Buying a Forster CO-AX Press. Any tips, accessories, or suggestions?

[Quinc]

Picking up a CO-AX Soon and wanted to hear from the vets using the press if there is anything that I need to go with it to make reloading quicker and easier? Plan is to use it mostly for loading .284 bench rest with Redding comp dies.

 

[savagedasher]

I would get locking rings for all your Dies. The shot handle works very good also. On my press I don't use any handle. I like their case lube oil. a small amount softens the carbon on the cases. it also does wonders on the carbon rings in the chamber. Larry

 

[1911cwp]

This is not a requirement but a personal choice. I constructed a wooden mount that raised the press to a more comfortable position and I think improved ergonomics. It was poor. I saw an advertisement for a blemished In Line Fabrication blemished mount for the this press, as well as others. Since it was blemished, I didn't see it, it cost $60 instead of $90. GREAT product. Heavy duty excellent finish even if blemished, which I would of done anyway.

 

[MrMajestic]

Think about the extra small/large jaws if you're gonna be doing other calibers.

 

[Quinc]

Think about the extra small/large jaws if you're gonna be doing other calibers.

You have to buy the jaws/shell holders separate?

Also do you have to have the Forster lock rings or will the Redding lock rings that come with the dies work?

 

[jimcasey01]

I prefer to use a caliber specific shell holder. For me, the fit of the Redding shell holders seems to be the best fit for the press. It takes about a minute to change out to another caliber. That requires an additional piece to be purchased, which is another minor expense, but more convenient for me. Good luck, you will enjoy it.

 

[masterblaster1]

I got the in line stand, the curved arms and led light, its a perfect set up, I load 260 308 and 300 wm with it after using my lee cast for 30 + years.

 

[jonbearman]

With all seriousness, what is the true advantage of owning one over a rockchucker, hornady, lyman, lee cast steel press. I have never had a chance to even see one of these presses up close. I am not hijacking, just want to know the advances of reloading with the coax?

 

[logger3006]

Its a floating die setup even the shell holder that's supplied floats to some degree. It loads some of the straitest ammo without going to the Wilson dies and a arbor press, plus the added mechanical advantage of the linkage helps with sizing.

 

[Medic505]

order a set of springs that go under the shell holder plate. You may never lose one but if you do it's nice to have one on hand and not have to wait a week to load. Been there , done that! The short handle is a plus also. Sinclair makes great die rings that work very well with this press.

Jon I can't honestly say there are any advantages using this press. I've been using one for nearly 40 years. I just like'em.

 

[Matt in Virginia]

With all seriousness, what is the true advantage of owning one over a rockchucker, hornady, lyman, lee cast steel press. I have never had a chance to even see one of these presses up close. I am not hijacking, just want to know the advances of reloading with the coax?

The Co-Ax sells itself. I bought one after looking at one for many moons and consider it to be, without question, the finest 7/8"x14 press on the market. The auto shell holder, open access, primer catch, priming system, dead smooth operation... Dunno know where to start. When they get back in stock you ought to buy one, use it for two weeks, and then send it back. I've never found anyone who did not grow to LOVE the Co-Ax...

Putting it into a thousand words is tiresome and will not convey the experience of actually using the unit. I've never heard anyone say anything negative about the press. If they were not back ordered I would pick up another to avoid having to changed the shell holder from small rifle to large/magnum...

Regards, Matt Garrett.
Chesapeake, Virginia

 

[logger3006]

order a set of springs that go under the shell holder plate. You may never lose one but if you do it's nice to have one on hand and not have to wait a week to load. Been there , done that! The short handle is a plus also. Sinclair makes great die rings that work very well with this press.

Jon I can't honestly say there are any advantages using this press. I've been using one for nearly 40 years. I just like'em.

good point I have been there too, speaking of ordering. I ordered a new large primer seater and the service was top notch.

 

[artbosco]

Picking up a CO-AX Soon and wanted to hear from the vets using the press if there is anything that I need to go with it to make reloading quicker and easier? Plan is to use it mostly for loading .284 bench rest with Redding comp dies.

Use nothing but the Forster Die Locking Rings, they're deigned to fit the slot in the press perfectly. Others have too much play.

Inline Fabrication has some nice after-market upgrades: http://inlinefabrication.com/collections/forster-co-ax

I have an RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme for the heavy lifting jobs and the CO-AX for the everyday stuff. It made reloading fun, not a chore, especially when swapping out dies.

