Forster Co-Ax Satisfaction Poll

[Tatume]

Hello Folks,

I've been following the thread on Forster Co-Ax single-stage presses, but didn't want to hijack it. I'd like to know how you like yours, and if not, why not. Please leave a comment when you vote in the poll. Thank you.

Tom

P.s. The poll closes in 15 days, March 15, 2024

[2002ford]

It's the only single stage press I will use.

[dverna]

After five decades I have never wanted anything else for rifle reloading.

Best $68 I ever spent

[Larry Gibson]

Had my CO-AX for 20+ years. I do all my precision loading of match and long range ammunition on it, both jacketed and cast.

[oley55]

My co-ax is great and I'm not likely to ever give it up. Besides loading accurate rifle ammo, I almost always use it for depriming any and all brass I intend to wet pin clean. It almost seems sacrilegious to use a fine machine for such a dirty and routine function, but I do.

However, for someone looking for a "does everything" single stage press there are things it can not do. One that immediately pops into my head is pulling bullets. I use the RCBS collet puller and there is no way that can be done on the co-ax. Nether can it be used for bullet sizing. So another type of single stage press is needed.

edit: I stand corrected. Forster's Universal Bullet Puller is specifically made for the Co-Ax. https://www.forsterproducts.com/product/bullet-pullers/

[jsizemore]

Mine was $100 back in the day which was what I paid for a RCBS Rock Chucker reloading kit. Still got both presses. Rock Chucker does the deprime and heavy crunch work. Co-ax does the match and long range stuff.

[JimB..]

Love mine. Will say that I don’t use it for priming, that falls to an RCBS universal bench primer.

[dverna]

Mine was $100 back in the day which was what I paid for a RCBS Rock Chucker reloading kit. Still got both presses. Rock Chucker does the deprime and heavy crunch work. Co-ax does the match and long range stuff.

I have the same presses and use them the same way.

[ascast]

Same story, rock chucker does the bulk bull work, the co-ax when I want a little extra better ammo, or confidence. All priming on the rcbs bench mounted press. All sizing on Lyman 45's or rcbs. I keep extra dies for the co-ax in match calibers.

[georgerkahn]

Hello Folks,

I've been following the thread on Forster Co-Ax single-stage presses, but didn't want to hijack it. I'd like to know how you like yours, and if not, why not. Please leave a comment when you vote in the poll. Thank you.

Tom

P.s. The poll closes in 15 days, March 15, 2024

I drooled for years to come up with the $$$ to put a Co-ax on my bench, finally :) :) getting one just three years ago. The action is awesome to me, and not needing shell holder an added plus. The handle throw seemed long, so I sprung for their optional shorter handle -- which workes quite nicely. I cannot speak for decapping, as I use a Redding Boss press exclusively for this, which I have in garage with other (e.g., pin tumbler) case prep gear. Nor priming, as I do all my priming on an RCBS bench-mounted priming tool. I do feel, overall, it is an outstanding press, and, a good value.
When I got into .221 Remington Fireball loading/shooting, my paper target results -- compared with those from the two boxes of factory rounds I had purchased (to get brass to reload) were a tad disappointing! The problem (??) was run-out -- which is the main reason I purchased the Co-Ax. However, there was an incredible time delay to receive one at the time, and the MEC Marksman was a suggested alternative. I was told, "Buy it, use it, and if you're not "110%" delighted -- send it back and we'll refund every penny!" I did. The MEC Marksman gives new meaning to smooth, incredible action, and literally made run-out just about disappear.
At range, I was shooting comparable -- maybe ;) a tad better on a good day -- than the factory had produced. Guess what? I didn't NEED the co-ax; but, I already ordered and paid for it -- so... what do I do? Both are on my bench (along with another Redding, the MEC Marksman, and -- of course -- my Dillon 550B.) For the .221 Fireball and other smaller rifle cartridges I use the MEC; the Co-ax is for the big ones...
If I was able to rewind the video of life -- I'd just be delighted only with the MEC Marksman...323931
geo

[jmorris]

I use mine more than my other single stage presses but I still do use others for certain calibers, just so I don't have to convert the co-ax for an odd ball rim size and back for everything else I use it for.

