Convince me of the superiority of the Co-ax presses

I don't have one, but I want one for exactly the same reason I love my rcbs universal primer. Makes sizing easy because always using the same shellholder isn't a thing. I also don't use tall dies with micrometers that could be problematic. I'm not sure where that starts but 308 family I don't believe is an issue.
 
That might depend on the one you're talking about. If it's the Forester, then I can tell you that they have a great mechanical advantage (3X according to their literature) and resize the toughest of cartridges w/ ease. Both guide rods (hence coaxial) "float" which helps reduce runout. Snap-in and out die capability is nice.

As far as a single-stage press, it's hard to beat. I happened to take a look at availability and good luck on you're finding one anytime soon.

Are they better than conventional single ram presses? Hmmmm, well I've used a few including a Redding Turret press (which I liked just fine), and maybe not so very much. There are, after all, some good presses on the market. I wanted the mechanical advantage for old shoulders, and that alone has been worth it.

I have an LNL AP progressive. Sometimes I'll get the sizing out of the way and then go to the progressive - it loads very well. Between the two, life is good.
 
There are two or three features than many may not be aware of or gloss over, but to me they seem to matter. The shell holder base means the brass is allowed to float, as is the die in the holder, so they both center up to allow best chance of concentricity. Most know about the ease in which you can snap the dies in and out.....so they stay set as you left them, but gloss over the float system. But swapping dies in and out is as easy as it gets.

Another thing that is almost never talked about is press does not cam over. The handles come into contact with stops built into the frame and on downstroke, comes to a dead stop when linkage is 90 degrees at dead bottom. What this means is the die is lowered the exact same amount each time. Sizing dies and seating dies. Very accurate doing both. Plus to me, the way the linkage works, the leverage starts to compound as handle nears bottom of downstroke, where the most leverage for sizing, etc, is needed. When used with Forster sizing dies, the neck sizing button is in perfect position at bottom of downstroke, so the extra leverage means neck sizing button is retracted as handle is raised so is hardly even felt.

The only thing I have found that does not work as well is a bullet pulling die. The handle gets in the way of using the normal setup. Forster sells a special pulling die that works with this press, in which a 9/16" wrench is used to tighten the collet. It works, just a bit more awkward.

Graf's has them available.

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/4863
 
I’d choose a Redding Big Boss II over a Co-Ax without thinking twice. It’s way more robust.
But if you absolutely must have a press with a free-floating shell holder, I’d give the MEC Marksman some consideration.
 
Otto said:
I’d choose a Redding Big Boss II over a Co-Ax without thinking twice. It’s way more robust.
But if you absolutely must have a press with a free-floating shell holder, I’d give the MEC Marksman some consideration.
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More robust in what sense?
There is zero flex in that press.
I can full length size 338LM with 2 fingers if I want to.
 
1KPerDay said:
Are the Coaxial presses demonstrably better than a good iron/steel O-frame? If so, how? Is it marketing or personal preference or what? Why do people buy these?

TIA
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Buddy of mine, Russ (RIP) :( had a Forster mounted to portable drill stand. He let me try it out and it was pretty nice but it felt clumsy to me. I don’t like that I’m working blind as the die comes down. He was quick on the thing and used it as easily as you can imagine. I guess that makes it a matter of personal taste in my opinion. I will say that it was certainly well made of good materials. And it fit the drill stand perfectly, dead center.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
Buddy of mine, Russ (RIP) :( had a Forster mounted to portable drill stand. He let me try it out and it was pretty nice but it felt clumsy to me. I don’t like that I’m working blind as the die comes down. He was quick on the thing and used it as easily as you can imagine. I guess that makes it a matter of personal taste in my opinion. I will say that it was certainly well made of good materials. And it fit the drill stand perfectly, dead center.
Click to expand...

I set all presses higher than most. One, I have to stand (lower back injury) and prefer to see powder charge on all progressive and single stage loaded rounds (THE final safety check). :)
 
1KPerDay said:
Are the Coaxial presses demonstrably better than a good iron/steel O-frame? If so, how? Is it marketing or personal preference or what? Why do people buy these?
Click to expand...

