lever and limit movements of the hand lever forcing the plunger 2'? in a direction away from the pivot pin 24 and the portion 22 of the hand lever.

The plunger 2! has one corner rounded off, as indicated at 35, to provide a substantially quarter cylindrical formation coaxial with the pin 28 so that the plunger block can be swung about the pin 23 through an angle of approximately 90 degrees. In one operative position, as illustrated in Figure 4, the operating end 36 of the plunger is directed outwardly of the guideway and in its other operating position this end of the plunger is disposed substantially perpendicular to the bight portion l l of the base and at the side of the pivot pin 23 remote from the pivot pin 24.

The plunger 21 is provided in its end or face with a bore or recess 31 which receives a reduced end portion of a substantially cylindrical priming head 38.

The priming head 38 is secured in the recess 31 by suitable means, such as the set screw 39 threaded through a tapped hole in the plunger bearing at its inner end against the reduced portion of the head 38, this set screw serving as a handle for moving the plunger from its primer receiving position, as illustrated in Figure 4 to its primer inserting position, as illustrated in Figure 3.

Intermedate its length the primer head 38 is provided with an external annular shoulder 39 which bears against the end 35 of the plunger block to position the head relative to the block. The head 38 has a bore extending coaxially therethrough and is provided at its end remote from the plunger 21 with a counterbore 40 receiving the side rails i8 and i9 respectively the hand lever a cylindrical cup M dimensioned to closely receive a shell primer or cap 42.

A primer setting pin 53 is threaded through the bore of the head 38 and carries within the recess 3'! a loci: nut 45 which looks the pin in longitudinal adjustment relative to the head 38. Within the cup H the pin 43 is provided with a head or enlargement 45 which forces a priming cap 42 held in the cup H from the cup and into the cap receiving opening in a cartridge shell in a manner to be presently described.

A guide block 46 of square or rectangular cross sectional shape is disposed between the side rails l8 and I9 at the end of the guideway remote from the hand lever 2| and this guide block has arbors projecting to opposite sides thereof and received in notches 4! and 48 provided in the guide rails l8 and I9 respectively and opening to the upper edges of the guide rails. These arbors, as indicated at 49, pivotally mount the guide block 45 in the guideway for tilting movements about the axis of the arbors 49 which axis extends transversely of the guideway substantially parallel to the upper surface of the bight portion I l and perpendicular to the inner surfaces of the two side rails l3 and IS. The bight portion II is cut away adjacent the arbors 59 to provide freedom of tilting movement for the guide block 46, as is particularly illustrated in Figure 4.

The guide block 48 has a bore extending axially therethrough and provided with a screw threaded counterbore at the end thereof remote from the plunger 21.

An elongated sleeve 5!] is slidably mounted in the bore of the guide block 46 and is provided within the bore of the guide block with an annular shoulder 5|. A cup shaped nut 52 is threaded into the counterbore in the guide block and has an end wall provided with an aperture slidably receiving the sleeve 50 at a location spaced from the shoulder 5|. A coiled compression spring 53 surrounds the sleeve between the shoulder 51 and the adjacent end surface of the nut 52 and resi1- iently urges the sleeve in a direction relative to the guide block such that the shoulder 5| is moved away from the nut 52.

The sleeve 50' projects beyond the end of the guide block 46 adjacent the plunger 2? and a die block 54, of rectangular cross sectional shape, has a bore 55 extending coaxially therethrough and shaped to exactly fit a cartridge shell 56 when the cartridge shell is properly sized and conditioned. At its end adjacent the guide block 46 the die block 54 is provided with a counterbore which receives the projecting end of the sleeve 50, thereby mounting the die block on the guide block 46 which is in turn pivotally mounted on the side rails 18 and IQ of the guideway structure.

The die block 54 together with the guide block 46 is swingable about the axis of the arbors 49 between an upwardly inclined position, as illustrated in Figure l, in which a cartridge shell may be placed in or removed from the die and, the position illustrated in Figures 3 and 5 when the die block is positioned for resizing and trimming of the cartridge shell, repriming the shell and ejecting the primed and reconditioned shell from the die block.

