Reloading press advice

[savageshooter86]

not worried about the dies. I have top quality dies and components. I believe I will be using a bushing FL sizer in near future to pair with my turned Lapua cases. The little Lee press I have now flexes and can't get a consistent "feel" for sizing etc.. So was thinking about upgrading to a better press.

Thanks for all the help. I guess if I get the CoAx ordered and get it and change my mind I can sell it on Ebay for double what I paid and call it a day since people are still paying way too much for used presses on there

 

[ridgeway]

My Co-Ax feels like it might be camming over, but wanted to know for sure. So set up a test indicator using a magnetic base attached to the press body. The indicator tip rested on the shell plate holder. I used a Redding FL die on a fired 223 Remington case, giving it .004" shoulder setback (AR-15). The indicator shows the plate continually rising, although very little toward the ends of arm travel, but the indicator never goes back the other way (plate descending). I think what we feel is the ease of effort to move the handle for very little shell plate movement at the end of travel vs that during mid-stroke. I repeated the measurement without a case, and my results were the same. A bigger case, greater resizing, may change the results.

Phil

Great test, nice to know.

 

[tenring]

Hey Chuckhunter, I must be older than you. I still have my original Pacific "C" press, but have retired it. These days, I use the old RCBS Rock Chucker and their Partner presses, plus an old Lee for simple stuff, and an arbor press.
Never had a Co-ax.

I like the Partner press for the port height, makes bullet seating easier. A lot of guys shooting IBS reload with the Partner.

 

[savageshooter86]

Big Brown arrived this evening with my CoAx press. Going to set it up in the morning. Sure does feel durable and looks perty

 

[ridgeway]

Big Brown arrived this evening with my CoAx press. Going to set it up in the morning. Sure does feel durable and looks perty

You'll be quite satisfied, especially when you size your first case!

 

[lrgoodger]

I just wanna thank ridgeway for the heads up on the Forster Coax at Natchez. I was in the market for a new press since splitting the top on my Lee classic turret press while loading ammo for the Midwest VHA match. I don't mean the four hole turret (I broke two of those already), I mean the steel top that holds the turret. Lee did replace them immediately at no charge, but it became obvious it was not going to hold up to heavy use, so I began the search for a new press. What I read seemed to be overwhelmingly in favor of the Forster Coax, so I ordered it.

Now, let me tell you the Coax is the fifth new press I've bought over the years, including a rockchucker, but I love this thing! It makes the whole reloading process smoother and easier. I miss the primer dispenser of the Lee, but I like the precise primer seating of the coax. Anyone who doesn't reload for a lot of different calibers might not find it as awesome as those of us who change dies a lot, but the mechanical advantage sure is sweet on re-sizing and shoulder bumping.

Thanks ridgeway! I almost bid on that new one on ebay, but I resisted and I'm glad I did since Natchez got them in. Those ebay bidders always were nutz!

 

[BoydAllen]

How do you set up your dies? It sounds like you have a lot of interference between die and shell holder at the top of the stroke.

 

[ridgeway]

How do you set up your dies? It sounds like you have a lot of interference between die and shell holder at the top of the stroke.

Boyd...die setup is the same as any other press. Screw the die down to where it touches the shell plate(more or less depending on die) and see where you are at with your bump. From there, you know the routine. Interference, not sure what you are looking at. I don't have any type of interference of any sort.

 

[savageshooter86]

ridgeway- I have used this press before and it was awesome. Could not even tell I was full length sizing my 308 cases at all hardly. So easy and smooth.

**Only complaint is I got my press and unboxed it and the frame has several spots where the red paint is scratched off It was packaged with the cardboard packing to protect it so not sure what it was. I may be calling Forster to see

 

[savageshooter86]

Got almost all of my sites set up for the new press. So far reprinted and sized some brass for my AR. Took a few times to get the precise shoulder bump I was wanting and from there on it was perfect. Going to enjoy this press door many, many years to come

Thanks for the help and info from y'all

 

[BoydAllen]

I was just trying to get at where you were developing the amount of stress needed to damage a press. I thought that you might have run into a situation where you were toggling the press unusually heavily. I have been using my Rockchucker forever (now converted to Lock-N-Load) without any problems, and during that time, before I became more enlightened ;-) it withstood some unnecessary abuse....without damage.

 

[ridgeway]

I was just trying to get at where you were developing the amount of stress needed to damage a press. I thought that you might have run into a situation where you were toggling the press unusually heavily. I have been using my Rockchucker forever (now converted to Lock-N-Load) without any problems, and during that time, before I became more enlightened ;-) it withstood some unnecessary abuse....without damage.

Oh no...that's definitely not the case. I know where you are coming from...all I can say, the Forster has a different feel to it, you almost have to feel it for yourself. The feel when sizing is very positive and stern when it locks...very precise feel to it. Damage, not sure if that is possible with a RC or Forster...would take a lot though.

 

[DennisH]

Took a few times to get the precise shoulder bump I was wanting and from there on it was perfect.

Earlier in the post I mentioned bumping the shoulders with the Co-Ax.

I would like to hear opinions from people who actually use the Co-Ax and only bump their shoulders back about a .001.

I like the locking ring, but it seems like there would be too much play to get a consistent shoulder bump. JMO

Dennis

 

[savageshooter86]

That is what I love almost the most about the press. The very positive stop at the bottom of the stroke. No question about it when it is there. My old press I really never felt I was doing the ram consistently. But the Forster is great.
I can't wait to get my barrel back and start reloading my match 308 rifle with the press.

**If you have not ever used one of the CoAx.....once you have you will know why it is so highly talked about**

Ridgeway- how did you adjust the allen screw that secures the lock ring in the slot on the press?(I think part #28) I can't tell what it actually does or if it is even needed at all?

 

[savageshooter86]

Dennis- I set mine to give 003 bump and once I set it up and got going all my cases were coming out pretty much the same reading on my comparator. Did 20 cases. Variance on caliper reading was about 0005"

I am interested too in hearing from more experienced CoAx users that can tell us more about how consistent it will bump shoulders

 

[johara1]

I turn the bottom of the die off in the the lathe to get the clearance between the die and the shell holder i need for proper set back on the case if needed. i use .0015 set back and i use a stub made from the chamber reamer to measure. I have a co-ax and a A2 and use the Lee just to remove primers. Head space is very consistent with both the co-ax and the A2 but the Lee and the Redding are too springy and now just point bullets and remove primers...... jim

 

[ridgeway]

That is the lock ring retainer. Set it so it puts slight tension on the locking ring. The die should still be able to float.

 

[BigDMT]

Dennis- I set mine to give 003 bump and once I set it up and got going all my cases were coming out pretty much the same reading on my comparator. Did 20 cases. Variance on caliper reading was about 0005"

I am interested too in hearing from more experienced CoAx users that can tell us more about how consistent it will bump shoulders

Same results as you with freshly annealed brass. Similar seating results as well.