I bought one because I hadn’t used one and wanted to know what all the hoopla was.

I’ve got this.



Not that that’s a deal maker or breaker but you don’t need a shell holder with them and they will prime anything but it’s so slow I use other methods. I can also put dies back in original containers for storage easier than dies with bushings on them.

They require minimal effort but in return have a longer handle throw, compared to others. That said, I can load just as accurate ammunition on that cheap aluminum Lee, if I use the right everything else. There really isn’t much force in the process when everything is right.

Thats why benchrest shooters can get away with dainty presses like this and shoot them all in the same hole.

40305E17-EF60-4D9B-A957-539F5E50E727.jpeg
 
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There’s a lot about the Co-ax which is different from conventional O-presses, or turrets.

One of the “major differences” used to be major, but isn’t so much any more. The Forster’s ability to quickly change dies used to be relatively unique, but the advent of “quick change die bushings” shifted that major advantage to a minor one - as the Co-ax is simply cheaper to quick-change, not requiring any cost of bushings to enable that ability.

Equally, the spent primer management on the Co-ax is clean and simple, but there are also other presses out there on the market now which use the same kind of captured path for primers - not all use the nasty spill trays and side ports on the ram shaft.

The floating jaws make loading and unloading the press exceptionally fast, and the floating dies enable ridiculously easy opportunity to grab ridiculously low runout. Runout advantage is probably overhyped, but it certainly is a common focus among reloaders.

The speed in and out of the press with the dynamic case holder jaws are one aspect which make me enjoy my Co-Ax over other presses. I absolutely hate case handling, and any resistance and snagging in that process drive me crazy.

I’ll say, I abhor priming on the Co-Ax, as the primer handling is exceptionally manual and dexterous, but I also don’t prime on press most of the time, rather preferring a bench mounted priming tool.

Saving the best for last, for me at least - the Co-ax offers phenomenal leverage, no grunt, no groan, BUT, it retains phenomenal feel. It’s kinda like driving a Ferrari vs. a Camaro vs. a Carolla. The Carolla has obviously less power than the others, which is palpable behind the wheel. But driving a Ferrari feels like you’re driving a Ferrari, smooth and responsive, whereas the Camaro, comparatively, feels like a hammer in hand. Or maybe it’s a Snap-on ratchet compared to one of those cheap, Chinese ratchets found in the checkout lane of hardware and farm stores - they both turn sockets, but one is smooth and positive, while the other skips and feels like the ratchet teeth might crack apart at any time. So when we want to feel bullet seating pressure as an indicator of our ammo consistency, the Co-Ax does this exceptionally well. Alternatively, in many presses which do have high mechanical leverage, we end up losing “feel” in the press.

Is it the only press anyone should use? Eh. Nah. Am I glad I spent my money for mine? Yup. Is it the only press I own and use? Nope. But it’s the only single stage press I recommend.

I WILL be buying a Co-Ax XL when they hit the streets this summer for my ELR rifle.

Super sucks the price has gone up so much over the last couple of years.
 
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I use an old RCBS JR3 to process my 223 brass. I use a Lee Quick Trim to trim my brass and an old Lee Auto Prime II to prime it all. I don't believe either of those would work on the Co-Ax.
 
I sized about 20 pieces of brass today for a load ladder. Lee dies. I was bumping shoulders of fire formed cases back 0.001". I measured each case and shoulder headspace varied 0.0005 thousands. With the Lee press and same Lee dies, it was not uncommon to have some cases bumped as much as 0.003". I could never determine why I had the variation. If you follow the instructions on the Lee dies and press, you mount up your sizing die, raise the ram, then screw in the die until it stops, then another 1/4 turn or so. In theory, that takes the slop out of it, but also means the "stop" is when the ram and shell holder meet. Can't go any lower, so you get what you get. Lee dies are sized close to SAMMI max chambers, so if that is a good match for your chamber, it will load OK and ammo will go BANG. But again, at bottom of the stroke, you get what you get.

