Anyone here have the new Frankford Arsenal co-ax press?

[Abert Rim]

Sure is tempting. I've always admired the Bonanza.

[KenT7021]

There is a post on the High Road reloading forum about one in use.Seems the owner liked it.

[Guncrank]

Reviews I've come across have been mixed some quite good others, not so much.
The Frankford press is made over sea's. It only comes with a 1 year warranty. As best as I recall from reading the warranty you are on the hook for shipping, both ways if you need to return it for service. Frankford doesn't enjoy the same reputation for of great customer service as does RCBS, Redding, Lee, Lyman or Forster, in fact they give every appearance of being there simply to sell you something. I attempted to get a replacement part for my Frankford rotary tumbler and was told by the rep (who seemed really PO'd by my call) that "we don't stock parts for that equipment". So... Were it me, I'd think real seriously about buying anything that may ever need servicing or replacement parts from Frankford/Battenfeld Technologies!

Just saying,

GC

[RED BEAR]

I really considered a coax but decided against one only because i have bad shoulders and reaching up very much is a no go. Other than that i was really impressed by the way its made.

[lightman]

I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but I'm not a Co-Ax fan. Its a fine press but I don't like the ergonomics. The quick change die capability and the universal shell holder jaws don't impress me either. But, if I were going to buy one I would buy the original.

To me, its just hard to beat an "O" frame press with compound linkage. Pick your color!

[mdi]

We will have to wait for good, factual reviews/user reports about the FA press and only time will tell...

Well, I'm a Co-Ax fan! I always thought a reloading press was a very simple machine and not a whole lot of difference between makers (except turret and progressive presses). I've owned perhaps a dozen presses since I started and each had their "gooder" traits and there "badder" traits and use was mostly personal preference. I had a good tax return about 4 years ago and bought a Forster Co-Ax, mostly out of curiosity. Yes! There is a huge difference! My Co-Ax is as easy to operate as my Big Boss was. Die changes are as quick as my Lee turret was. The "jaws" type shell holder is easier to use than a "slide in" RCBS type; just set a case on the jaw holder and lower the handle, self centers and as easy as it gets (occasionally I would have to slow down when inserting a case into a universal shell holder and if there was a ding or burr on the case head it would stick). I mounted my Co-Ax at about a 30 degree angle to my left and when I stand, I don't have to raise my arm more than perpendicular and no one told me I have to grab the handle all the way out on the end. Some operations don't require a lot of leverage so I often grab the yoke and operate the press from there.

Yep, Co-Ax fan boy here and I truthfully haven't found much "badder" stuff about my Co-Ax. The only thing I'm not too fond of is the tiny springs in the shell holder jaw assembly. While I haven lost any, yet, extra care must be used when swapping jaws. Up grades are available to use a universal type shell holder and a jaw assembly with captive springs, and mebbe some day I'll order one, but my stock Forster Co-Ax is the best press I've owned and the greatest "problems" were the ease of operation and the nut behind the handle...



PS; I did make one modification to my Co-Ax. I replaced the allen head screws for the jaw assembly with phillips head screws. I found it much easier to remove/replace the screws using a long, 18" screw driver from above...

[porthos]

being made "overseas" is the turnoff for me. the same reason i no longer buy RCBS

[mdi]

Just wondering, any facts, vendor statements, etc. on where this press was made; country of origin? Not "internet wisdom" or "I hears it from my brother in law who heard it from the local expert at the bait shop, whose wife's uncle said so"...

[Guncrank]

Just wondering, any facts, vendor statements, etc. on where this press was made; country of origin? Not "internet wisdom" or "I hears it from my brother in law who heard it from the local expert at the bait shop, whose wife's uncle said so"...

Mdi,

I received the following information to my question about the country of manufacture for Frankford's M-Press, from Graf's "tech-support" department...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jacob XXXX (Graf & Sons) XXXXX@grafs.com via g001.emailsrvr.com
9:15 AM (1 hour ago)


"China"


Jacob XXXX

Purchasing Specialist

Graf & Sons Inc. | 800-531-2666

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
From: Grafs.com Service <customerservice@grafs.com>

Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2019 6:52 PM
To: technical@grafs.com
Subject: Grafs.com Contact Form Submission: Product Technical Support

Grafs Website Contact Submission
From: SXXXXi
Email: XXXXXX@XXXX

Subject: Frankford Arsenal M-Press Coaxial Reloading Press Item#: BF1097879

Body:
Gentlemen, I've been looking at the Frankford Arsenal M-Press Coaxial Reloading Press, Graf's Item#: BF1097879, but am unable to find where it is manufactured. Can you please provide the country where this press is made? Kind regards,

Sent: June 11 2019 6:52:05 pm
User Agent:
IP: XXXX
----------------------------------------

Sometimes, Inter-Web wisdom does get it right... Every now and again!

GC

[mdi]

Thanks 'Crank. That's all I was looking for; facts. Waaay too often an off hand remark on a forum will get repeated enough to become "fact", whether or no it is really true (all you gotta do is watch "lead poisoning" threads and you'll see what I mean)...

[pertnear]

There's a YouTube on the press.

Frankford Arsenal Co-Ax Press (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBZP4uMN_LY)

[dverna]

I still have the Bonanza Co-Ax purchased over 4 decades ago. I will never part with it for putting together rifle ammunition. I have owned a lot of reloaders over the years but this one the longest. It was my first press. The priming is Mickey Mouse but useable if you must use it. It is inherently unsafe as your hand is over the case as the primer seats. But I never prime rifle cases on a press anyway.

The FA offering is $90 less than the real Co-Ax. Unlike the Co-Ax, it uses die blocks which means added expense over the original design and dies with blocks will be more cumbersome to store....my dies, with the proper lock ring, store in the die boxes. So for someone using multiple calibers, savings will be reduced.

Neither appeal to the buyer wanting something inexpensive....so if you are a reloading "snob" the less than $90 saving for a tool that will last a lifetime is not much incentive IMHO.

Do not see the market for it.

[Drew P]

I think if I were frankford I’d be embarrassed to have stolen the intellectual property of Forster. Forster bought it fair and square from bonanza, but this press is clearly a ripoff. Not that I wouldn’t own one because of that, it’s the ergonomics that keeps me from any “over the top” press, but I do see it as a bit low character.

[pertnear]

.....Neither appeal to the buyer wanting something inexpensive....so if you are a reloading "snob" the less than $90 saving for a tool that will last a lifetime is not much incentive IMHO.

Do not see the market for it.
I agree with dverna 100%. If the Co-Ax style really "floats-your-boat" pay a little more & get the real thing. Personally, for the same price, the MEC Marksman is a lot more press & a much better deal! JIMHO

[onelight]

If I did a lot of case forming for obsolete cartridges or wild cats I think having a coax would be a good investment , they look like they would be ideal for sizing to the rim with maybe a simple brass or aluminum bar setting in a case in the shell holder flip the die in the press and use another bar to push the case back out out I think that might work. They have some advantages in certain functions other presses don’t.