Bullet seating die

Abstract

A bullet seating die for use with an ammunition press to seat a bullet in a case includes a die housing having an ammunition press mount for mounting the bullet seating die on the ammunition press. The die housing defines a bullet receiving space having an open end and a side window in communication with the bullet receiving space. The side window sized and shaped to permit the bullet to be inserted therethrough to position the bullet in the bullet receiving space. A seating stem is supported by the die housing. The seating stem is arranged to engage the bullet to press the bullet into the case when the ammunition press is operated. A spring biases the seating stem away from the open end of the bullet receiving space to permit the bullet to be inserted through the side window and into the bullet receiving space.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A bullet seating die kit for use with an ammunition press to seat a bullet in a case, the bullet seating die kit comprising:
 a die housing having an ammunition press mount configured to mount the bullet seating die on the ammunition press, the die housing defining a bullet receiving space having an open end, the die housing defining a side window in communication with the bullet receiving space and sized and shaped to permit the bullet to be inserted therethrough to position the bullet in the bullet receiving space;   a first seating stem configured to be supported by the die housing within the bullet receiving space, the first seating stem being arranged to engage the bullet to press the bullet into the case when the first seating stem is supported by the die housing and the ammunition press is operated, the first seating stem having a first length; and   a second seating stem configured to be supported by the die housing within the bullet receiving space, the second seating stem being arranged to engage the bullet to press the bullet into the case when the second seating stem is supported by the die housing and the ammunition press is operated, the second seating stem having a second length different than the first length;   wherein the first and second seating stems are configured to be interchangeably supported by the die housing to configure the bullet seating die kit to seat different lengths of bullets and/or cases.   
     
     
         22 . The bullet seating die kit of  claim 21 , further comprising a third seating stem configured to be supported by the die housing within the bullet receiving space, the third seating stem being arranged to engage the bullet to press the bullet into the case when the third seating stem is supported by the die housing and the ammunition press is operated, the third seating stem having a third length different than the first and second lengths, wherein the first, second and third interchangeable seating stems are interchangeably supported by the die housing to configure the bullet seating die kit to seat different lengths of bullets and/or cases. 
     
     
         23 . The bullet seating die kit of  claim 21 , wherein the first seating stem includes a first recess sized, shaped, and arranged to receive a tip of the bullet when the first seating stem is supported by the die housing and the ammunition press is operated, and wherein the second seating stem includes a second recess sized, shaped, and arranged to receive the tip of the bullet when the second seating stem is supported by the die housing and the ammunition press is operated. 
     
     
         24 . The bullet seating die kit of  claim 21 , wherein the first seating stem includes a tapered end portion arranged to engage the bullet to press the bullet into the case when the first seating stem is supported by the die housing and the ammunition press is operated. 
     
     
         25 . The bullet seating die kit of  claim 24 , wherein the second seating stem includes a tapered end portion arranged to engage the bullet to press the bullet into the case when the second seating stem is supported by the die housing and the ammunition press is operated. 
     
     
         26 . The bullet seating die kit of  claim 21 , further comprising a bullet holder configured to hold the bullet, the bullet holder configured to be releasably receivable in the bullet receiving space of the die housing. 
     
     
         27 . The bullet seating die kit of  claim 21 , further comprising a cap configured to be supported by the die housing, the cap including a seat configured to engage the seating stem when the seating stem and the cap are supported by the die housing. 
     
     
         28 . The bullet seating die kit of  claim 27 , wherein the cap includes an adjuster configured to move the seat relative to the die housing to set the position of the seating stem relative to the die housing when the seating stem and the cap are supported by the die housing. 
     
     
         29 . The bullet seating die kit of  claim 28 , wherein the adjuster comprises a micrometer configured to threadably connected to the die housing. 
     
     
         30 . A bullet seating die kit for use with an ammunition press to seat bullets of different calibers, the bullet seating die kit comprising:
 a die housing having an ammunition press mount configured to mount the bullet seating die on the ammunition press, the die housing defining a bullet receiving space having an open end, the die housing defining a side window in communication with the bullet receiving space and sized and shaped to permit one bullet of the bullets to be inserted therethrough to position said one bullet in the bullet receiving space;   a seating stem configured to be supported by the die housing within the bullet receiving space, the seating stem configured to engage said one bullet to press said one bullet when the seating stem is supported by the die housing and the ammunition press is operated; and   a plurality of bullet holders configured to hold the bullets one at a time; wherein the bullet seating die kit is arrangeable to form a first bullet seating die configuration and a second bullet seating die configuration, the first bullet seating die configuration being configured to seat a first caliber of bullet and the second bullet seating die configuration being configured to seat a second caliber of bullet different from the first caliber of bullet.   
     
     
         31 . The bullet seating die kit of  claim 30 , wherein the first bullet seating die configuration includes a first bullet holder of the plurality of bullet holders being supported by the die housing, the first bullet holder being configured to hold the first caliber of bullet, and wherein the second bullet seating die configuration includes a second bullet holder of the plurality of bullet holders being supported by the die housing, the second bullet holder being configured to hold the second caliber of bullet. 
     
     
         32 . The bullet seating die kit of  claim 31 , wherein the first bullet seating die configuration includes seating stem being supported by the die housing, and wherein the second bullet seating die configuration includes the seating stem being supported by the die housing. 
     
     
         33 . The bullet seating die kit of  claim 30 , wherein each bullet holder of the plurality of bullet holders is configured to hold a different caliber of bullet. 
     
     
         34 . The bullet seating die kit of  claim 30 , wherein the first caliber of bullet is a 0.223 caliber and the second caliber of bullet is a 0.308 caliber. 
     
     
         35 . The bullet seating die kit of  claim 30 , wherein the bullet seating die kit is arrangeable to form a third bullet seating die configuration configured to seat a third caliber of bullet. 
     
     
         36 . The bullet seating die kit of  claim 35 , wherein the third bullet seating die configuration includes a third bullet holder of the plurality of bullet holders being supported by the die housing, the third bullet holder being configured to hold the third caliber of bullet. 
     
     
         37 . The bullet seating die kit of  claim 36 , wherein the first caliber of bullet is a 0.223 caliber, the second caliber of bullet is a 0.308 caliber, and the third caliber of bullet is a 30-06 caliber. 
     
     
         38 . The bullet seating die kit of  claim 30 , further comprising a cap configured to be supported by the die housing, the cap including a seat configured to engage the seating stem when the seating stem and the cap are supported by the die housing. 
     
     
         39 . The bullet seating die kit of  claim 38 , wherein the cap includes an adjuster configured to move the seat relative to the die housing to set the position of the seating stem relative to the die housing when the seating stem and the cap are supported by the die housing. 
     
     
         40 . The bullet seating die kit of  claim 39 , wherein the adjuster comprises a micrometer configured to threadably connected to the die housing.