heavy duty precision reloading press?

[JRS]

the Forster is the most sought after press on the market for a reason. It's the best you can buy period. You can full length size a .308 case with two fingers all day long. The dies are adjusted once, and never touched again. The press uses two guide rods instead of letting the ram float all over the place making straiter ammo everytime. You don't buy shell holders or use them! That way you take all the machining error out of that end of the case. The jaws donot hold the case in place as many think, but are used to extract the case from the die on the upstroke. There is no torquing of the ram to one side as the guide rods prevent this from happening. I've been using mine since 1978, and it's as tight as the day I opened the box up it came in.
gary

You sure your dies aren't to credit for straight ammo? I can move my WTC dies from either of my LEE Classic Cast presses, to my Rockchucker, and back again, with no measurable difference in run -out on my ammo. I purchased a Co-ax a few years ago, and found it to be no better than my LEE'S or Rockchucker. I sold it to a forum member here shortly thereafter. What has made all the difference in the world, is my WTC dies

 

[BigDMT]

the Forster is the most sought after press on the market for a reason. It's the best you can buy period. You can full length size a .308 case with two fingers all day long. The dies are adjusted once, and never touched again. The press uses two guide rods instead of letting the ram float all over the place making straiter ammo everytime. You don't buy shell holders or use them! That way you take all the machining error out of that end of the case. The jaws donot hold the case in place as many think, but are used to extract the case from the die on the upstroke. There is no torquing of the ram to one side as the guide rods prevent this from happening. I've been using mine since 1978, and it's as tight as the day I opened the box up it came in.
gary

You sure your dies aren't to credit for straight ammo? I can move my WTC dies from either of my LEE Classic Cast presses, to my Rockchucker, and back again, with no measurable difference in run -out on my ammo. I purchased a Co-ax a few years ago, and found it to be no better than my LEE'S or Rockchucker. I sold it to a forum member here shortly thereafter. What has made all the difference in the world, is my WTC dies

I agree. Dies are probably the most important part of good ammo. Nice thing about the Forster is that it will correct bad dies. So if you have a TON of different calibers and just buy cheapo RCBS or LEE dies for some of your guns, it will make a smaller difference if the dies are off a bit.

 

[Nik]

Redding Ultra Mag has done the job for me for the almost 20 years, especially if you are necking up or down brass, ie forming hard to find brass.

 

[JRS]

No press on earth is going to correct bad dies :

 

[rwk]

Lee cast

 

[Lazydays]

the Forster is the most sought after press on the market for a reason. It's the best you can buy period. You can full length size a .308 case with two fingers all day long. The dies are adjusted once, and never touched again. The press uses two guide rods instead of letting the ram float all over the place making straiter ammo everytime. You don't buy shell holders or use them! That way you take all the machining error out of that end of the case. The jaws donot hold the case in place as many think, but are used to extract the case from the die on the upstroke. There is no torquing of the ram to one side as the guide rods prevent this from happening. I've been using mine since 1978, and it's as tight as the day I opened the box up it came in.
gary

You sure your dies aren't to credit for straight ammo? I can move my WTC dies from either of my LEE Classic Cast presses, to my Rockchucker, and back again, with no measurable difference in run -out on my ammo. I purchased a Co-ax a few years ago, and found it to be no better than my LEE'S or Rockchucker. I sold it to a forum member here shortly thereafter. What has made all the difference in the world, is my WTC dies

I agree. Dies are probably the most important part of good ammo. Nice thing about the Forster is that it will correct bad dies. So if you have a TON of different calibers and just buy cheapo RCBS or LEE dies for some of your guns, it will make a smaller difference if the dies are off a bit.

