First Time Coax Owner

[Three44s]

I have been admiring the Coax from afar for some time but just acquired one and had my first session with it.

My reloading history goes back to 1975 and a RCBS Jr.

For 35 years that's all there was for a press. Then I bought a Lee Classic turret, good press.

A bit later I added a Redding Boss. That's been my main line single stage until the Coax came along.

As far as the Coax goes with my frame of reference, I like it!

But it's not magical. The claims about some super leverage ..... no. My Redding is easier in a significant full length resize on a 270 Win case (yes, I am lubing with good stuff). The difference is not bad but I can tell.

The shell holder: I think it's great but the first time a spring goes to outer space while I am swapping jaws, I am going to say some bad words.

Swapping dies: This is a big one for me! I like being able to click them in and out. The Coax press came with two of their rings and barring using Hornady rings, I will likely buy a bunch of the Forester rings. Getting the die adjusted the first time is a little fiddly but once it's right and "tight", it's peachy!

I load mostly sitting down and part of the leverage issue relates to whether a press is at the right height and for sitting my Coax is likely too high right now. I will be working on that.

I have not seated any bullets yet so I will be testing run out next.

Three44s

[country gent]

The coax is a great press and works very well. Ive worn mine out once and rebuilt it. Height is important for the ergonomics and applying full force easily.If yours is new it has the wear plate under the shell holder. This can help with keeping the springs captive. A little grease on the springs will help keep them captive also. When I rebuilt mine I cut the block down and added the wear plate. There was a divot worn in it. I loaded a lot of 308 on it for NRA High power.

[Three44s]

Yes, it has the wear plate.

I had not thought about some grease to keep the springs a little more tame.

I saw a video of a fellow who mounted his coax under his bench at approx 45 degrees to it and sat down with it. Standing for me is out since my back has been raising cob.

Thanks and best regards

Three44s

[THE_ANTIDOTE]

Congrats Three44s. They offer a set of jaws that do not require you to disassemble them any...just remove and replace the entire jaw with just the two bolts. They also offer a shell holder adapter so all ya gotta do is swap your shell holder. Hope you enjoy yours, I have gotten a lot of use out of mine and love it. I'll buy other presses, but I will never get rid of my Co Ax.

[dverna]

Buy spare springs…I have lost two in 50 years.

[jsizemore]

I've loaded a bunch of different rounds. Maybe swapped the shell holder plates 5-6 times and used the LS jaws twice in 20+ years.

[country gent]

For a lot of calibers the short handle is easiest to use and plenty of umph. The springs arnt a real big problem the big thing is how you handle the plates when changing with the wear plate pick it up with the top and everything is still captive. And as I said a little grease will help hold them.

A curved or "bent" handle might work better for you also.

[Three44s]

Yes, my Coax is definitely a keeper! I watched/read just about every review and article I found on the net plus volumes of posts on forums before I dove in.

The leverage will likely improve once I find the right relationship between the press height and where I am situated (sitting). I plan on making my own handles to try. I got by thus far by two handing the lever in that I grabbed the cast fork to start the handle down and then finished that at the end of it. Then I reversed direction and finished raising the handle with moving it home by way of the cast fork again.

I want to add a set of LED lights.

The jury is still out on the curved links however. I have read that overcentering is increased with them so I want to think that one over a bit more.

I am aware of the options for an improved jaw plate. Grease is a cheap way around the spring launch issue and buying spares is a definite to do. I also plan to buy the plate so I can use my standard shell holders if I find the need. I plan on getting the LS jaws because I do load 22 Hornet.

Three44s

[M-Tecs]

The jury is still out on the curved links however. I have read that overcentering is increased with them so I want to think that one over a bit more.



Not with this version from InLine Fabrication

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/00172foial/increased-access-side-linkages-for-forster-co-ax-press

https://inlinefabrication.com/products/precision-machined-increased-access-side-linkages-for-co-ax

[Three44s]

Not with this version from InLine Fabrication

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/00172foial/increased-access-side-linkages-for-forster-co-ax-press

https://inlinefabrication.com/products/precision-machined-increased-access-side-linkages-for-co-ax

Do you use this version of curved links?

If so, are you prone to skin your hands on those protruding horns?

Thanks

Three44s

[M-Tecs]

Do you use this version of curved links?

If so, are you prone to skin your hands on those protruding horns?

Thanks

Three44s

No, I have not used them. Only seen the pics. If I get around to it someday, I will make a set or two for myself. I rarely use the Coax's I have. I currently have three. The one I original purchased years ago and a couple from estate sales.

