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I have been using an old Rockchucker for many years and I'm tired of picking up spent primers off the floor. I am currently looking at the new Rockchucker Supreme, Lee Cast Classic and the Forester Co-Ax. Lee would not be on my list but I have not seen one negative post on any forum and these are from guys that owned RCBS and Redding stuff in the past. The Forester just looks like it would be hard to get used to with the handle sticking straight up then passing in front of the dies on the way down. Any comments would be appreciated. Dave | ||
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It is relatively easy to get use to this press. I am abit partial to mine anyways. If I buy another it would be either a Arbor or a Progressive but for a single stage the Forester is tough to beat. | |||
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I see no advantage of the Rockchucker Supreme over the Lee Classic Cast press. The adjustable handle of the Lee is something no other press has. I have the Co-Ax, and am very happy with it. The position of the handle does not bother me. Note that it is typically higher than other presses, which makes a difference. There is a shorter ball handle that is available too. The handle does not get in the way of handling materials, since the cartridge is well into the die by the time the handle come in front of it. It does interfere with taller dies like the Hornady seating dies with the optional micrometer adjusting screw installed. Other dies seem to work fine. Collet type bullet pullers do not work well on the press, due to the handle coming over the top of them, and the fact that the die body is free to rotate in the press during use (making it difficult to tighten the forster/rcbs type collet pullers. The handle on the Hornady cam-lock does interfere with the press handle. Using the universal shellholder is great. Changing between cartridges that require different jaws or ends of jaws (like going from 30-06 to 9mm lugar) is a bit of a pain. Forster offers a shell holder conversion that accepts traditional shellholders too. Hope this helps, Andy Pray, Vote, Shoot, Reload. | |||
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I have the RockChucker Supreme and load everything up to and including the .470 and .500 NE with it. No problems, no complaints, no dropped primers in four years. I think it is a good press. I previously had a Lyman Crusher II. It's opening was a little tight for the nitro express rounds and I don't care for presses that "cam over". Geronimo | |||
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I bought a used RCBS Special 5 about 15 years ago, and it has been seving me well. I keep the ram clean and well lubed. It came with an RCBS ram priming die which is the best priming method since sliced bread. While I have used many different brands of dies, and prefer Lee for the most part, I have never used anything other than RCBS Presses. ______________________________ Well, they really aren't debates... more like horse and pony shows... without the pony... just the whores. 1955, Top tax rate, 92%... unemployment, 4%. "Beware of the Free Market. There are only two ways you can make that work. Either you bring the world's standard of living up to match ours, or lower ours to meet their's. You know which way it will go." by My Great Grandfather, 1960 Protection for Monsanto is Persecution of Farmers. | |||
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I think I could vacum up a lot of spent primers before I'd blow the money on a new press when I had a perfectly good press. | |||
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Stick a trashcan under your press and load away. I have the Co-Ax and it is a great press. I prefer it to the Rock-Chucker I had before it, or the Lyman Orange CrusherI still have. I still use the Lyman and a old RCBS Jr though, and they have the same primer catch system as the RC. A primer or two seems to get away from them at times, but a can underneath nabs them. ------------------------------------ The trouble with the Internet is that it's replacing masturbation as a leisure activity. ~Patrick Murray "Why shouldn`t truth be stranger then fiction? Fiction after all has to make sense." (Samual Clemens) "Saepe errans, numquam dubitans --Frequently in error, never in doubt". | |||
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Buy the Co-Ax! I have several presses and firmly believe that the Co-Ax is the best 2nd press you can buy. You can use your Rock-Chucker for the few chores that the Co-Ax won't do. The Co-Ax is just a great press once you get used to it. The Rock-Chucker Supreme is a bit of an improvement over the original but not enough to favor it over the Co-Ax. The Redding Ultra-Mag would be a good choice if you needed your press for mostly Large Rounds 505 Gibbs etc. but it costs about what a Co-Ax does and doesn't have all it's advantages. A Turret press might be an option if you really find a reason that having all the dies mounted is necessary but the Co-Ax is so easy to change dies on I don't know how much faster a Turret press really is.\ But again to me for your situation the Co-Ax is a no-brainer. Just be sure and order some extra Lock rings....................DJ ....Remember that this is all supposed to be for fun!.................. | |||
