Forster Co-ax press: Good or not?

[Sauer90]

A floating reamer holder is allowing the pilot on the reamer to follow the bore not 'seek its own centre' if you did not allow for axial misalignment you could introduce chatter, scar the new chamber or possibly break the reamer.
Lets be honest most barrel plumbers will not know how to set up a tail-stock correctly in the first place.
I just plainly did not like the coax, it simply did not work for me. Much happier with the T7, paying attention to the case preparation pays dividends to the final quality of the finished product.
A press will not compensate for poor preparation.

 

[Muir]

A floating reamer holder is allowing the pilot on the reamer to follow the bore not 'seek its own centre' if you did not allow for axial misalignment you could introduce chatter, scar the new chamber or possibly break the reamer.
Lets be honest most barrel plumbers will not know how to set up a tail-stock correctly in the first place.
I just plainly did not like the coax, it simply did not work for me. Much happier with the T7, paying attention to the case preparation pays dividends to the final quality of the finished product.
A press will not compensate for poor preparation.

How ever you interpreted it, that's what I was saying. (I do know how to set up a tail stock!) I never used or trusted floating reamer holders, myself. Those on the site that have watched me chamber rifles know I really frown on the technique.

All presses use rely on a similar co-axial action, including in-line dies for BR shooters and the Lee Classic Loaders. They rely on the case to center itself in the die. Lee's lock rings allow for flex and the average shell holder of any make will allow a bit of axial movement.

I like the CoAX but I do most of my reloading on an ancient RCBS press, simply because of it's location on my bench. I've had it for 30 years and it's done me well.~Muir

 

[Sauer90]

Well I, for one, am not sold on that theory at all. You are not going to convince me by repeating the sales pitch even with adding the mythical internet lee lock ring mierda de toro.
I'm sorry, I just do not like that press, live with it and move on.

 

[megsjockey]

How ever you interpreted it, that's what I was saying. (I do know how to set up a tail stock!) I never used or trusted floating reamer holders, myself. Those on the site that have watched me chamber rifles know I really frown on the technique.

All presses use rely on a similar co-axial action, including in-line dies for BR shooters and the Lee Classic Loaders. They rely on the case to center itself in the die. Lee's lock rings allow for flex and the average shell holder of any make will allow a bit of axial movement.

I like the CoAX but I do most of my reloading on an ancient RCBS press, simply because of it's location on my bench. I've had it for 30 years and it's done me well.~Muir

I get it that some people don't like marmite. Frankly, I don't give a mierda del toro about that. Though, I might care about linguistic accuracy, indeed accuracy in general.

Because of the above, what you have written interests me Muir. If you found yourself with no reloading press and needed one (and one only) Would you choose the RCBS the Co-Ax or some other, as the 'best' single press to have?

ps. And why?

 

[Muir]

Well I, for one, am not sold on that theory at all. You are not going to convince me by repeating the sales pitch even with adding the mythical internet lee lock ring mierda de toro.
I'm sorry, I just do not like that press, live with it and move on.

You over estimate my concern over your choice of reloading press.
I have nothing to move on from. I'm not trying to convince you -just voicing the theory in the spirit of discussion. If you could see my RCBC A1 press -so old it's often described as a "...bumper jack from a 1968 Buick" -you'd wonder how I got accurate ammo at all. But, as you said, it's preparation, good technique and consistency.~Muir

 

[Muir]

I get it that some people don't like marmite. Frankly, I don't give a mierda del toro about that. Though, I might care about linguistic accuracy, indeed accuracy in general.

Because of the above, what you have written interests me Muir. If you found yourself with no reloading press and needed one (and one only) Would you choose the RCBS the Co-Ax or some other, as the 'best' single press to have?

ps. And why?

