Ammunition case priming tool

Ammunition case priming tool, associated components, and methods of use. The priming tool can be adjustable to adjust a primer seating depth in the ammunition case. An actuation mechanism includes an actuator and a primer driver drivable by the actuator for seating the primer in the case. A stop engages the primer driver to limit travel of a priming head in a priming direction to determine seating depth of the primer. The priming tool can be configured for the priming head to return to a consistent home position.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to equipment for loading ammunition, and more particularly to a priming tool for loading a primer in a primer pocket of an ammunition case.

BACKGROUND

Rounds of ammunition usually include a case, a primer in a primer pocket of the case, a propellant in the case, and a bullet seated in a bullet end of the case opposite the primer. The primer has a primary explosive used to ignite the propellant in the case to propel the projectile down a barrel of a firearm. An initial step in manufacturing a round of ammunition or reloading a case is priming the case, i.e., inserting a primer in the primer pocket of the case. There are various types of tools that may be used to assist in inserting a primer in a primer pocket of a case.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present invention is directed to a hand priming tool for installing a primer in a primer pocket of an ammunition case. The hand priming tool includes a housing and an actuator supported by the housing. A primer driver is supported by the housing and has a priming head. The primer driver is operatively connected to the actuator to drive the priming head with respect to the housing. The primer driver is drivable by the actuator to move the priming head in a priming direction to drive the primer into the primer pocket. A stop has a primer driver engagement surface. The primer driver engagement surface is configured to engage the primer driver to limit movement of the priming head in the priming direction. The stop is adjustable to move the primer driver engagement surface between at least first and second different positions relative to the housing for adjusting a distance the primer driver drives the primer into the primer pocket. The primer driver engagement surface in the first position permits the priming head to move farther in the priming direction than the primer driver engagement surface in the second position.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of inserting a primer in a primer pocket of an ammunition case using a hand priming tool. The method includes adjusting a stop of the hand priming tool for setting a distance the primer is to be driven into the primer pocket. The method includes moving an actuator of the hand priming tool to drive a priming head of a plunger in a priming direction for driving the primer into the primer pocket. Movement of the priming head in the priming direction is stopped by engaging the plunger with the stop.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to a hand priming tool for installing a primer in a primer pocket of an ammunition case. The hand priming tool includes a housing and an actuator supported by the housing. The housing is sized to be held in a hand of a user. The actuator is configured for actuation by the hand of the hand holding the housing. A primer driver supported by the housing has a priming head. The primer driver is operatively connected to the actuator to drive the priming head with respect to the housing. The primer driver is drivable by the actuator to move the priming head in a priming direction to drive the primer into the primer pocket. A primer seating position adjuster is configured for changing the distance the priming head is movable in the priming direction. The primer seating position adjuster has at least first and second different configurations for adjusting a distance the primer driver drives the primer into the primer pocket. The primer seating position adjuster in the first configuration permits the priming head to move farther in the priming direction than the primer seating position adjuster in the second position. The priming head has a home position. The priming head is drivable by the actuator to move the priming head from the home position in the priming direction to drive the primer into the primer pocket. The priming head is movable in a retracting direction to return to the home position. The home position of the priming head is the same when the primer seating position adjuster is in the first configuration and when the primer seating position adjuster is in the second configuration.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, an ammunition case priming tool embodying aspects of the present invention is designated generally by the reference number20. As will become apparent, the tool is configured for loading primers P into ammunition cases C in a consistent manner providing a precise primer seating depth or position in the ammunition cases (see,FIG. 7). The priming tool20is adjustable to provide a desired primer seating depth in an ammunition case C. The adjustable seating depth facilitates use of the priming tool20with different types of cases C and primers P. Ammunition cases of different types may have primer pockets PP that have different depths, and different types of primers P may have different sizes. Accordingly, the desired seating depth can change depending on the particular case and primer. The case priming tool20permits the seating depth to be adjusted for inserting a primer P in an ammunition case C a desired distance at which the primer is properly seated in the primer pocket, without being inserted too little or too far into the primer pocket.

