Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Forster Co-Ax

Love mine
GreggH

I've had my Co-Ax since the mid 70's. It's a Bonanza, before Forster bought them. I updated the priming station to the A2 model. I think it's a great single stage press, maybe the best. Lots of ammunition loaded never had one thing break of need replacing. Only draw back I can see is they're a little expensive, then again I've had it for 45 years..so maybe not.

Really like mine. That stand looks like a great idea.

Lock rings? I’ll be using Forster BR dies.

I know nothing about your preferred presses, or your methods or dies and shellholders. And I'm NOT questioning your statement, you know what you know, but I wonder if one of your shell holder plates is binding or even bent (even though they are hardened). I have two Co-ax's, one dedicated just for 6.5 match competition...the only bad runout I found after many years could be traced to other causes, one a crookedly drilled and tapped die lockring and a tiny lead pellet trapped under one shell plate, probably from loading snake shot for a pistol.

I have both a rock chucker, and I got a Forster Co-Ax last year.

Yes the Co-Ax makes more concentric loads....

BUT. It also doesn’t let you use a bullet puller, and really doesn’t support a universal depriming die.

Love mine!!

What do you mean by not supporting a universal depriming die? My Sinclair works just fine in the Forster.

Then you are all set. If you have dies other than Forster you will want them for those.

My Lee universal depriming die works fine in my Forster as well.

It's true that the Forster Co-ax doesn't do some things as well as an O-frame, but who only has one press anyway?

People say that, but I use lock rings from pretty much every brand of die in my Forster; it doesn't matter much. I do have the little ball detent backed off to not engage though; it doesn't serve any useful purpose other than to make people think they need Forster lock rings.

Even Lee rings fit, although I normally switch them out for something else.

Only exceptions are some very old lock rings I have that are too thick for the Co-Ax. Everything newer fits and works well.

If you really want to play the concentricity game...

I have a 21st century hydro arbor press, with custom made micro seater dies that were cut with the same reamer as the rifle was chambered with.

I’m willing to go as far as buying a Forster co-ax and a set of their bench rest dies. Got their datum dial set and a concentricity gauge on order.

Love mine, but still use my old LYMAN TMag turret for pulling bullets.

The only thing I don't like about my coax is the limited hand access . What I mean is its a little harder and slower to insert your brass into the press and remove it. I find the universal shell holder a little slower as well.
Also, I made a shorter handle and use it most of the time.