No trimming with Forster Co-Ax??

[master_photog]

The Forster Co-Ax and a trim die are new to my reloading experiences.

Do the trim dies and the Forster Co-Ax not play well together or do I have other options?

Getting the full stroke of a file is impossible with how I have the die set up.

Thanks for any input if I'm missing something.

 

[JohnKielly]

No way round that.

If you have to use trim dies, I suggest that you buy any inexpensive (new or used) conventional C press that carries the die at the top & use that.

 

[ireload2]

Even if it did work I doubt that you would like brass particles all over your press mechanism.
Co-Ax owner's love them but they don't talk about somethings like case forming and bullet pulling.

 

[Steve Blair]

Even if it did work I doubt that you would like brass particles all over your press mechanism.
Co-Ax owner's love them but they don't talk about somethings like case forming and bullet pulling.

I form cases with a Co-Ax. How do you think it prevents forming?

 

[mr45man]

A cheap old press set up in an out building/ picnic table.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

The coax has its limitations and cant be considered your only press. Grab an rcbs partner for under $100 to accompany it. Youll probably use it more anyway

 

[ireload2]

Have you ever formed a case head with it? Try pushing a case head through a die like you would do to make a 7.5X54 MAS case out of a 7.5X55 Swiss Schmidt Rubin or you can try to form a .35 Remington or 6.5 Jap case out of a 7.62 Nato. Another forming job is making .303 British brass from .444 Marlin.

I form cases with a Co-Ax. How do you think it prevents forming?

 

[fguffey]

I form cases with a Co-Ax. How do you think it prevents forming?

Steve Blair, when forming cases with a trim/form die the case protrudes through the top of the diel. the protruding neck must be trimmed. There are three ways to trim the neck; I use a hack saw then finish with a file. then there is the air craft countersink. The air craft counter can be used to flair the protruding neck, the faired neck will pop off when the ram is lowered. If you scroll up at the large pictures you will notice the die is countersunk above the press meaning it is not possible to use a hack saw or file. I do not have the Co-Ax but if I did I would use an aircraft counter sink operated by an electric drill.

F. Guffey

 

[fguffey]

6.5 Jap case out of a 7.62 Nato.

With .033" difference in the diameter of the case head and body I believe it would be easier to ream the chamber to 6.5mm 257 Roberts.

F. Guffey

 

[Steve Blair]

Have you ever formed a case head with it? Try pushing a case head through a die like you would do to make a 7.5X54 MAS case out of a 7.5X55 Swiss Schmidt Rubin or you can try to form a .35 Remington or 6.5 Jap case out of a 7.62 Nato. Another forming job is making .303 British brass from .444 Marlin.

I don't use hack saws and files on cases. When forming 7.92x33 from .308 brass, I first sized it with an RCBS die in a Bonanza Co-Ax and then used a lathe collet to hold the case and touched it with a parting tool. Very fast and clean. It was then trimmed normally. Dusty is correct, in any case. There is no single press that will do everything well. I have three presses and use them all as appropriate. My objection was to your demonstrably false inference that a Co-Ax could not form cases.

If it's any consolation, Frank is also wrong. There are more than three ways to trim cases. I've also used a powered Bonanza trimmer to do the complete trimming operation. Quick and accurate. For normal trimming, nothing beats a Giraud Power Trimmer.

 

[fguffey]

If it's any consolation, Frank is also wrong. There are more than three ways to trim cases. I've also used a powered Bonanza trimmer to do the complete trimming operation. Quick and accurate. For normal trimming, nothing beats a Giraud Power Trimmer.

I agree with Frank, the OP was kind enough to furnish a large picture that did an excellent job of demonstrating the problem. By design he can not trim the protruding case from the top of the die because the top of the die is below the top of the press; meaning a hack saw and file would be awkward to use. Again, that leaves the aircraft countersink. Then there comes the 'more than one way to trim a case', I have the Dillon 1200 and Gracey.

http://www.matchprep.com/trimmer.htm

One more time, I form cases, forming cases save me money. There is 'almost' no way a case can cost me more than 10¢ each. ‘Then the subject of trimming and talking about trimming’. When forming cases with a trim/forming die I use the man tool, the hack saw. WHY? When forming cases it is 'sometimes necessary to remove .300" from each formed case. There is no faster way then trim .300" from a case than with the hack saw. After trimming with the hack saw I finish with a file. I could suggest 'think about it; but that did not work; if I trim .300" from each case when forming 300 cases it is necessary to trim 30" from the 100 cases. All of that before the case is removed from the trim form die.

Now it is time for a manufacturer of tools to make a trimmer for the CO-AX because in the original designer did not have the foresight to anticipate forming with a form die and trimming before lowering the ram.

