Redding T7, Forster Co-Ax, Dillon 550 650 F Class High Power Ammo?

[Endyo]

I'm using a RCBS Rockchucker. I have a buddy breaking into reloading and I offered to sell him the Rock for cheap. From all my research the Forster Co-Ax is the best thing since sliced bread.

However, I'm worried about the ergonomics of the Co-Ax. Which got me pondering.

Can the Redding T7 turret consistantly produce match grade ammo? My inkling is yes. Since the general consensus is that the dies have more to do with runout than the press.

I'm not trying to start a Ford vs. Chevy debate. My question is more geared to any shared strengths or weaknesses of the Turret style T7 press.

Is there another press I overlooked capable of near benchrest level match ammo that I overlook. If so please mention your observations!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Re: Redding T7 or Forster Co-Ax for F Class High Power Ammo?

I have both. The t7 is a cadillac and the coax rarely gets used. Some dies dont work with it but theres no limitations on the t7

 

[Scott Harris]

Re: Redding T7 or Forster Co-Ax for F Class High Power Ammo?

T7 is a great press. I used the Harrells turret for a few years and was happy with it: http://harrellsprec.com/index.php/products/harrells-tooling-turret-press-by-henry-harrell

If you are looking at a turret press, might as well finish the journey and get a Dillon progressive. We spend a lot less time loading ammo now that we have a Dillon 550, with no sacrifices in quality.

 

[Endyo]

Re: Redding T7 or Forster Co-Ax for F Class High Power Ammo?

Awesome advice guys. May I ask why the T7 gets more use than the Forster?

I own a Dillon 650 which gets used for my high volume rounds, mostly pistol. I'm looking for a press for precision handloads.

I'm of the understanding that the T7 is equal to a single stage in terms of runout, but a progressive may not be. I realize we're talking about a couple thousandths maybe.

I use Varget and other long extruded powders. I meter with an RCBS charge master so the progressive wouldn't offer that much in terms of speed.

I'm not particularly familiar with the Harrels?

 

[Scott Harris]

Re: Redding T7 or Forster Co-Ax for F Class High Power Ammo?

...
I'm of the understanding that the T7 is equal to a single stage in terms of runout, but a progressive may not be. I realize we're talking about a couple thousandths maybe.
...

This is my setup. It will load ammo as good as anything out there. Loaded round runout = 0 to .001, powder weighed to the kernel, primers seated consistently, 75 rounds made in 25 minutes.

Wife shot a 599-42X in F-Open today with ammo loaded on this.....it's plenty good enough.

 

[Dos XX]

Re: Redding T7 or Forster Co-Ax for F Class High Power Ammo?

...
I'm of the understanding that the T7 is equal to a single stage in terms of runout, but a progressive may not be. I realize we're talking about a couple thousandths maybe.
...

This is my setup. It will load ammo as good as anything out there. Loaded round runout = 0 to .001, powder weighed to the kernel, primers seated consistently, 75 rounds made in 25 minutes.

Wife shot a 599-42X in F-Open today with ammo loaded on this.....it's plenty good enough.

Scott,
Are you using any aftermarket toolheads, or is that unit stock? Are you depriming on it, or do you do that separately before cleaning brass?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Re: Redding T7 or Forster Co-Ax for F Class High Power Ammo?

I use the t7 more because i can leave some dies in there all the time and like i said some of my dies dont work on the coax. I got too many presses.

 

[nosualc]

Re: Redding T7 or Forster Co-Ax for F Class High Power Ammo?

Buy both. You know you want to.

I use my Forster for sizing and decapping, and my T7 for all the other misc stuff (expanders, tippers, bullet puller, etc.)

-nosualc

 

[MtTom]

Re: Redding T7 or Forster Co-Ax for F Class High Power Ammo?

...
I'm of the understanding that the T7 is equal to a single stage in terms of runout, but a progressive may not be. I realize we're talking about a couple thousandths maybe.
...

This is my setup. It will load ammo as good as anything out there. Loaded round runout = 0 to .001, powder weighed to the kernel, primers seated consistently, 75 rounds made in 25 minutes.

Wife shot a 599-42X in F-Open today with ammo loaded on this.....it's plenty good enough.

Where did you get that and how much, I don't need another press but that is beautiful...I want to shoot 599 42x too.

 

[Scott Harris]

Re: Redding T7 or Forster Co-Ax for F Class High Power Ammo?

...

Scott,
Are you using any aftermarket toolheads, or is that unit stock? Are you depriming on it, or do you do that separately before cleaning brass?

Hi Russell, we deprime separately with a decapping die in the garage to keep the dirty primer residue off the Dillon, which is in the house. The toolheads are Uniquetek (modified Whidden floaters). The Whidden toolhead (and good dies) is the "secret" to getting zero runout ammo on this press.