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I got a Co-Ax, it replaced the RockChucker, once the dies are setup, you can change from one to another in 2 seconds, run-out is .002 or less on my reloads. | |||
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I once asked about the other brands. One replier made a lot of sense. He went on a search for one with the least run out, buying/selling. He felt it was the luck of the draw not paint colour. The best until he got a Co-Ax was painted orange. You can hunt longer with the wind at your back | |||
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My favorite press is an old herters,its great when I'm reforming 8x57 from 30-06 thing weighs a ton,but built like a tank. If you're ever going fishing and can't find the boat anchor you could unbolt the herter's press and tie a rope around it for an anchor!! Hank | |||
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coax | |||
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I use a Lee Classic and love it, and you sure can't beat the price. It is not your typical Lee pot-metal toy and has stood up to some fairly heavy case reforming. | |||
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http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=736031 | |||
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I have one of those too but use the Co-Ax far more..................DJ ....Remember that this is all supposed to be for fun!.................. | |||
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I'm looking for a reloading press for a 505 Gibbs, will the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme handle the size of the cartridge and take the RCBS 505 Gibbs dies or is there a better choice? Also anyone noticed this RCBS Gibbs die set on Midway, I think it's fairly recent? http://www.midwayusa.com/eprod...ct?saleitemid=632984 Thanks, Chuck Regards, Chuck "There's a saying in prize fighting, everyone's got a plan until they get hit" Michael Douglas "The Ghost And The Darkness" | |||
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On my bench, the co-ax is only a foot away from the dust covered Rockchucker. I wasted 8 years not having the co-ax. | |||
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Has anyone suggested the Redding UltraMag? ________________________ "Every country has the government it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre | |||
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I own two Co-Ax and have sold other brands of single stage presses. Run out is very low, don't need shell holder, leverage ratio is like 20 to 1, and spent primers end up in a little plastic jar. The new B-3 model (about year ago) add one and a half inches more clearance under the yoke. If I was buying a new single stage press it would be a Co-Ax. | |||
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So the Co-Ax has enough stroke for the 505 Gibbs? Will it accept the RCBS 505 Gibbs dies and shell holders? Thanks, Chuck Regards, Chuck "There's a saying in prize fighting, everyone's got a plan until they get hit" Michael Douglas "The Ghost And The Darkness" | |||
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I'm not familiar with the 505 dies but the Co-Ax doesn't use "shell holders". It has a set of jaws that allow the case to "free float" for better alignment with the die. You will need the LS jaws for the Gibbs. I reload the 338-378 Wby with mine and there are no issues. Ken.... "The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn't so. " - Ronald Reagan | |||
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Which 1-inch lock rings work with the Co-Ax? ________________________ "Every country has the government it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre | |||
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Forster or Hornady rings work best ------------------------------------ The trouble with the Internet is that it's replacing masturbation as a leisure activity. ~Patrick Murray "Why shouldn`t truth be stranger then fiction? Fiction after all has to make sense." (Samual Clemens) "Saepe errans, numquam dubitans --Frequently in error, never in doubt". | |||
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I can't find a part no. for Hornady or Forster 1-inch lock rings.  ________________________ "Every country has the government it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre | |||
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I had an RCBS Rockchucker for maaaaannnny years and replaced it with one of the new Lee Cast Press and transferred my Piggy Back II over to it and haven't regretted it at all. Nothing wrong with an RCBS though. Steve E....... NRA Patron Life Member GOA Life Member North American Hunting Club Life Member USAF Veteran | |||
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One has to make compromises in the quality of reloading press for some of the largest cartridges.  The least compromising choice would probably be the Redding UltraMag. Andy | |||
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Lots of good advice, and good opinion here. I would throw my two cents in here, but I only have one cent. Just like Forster only has one "e" in its name. I looked at getting a new press last year, but decided I needed another gun more. From the description of the Forster it looks like "getting used to" it would be well worth the effort. I have never seen one in person, but it seemed as if it took a bit more care in setting up and maintaining, but will produce ammo more easily and perhaps more precisely. Please let us know how you like whatever you wind up getting. Oops, I think I overspent my two cents. Lost Sheep Happy New Year | |||