Again, if I had a CO-AX I would use an aircraft countersink or similar tool.

Back to the pictures furnished by the OP; the trim die he is using is a short trim die. If the trim die was taller it could protrude high enough to use a hack saw and or file or both but then there is the limited room. I supposed little bitty hack saws and little bitty files could be used. I have handles for hack saws and files that are used with limited space.

F. Guffey

 

[fguffey]

I form cases with a Co-Ax. How do you think it prevents forming?

It does not prevent forming, it complicates trimming

No way round that.

If you have to use trim dies, I suggest that you buy any inexpensive (new or used) conventional C press that carries the die at the top & use that.

John Kiielly, I do not make excuses for bad designs, you are correct. It is possible but as suggested it should come with a vacuum cleaner and a power source.

F. Guffey

 

[fguffey]

Do the trim dies and the Forster Co-Ax not play well together or do I have other options?

No they don't, then there are the fans of the Co-Ax press, it seems they are sensitive.

F. Guffey

 

[master_photog]

No they don't, then there are the fans of the Co-Ax press, it seems they are sensitive.

F. Guffey

I'm not sensitive just looking to see if there was another way for the Forster and the trim die to play with each other.

The posts have exceeded my answer on many fronts.

The best option may be a separate press, such as the C press as suggested. This will prevent the shavings from piling up on the Forster as an added bonus.

Many thanks

 

[fguffey]

The Forster Co-Ax and a trim die are new to my reloading experiences.

I have no fewer than 20 presses; I do not have a single stage press with an obstruction above a die. That clears the way for the hack saw and file. I have no fewer than 200 aircraft countersinks of different sizes. I would not recommend the CO-Ax as a first and or only press. Again, a tool could be made for the Co-Ax for trimming, the tool could be similar to the tool I have for making gages. The tool is a pivoting ‘V’ block that is used for butt grinding.

Forgive; I did not intend to suggest you were sensitive. But there are other members that seem to be totally unaware there are other presses. I have arbor presses that are a strain for me to carry, I adapted one for case forming, I have used it when determining chamber dimensions; when using a heavy Dake arbor press never forget to lube the case.

F. Guffey

 

[danny]

I don't think that there is any simple, efficient method to be able to trim cases in a Co-Ax. As stated, no one press will do everything, or everything well. A cheap O or C press, as mentioned, is an option. I don't want to do any trimming on a press, so I don't. I would not want to do it on a second press. I use trimmers for that. You can case form on a Co-Ax. I just don't know if I would want to do what could be heavy work on a Co-Ax when I have Lee Classic Cast that can do it. I would probably save the Co-Ax for most of the conventional, precision tasks.

I suppose that if you have to get the trimming done on the Co-Ax, you can, with some kind of tools that you can go at it from above, but it may take a long time and you might risk running a tool into the press.

Danny

I don't use hack saws and files on cases. When forming 7.92x33 from .308 brass, I first sized it with an RCBS die in a Bonanza Co-Ax and then used a lathe collet to hold the case and touched it with a parting tool. Very fast and clean. It was then trimmed normally. Dusty is correct, in any case. There is no single press that will do everything well. I have three presses and use them all as appropriate. My objection was to your demonstrably false inference that a Co-Ax could not form cases.

If it's any consolation, Frank is also wrong. There are more than three ways to trim cases. I've also used a powered Bonanza trimmer to do the complete trimming operation. Quick and accurate. For normal trimming, nothing beats a Giraud Power Trimmer.

 

[fguffey]

I don't think that there is any simple, efficient method to be able to trim cases in a Co-Ax. As stated, no one press will do everything, or everything well.

danny, there is no shortage of presses around here but if I only had one press and it was the Co-Ax press and I was forming cases I would have the cases trimmed before other owners of the Co-Ax finished talking about it. Then there is that part about no press will do everything, or everything well. I have single stage presses that function as reloading presses and size, seat and form cases exactly as they were designed to do. Then there is the operator of the press that spends too much time looking for fault in the equipment and other members.

I am just looking for a few fair and objective reloaders that can give a non bias opinion.

F. Guffey

 

[Number6]

Lee quick trim and the Lee 'C' press if they can provide the die for the case you are trimming. I would think that would provide an inexpensive solution.

 

[mikehotel]

yep, I use my old lee press for this

 

[Fbomb]

+1 on the Lee. I have several presses and use an old Lee loader c-style press for lots of general work. It has plenty of room in the front to work from. I use it in place of a powder measure stand, and for depriming. It is an inexpensive press that I have never used for sizing or bullet seating but I got my money's worth out of it long ago. I think it would work good for the OP.

http://leeprecision.com/reloader-press.html