In the illustrated embodiment, the priming tool20is a hand priming tool, meaning the tool is sized and shaped to be held in one hand of a user and actuated by the hand of the user to load a primer P in an ammunition case C, while the tool is supported by the hand of the user. Other configurations can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 1, the priming tool20generally includes a main body or housing22, a primer hopper24, a case holder26, and an actuation mechanism28supported by the housing. As will become apparent, primers P are held in the primer hopper24for feeding to the actuation mechanism28, the case holder26holds a case C to be primed, and the actuation mechanism28drives a primer P from the primer hopper into the case held in the case holder.

The housing22is generally elongate and has a handle shape to facilitate gripping of the housing by a hand of the user. An upper end of the housing22includes a mount30configured for mounting the primer hopper24on the housing for feeding primers to the actuation mechanism28. As shown inFIG. 4, the upper end of the housing22also includes a seat32for removably receiving the case holder26. The seat32has an upper flange32A for securing the case holder26in the seat and a side opening32B to permit sliding the case holder into the seat under the flange32A. As shown inFIG. 2, the housing22has an interior below the case holder seat32in which components of the actuation mechanism28are housed. Other housing configurations can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The primer hopper24includes a primer turning tray36and a cover38. The primer turning tray36is configured to receive the primers P and assist in “turning” the primers such that anvil ends of the primers face upward when the primers are on the primer support surface36A (FIG. 7) of the tray. For example, the primer support surface36A can include ridges and/or protrusions to assist in turning the primers P. A user can dump primers P onto the tray36and gently shake the tray to quickly and conveniently orient the primers having the anvil ends up for loading into ammunition cases C. Referring toFIG. 7, the hopper24includes a mouth40configured for connection to the mount30of the housing22by reception of the mouth in the mount. A slide surface36B of the tray36extends to the mouth40to permit primers P to slide from the tray36out of the mouth. When the hopper24is mounted on the housing22, the hopper is supported by the housing, and the primers P in the hopper are positioned for delivery to the actuation mechanism28. Other configurations of primer hoppers can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 4, the case holder26includes a base26A, a socket26B for receiving the primer pocket end of the ammunition case, and an opening26C in the base to permit a primer P to be inserted in a primer pocket PP (FIG. 7) of the case from below the base. It will be appreciated that case holders of various sizes can be used for loading primers in ammunition cases of different sizes. For example, the case holder26illustrated inFIG. 4is configured for holding a case for .223 caliber ammunition. The case holder26can be part of a kit including multiple case holders, described in further detail below with reference toFIG. 9.

