Foster Reloading Press

[andyd1179]

I was reading in this months issue of Target Shooter about the Foster Reloading Press by Laurie Holland, does anyone have one of these and what do they think of them and do you agree with what Laurie says.
www.targetshooter.co.uk

AndyD

 

[CooperNV]

It's a Forster Co-Ax press. I have one and I really like it. It's basically the Bonanza Press of old. I like the shell holder,or lack of it) and the ease of die changing. The Co-Ax is noted for being a very good press an known for loading cartridges with very little run out. If you can afford one, get it, you will not be sorry. JMHO

 

[Nodak7mm]

Bought mine new in 79/80 after learning how to load on a friend's Dad's Co-Ax, Using a different style just seems foreign. Never considered another brand.

Love it and will not part with it.

Nodak

 

[infantrytrophy]

The Forster Co-Ax is a great press. I have had excellent results loading only for competitive target shooting, mostly .223 and 6BR plus occasionally 30-06 and 7.5x55 Swiss. It is very precisely machined and sizes cases and seats bullets with very little runout. If you need to call Forster's tech reps, they are very helpful.

There are 3 features of the Co-Ax press that distinguish it from others. First, the dies snap in and out of a machined slot instantly, allowing you to change dies quickly. Second, because the die and the brass case are allowed to 'float' slightly in the horizontal plane, the case and die can self-center. The universal caseholder adjusts to most brass sizes and allows the horizontal 'float'. These features contribute to low case runout and total cartridge runout. Third, the decapped primer is fully contained within a drop tube and closed collection cup. Your bench, press and caseholder remain clean and free of primer residue.

You will need to pay attention to the brief setup instructions, particularly those for the retaining pin for the die lock ring and for the universal caseholder. To take full advantage of the press's features, you should buy a Forster lock ring for each of your dies. You can buy them inexpensively by the dozen.

One 'quirky' feature of the Co-Ax press is the y-shaped yoke that holds the handle. This will interfere with most collet-type press-mounted bullet pullers. If you want a press-mounted bullet puller, just buy the Forster Universal bullet puller instead of a standard bullet puller.

This is an excellent press; you won't be disappointed. It costs a little more than some others, but it's worth it. Just grit your teeth and stroke the check.

Randy Sikes

 

[Travelor]

When I started to get seriopus about long range shooting I bought a tool to measure my cartridge consistency,ie symetrical rullout or 'roundness'). I was using RCBS dies and an RCBS RockChucker press which I thought were the top of the line. I was seeing my some of 223 and 222 Rem rounds visably wobble when rolled across the table top - NOT GOOD. I canged to Hornady New Deminsion dies and agot some improvement, but I was still not satisfied and cases were still stretching.

I was also gettng a fair amount of case stretching from pulling the necks over the mandrel acter sizing them.

After reading accuracy related forums and speaking with fellow shooters, I bought a Forster Co-Ax press and some Redding Competiton collet dies. Simply stated - PROBLEM SOLVED. Runout droped to .001' or below and on-target accuracy greatly imporved. Also no more case stretching since the case necks do not get over sized and then pulled over a mandrel. As and added benefit, the micrometer seating stems allow me to reliably and quickly adjust the seater stem to seat different bullets to the proper depth-to-lands.

Love my Forster press and Redding dies.

George

 

[AP2020]

I have had mine for 14 years now.....engineering design second to none.

 

[Winchester69]

I was using RCBS dies and an RCBS RockChucker press which I thought were the top of the line. I was seeing some of my .223 and .222 Rem rounds visably wobble when rolled across the table top - NOT GOOD. I changed to Hornady New Dimension dies and got some improvement....

After reading accuracy-related forums and speaking with fellow shooters, I bought a Forster Co-Ax press and some Redding Competiton [bushing] dies. Simply stated - PROBLEM SOLVED. Runout dropped to 0.001' or below, and on-target accuracy greatly improved.

If that's an RC II, did you check your results with that press and the new Redding dies?