Rock Chucker vs Forster Co-Ax press

[Mastershot]

I ditched my RC for a zero press this christmas. My rock chucker has a million miles on it.

 

[nakneker]

They are both good presses,I own them both. The RC gets the bulk of use just because I’ve been using it for 32 years and it’s like old friend, plus it produces ammo with very low run out. I’ve always been curious if the Co-Ax and used mine for about 6 months straight, I still use it once in awhile but ol green is my sentimental favorite. I seat most of my precision ammo on an arbor press with Wilson dies. The Dillon 750s handle high volume ammo like 9mm, 45acp, 10mm, 223 etc. one addition to the man cave I like a lot is the inline fabrication stand, it makes swapping presses a one minute job, very handy.

 

[Tesoro]

With the Coax -how does one tweak the die to get PRECISE shoulder bump? I use die shims on the RC's and Redding presses to get consistent, repeatable sized brass to 0.001" measurements. For competition a Coax would not work for me as I find the trial and error method of constantly turning the die adjustment nut unreliable to zero in on the desired number.

How often do you have to change your headspace? Are you swapping out barrels alot?

 

[danny]

I started reloading using my Dad's Rockchucker, but when it came time to buy my own set-up, I went with two Forster Co-Ax's and a MEC Marksman. I load in small batches and am very happy with both types of presses, with the Co-Ax's getting the bulk of the work because it is so quick and easy to change dies. The S-jaws do away with needing a bunch of shell holders, which is another convenience. I prime with a hand primer and seat with an arbor press, so the Co-Ax's are primarily used for sizing, for which they work very well. I mostly use the SAC Solo-Loc rings on the Co-Ax's.

The Prazipress is a beautiful machine and is intriguing, but I don't think I would see a difference on the target for such an expense and I'd hate to lose the easy-change-die capability. Although, working with high quality tools can be its own reward.

Solo-Loc Ring

The Solo-Loc Ring secures your dies with precision-made durability, ensuring consistent alignment for optimal reloading performance every time.

shortactioncustoms.com

Those stands must make reaching up to work the press very tiring. The Co-Ax is already quite a reach up, mounted how and where it is supposed to be mounted.

Danny

 

[Shinbone]

Those stands must make reaching up to work the press very tiring. The Co-Ax is already quite a reach up, mounted how and where it is supposed to be mounted.

Danny

I operate the presses either while standing or sitting on a tall-ish stool, and have never had a problem with height. Never even thought about it possibly being uncomfortable. I load mostly in small batches of 10-20 rounds, so maybe that is why the handle height is not an issue for me.

 

[Dweller43]

Other than the ease of changing dies and shell holders, what are the advantages of the Forster over the RCBS?

Tough call on this. I’ve always run a Rock Chucker, but the other day, I was over at a friends house helping him get a big batch done, and I was sizing his brass on his Co/Ax, and I gotta say, it’s pretty cool. With the floating aspect, it lines up perfectly every time.

 

[Oklahoma Jim]

My Rock Chucker is an old (cheaper) one. It doesn't even have a bushing for the dies. They just screw into a threaded hole in the casting. It still works just fine, but the Co-Ax is tempting.

 

[Hoser]

I have used/owned both and prefer the Co-Ax.

The ammo coming out of both is just as straight, verified with NECO and Accuracy One concentricity gauges and targets. In fact, ammo coming out of my Dillon 550s (throwing powder off press) is also just as good, it just comes out faster.

I put my Co-Ax on a Dillon strong mount because Inline Fab was not around yet.

 

[TrapperBR549]

Other than the ease of changing dies and shell holders, what are the advantages of the Forster over the RCBS?

Depending on what you are switching to and from the shell holder can be a bigger pain on the coax than the RCBS. The dedicated shell holder assembly eliminates having to change the jaws around and losing the little springs but you can end up with $200 invested depending on what you load for.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

Hoser is not really a shooter........this is AI because no shooter has a bench
this neat and clean.

 

[LHSmith]

How often do you have to change your headspace? Are you swapping out barrels alot?

Anyone who shoots Registered Competition knows that all pieces of brass have an affinity to resist sizing at different rates.....so with-in a typical batch of 100 pcs I find it necessary to bump the shoulder back a thousandths on some and perhaps 2 or 3 thou on others. These are all shot from one barrel as I dedicate new brass for new barrels. H/S is measured AND run through the action to ensure consistency. In addition I have 1 RC with a plate bolted on and both my Redding Boss presses have plates in order to c-clamp them to the bench for loading at the range.

 

[LHSmith]

Tough call on this. I’ve always run a Rock Chucker, but the other day, I was over at a friends house helping him get a big batch done, and I was sizing his brass on his Co/Ax, and I gotta say, it’s pretty cool. With the floating aspect, it lines up perfectly every time.

In 50 years of service I don't recall my RC not "lining up." If I need floating I can remove the retaining clip and secure the s/h with an o-ring. The presses are align-bored.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Thinking about running that Co-ax from my chair makes my already sore shoulders hurt, and I’m a big Forster products Fan.

 

[SeabeeKen]

I have a redding BB2 press and a forster. I did a test. Same components, same dies and used both presses. No difference what so ever in groups. With that said, the biggest advantage is the ease of die change and limited shell holder changes. My personal preference is my BB2 press.
The die is in control once the case is in so even a loose ram wouldn't be an issue. JME

 

[Cecil S.]

I started reloading using my Dad's Rockchucker, but when it came time to buy my own set-up, I went with two Forster Co-Ax's and a MEC Marksman. I load in small batches and am very happy with both types of presses, with the Co-Ax's getting the bulk of the work because it is so quick and easy to change dies. The S-jaws do away with needing a bunch of shell holders, which is another convenience. I prime with a hand primer and seat with an arbor press, so the Co-Ax's are primarily used for sizing, for which they work very well. I mostly use the SAC Solo-Loc rings on the Co-Ax's.

The Prazipress is a beautiful machine and is intriguing, but I don't think I would see a difference on the target for such an expense and I'd hate to lose the easy-change-die capability. Although, working with high quality tools can be its own reward.

Solo-Loc Ring

The Solo-Loc Ring secures your dies with precision-made durability, ensuring consistent alignment for optimal reloading performance every time.

shortactioncustoms.com

I have just ventured into the MEC world.

 

[STORM2]

Coax, never reach for a shell holder again.

 

[LHSmith]

Coax, never reach for a shell holder again.

$350 (Coax) vs. $220 (RC) vs. $180 (Boss). I can buy a lot of shell holders for a press that accomplishes the same goal and is universally adaptable to all types of dies. Just don't see the love for the Coax. I even owned and used the highly touted Hood Press and found the RC and Boss presses do everything I expect them to do.

 

[p5200]

Anyone tried the new curved linkage on their Coax and how do you like it?

 

[Mike TackleBerry]

Other than the ease of changing dies and shell holders, what are the advantages of the Forster over the RCBS?

Hornady LNL kit for the RC erases any advantages of changing dies faster with the CO-AX.

 

[Tesoro]

Hornady LNL kit for the RC erases any advantages of changing dies faster with the CO-AX.

You use a stop watch when reloading?