Forster Co-Ax Press, Is It Really That Much Better

[jimmymac]

Nothing against Forster at all. I love their dies and the press seems nice…..

But, exactly how long is it taking you guys to change dies in a threaded press? If that’s the big selling point, I’ve got 2 seconds to unscrew a die lol.

Couldn’t agree more. Still waiting on someone to tell me if a PMA die adjuster, Whidden Click Adjust lock ring or some other simple solution I don’t know of works with this press. To me, the convenience of being able to quickly adjust my sizing .001 at time is of far greater concern to me than quick die swaps.

 

[wkdickinson]

Have you notice how few people in these discussion ever say, they actually have owned and used a Forster COAX, and they didn't like it, and have moved on to something else? Compare that to the number of people who express their negative opinion, even though, they have never owned or used one. Frankly, I don't care anymore. This topic has been beaten to death. I love mine (30+ years of using it) and will never use anything else. If you don't want to spend the money - then don't

 

[Clancy]

Have you notice how few people in these discussion ever say, they actually have owned and used a Forster COAX, and they didn't like it, and have moved on to something else? Compare that to the number of people who express their negative opinion, even though, they have never owned or used one. Frankly, I don't care anymore. This topic has been beaten to death. I love mine (30+ years of using it) and will never use anything else. If you don't want to spend the money - then don't

I loaded several thousand rounds of 6.5x47 on one when I was in the process of moving…. But thanks for the critique
Spend the money? Shoot I’ve got dies that cost more than that thing.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

They look great and evidently they are by the responses. I always wondered if you like to sit in a chair to load is the coax a jointer on the shoulder to reach up like that compared to most o-frame presses?

 

[SEGARE]

...I always wondered if you like to sit in a chair to load is the coax a jointer on the shoulder to reach up like that compared to most o-frame presses?

Need a translation on aisle 3.

 

[NV_Dmax]

Will a PMA die adjuster or Whidden click adjust lock ring work in a Coax?

The click adjuster from whidden will work. I have no experience with the PMA adjuster.

 

[NV_Dmax]

They look great and evidently they are by the responses. I always wondered if you like to sit in a chair to load is the coax a jointer on the shoulder to reach up like that compared to most o-frame presses?

I sit in an office chair when I reload. No problems.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Think of it like this: Is a Lariat worth it over an XLT? They're both going to have almost identical performance characteristics, but one will make the drive a little nicer.

You get a few additional features with the co-ax, but functionally they'll still produce identical ammunition.

I still use a RC Supreme, it's a good press. I've used a Co-Ax a bit too. It probably is a more thought out and better constructed press. As others have mentioned though, it doesn't work for all things, but I think it's arguably nicer to use. To me though, it's not a "I've gotta go get one of these immediately" type things.

Personally, the only press I've used where it was a profound and obvious upgrade was the Zero. It took one pull of the handle and it was crystal clear why guys were dropping $1200 on them....hell I do all my seating on an arbor, and only really use about 5-6 dies in my threaded press, but I still want one of those.

Even though the Zero (or Prazi) are probably the top two precision presses out there, I think you'd have an extremely difficult time shooting the difference between it and an RC Supreme / Lee Classic Cast etc. Even in the highest levels of competition.

 

[andym686]

Which one costs the most, it has to be the best. Don't have or seen one, but I hear the Lee Cast Iron press is pretty good. But if I was starting over, I would look long and hard at the Co-Ax.

I agree with @bsefk. I have the Lee Classic cast, and it works fine. Especially the spent primer collection.
I might buy a co-ax if i needed another press.

 

[drop_point]

I don't own a Co-Ax. I was planning to buy one until I used it. I didn't like the handle at all. Reaching over the top was fatiguing to my shoulder and if I sit, it made it hard to get the full travel. My friend has one and loves it. It is most certainly a preference thing. When I upgraded my sloppy Rock Chucker, I went another direction.

 

[jimmymac]

The click adjuster from whidden will work. I have no experience with the PMA adjuster.

Thank you for that. These presses have a cult like following. It’s good to know that there is a solution for quick due adjustments. It makes the press much more appealing to me if it checks that box.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Need a translation on aisle 3.

It looks like on the coax the arm pivots straight over the top in the middle of the press, as where a RC handle is about shoulder high on the right side.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Is a Lariat worth it over an XLT?

My wife would say it doesn’t matter, but it better have heated seats when it gets here!

 

[Laurie]

The click adjuster from whidden will work. I have no experience with the PMA adjuster.

Forster does a 1-thou' graduated version of its lock-ring too these days, the Accu-Ring.

https://www.forsterproducts.com/product/accu-ring-die-lock-ring/

 

[PopCharlie]

Will a PMA die adjuster or Whidden click adjust lock ring work in a Coax?

The Whidden click adjustable lock rings do no fit in the co-ax press. At least the ones I have do not fit.
PopCharlie

 

[Della]

The Whidden click adjustable lock rings do no fit in the co-ax press. At least the ones I have do not fit.
PopCharlie

The newest do.

 

[acloco]

I have owned multiple presses over my short reloading career.

Still have an original green Rock Chucker, but is not mounted to the bench.

ALL load work up/small batch, are completed on the CoAx. Speed of die change, is second to none. Some factory die lock rings work well in the CoAx as well.

Minimal effort to resize - 338 RUM to 17 Remington.

 

[Dave Zander]

A little off topic but I've been using a Dillon 550 from 25 years ago. I used to load pistol calibers on it. Set the dies for each Rifle caliber in a tool block and just swap out the blocks between calibers. I de-cap, prime, full length size, and run a mandrel to size the Neck I.D. on the dillon.
I seat on a rock chucker after charging with a V3. I'm going to try a wilson in line bullet seater for my new 6 BRA, use a drill dress to seat as I don't have a arbor press. The standard dillon 550 head floats a good bit. I've checked run-out after seating Berger bullets and I'm usually less than .0015". I'm doing this for 223 and 6.5 creedmoor.

 

[PopCharlie]

The newest do.

Ah! Good to know.....thanks
PopCharlie

 

[varget204]

I was giving some thought to replacing my current single stage press with a Forster Co-Ac, should they ever become available. I was wondering though, are they really that much better than the old Rock Chucker? I really take my time loading each round, so speed is not an issue with me. I know that their leverage is far greater. Beyond that are they really worth replacing the Rock Chucker with one though. Just looking for some thoughts on this.

The Correct Answer is YES, it is worth it. lol