With the same Lee dies in Forster press, you do not bottom out the press, but get it close. Handle must bottom out, then trial and error it down until you get the shoulder bump you want. Handle hits the fixed stops when linkage has dies at dead bottom, also coming to a full stop. It gives you a very precise stopping point. With one caliber, my fired brass is 0.001" less than a no go gauge for that caliber. I have the dies set to bump it 0.001" more. The rounds chamber and are not growing much as they fire, so minimal working of the brass. And again, I measured each one and they only varied 0.0005". But beyond that, I checked and for the first time was able to bump the shoulders back as far as I wanted. All the way back to SAMMI min if I wanted and that would be as much as 0.005 more. Can't do that with the Lee press that bottoms ram out on the shell holder.

Same issue with seating bullets. For 308, I have a Forster micrometer seating die, and even with that, when using the Lee press, I would see variations in seating depth of as much as 0.002 to 0.003". For some, that is a full seating depth node. With the Forster press, they are basically all the same, differing only when a bullet is out of spec.

Having said that, the Lee press gets it done, and will load good ammo that goes BANG. The Forster does the same thing, but with a lot more precision.

Press costs basically the same as 4 bricks of primers or about the same as a Mec single stage Sizemaster. To me it was worth it.
 
Its all about the features. There is about zero evidence that they produce better ammo than any other quality press as long as everything is running true and with no slop.

Myself? I have gigantic oaf hands. The semi closed sides of the Co-Ax was no go for me when I tried a friends that swears by it. I also hate O style press for this same reason.
I am right handed but prefer to operate the press handle with my dumb left hand, and do fine work that requires dexterity with my smart right hand. Seating little 223 bullets is so much easier that way.
Another issue for me was very tall seating dies like the Hornady's with the micro adjuster in them. The handle is too short.
I personally dont find shell holders to really be a deal breaker for me.
The leverage is good, but Ive never found even my old Hornady single stage to lack leverage except for maybe on MG shot 7.62x51 brass.

So I ended up with a Mec. It was far cheaper and available. They are a local company for me, only an hour away. I can run it left handed. There is lots of room. The floating shell holder, meh, I dunno, but it cant hurt either. I did put LnL bushings in it. 300 PRC is about the longest cartridge you can seat bullets, and you have to poke the bullet up into the seater with the Hornady die seater sleeve, which is annoying. I dont know if it has as much leverage as other presses, but I dont run mil brass thru it either.
 
Varminterror said:
There’s a lot about the Co-ax which is different from conventional O-presses, or turrets.

One of the “major differences” used to be major, but isn’t so much any more. The Forster’s ability to quickly change dies used to be relatively unique, but the advent of “quick change die bushings” shifted that major advantage to a minor one - as the Co-ax is simply cheaper to quick-change, not requiring any cost of bushings to enable that ability.

Equally, the spent primer management on the Co-ax is clean and simple, but there are also other presses out there on the market now which use the same kind of captured path for primers - not all use the nasty spill trays and side ports on the ram shaft.

The floating jaws make loading and unloading the press exceptionally fast, and the floating dies enable ridiculously easy opportunity to grab ridiculously low runout. Runout advantage is probably overhyped, but it certainly is a common focus among reloaders.

The speed in and out of the press with the dynamic case holder jaws are one aspect which make me enjoy my Co-Ax over other presses. I absolutely hate case handling, and any resistance and snagging in that process drive me crazy.

I’ll say, I abhor priming on the Co-Ax, as the primer handling is exceptionally manual and dexterous, but I also don’t prime on press most of the time, rather preferring a bench mounted priming tool.