I get good strait cases with Lee dies, Forster dies, RCBS dies, and Redding dies (even Lyman dies). Actually in a full length die setup there's not a lot of difference between them. I think Forster dies do the necks and shoulders slightly better. But what I really like about the Co-Ax is when I do heavyduty case forming. It's a breeze as long as the dies I use are good
gary

 

[TonyR]

I have an RCBS A-4 and it makes any sort of resizing, necking up or down, and case forming easy. Lots more leverage than my RockChucker or Big Boss II presses; and the shovel handle is very comfortable if I have to lean hard on something. The only downside is that the big threads with the insert removed are too big for the Warner Tool die I use with some of my cartridges.

 

[Steve Blair]

The only downside is that the big threads with the insert removed are too big for the Warner Tool die I use with some of my cartridges.

[br]
A big +1 for WTC dies. They make the most consistent ammo I have ever assembled. The Big Max is a great press and worth buying if you can find a good, used example. Machining or having an insert machined would be worth it to get the almost unlimited leverage this press offers.

 

[TonyR]

The only downside is that the big threads with the insert removed are too big for the Warner Tool die I use with some of my cartridges.

[br]
A big +1 for WTC dies. They make the most consistent ammo I have ever assembled. The Big Max is a great press and worth buying if you can find a good, used example. Machining or having an insert machined would be worth it to get the almost unlimited leverage this press offers.

There is an A-4 Big Max on eBay right now and there have been a few others over the last couple of weeks. I guess people realize what they are worth and are dusting them off for sale if they aren't using them..

 

[Cakes]

"Best" is pretty much open to interpretation but IMO ++ for the old Rock Chuckers, I have six and they keep producing stellar ammo. Also ++ for the WTC dies...TOP NOTCH! Eric in DL

 

[Lazydays]

"Best" is pretty much open to interpretation but IMO ++ for the old Rock Chuckers, I have six and they keep producing stellar ammo. Also ++ for the WTC dies...TOP NOTCH! Eric in DL

not even in the same class with the Co-Ax. Been there and done that
gary

 

[LHSmith]

"Best" is pretty much open to interpretation but IMO ++ for the old Rock Chuckers, I have six and they keep producing stellar ammo. Also ++ for the WTC dies...TOP NOTCH! Eric in DL

not even in the same class with the Co-Ax. Been there and done that
gary

That's correct, The RC is an"O" frame class press, while the Co-ax is a "C" frame class press. "C" frame presses went the way of Rayon tires back in the 50's due to inherent flex issues. :

 

[JRS]

"Best" is pretty much open to interpretation but IMO ++ for the old Rock Chuckers, I have six and they keep producing stellar ammo. Also ++ for the WTC dies...TOP NOTCH! Eric in DL

not even in the same class with the Co-Ax. Been there and done that
gary

That's correct, The RC is an"O" frame class press, while the Co-ax is a "C" frame class press. "C" frame presses went the way of Rayon tires back in the 50's due to inherent flex issues. :

So right you are LHSmith So right you are

 

[Steve Blair]

That's correct, The RC is an"O" frame class press, while the Co-ax is a "C" frame class press. "C" frame presses went the way of Rayon tires back in the 50's due to inherent flex issues. :

[br]
Not quite right. Take another look at the load path in a Co-Ax and you'll see that, while it superficially resembles a "C" press, it does not function like one. For that matter, get out your copy of Roark's and do a couple beam calcs on any press. They all flex, some more than others.

 

[Lazydays]

"Best" is pretty much open to interpretation but IMO ++ for the old Rock Chuckers, I have six and they keep producing stellar ammo. Also ++ for the WTC dies...TOP NOTCH! Eric in DL

not even in the same class with the Co-Ax. Been there and done that
gary

That's correct, The RC is an"O" frame class press, while the Co-ax is a "C" frame class press. "C" frame presses went the way of Rayon tires back in the 50's due to inherent flex issues. :

one thing about that rockpile. You can later use it as a boat anchor. Has the right shape and quality
gary

 

[STS]

I'm surprised the A2 hasn't made its way into this thread. If your looking for strong the A2 is about as good as it gets. They command pretty big money these days, but they are great presses.