Edit: I rarely use the priming setup on it, prefering faster methods but have used it on brass I had no shell holder for.

[snowwolfe]

For 30-06 and under it is my press of choice. Shorter stroke is well fitted for handgun rounds.
For bigger stuff and pulling bullets a RC, Ammo master, or Big Boss is a better choice.
The new curved linkage plates are an absolute must.

[hiram]

I think it is one of the most powerful press available. Here comes the rebuttals. I use mine to compress bp in for my 45-70.

[gc45]

Most all responses will likley be positive as the Foester is a very good press.

I had this press for a very long time, they are a good press too but not perfect IMO as all presses have some negitives and for me it was the long handle throw and why I sold mine with some reluctance, just was not using it much anymore where I often use the old style cast Rockchuckers haveing three on my bench and for the different dies be it two or three pending what case I'm reloading, no die changes within the same case and, I can load up three cases, go outside and shoot them for group then tweak things where needed.

I never used the Forster primer feed, finding better ways for that, also the die rings that have been hard to come by off and on, and nobody likes changing them from die to die either; also the primer catcher was in my way hitting it with my knee because I like to reload setting down.

I load 45-70, 45-90, 45-60, 50-95 umoung other large cases and that requires jaw changes back and forth from smaller cases so disliked that compared to shell holders on the RC Presss.

As for accurate ammo making; both press brands make equal ammo for me, again, my opinion but proof is in the puddin' on the target. Presses must be used with care not expecting rapid ammo production if wanting tiny groups, and lots go into that process besides what press we are using as reloading benchrest ammo is an art not easily aquired. Hunting ammo is a different story whereby 1 inch or so is just fine.

I have a friend who is 88 now, a retired Boeing Machinist plus old times retired benchrest shooter; Larry loaded and still loads, using an old Pondness-Warren press shooting one hole groups often with his early Rem 700 actions he rebarreled and chambered in 222Rem and 221FB. larry is proof, to me anyway, while quality rifles can shoot better, it is the reloader who makes his gun shoot best while adding; "I had to learn reloading on the Pondness Warren nevering seeing a reason to change"..

[porthos]

no doubt the co-ax is a great press; however THE MEC may be a better press.

[M-Tecs]

Through the years I've owned three co-ax. They are a good press but the claimed neck and bullet run-out superiority is not there. My results are about the same as below.

https://ultimatereloader.com/2019/04/08/fourteen-reloading-presses-compared-single-stage-shootout/2/

https://ultimatereloader.com/2019/04/08/fourteen-reloading-presses-compared-single-stage-shootout/15/

https://ultimatereloader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Precision-Rollup-Wide.jpg

[stronics]

I have two that I have used since the 70's I think. They were a lot cheaper back then. Our club had them for cheap. Great press!
David

[Bill M]

I got mine maybe 25 years ago used, a fellow I knew had it on a table at a gun show, and said he'd take $50 for it. I load all my accurate rifle on it, but use a progressive for "plinking" loads. (Never tried to prime on it though!)

[tunnug]

Got mine in the middle 80's and I'll never get rid of it, I've got some progresive ones and for precision I'll go to my Co-Ax, if you see the youtube video of the Marine precision shooting team each gun has it's own ammo made in a Co-Ax.

[Abert Rim]

I have the Co-Ax and a Lyman O-frame on my bench and use the Co-Ax 90 percent of the time. Dislikes: changing the shell holder jaws for larger BPCR cartridges; shell holder jaws failing to hold onto small-head cartridges sufficiently.

[MOshooter]

I just purchased a Co-Ax last Fall and happy with my purchase, the Co-Ax replaced my Herters 03 super press place on the bench.

The Co-Ax is a very smooth operating press, I like the jaw shell holder design, which makes changing cartridges fast and convenient for me. What drew me to the Co-Ax is the design, with the die to case alignment design.
I was a bit concerned about jaw shell holder change over, after reading some experiences. After my first Jaw shell holder change over to large for the 45-70, the change over seems pretty simple. I just changed back to standard jaws, and took all of 2-3 minutes to make the change back to standard.

I still do the majority of my sizing on a couple Dillon 550's and a 450, as well as loading all my pistol cartridges, 223 and 308. All other rifle cartridges are now loaded on the Co-Ax.