Saving the best for last, for me at least - the Co-ax offers phenomenal leverage, no grunt, no grown, BUT, it retains phenomenal feel. It’s kinda like driving a Ferrari vs. a Camaro vs. a Carolla. The Carolla has obviously less power than the others, which is palpable behind the wheel. But driving a Ferrari feels like you’re driving a Ferrari, smooth and responsive, whereas the Camaro, comparatively, feels like a hammer in hand. Or maybe it’s a Snap-on ratchet compared to one of those cheap, Chinese ratchets found in the checkout lane of hardware and farm stores - they both turn sockets, but one is smooth and positive, while the other skips and feels like the ratchet teeth might crack apart at any time. So when we want to feel bullet seating pressure as an indicator of our ammo consistency, the Co-Ax does this exceptionally well. Alternatively, in many presses which do have high mechanical leverage, we end up losing “feel” in the press.

Is it the only press anyone should use? Eh. Nah. Am I glad I spent my money for mine? Yup. Is it the only press I own and use? Nope. But it’s the only single stage press I recommend.

I WILL be buying a Co-Ax XL when they hit the streets this summer for my ELR rifle.

Super sucks the price has gone up so much over the last couple of years.
Click to expand...
I'm just going to applaud this review because you spent the time and brain power and didn't offend. I absolutely respect your knowledge.
 
kmw1954 said:
I use an old RCBS JR3 to process my 223 brass. I use a Lee Quick Trim to trim my brass and an old Lee Auto Prime II to prime it all. I don't believe either of those would work on the Co-Ax.
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The press is unaffected by those off press operations.
 
AJC1 said:
The press is unaffected by those off press operations.
Click to expand...

The Quick Trim and AutoPrime happen on top of the press. Hence the unique interference opportunity on top of the Co-ax, which would not commonly happen for trimming or priming operations. Relatively uncommon tools, but incompatible, in this case.

Naturally, the Co-Ax has a priming tool on its top, but there is no primer feeder for it, as possible for the AutoPrime.
 
I have found myself going the opposite direction, and downsizing to a portable set up. Unfortunately some of the small presses dont always meet expectations so I’ve came to appreciate the older mid size cast O press. I certainly can’t recommend one over the co ax press but mine make awfully good ammunition as well.
 
South Prairie Jim said:
I have found myself going the opposite direction, and downsizing to a portable set up. Unfortunately some of the small presses dont always meet expectations so I’ve came to appreciate the older mid size cast O press. I certainly can’t recommend one over the co ax press but mine make awfully good ammunition as well.
Click to expand...

Can only comment that I use an old RCBS JR3 press for all my brass prep for the 223 round. Press has simple linkage which is all that is needed for this small case and the press is short which also accommodates the short ram throw needed for the 223. I also use this for sizing cast lead bullets with the Lee sizing dies.
 
I'll tell you what I have come to like most about mine. I like the the way you don't have to screw dies in. You just slip them into the slot. It takes all of 3 seconds to change dies. I didn't even realize how much of an advantage that would turn out to be when I bought the press initially. I think it's a pretty indispensable attribute when resizing Lake City 7.62 because I can so quickly and easily go back and forth between the body die and the full length resizing die and even the seater die if need be. before that I was using an older Lyman T mag and a really old rock chucker. I like the spent primer drop tube feature of the CoAx way better than either of those presses too because it's super clean but both of those presses primer removal systems may have been better when the presses were new. Mine were old and kinda broken and I always ended up with primer residue all over the place. I also like the "jaws" as opposed to traditional shell holders because they eliminate the shell holder height variable. I don't even really know how much of a problem that actually is but I like that it isn't a variable that I have to be concerned with anymore. I don't love the priming setup so much. i just use my old Lee hand primer for that operation complete with Duck tape to hold the cover on. I'll use that thing forever if I can. I think it's a great press. I mostly use Forster dies with it too (for rifles at least).
 
kmw1954 said:
Are you even aware of these two tools? Where they are used and how they are mounted?
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Well the auto prime is a series of tools that include a hand, bench mounted lever and an on press version. I did not believe you would use the press version on a forester, but if you did intend that I could not imagine why. The quick trim I thought you were talking about the drill or hand trimmer but it appears that was not what you were referencing. I don't use Lee a lot so their products names don't carry a lot of meaning.
 
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