Referring toFIGS. 1, 2, and 7, the actuation mechanism28includes an actuator50, a primer driver52operatively connected to the actuator, and a stop (broadly “primer seating position adjuster”)54for limiting movement of the primer driver. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator50includes a lever having a pivot connection56with a lower end of the housing. As shown inFIG. 2, the primer driver52includes a plunger60and a linkage62operatively connecting the plunger to the lever50. The plunger60is movable along a plunging axis PA (FIGS. 2, 7) extending in the plunging direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the plunger60includes a lower driving pin64and an upper priming pin66separate from the driving pin. The pins64,66have longitudinal axes extending along the plunging axis PA. The priming pin66has a priming head66A for engaging and driving the primer P, and the priming pin is drivable by the lever50via the linkage62and the driving pin64. In the illustrated embodiment, the linkage62includes a bar extending from the lever50to the plunger60. The bar62has a first end having a pivot connection70with a midsection of the lever50and a second opposite end having a pivot connection72with the plunger60at a lower end of the driving pin64. The lever50is movable from an extended or resting position (FIGS. 2, 7) to a contracted or actuated position (FIGS. 3, 8) for driving the primer driver52to drive a primer P into an ammunition case C. In the resting position, the lever50extends upward and outward with respect to the housing22from the pivot connection56, and, in the actuated position, a distal end of the lever is closer to the housing and the lever extends generally along a side of the housing. As will be described in further detail below, the adjustable stop54controls movement of the priming head66A in the priming direction to achieve a desired seating position of the primer P in the primer pocket PP of the ammunition case C.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 7, the actuation mechanism28further includes a retainer80and a compression spring (broadly “biasing member”)82, which, together with the priming pin66, are housed in an upper end of the interior of the housing22. In the illustrated embodiment, the retainer80includes a sleeve80A. The sleeve is sized for receiving the spring82and the priming pin66. Referring toFIG. 5, the spring82and priming pin66are received in the open bottom end of the sleeve80A in assembly with each other. The retainer80, spring82, and priming pin66are placed in the upper end of the housing interior from the top of the housing22through the case holder seat32. The upper end of the spring82engages an annular bearing surface80B at a tapered upper portion of the interior of the sleeve80A, and the lower end of the spring engages a shoulder66B of the priming pin, thus biasing the retainer80upward and the priming pin downward relative to each other. A ridged pad80C is connected through a slot in the housing22to the sleeve80A to assist a user in compressing the spring82to move the retainer80down in the upper end of the housing interior. The pad80C allows the sleeve80to be moved using only one thumb or finger pressed against the pad and driving the pad downward. Moving the retainer80downward using the pad80C provides clearance for the case holder26to be moved into the case holder seat32. When the case holder23is in the seat32and the user releases the pad80C, the spring82is permitted to extend, and the retainer80abuts the case holder base26A. An upper end of the retainer80having a reduced diameter tubular shape becomes seated in the opening26C of the case holder26and releasably retains the case holder in position in the seat32. A lower end of the priming pin66abuts an upper end of the driving pin64, such that the force of the spring82biases the driving pin downward and thus biases the lever50to the resting position via the linkage62. The pad80C can be used to move the upper end of the retainer80downward out of the case holder opening26C so the case holder26, and then the retainer80, spring82, and priming pin66, can be removed from the housing22.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 7, the retainer80defines a primer receiving space88below the case holder26for receiving a primer from the primer hopper24. As shown inFIG. 7, the retainer has a primer port80D in a side of the sleeve80A permitting a primer P to pass through the side of the sleeve into the primer receiving space88from the primer hopper mouth40. In the resting position of the lever50, the priming head66A of the priming pin66is in a home position immediately under the primer receiving space. Desirably, the priming head66A in the home position is located such that a driving surface of the priming head is substantially flush with a bottom surface of the primer port80D and substantially flush with the slide surface36B of the tray36, facilitating a relatively smooth sliding transfer of a primer P from the tray slide surface through the primer port to the priming head. This facilitates transfer of the primer P to the primer receiving space88with reduced risk of the primer P tipping or falling over such that it is on its side or otherwise out of proper orientation (i.e., having the anvil end facing up) for loading into the ammunition case C. It will be appreciated that if, for example, the priming head were too low relative to the tray slide surface and/or the bottom surface of the primer port, the primer may have a tendency to tip or fall over when entering the primer receiving space.

As mentioned above, the stop54is adjustable to permit adjustment in seating depth of the primer P in the ammunition case C. As shown inFIG. 6, the stop54includes a tube having upper and lower threaded sections90A,90B and an actuator in the form of a wheel or dial92at a midsection of the tube. In the assembled tool20, the driving pin64extends through the stop54. The lower end of the stop54has a downward facing annular engagement surface (broadly “primer driver engagement surface”)96for engaging a shoulder64A on the driving pin64to limit movement of the driving pin in the priming direction and thus limit movement of the priming head66A in that direction (see,FIGS. 7 and 8). The threaded sections90A,90B of the stop54are received in threaded nuts98fixed in the housing22, such that the stop is supported by a threaded connection with the housing formed by reception of the upper and lower threaded sections in the respective nuts. As shown inFIG. 1, a portion of the dial92is exposed through an opening22A in the side of the housing. The stop54is rotatable about the plunging axis PA in a counter-clockwise direction (as viewed from the top) to move the stop toward the case holder26and rotatable in a clockwise direction to move the stop away from the case holder. The stop54can be rotated to position the engagement surface96in a position to engage and stop movement of the driving pin64to achieve a desired primer seating position within the ammunition case pocket PP.