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I have a Lee Classic Cast press and have been very pleased with it. I know it doesn't cost as much as others, but it works great. It holds up to me resizing 7mm Rem Mag brass into .257 Wby Mag brass--that's pretty tough--but the press is holding up great. My nickels worth. Good luck on whatever you get. Red C. Everything I say is fully substantiated by my own opinion. | |||
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Count me in that group. I'd trade my Rock Chucker for a Lee Classic Cast in a New York minute. I'm sick and tired of spent primers being tossed onto the floor. It's been my experience that those who "love" the Rock Chuckers either (1) have no experience with any other press or (2) have only used presses that don't properly compare, usually either a light Lee or some old, non-compound linkage press. Anyone who has actually used other presses of its class will tell you the RC is no better than a Lee Classic Cast, Lyman Orange, Hornady LnL, Redding Big Boss, etc. And in some ways it's not as good as the Lee. The Classic Cast will load up to a .50 BMG if that's an issue for anyone. It's handle is adjustable for either side, plus length and angle. The primer catcher works. It's very precisely made with modern CNC machines, of cast railroad steel, not cast iron. It's entirely made in the USA, not China, and it costs less, if money means anything. Concentricity is controlled by the quality of the brass (necks) and dies, not the press. | |||
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I bought the Forster Co Ax press last weekend after seeing it demonstrated. I was quite impressed. | |||
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Would have answered sooner, but the `puter took a shit.... http://www.midwayusa.com/Searc...ck%20rings__9315__-_ ------------------------------------ The trouble with the Internet is that it's replacing masturbation as a leisure activity. ~Patrick Murray "Why shouldn`t truth be stranger then fiction? Fiction after all has to make sense." (Samual Clemens) "Saepe errans, numquam dubitans --Frequently in error, never in doubt". | |||
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I see the 1-1/2 x 12 Hornady. Do you think it will fit the in Forster press? ________________________ "Every country has the government it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre | |||
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if anybody is worring about long rounds the co-ax has a new model out that is 1.5" longer. and don't worry about the die rings, most anything will work just fine in a co-az because everything is make to float somewhat and align itself. hence the name | |||
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The Hornadies will work, I keep the wide points to the side in my Co-Ax when useing them. Acyually the std RCBS/Reddings will do. They move in the slot but won`t fall out and the press is designed to allow play in the die to begin with. http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/DSC01466.JPG ------------------------------------ The trouble with the Internet is that it's replacing masturbation as a leisure activity. ~Patrick Murray "Why shouldn`t truth be stranger then fiction? Fiction after all has to make sense." (Samual Clemens) "Saepe errans, numquam dubitans --Frequently in error, never in doubt". | |||
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Used my new Co-Ax and shot out to 1050 yards today with my 6mm Ackley. The press feels better to use, but the accuracy wasn't noticeably better. Minute of BSA scope at 100, minute of small bottle at 550, and minute of gong, big and small, at 1k and 1050. Love shooting precision and long range. Big bores too! Recent college grad, started a company called MK Machining where I'm developing a bullpup rifle chassis system.  | |||
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Just to clarify: STANDARD, 7/8-14 Hornady lock rings will work fine in the Forster, I use them all the time. BUT... OVERSIZED, 1-1/2x12 dies and lock rings will not fit the co-ax press. Andy | |||
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Is Lee coming out with a Cast Reloader press? ________________________ "Every country has the government it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre | |||
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Lee has a cast iron "O" type single stage today. http://www.leeprecision.com/cg...catalog/classic.html ------------------------------------ The trouble with the Internet is that it's replacing masturbation as a leisure activity. ~Patrick Murray "Why shouldn`t truth be stranger then fiction? Fiction after all has to make sense." (Samual Clemens) "Saepe errans, numquam dubitans --Frequently in error, never in doubt". | |||
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Buy a C-H "H" press. Two finger below the shell holder as you deprime will guarantee that no spent primer ever hits the floor. Barstooler | |||
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