The sleeve 58 has a bore extending axially therethrough and is provided in its ends adjacent the die block '54 with a screw threaded counterbore 51 and a cylindrical, externally screw threaded shell trimmer or cutter 58 is threaded into this counterbore in the sleeve.

The cutter or trimmer 58 has a bore extending 5. axially therethrough and a tubular shell expander 59 extends through this aperture in the trimmer and is flared at its end adjacent the bottom of the counterbore 51 in the sleeve, as indicated at so in Figure 12, to retain the expander in the cutter. At its opposite end the expander is provided with a rounded or partly spherical portion 6| which is carefully dimensioned interiorly to give exactly the right size to the neck portion of a cartridge shell as it is drawn through the neck portion of such shell.

A cylindrical bushing 62 surrounds the sleeve 50 outwardly of the guide block 45 and has one end received in the annular nut 52. The sleeve 50 is provided within the bushing 62 with an elongated diametrical slot 63 and a flat key 64 extends through this slot near the end of the sleeve remote from the cutter 58. A rarnrod 65 extends through the bore of the sleeve 50 and through the tubular expander 59 and through the die block to a location adjacent the end of the bore of the die block remote from the guide block 46. At its other end the ramrod is provided with a screw threaded reduction 66 which is threaded into a tapped hole in the key 64.

The flat key 64 extends to opposite sides of the sleeve and the bushing 62 and a handle 61 is provided on the key near one end thereof for manually rotating the key, the sleeve 50 and the cutter or trimmer 51.

At its end remote from the cutter receiving recess 5! the sleeve '50 is externally screw threaded, as indicated at 67, and a micrometer graduated adjusting nut 68 is threaded onto this screw threaded portion of the sleeve and bears against the adjacent side of the key 64.

As is particularly illustrated in Figure 14, the bushing 62 is provided in its end adjacent the key 64 with a pair of diametrically opposed shallow notches it and H and is also provided with a pair of longitudinally extending

slots

12 and 13 diametrically opposed relative to each other and disposed midway between the notches and 1|.

The fiat key is receivable in the notches I0 and H for reshaping and trimming the shell cartridge to proper length and is receivable in the slots 12 and E3 when it is desired to eject a reconditioned shell cartridge from the die 54.

A pair of

links

74 and 75 are disposed at the outer sides of the side rails Hi and I9 respectively, and are pivotally connected, each at one end, to the pin 28. These links extend from the pin 28 to a location adjacent the flat key 64 and a cross bar it joins the

links

14 and 15 at their ends adjacent the key 64.

This cross bar is engageable with the key, as illustrated in Figure 3, to force the ramrod 65 through the sleeve 58 and eject a cartridge shell from the die block 54 in the manner illustrated in Figure 5.

The cutter or trimmer '58 is provided in its end adjacent the cartridge shell 56 received in the die 54 with notched cutting teeth, as indicated at 8Q in Figure 12, which are shaped to trim the open end of the cartridge shell the amount necessary to provide a cartridge shell of the proper length and to simultaneously chamfer the inner edges of the open end of the shell and smooth or deburr the outer circumferential edge of the open end of the shell.

In the modified arrangement of the trimmer and the shell expander, as illustrated in Figure 16, the construction is the same as that illustrated in Figure 3 and 12 and described above except that the cutter is provided in its rearside with a circular recess rather than the beveled recess shown in Figure 12, and the expander 82 is provided on its end disposed at the back side of the cutter 8| with an annular, external flange 83 which is received in the circular recess provided in the cutter. At its opposite end the ex ander 82 is provided with a rounded die portion 84 the major circumference of which is carefully dimensioned to properly size the neck portions of the cartridge shells near the open ends of the shells, as explained above.