Referring again toFIG. 6, a plurality of reference marks92A are provided on the dial92to assist a user in adjusting the stop54to provide the desired primer seating depth. In the illustrated embodiment, the reference marks92A include a series of numbers positioned at increments around an upper surface of the dial92. The numbers92A are provided at five unit increments and range from numbers5to40. The dial92includes a plurality of notches92B in an outer circumferential surface of the dial to facilitate the user gripping the dial to turn the dial. The notches92B also cooperate with a detent100(FIG. 2) in the housing22to provide indexed rotational movement of the dial92. The detent100engages individual notches92B as the dial92is turned to maintain the dial in a rotated position until sufficient force is applied to overcome the maintaining force of the detent. In the illustrated embodiment, each “click” of the dial92(i.e., movement of the dial to engage the next notch with the detent) moves the engagement surface96by 0.001 inch. A full rotation provides 0.040 inch of adjustment, and the total travel of the dial92provides 0.060 inch adjustment (1.5 rotations of dial). Other ranges of motion are possible within the scope of the present invention. In use, a user can adjust the primer seating depth by trial and error using the reference marks92A until the desired seating depth is achieved.

Other stops can be used, and the stop54can be omitted, without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the stop can be configured to adjust in a manner other than illustrated, and can engage a different component of the primer driver for limiting the movement of the priming head in the priming direction.

In use, several primers P are loaded into the primer hopper24, the hopper is mounted on the housing22, and a case C to be primed is seated on the case holder26. The user can orient the tool20to tilt the primer hopper24such that a primer P slides from the primer hopper into the primer receiving space in the retainer80. As shown by comparison ofFIGS. 7 and 8, when the user actuates the lever50by moving it to the actuated position to move the priming head66A in the priming direction, travel of the priming head in the priming direction is limited by engagement of the shoulder64A of the driving pin64with the engagement surface96of the stop54. Assuming the user has properly adjusted the stop54, the desired primer seating depth or position is achieved. Upon release of the lever50, the spring82returns the priming head66A in a retracting direction to the home position (e.g.,FIGS. 2, 7), and also causes the lever50to return to the resting position (e.g.,FIG. 2).

It will be appreciated that the configuration of the stop54permits the priming head66A to return to the same home position no matter the adjusted position of the stop54. For example, if the stop54is adjusted for extended travel of the priming head66A in the priming direction, or if the stop54is adjusted for relatively reduced travel of the priming head in the priming direction, the home position of the priming head is the same. Accordingly, the driving surface of the priming head66A is consistently positioned in the home position to provide the aforementioned relatively smooth sliding transfer of a primer P from the tray slide surface36B to the priming head. This arrangement facilitates use of the primer hopper24, because the arrangement provides reliable feeding of primers in the correct orientation from the hopper to the priming head66A. It will be appreciated that other adjustment techniques for an actuation mechanism may lead to the home position of a priming head changing based on adjustment for different seating depths.

Referring now toFIG. 9, a hand priming tool kit110includes a case102and several components storable in the case. For example, the kit110includes the primer hopper24, the housing22, and a plurality of case holders26of different sizes for cases of different sizes. The case holders26are interchangeable in the seat32of the housing and can be installed and removed from the seat in the manner explained above. The kit110also includes two priming pins66and two retainers80. A first priming pin66is installed in the housing22, and a second priming pin66is shown separate from the housing in the case102. Likewise, a first retainer80is installed in the housing22, and a second retainer80is shown separate from the housing in the case102. The first priming pin66and first retainer80are designed to be used together in the housing for installing relatively small primers P (e.g., small rifle primers) in ammunition casings C, and the second priming pin66and second retainer80are designed to be used together in the housing for installing relatively large primers P (e.g., large rifle primers) in ammunition casings C. For example, the priming head66A of the first priming pin66is smaller than the priming head66A of the second priming pin66. In addition, the primer port80D in the side of the first retainer80is smaller than the primer port80D in the side of the second retainer80. For example, for cases C for .223 caliber ammunition, the first priming pin66and first retainer80are used for loading small rifle primers P in the cases. On the other hand, for cases C for .308 caliber ammunition, the second priming pin66and second retainer80are used for loading large rifle primers P in the cases.