It's hard to say.
Almost all presses will produce very good and accurate ammo if the operator does their part. I guess it's the quality of the build and the mechanics that would narrow down the choices. I have a Lyman turret press for reloading handgun and it's used as such because I can leave two sets of 357 Magnum seater dies set into it: One being for my Son's, and one my own: we shoot different bullets over the same powder charge. It would probably work fine for rifle but I like it in this application. I have my old RCBS which, despite it's age -it was 'old' when I bought it 2nd hand in 1983- has produced thousands upon thousands of rounds of good ammunition; and still does for that matter. At the opposite end of the age and condition spectrum -and the loading bench for that matter- are my two CoAx's. The design is an old one but I dare to say the theory behind the operation is sound. If you don't shoot 45-70 and 22 Hronet, you can get by with one set of shell-holder 'plates' that open and close automatically as the ram is raised or lowered so there is no changing/losing shell holders. When I visited the Forster booth at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas they were saying that they FL resized a few hundred 300 Win Mag cases without lube and never stuck a case; such was the grip of the shell holder and the leverage of the press. (If you're the engineering type, I have an article on the mechanical advantages of the CoAx someplace) People crab about the handle but it can be shortened to a ridiculous degree and you'll still get ample leverage for Small Base Full Length resizing. A friend of mine has his shortened to the top of the ram yoke and a billiard ball placed as a handle and he FL resizes all his cases easily. Dies snap in and out in seconds. The build is excellent. It is a very high quality and precision reloading press. I've never seen one with a burr or a casting defect, or a spot of misplaced paint.

The down side to the Coax is if you frequently do jump back and forth from the 'standard' calibers to Hornet or 45-70, or similarly odd rimmed cases, it could be a minor pain to be changing out shell holder plates. Another thing is the lock ring-thing; To be sure of function it should be Forster die lock rings you use. I am told Hornady work and as was mentioned, Lyman seem to work. Lee and RCBS do not. Lastly, they are expensive. And it is easy to load very, very accurate ammo on a lesser press. I bought both of my CoAx 2nd hand but it is interesting to note that tho one was made in 1980 and the other 2012, the quality of the presses is the same. I don't know if that can be said of RCBS and others. The last RCBS press I handles had machining burrs -not that that would effect ammo production.

Presses i don't like: Progressives. When I was young I relished in the mechanical nature of the progressive presses. I'm older now, and like it simpler.

A press I'd like to try: The Lee Classic Cast, non 'Lock n Load' style.

Hope that helps.~Muir

 

[Muir]

So, instead of using the advice of others to help me decide whether or not the Co-Ax is good enough to be my best and only choice. I should buy several presses and then make my own mind up? Thank you. Big help.

I'm here to confuse.

If the CoAx is in your budget then it is a marvelous press; the fact that i bought mine 2nd hand doesn't mean they were cheap -and I am a cheap sort of guy, but I know quality when I see it. I do like them, as do many other people. A Coax that is decades old will still run tight and true. If an RCBS is more in your budget, it will serve you well.

Maybe Presses are like dies. As one smart gentleman on this site once suggested you might as well choose your maker by the color of the box because if you know how to reload, nobody will be able to tell what dies you loaded with.~Muir

 

[buckaroo]

I think the forster is fantastic, worth the extra

 

[pierred]

Use a Forster for all my reloading best press on the market IMHO

 

[megsjockey]

Just checked a Forster Co-Ax out at a friend's house. Didn't even know the beggar had one till last night but it seems like the dog's to me, very slick. I'm ready to buy. Question; where is the best priced new one to be had?

 

[bk]

Just checked a Forster Co-Ax out at a friend's house. Didn't even know the beggar had one till last night but it seems like the dog's to me, very slick. I'm ready to buy. Question; where is the best priced new one to be had?

I got mine from Optics Warehouse

 

[bk]

Mine was missing the handle so was an absolute bargain

I got one of the guys from shops to turn me a small handle and knurl it and its great now

 

[megsjockey]

Look what the FedEx man just delivered.



Thanks again to bk and Optics Warehouse. What a deal

 

[megsjockey]

Finally got around to using my new press. Well, more like ; New attic, New Bench and New Press, all in 'reloading' use for the first time.



Much more construction required, but it's a start.

Oh! and ps. Optics Warehouse, what a bargain team to deal with!