Finding a Co-ax press
- Thread starter pgohil
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Hokie_PhD
Member
Good luck. I seldom see any reloading gear for sale the days. So you just have to keep looking.
Ohen Cepel
Member
Wow, Midway won't even let you put one on backorder. Can sign up for an email when they get more in. That was where I got mine but it's been years ago now.
Maybe cruise the local shops if you can't find anything online.
Maybe cruise the local shops if you can't find anything online.
Fine Figure of a Man
Member
Apparently there has been a recent surge in demand. They can usually be found on ebay for +/- $200.
sparkyv
Member
Someone posted last week that Midway had them, but quickly sold out. Looks like that you have to check the seller's sites often.
JFrank
Member
If I may ask- what is the fascination with co axle presses?
I’ve always wondered but haven’t got around to asking.
J
I’ve always wondered but haven’t got around to asking.
J
DM~
Member
PM me, I have an extra that I'd probably sell...
DM
DM
DukeConnor
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I have been looking for a forester co ax for awhile. i almost bought the franklin arsenal but the chinese thing turned me off.
why do i want one ?
because i have a bench in the shop without a press mounted on it.
why do i want one ?
because i have a bench in the shop without a press mounted on it.
brasscollector
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- Mar 26, 2016
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Had one, sold it. Nice press but my Hornady LNL single stage produces ammo with as little or even less runout. I bought in to the whole "more accurate" idea at first but after comparing rounds produced from both presses I've come to the realization that there's wasn't any difference. YMMV.
Varminterror
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Speed and run out.
JFrank
Member
How are they faster?
Runout is something I don’t worry about , it doesn’t seem to effect accuracy at least what I’ve tested anyway.
JFrank
Member
Perhaps it’s the open front design, I can’t speak to them without having tried one.
I have a C press and a couple O presses, the latter are fast enough they also have a milled top maintaining a square in line die installation and comfortable to use.
My C front press (Harrel’s compact) gets a bit awkward cramping my old hands after a while so there’s that...
I noticed the co axial cost quite a bit more than others. I’d like to know more without assuming
I have a C press and a couple O presses, the latter are fast enough they also have a milled top maintaining a square in line die installation and comfortable to use.
My C front press (Harrel’s compact) gets a bit awkward cramping my old hands after a while so there’s that...
I noticed the co axial cost quite a bit more than others. I’d like to know more without assuming
sequins
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- Oct 14, 2014
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Well the free floating dies, contained depriming, universal shell holders, and universal priming on press are the main features.
Changing a die takes literally 5 seconds so it's about as fast as a turret, no changing shell holders, the primer system is adjustable and universal (though some complain it's slow to prime on press but imo it's great though).
The speed of operation combined with low runout put it on top in my book.
Changing a die takes literally 5 seconds so it's about as fast as a turret, no changing shell holders, the primer system is adjustable and universal (though some complain it's slow to prime on press but imo it's great though).
The speed of operation combined with low runout put it on top in my book.
JFrank
Member
Excellent!
Now I know..
Thx
J
Now I know..
Thx
J
I got my Co-Ax from Brownells at "sale price", which was about $2.00 under list about 3 years ago. Progressive presses don't fit my lifestyle and I have used single stage presses for 25+ years and a Lee turret for a bit over 10. My Co-Ax is a very well made, precision reloading press. It is easy to use, fast to change dies and accurate/repeatable. I only have reloaded maybe 2,000-2,500 rounds, from .380 to 30-06, on mine and the only thing I've done to it is to add some LEDs and a couple "bumpers" to the yoke (the yoke kits the frame when the handle it all the way up, and I didn't care for metal to metal contact/banging when the handle was returned to the top). Of my assorted press manufacturers, from Lee to Redding Big Boss, the Co-Ax is by far the best press I have owned. If your only reason for reloading is to make gun fodder, or to save money, perhaps a Co-Ax isn't what you need, but for me, and reloading is a very important hobby for me, the Forster Co-Ax is perfect.
Dies are inserted into a slot on the frame. The dies are preset from the last use and it takes only a second or two to push a die over a small retaining ball, into the slot. How long does it take to pick up a die and push it into a slot? For me, with my Lee turret hand indexed, die changes on my Co-Ax are just 1/2 of a second slower. Even if run out is of no concern, the dies "float" and can be called "self aligning", no crooked bullet seating or sloppy case sizing.
mrawesome22-250
Member
I watched a video from Ultimate Reloader channel on youtube. He tested many, many presses including the Co-Ax.
I believe the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme won the least amount of run out.
I believe the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme won the least amount of run out.
jmorris
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- Sep 30, 2005
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- 24,211
It’s not the two rods, rather the unique design of the die and shell holder.
Couple that with runout fixtures, testing various presses and it’s a pretty solid choice. That said, the dies you use will have more influence on run out than what press they are used in, so it’s really just speed and ease of die change and you don’t need any bushings to to thread anything in and out.
As far as speed goes loading, it’s pretty hard to beat a progressive and if the case heads are common so it doesn’t require a shell plate/primer size change, they can be quite fast too.
If I recorded a video going from 38 to 44 to 7-08 on one though, you would fall asleep. It’s really a matter of how many rounds I want to load before I change to something else, as far as what press I use.
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JFrank
Member
Very slick, set up easy to change out calibers etc. I can see why reloaders choose to purchase them.
Thank you
J
Thank you
J
I put one on backorder at Brownells and than forgot about it. After a couple of years maybe longer Brownells had some in stock and notified me. I jumped on it immediately. Thirty minutes later I was going to order a second for my brother and they were out. That is how I got mine. Midsouth Shooters supply and Sinclair will allow you to back order it, which I would highly recommend if you really want one.
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I wanted to get a forster co-ax press a year or so ago and ran into the same problem of them never seeming to be available anywhere. I settled for buying the Frankford co-ax M press with the light and all and must say I haven't been too impressed with it at all. I don't particularly like the die mounting system and I have had rather dismal results on the Hornady concentricity tool. Very possible it may be due to my own incompetence but for most frontline jobs of any importance I use my other press made by MEC that I like and trust much better.
None of that means the Forster is bad though but if you want to try a co-ax model I'd try to hold out for that one over the Frankford personally.
None of that means the Forster is bad though but if you want to try a co-ax model I'd try to hold out for that one over the Frankford personally.
FWIW; normally I'm not overly concerned with run out, but when doing some load work ups for my Ruger 308 I did some testing. I bought a Hornady Concentrically Gauge. I loaded some 7.62x51 LC brass with Hornady 150 gr. A-Max, put together on my Co-Ax. I checked a dozen rounds and average run out was .0015"...
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