Received my Co-ax Press

[RW]

I have owned a Bonanza which was the company that pre dated the forster and I have had mine for 30 years and out side of a small hiccup last night I have loved it!! RW

 

[mikld]

On a Coax, what is the method used for adjusting the die up or down .001"? I've never seen a Coax in operation, so I'm curious.

Same as any other press. Adjust by lock ring. Just die adjustment, not a press adjustment.

I actually like the "automatic" shell holder jaws. Never had a problem with the "one size fits several" and never had any cases pull out of the jaws. I just have to drop a case on the shell holder plate and raise the ram. No fiddling to slide a case into the "standard" shell holder slot. Changing jaws (not needed for every cartridge change) takes about 2 minutes at most...

 

[jimmymac]

Same as any other press. Adjust by lock ring. Just die adjustment, not a press adjustment.

I actually like the "automatic" shell holder jaws. Never had a problem with the "one size fits several" and never had any cases pull out of the jaws. I just have to drop a case on the shell holder plate and raise the ram. No fiddling to slide a case into the "standard" shell holder slot. Changing jaws (not needed for every cartridge change) takes about 2 minutes at most...

I shoot BR. I don’t anneal cases, so as my cases age I need to adjust the die .001 here and there to maintain the proper shoulder bump I’m after.

On a standard press this is easily accomplished in no time flat with exact results using a PMA or Whidden lock ring or shims. I was just curious how users of this press accomplished the task without resorting to unlocking the die ring and dealing with the course threads.

Sounds like Whidden has the solution.

 

[danny]

Good day all. A while back I posted with a question regarding my new Forster dies and my Lee press. Got lots of good info from the fine folks here, and I decided to buy a Forster Co-ax Press. This is my initial thoughts on the new press I purchased. If the info that follows is useful or interesting to you, great! If not, look on the bright side. The time you spent reading this could have been done doing something much less enjoyable, like work.

After 30-some years of reloading with Lee presses and dies I have decided to move on to a Forster Co-ax press and Forster dies, including the micrometer adjustable seating die. Now first off I want to say I have never had an issue with my Lee presses or dies. They have always given me good quality results. But I have fallen into the wormhole of trying to get my rifles to shoot the smallest group I possibly can so I figured I would treat myself to some new equipment.

After much research on the internet and recommendations from the helpful folks on this and a few other sites I decided to go with the Forster Co-ax press and their dies as well. I ordered the Co-ax and the full length sizing dies from the good folks at Hirsch Precision (I'm in Canada), and the micrometer seating dies from Brownells. I must say the folks at Hirsch Precision made the two orders I placed completely painless. After I made the first order for the dies I got an email that the actual shipping cost was less than what was charged online so they were crediting my card for the difference! Awesome folks. So I didn't hesitate ordering the press from them.

After I ordered the press I began to have some buyers remorse. It is an expensive press and I wondered if it would be worth it. But I figured what was done was done, and I would wait to see what it would be like. I received the press today via Canada Post and was surprised at the weight of the box right off the bat. It's heavy. I got home and like a kid on Christmas morning I tore into the box and got the press set up. Set up was simple. I use the Lee bench plate system to allow myself to quick change my presses. The two front holes of the press lined up to two existing holes in the mounting plate so I only had to drill two 1/4" holes for the back bolts. I don't know if I can properly describe how smooth this press is to operate. The feel is so smooth and solid when you operate the handle that I was genuinely surprised. I set up my dies and loaded a few rounds. Changing dies takes 2 seconds. They just slide in and out. No messing around screwing in dies or bushings. just slide the die in and away you go. I don't have a concentricity gauge so I cant comment on that, but from everything I have seen and heard run out should not be an issue. The spent primer catcher looks aliitle odd hanging off the bottom of the press like it does, but I can't knock it because it works well. No muss no fuss. The jaw system that holds the cases also worked with no issues whatsoever.

One beef I heard about the press was the priming system. But I didn't find it too bad at all. Adjusting the jaws for the 6.5 Creedmoor brass was quick and easy. The priming process on this press is slower than on some others so if you are going to load 1,000 rounds at a time your going to want to find another way to do it. But for 50 - 100 rifle rounds, which is what I usually load at a time, it was fine. Other than that everything about the press was great.

If you have been thinking about a Forster Co-ax, I would have to recommend it based on my first usage of this press. It is expensive but right now I think this was money well spent. I really don't think you will be disappointed. This thing is smooth, solid, and looks like it will last more than a lifetime. I can see my grandkids still loading on this thing after I am long gone.

If I do run into any issues in the future I will update this.

Thanks for reading, and good shooting all.

Your arms are really going to get tired and sore from reaching up high for the end of the lever with that press mounted on those stilts. The Co-Ax is already a bit high without extra help. That is one area where the Co-Ax is a bit less ergonomic than others.

Danny

 

[danny]

Same as any other press. Adjust by lock ring. Just die adjustment, not a press adjustment.

I actually like the "automatic" shell holder jaws. Never had a problem with the "one size fits several" and never had any cases pull out of the jaws. I just have to drop a case on the shell holder plate and raise the ram. No fiddling to slide a case into the "standard" shell holder slot. Changing jaws (not needed for every cartridge change) takes about 2 minutes at most...

The shellholder jaws are the best feature of the press, in that they float side to side. I see people disabling this by installing a regular shellholder adapter. That doesn't make sense. If one is going to do that, one should just save money and buy a Lee Classic Cast to accomplish the same thing, AND be able to use all of the tools and accessories that you can't use on a Co-Ax Press.

 

[Shooter13]

This is another option with your question on how to adjust the sizing die to your desired measurement.
https://www.whiddengunworks.com/universal-click-adjustable-lock-ring/

I was just getting ready to post this, I just ordered 3 as they will work on other presses (not Dillon) but you can't have the ones for other presses and get them to work on the co-ax

 

[Dan Calhoun]

The only issue I have is bumping the shoulder and contact with the sliding shell holder. I might have to use the conventional shell holders as I bought that plate for some oddball rounds that I shoot. Like 7.62/54R

 

[Richard Jones]

The shellholder jaws are the best feature of the press, in that they float side to side. I see people disabling this by installing a regular shellholder adapter. That doesn't make sense. If one is going to do that, one should just save money and buy a Lee Classic Cast to accomplish the same thing, AND be able to use all of the tools and accessories that you can't use on a Co-Ax Press.

Respectfully disagree, sir. I 'disabled' mine, my shellholder still floats. It makes sense to me, I don't like them. You do, fine by me, nothing wrong with shellholder diversity.... I think the best feature of the press is not having to screw in/out dies. That, and I only paid $50 for it.

 

[billslatteryjr]

No more using the jaws in mine. Besides, it's not like a shellholder is a perfect fit. Place a case in a shellholder and you'll see all the play it has to move. Add that to the play in the die and if you're still out of alignment there's something very wrong.

Plus with the Shellholder Adapter you can use the Redding Competition Shell Holder Set to make small headspace adjustments. No more playing with the lock rings. Just be sure to mic each shellholder with a depth mic from top of the shellholder to where the base of your case rests. Mine weren't exactly as marked and 4 needed a good deal of emery cloth work to tune. If any are off by a couple .001s give Redding a call and they'll make it right after you convince the gal on the line that you were measuring the right place.

 

[6MT]

You do have to specify that you have a Co-Ax when ordering the Whidden.

No.

 

[Richard Jones]

No?

 

[Ccrider]

No.

Yes. Two different rings.

 

[jcwallac84]

You guys just cost me $50

 

[Mikemci]

You guys just cost me $50

You'll be glad you did it.