The operation of the mechanism for resizing and repriming an empty cartridge shell is particularly illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

In order to load the device, the hand lever 2| is first moved to its limiting position retracting the plunger 2'! and bringing the pin 28 to the ends of the

slots

25 and 26 nearest the hand lever. The plunger 21 is then turned through 90 degrees by the projecting handle 31 and the cu 4| is raised by lifting the projection 85 which extends radially from the cup and is received in a notch in the end of the priming head 38. Raising the extension 85 pulls the cup 4| outwardly of the priming head 38 so that the head of the pin 43 is now disposed inwardly of the open end of the cup. The inside diameter of the cup, as explained above, is such as to closely receive the priming cap 42 and a priming cap is now manually placed in the open end' of the cup 4| and the plunger 2'! is rotated through 90 degrees by the handle 37 back to its position in which the head 38 and cup 4| are disposed between the side rails l8 and IQ of the device.

The guide block 46 is now turned about the axes of the arbors 49 so that the guide block and die block are inclined upwardly from the axis of these arbors and the end of the die block adjacent the plunger 2! is positioned above the upper edges of the guide rails l8 and I9 in convenient position for loading.

An empty cartridge shell is now placed in the die block 54 open end first, and receiving the v portion of the ramrod extending outwardly beyond the rounded end 6| of the shell expander 59. This leaves the rim portion of the empty shell projecting out of the die block and the die block and guide block are now turned about the axis of the arbors 49 until they are disposed between the side rails l5 and 9 and the rim end of the shell 56 is opposite the outer end of the priming head 38 with the interior of the cup 4| in alignment with the primer receiving recess in the rim end of the cartridge shell.

The hand lever 2| is now swung in a direction toward the guide block 46 forcing the plunger 2! toward the adjacent end of the die 54 and forcing the cartridge shell fully into the die block and the priming cap 42 into the cap receiving recess in the rimmed end of the cartridge shell, as is particularly illustrated in Figure'3.

As the movement of the plunger 2! forces the neck portion of the cartridge shell into the corresponding portion of the die block the rounded enlargement (ii at the distal end of the shell expander 59 passes through the neck portion of the shell and, as the neck portion of the shell is forced into the smaller end of the bore in the die block, this portion of the shell is contracted and reduced to a diameter slightly less than the proper diameter for the neck portion of the shell.

The open end of the shell now projects slightly beyond the adjacent end of the die block and against the cutting blades or elements of the cutter 58. A slight gap 86 is provided between the adjacent ends of the sleeve 50 and the die block 54 and between the cutter 58 and the die block and the cutter is resiliently urged toward the die block and against the open end of the cartridge shell by the spring 53 acting between the nut 52 and the shoulder on the sleeve 50.

With the cutter blades of the trimmer 58 against the open end of the shell, if the key 64, sleeve 50 and cutter 58 be now rotated by the handle 61 on the key, the cutter will trim the open end of the cartridge shell, chamfering the inner side of the shell at the open end and removing burrs from the edges of the open end of the shell. The cuttings escape through an opening 81 provided in the die block and the bight portion of the base as the open end of the shell is trimmed.

The key 64 is received in the shallow notches and H, of the bushing 52, and, as soon as the top edge of the key comes into contact with the top of the slot 63, movement of the cutter 58 toward the open end of the cartridge shell is terminated. The amount that the cartridge shell is trimmed at its open end is predetermined by adjusting the micrometer nut 68 which is threaded onto the screw threaded end 61 of the sleeve and bears against the outer edge of the key 64, the adjustment of this nut predetermining the amount which the key can move relative to the bushing before the inner edge of the key comes into contact with the bottoms of the notches l0 and II in the bushing 62.

After the shell has been reprimed, resized in the die 54 and trimmed at its open end, it becomes necessary to eject the reconditioned shell from the die block.