MtTom, get what? It's a Dillon 550...with a few customizations.

 

[Jtate]

Re: Redding T7 or Forster Co-Ax for F Class High Power Ammo?

Scott, please tell us more (alot more) how the powder side of your Dillion press functions. Sorry for the Hijack, I have never seen anything like that. Is there an Omega rigged in there somehow? Did you build it? Thanks in advance. Jon

 

[lawrence97]

Re: Redding T7 or Forster Co-Ax for F Class High Power Ammo?

Scott, very nice setup. Most are amazed at the dillon press and the toolhead but I really like that nice piece of equipment hovering above that..... might it be the elusive, pricey and very accurate Prometheus ;D

Have you gone away from weighing powder on a lab scale?

 

[lawrence97]

Re: Redding T7 or Forster Co-Ax for F Class High Power Ammo?

Jtate, here is some info:

http://www.6mmbr.com/prometheus.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6scLPhkT-8w

 

[Endyo]

Re: Redding T7 or Forster Co-Ax for F Class High Power Ammo?

I'm still doing this looking at Scott's setup.

I had intended to load semi-progressive on my 650. Whidden's toolhead I wasn't sure about. Some said Dillon's toolhead was "good enough" and that the slop in them would give the effect of "floating" the dies. As you can tell there was a lot of mixed information out there, no hard numbers like you provided, and I was on the fence.

At the lunch table after a shoot I asked everyone what they thought about the idea of using a 650 for loading precision match ammo.

After wiping the tomato and lettuce off my face I decided to return the .308 conversion kit and case feed shell plate to Brian Enos which he graciously accepted back.

 

[Endyo]

Re: Redding T7 or Forster Co-Ax for F Class High Power Ammo?

Scott, very nice setup. Most are amazed at the dillon press and the toolhead but I really like that nice piece of equipment hovering above that..... might it be the elusive, pricey and very accurate Prometheus ;D

Have you gone away from weighing powder on a lab scale?

The Prometheus is the crown jewel! Not only is he loading near zero runout, but within plus/minus one granule of powder.

 

[Scott Harris]

Re: Redding T7 or Forster Co-Ax for F Class High Power Ammo?

Scott, very nice setup. Most are amazed at the dillon press and the toolhead but I really like that nice piece of equipment hovering above that..... might it be the elusive, pricey and very accurate Prometheus ;D

Have you gone away from weighing powder on a lab scale?

Hey Lawrence and company, yes that is a prometheus 2, and yes it is very expensive...until you calculate how many hours of your life it saves...then it starts looking dirt cheap! We had been using the Sartorius GD-503 to weigh powder. It was a 2 person operation with one weighing powder and the other running the press. Now, we produce the same number of cartridges per hour, at the same high quality level, but with only one person! With four shooters putting 400 rounds a week downrange, we are always looking to speed up the loading process, while maintaining the highest quality. The Dillon combined with the Prometheus have made us very happy campers.

I plan to do a full write-up on this configuration ....after the nationals. But for those looking to do something similar, check out David Tubb's book, The Rifle Shooter, pages 313-316. He describes how to modify the Dillon 550 to produce minimal runout and get the priming assembly working precisely.

Regarding the Prometheus, it works as advertised. It measures accurate to the kernel flawlessly and can weigh about 3 charges per minute. We weighed 1500 charges over several months and verified the charge weights on our Sartorius GD-503. The only way I was going to use this machine is if it had a zero defect rate.....it does to the best of my ability to measure. Brand Cole was a real pleasure to do business with and patiently worked through the multitudes of questions that I had while testing this device. The more precision rounds you load per year, the more indispensable you will find this scale.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Re: Redding T7 or Forster Co-Ax for F Class High Power Ammo?

I have both as well. Recently picked up the T7 but havent used it yet. Love my Coax. Bought the T7 because of reviews like you are seeing from these members. Look forward to using it soon.

I also have a Rockchucker and a LEE Classic turret. I use ALL my presses because they all have a purpose and they serve it well.

No sense in having just one press. Cant get anything done that way ;D

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Re: Redding T7 or Forster Co-Ax for F Class High Power Ammo?

How long has it been since brand made those scales? Is he planning on making any more?

 

[Joe R]

Re: Redding T7 or Forster Co-Ax for F Class High Power Ammo?

Scott Harris said:

I plan to do a full write-up on this configuration ....after the nationals.

Scott,
This is awesome. Forget the write up, do a YouTube video and show us and tell us all about it.

This is the Holy Grail of reloading. This is what I've been working towards. Right now I do many steps on my Hornady progressive press, but I have to do the de-priming, powder measuring and seating as separate steps. You're lightyears ahead of where I am.

Joe

 

[Scott Harris]

Re: Redding T7 or Forster Co-Ax for F Class High Power Ammo?

LOL Joe, laziness drives all my decision making ;D