 

[Joe R]

Quinc said:
Picking up a CO-AX Soon and wanted to hear from the vets using the press if there is anything that I need to go with it to make reloading quicker and easier? Plan is to use it mostly for loading .284 bench rest with Redding comp dies.

I've only been using my co-ax about a year, so I'm not an expert like many here. It is also the only single stage press I've ever used so my experience is limited. I found the Forster lock rings to be soft and expensive. I use Hornady lock rings because they are steel and reasonably priced. I use them on all my dies, but the only ones I've had are Forster, Redding, and Lee. There are probably others that would work as well as the Hornady ones but I don't know them.

I don't see the need at all for any extra jaws unless you plan on abusing the press somehow and damaging the jaws. I think that would take some doing.

I've seen people selling various add-ons for the co-ax but I've never seen any point to it. The press works great as it is right out of the box. The only thing I've changed on mine is that I don't use the spent primer jar because it got in the way of a drawer. I replaced it with a piece of clear tubing that sends the primers right into the trash can. I like to hear them drop.

Good luck,

Joe

 

[tonysnoo]

Picking up a CO-AX Soon and wanted to hear from the vets using the press if there is anything that I need to go with it to make reloading quicker and easier? Plan is to use it mostly for loading .284 bench rest with Redding comp dies.

Use nothing but the Forster Die Locking Rings, they're deigned to fit the slot in the press perfectly. Others have too much play.

Inline Fabrication has some nice after-market upgrades: http://inlinefabrication.com/collections/forster-co-ax

Ive only had mine for a few months and I really like it. My only gripe was the ergonomics... If you lined up one shoulder with the handle for easy leverage and feel, your feed hand was too far offset to get straight in under the die easily. The inlinefabrication.comcurved links changed all that...feels like you opened up the whole side of the tool bay. The led light kit is cool, but may not be needed if your bench is well lit. I really like the feel of the process and the dimensional repeat ability of this press. The Forster instructions warn that steel rings can wear on the press...but I sure would like to see steel rings used.

 

[StevenDzupin]

Keep the slide rods greased.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I would order the standard shell holder adapter as well. Although the S jaws are one of the greatest and most convenient features of the Co-ax, they don't allow you to bump shoulders back as far as you can with a standard she'll holder. So if you happen upon a rifle with a short chamber and you can't get the shoulder bumped back far enough, you'll need that adapter.

I personally just keep my sizing dies set up for the old RCBS Rockchucker and use the Forster for seating and priming.

 

[MrMajestic]

Think about the extra small/large jaws if you're gonna be doing other calibers.

You have to buy the jaws/shell holders separate?

The LS are for small cases, .22 Hornet, and large cases, .348/.45-70. The press only comes with the S jaws a standard.

 

[Joe R]

tonysnoo said:

The Forster instructions warn that steel rings can wear on the press...but I sure would like to see steel rings used.

Tony,
Here what the Accurate SHooter review said:

PROS: Floating jaw shell-holder design delivers low run-out ammo. Smooth stroke without wobble. Best spent-primer collection system.

CONS: Clearance can be an issue with some very tall dies (but you can mill the yoke to accommodate). Dies must be equipped with cross-bolt style lock rings. We recommend the Hornady lock-rings.

To read the whole article follow the link http://www.accurateshooter.com/gear-reviews/forster-co-ax%C2%AE-press/

Kindest regards,

Joe

 

[nosualc]

Note that some dies have clearance issues with the Coax. These are really tall dies (interfere with the yoke) or super fat dies (don't fit in the slot). In my experience these are specialty dies that will still require a screw-in press design (I use a redding turret).

Otherwise, I love my Coax and have two of them.

I got the extra LS jaws with mine, but I load for the hornet and the .45-70.

I got the standard shell holder adaptor. Tried it, and went back to the spring loaded jaws.

I use the Sinclair steel locking rings. I can't say that they make a difference over the aluminum forster rings, but I like them.

I got the shorty handle, which really improves the speediness of the throw, but sacrifices leverage. If you're using a FL resizing die, even minimally resizing, the shorty handle is not enough.

I'd say to buy the press and run it as is for a while. If in using it you feel the need to accessorize do so then.

-nosualc

ps - Keep the shell holder plate clean. Due to the proximity to the spent primer hole little pieces of carbon can show up here. A q-tip is your friend.