In order to eject the reconditioned shell, the cross bar 13 at the distal ends of the links 14 and I5 is raised by the outwardly projecting pin 88 until the bar is hooked behind the key 64. The hand lever 2| is then swung in a direction away from the die block 54 and moves the plunger 21' away from the adjacent end of the die block. At the same time, the

links

14 and 15 connected to the plunger pin 28, move the cross bar 18 in a direction toward the die block and force the key 64 longitudinally of the sleeve 50 toward the adjacent end of the guide block 46. It will be noted that before the lever 2| is swung, the bushing 62 will be rotated to bring the

slots

12 and 13 of the bushing into registry with the key 64 so that the key can move longtiudinally of the bushing. This is accomplished by pulling the key outward against the force of spring 53 a distance sufficient to release the key from the notches T8 and H in the bushing, and then rotating the bushing through approximately 90 degrees until the key is entered into the open ends of the

slots

12 and 13.

As the key is now moved by the cross bar 18 toward the guide block 46 the ramrod 55 is forced through the bore of the die 54 until it contacts the inner side of the closed end of the cartridge shell 56 and forces the cartridge shell outwardly of the die block. As the neck of the shell is moved outwardly past the rounded enlargement 6! on the expander 59, the neck of the cartridge shell is brought to the proper inside diameter so that it will accurately receive a bullet inserted therein.

When the hand lever 2| has been moved to its limiting retracted position the plunger head 21 will have been moved away from the die block 54 and the cartridge shell will have been projected from the die block until it is free in the bore of the die block and easy to remove, as is particularly illustrated in Figure 5. The guide block and die block are then swung upwardly about the axis of the arbors 49, releasing the cross bar 18 from the key 64 and elevating the rim end of the reconditioned cartridge shell 56 to a location at which the shell can be easily removed from the die. The plunger head 21 may now be turned through degrees to bring the cup 4! to its upwardly directed, loading position and a priming cap placed in this cup and a new empty cartridge shell placed in the die block 54 whereupon the priming and reconditioning of the shell may be repeated in the same manner as that described above.

It will be noted that two bearing

plates

83 and 90 are secured one to each of the side rails l8 and I9 in position to overlie the edges of the upper surface of the plunger head 21 when the plunger head is moved away from its retracted position toward the die block 54. These bearing plates maintain the mechanism against any buckling action and maintain the pressure on the cartridge shell axially of the longitudinal center line of the shell so that there are no unbalanced forces tending to distort the shell.

After the cartridge shell has been resized, trimmed and reprimed in the manner indicated above, it may be reloaded with a new powder charge and a bullet may then be inserted into the neck portion of the shell through the open end thereof by the above described mechanism with the substitution of bullet inserting parts for the

parts

50, 58, 59 and 65, the device being thus capable of accomplishing the entire reloading operation.

It will be noted that when the reconditioned cartridge shell is ejected from the die block 54 by the ramrod 65, the ramrod contacts the inner side of the closed end of the shell only and that no pressure is exerted at any time on the rim of the shell so that the rim of the shell is not damaged or weakened during the reconditioning operation.

A small block 9| is secured to the bottom I l of the guideway at the end of the die block 54 remote from the guide block 46 and holds the die block against movement while the reconditioned cartridge shell is being ejected therefrom. The corresponding end of the die block is slightly beveled so that the die block will drop behind the holding block 90 when moved from the position illustrated in Figure 4 to that illustrated in Figure 5. As the die block is loosely associated with the guide block 46 and sleeve 50, a different die block can be substituted for the one in use, whenever desired.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for reconditioning empty cartridge casings, an abutment block having a bore extending therethrough, a die block mounted on said abutment block and having a casing receiving and resizing bore extending longitudinally therethrough and disposed in longitudinal alignment with the bore in said abutment block, a casing trimming device rotatably mounted in the bore of said abutment block and engageable by the adjacent end of a casing disposed in said die block, means connected to said trimming means at the end of said abutment block remote from said die block for imparting rotational movement to said means, and reciprocable means disposed adjacent the end of said die block remote from said abutment block for forcing a cartridge easing into said die block and against said trimming means.

