Thinking about getting a Forster's Co ax. I need a easy to work press due to my disablity. Anyone have any opinions on it? Also looking at a Lee Classic cast. Thanks! FNMauser

The co-ax is a fine press.....no one ever complains about them.

The cadillac of single stage presses........

You will like it so well that you will wonder why you didn't buy one years ago.

You'll very seldom hear complaints about them, except maybe the cost. I don't own one, but a couple of complaints I did hear caught my ear. Seems some of the longer Hornady seating dies with the microjust head don't clear the handle. Don't know exactly which ones. I like Hornady seating dies, but it might not be a problem for others. Secondly, collet style bullet pullers, with the possible exception of the Hornady cam-lock puller (unconfirmed) do not work in the CoAx. Forster has some collet type pullers that do work with their press (or any other), but they are not avaiable in all calibers.

I really like mine, but it does have a few quirks, which it probably pays to be aware of.
- it takes a bit of effort (two screws plus some fiddling) to change from a .222 casehead to a .30-06, say. Probably about 2-3 minutes, and watch out you don't loose the springs.
- not all die lock rings will work, so I have changed all mine to either the Forster or (better) the Hornady rings.
- it does not handle long cartridges (from about .375 H&H length and up) very well.

On the up side, the press is as smooth as anything, it hardly has any play in it, changing dies takes about 2 seconds, it allows dies to float and thus avoids many of the problems otherwise associated with screw-in dies, its primer catcher system is second to none etc.

All in all, I consider it the "Mercedes" of single stage presses, albeit with a few quirks.

- mike

Yup, the Co-Ax is one of the best. Another to consider is Redding's Ultramag. Both generate gobs of leverage making them easy to use.

Forster Co-Ax = STOS (Slicker Than Owl Sh*t) My ol RCBS is gathering dust..

Oh and I was also looking at the Corbin. I can't get a handle on how well it would work at just reloading. I'm wanting benchrest accuracy if I can get it and can't tell if the Corbin would be better at that than the Co-ax. Money really isn't a issue here within reason but I don't want to pay more for a press that isn't as good for just loading ammo as the Co-ax. No plans to ever swag bullets. Thanks for all the replies. FNMauser

quote:

Originally posted by BigJakeJ1s:
You'll very seldom hear complaints about them, except maybe the cost. I don't own one, but a couple of complaints I did hear caught my ear. Seems some of the longer Hornady seating dies with the microjust head don't clear the handle. Don't know exactly which ones. I like Hornady seating dies, but it might not be a problem for others. Secondly, collet style bullet pullers, with the possible exception of the Hornady cam-lock puller (unconfirmed) do not work in the CoAx. Forster has some collet type pullers that do work with their press (or any other), but they are not avaiable in all calibers.

You can use a collet puller with the Co-Ax, I do with mine. It is inconvenient, but you just tighten the collet on the bullet, while both are out of the press, put the collet body into the press, raise the shell holder (which will snap over the case head when it makes contact) and remove the bullet.

I suspect that the Hornady bullet puller would not have to be removed to be used on a Co-Ax.

Impact bullet pullers seem to get the job done for me.

I use the Co-Ax to load 375 H&H with no inconvenience as well.

Though I prefer Forster Bench Rest dies, I use RCBS, Pacific, Hornady, Dillon and Redding dies in the press with no problems other than some need the lock nut replaced due to excessive thickness, or in the case of the Dillon, for lack of set screws.

The solution I setteled on was to buy a Hornady Lock N load conversion kit and put it on a RCBS Rockchucker.

This provides all of the advantages of the Forester (Quick change, Floating dies, great precision) with none of the drawbacks (No top mounted handel to clear, enough leverage to do anything, best waranty in the industry, etc.)

And.....Its cheeper (Even if money is no object, why pay more for the same result)

I feel no shame for bastardizing equipment to fit my needs.

I researched about 3 months before buyuing a press. After all my reading, one press everyone had positives for was the Co-Ax. I bought one and I love mine. It's heavy and a little different than an "O" press but it does as advertised. I don't reload magnums so I can't answer the length issue. However, Forster's FAQ on their site states that 300 WM poses no issues.

I can`t recommend them enough. Great press!

FNMauser,
Your disability could make a little difference: the top of the lever throw is higher than on most presses.
I was given a new Bonanza some years ago and have been enthusiastic about it.
Some Vickerman seaters work, most don't.
A $5.00 yard sale press will do the odd things you wouldn't do on your CoAx such as file trimming, bullet pulling, base swaging.
You wouldn't consider having only one press, would you?
Cheers from Darkest California,
Ross

fnmauser,

The suggestion about the Hornady LNL inserts is a good one, but they also work well on the Lee Classic Cast press, which you mentioned you were also looking at. That setup would also give you 100% capture of spent primer debris, and a completely adjustable handle for left/right handed use, length of handle swing and relative height of handle swing. And none of the limitations on tall dies/cartridges, and use of collet style bullet pullers that the CoAx has.

They are both have excellent reputations among single stage presses, and you probably would not be displeased with either one.

I've been using a Coax for about 6 years now and I like it alot. I had some problems reloading 500NE on it (too long) but from 458 Lott and on down in length it works fine, except for 45-70. The automatic jaws just don't open wide enough to get over the rim on larger rimmed cases.

Sooo for the 500NE, 45-70 and larger cases I use an RCBS Ammomaster.

Also as observed some tall dies an seaters have problems with interferance with the operating lever.

But if I had to live with only one (non-progressive) press the Coax would be it.

If you have any doubts, well... one picture is worth a thousand words:



Still have use for the rock chucker though. Interestingly, we use the Dillon 650 for loading pistol rounds and with a single rifle die for decap and size, we feed, decap, resize, and prime high volume rifle rounds like .204 Ruger and .308 target rounds on it as well.

DMCI,

Is that a Dillon roller handle on your RC?! And the stock ball handle on the 650? Is there a reason for that?

quote:

Originally posted by BigJakeJ1s:
DMCI,

Is that a Dillon roller handle on your RC?! And the stock ball handle on the 650? Is there a reason for that?

Actually, Yes, Yes, No.

I have the forster and the corbin s press and they are both great presses but the forster has the handle in front which is in the way I bent mine to the side so I could sit closer to the press but the corbin is the smoothest press I ever used and the handle is on the side and it works on bearings which the forster doesn't have and it has 2 -3 times the power of a regular press which comes in handy if you form casings or you could buy anvils and press things together or use wilson type bench rest dies I use forster dies most of the time if they have the cal I need or redding