2. In a device for reconditioning empty cartridge casings, an abutment block having a bore extending therethrough, a die block mounted on said abutment block and having a casing receiving and resizing bore extending longitudinally therethrough and disposed in longitudinal alignment with the bore in said abutment block, a casing trimming device rotatably mounted in the bore in said abutment block and engageable by the adjacent end of a casing disposed in said die block, means connected to said trimming device at the end of said abutment block remote from said die block for imparting rotational movement to said trimming device, reciprocable means disposed adjacent the end of said die block remote from said abutment block for forcing a cartridge casing into said die block and against said trimming device, said trimming device being longitudinally movable in the bore of said abutment block, and resilient means disposed between said abutment block and said trimming device urging said trimming device toward the end of the die block bore adjacent said abutment block and. providing a limited freedom of resiliently resisted movement of said trimming device away from said die block by a cartridge casing forced into the bore of said die block.

3. In a device for reconditioning empty cartridge casings, an abutment block having a bore extending therethrough, a die block mounted on said abutment block and having a casing receiving and resizing bore extending longitudinally therethrough and disposed in longitudinal alignment with the bore in said abutment block, a casing trimming device rotatably mounted in the bore in said abutment block and engageable by the adjacent end of a casing disposed in said die block, means connected to said trimming device at the end of said abutment block remote from said die block for imparting rotational movement to said trimming device, reciprocable means disposed adjacent the end of said die block remote from said abutment block for forcing a cartridge casing into said die block and against said trimming device, said trimming device being longitudinally movable in the bore of said abutment block, resilient means disposed between said abutment block and said trimming device urging said trimming device toward the end of the die block bore adjacent said abutment block and providing a limited freedom of resiliently resisted movement of said trimming device away from said die block by a cartridge casing forced into the bore of said die block, and adjustable means connected between said trimming means and said abutment block limiting movement of said trimming means toward said die block by said resilient means.

4. In a device for reconditioning empty cartridge casings, an abutment block having a bore extending therethrough, a die block mounted on said abutment block and having a casing receiving and resizing bore extending longitudinally therethrough and disposed in longitudinal alignment with the bore in said abutment block, a casing trimming device rotatably mounted in the bore in said abutment block and engageable by the adjacent end of a casing disposed in said die block, means connected to said trimming device at the end of said abutment block remote from said die block for imparting rotational movement to said trimming device, reciprocable means disposed adjacent the end of said die block remote from said abutment block for forcing a cartridge casing into said die block and against said trimming device, said trimming device being longitudinally movable in the bore of said abutment block, resilient means disposed between said abutment block and said trimming device urging said trimming device toward the end of the die block bore adjacent said abutment block and providing a limited freedom of resiliently resisted movement of said trimming device away from said die block by a cartridge casing forced into the bore of said die block, and adjustable means connected between said trimming means and said abutment block limiting movement of said trimming means toward said die block by said resilient means, said reciprocatory means engaging the adjacent end of said die block at the end of its casing forcing movement to accurately position a cartridge casing in said die block.

5. In a device for reconditioning empty cartridge casings, an abutment block having a bore extending therethrough, a die block mounted on said abutment block and having a casing receiving and resizing bore extending longitudinally therethrough and disposed in longitudinal alignment with the bore in said abutment block, a casing trimming device rotatably mounted in the bore in said abutment block and engageable by the adjacent end of a casing disposed in said die block, means connected to said trimming device at the end of said abutment block remote from said die block for imparting rotational movement to said trimming device, and reciprocable means disposed adjacent the end of said die block remote from said abutment block for forcing a cartridge easing into said die block and against said trimming device, said abutment block being pivotally mounted for swinging movements of said abutment block and said die block between a loading and unloading position in which the end of said die block adjacent said reciprocatory means is spaced laterally from the reciprocatory means and an operative position in which said reciprocatory means is disposed in longitudinal alignment with said abutment block and said die block.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES American Rifleman (Magazine), pp. 27-29, May 1937, 86-23.