[Three44s]

I thought about making my own links, but I have not seen where the original ones are that onerous yet.

If I go with curved links that have "horns" to maintain minimal overcentering, perhaps I get more interference ( hide abraidded) than the straight links?

Or, no horns and the added over centering does not matter?

I think I will stick withe no brainers like LED lights and LS jaws for my 22 Hornet adventures and not sweat the link issue for now.

Best regards

Three44s

[leadhead]

I put the curved links on mine but there not the ones with the horns.
Mine have a small "pecker" sticking out on the back side of the link
that hits the frame of the press to stop over travel. They work great.

[Three44s]

I put the curved links on mine but there not the ones with the horns.
Mine have a small "pecker" sticking out on the back side of the link
that hits the frame of the press to stop over travel. They work great.

Could you tell me where you bought your links?

Sounds like I could relate to that style! LOL!

Thanks

Three44s

[leadhead]

I bought them from Amazon.

[Three44s]

I bought them from Amazon.

Thanks, I will investigate that!

Three44s

[country gent]

One change I made to mine is I pulled the little bottle of that catches the spent primers e clip and lid, found a piece of tygon tubing at the hardware store that fit the tube and put that on the tube. It hangs down into a old 8 lb powder can Now I only empty the primer catcher every few years. But dont let it get to full a 8 lb powder can full of primers is heavy

[Three44s]

One change I made to mine is I pulled the little bottle of that catches the spent primers e clip and lid, found a piece of tygon tubing at the hardware store that fit the tube and put that on the tube. It hangs down into a old 8 lb powder can Now I only empty the primer catcher every few years. But dont let it get to full a 8 lb powder can full of primers is heavy

I thought about something along those lines but a bit smaller. I have read about the tube clogging and fired primers backing up the stem. The result is the tube gets damaged on the threaded end and then you need a replacement. The primers dropping make a bit of sound and that tells the operator the tube is still clear.

Another thought is I have been saving firing primers for potentially recycling them for making them live again. One very large receptacle would not be the best choice for that with regards to keep them segregated.

My factory jar has 100 large rifle primers thus far and I can see upwards of 300 fitting in it. The down side is you hear the primers hitting far better when it's nearly empty. Once the floor of the jar gets a good layer on it, that muffles the soundd some.

Three44s

[Three44s]

Well, I got brave this afternoon!

I flipped the jaws on my Coax press from large to small ('06 + to .223 size) and survived! This my personal first flip and I maintained my sanity and lost very little "religion" in the process.

Full lengthed some .223 afterward.

Three44s

[rbuck351]

I bought an old Bonanza CO-AX a few ear ago that was missing a primer catch bottle. I'm on a couple of prescription meds now so I have lots of used pill bottles. Mine are about 3 or 4 oz size. I drilled a hole in the lid of one that is a tight fit on the primer drop tube and pushed in on the end of the drop tube. Now I can change bottles quickly for different size spent primers just by snapping a different bottle on the lid. Each bottle holds 400/500 spent primers.

[country gent]

Three 44s How is it going with the new press? meeting expectations?

[Three44s]

Yes all is well! Thank you for asking!

I need to experiment with different ways to mount it though. The issue is how high the handle is situated plus the fact that it cycles right in front of the press rather than offsetting like many compound leverage presses do.

The claimed leverage advantage must be when comparing the Coax to non-compound presses.

[country gent]

DO you load standing or sitting? I have mine mounted on the bench in a slide in mount. And used a bar stool to set on. I had thought about a bench with a narrow L on it with the press mounted operating parallel to the long side of the L. I sit facing the bench and with the press in front of my right shoulder. This gives a straight pull (with my head out of the way.)

There is the option of the short handle if you dont need the leverage.
A D handle might help some also. Or possibly a handle with a slight curve to it.

The summit has the same issue with handle height.

[Three44s]

I generally sit. I have a bar stool as well. My standing days are probably behind me though.

We have a farm shop and some ideas about different handle designs have been popping into my head. (I will store you thoughts in there as well, thanks for that.

I watched a video by a seasoned handloader who built an under bench platform for his Forester coax press with an approximately 60 degree angle that turned the press towards him. As it was situated, it was low enough to position the factory handle within easy reach when seated at normal height.

https://youtu.be/z6B_qA85HFw?si=20lFOPGidaMzq4ue

Best regards

Three44s

[AnthonyB]

Someone please define "over-centering" for me?
Tony

[country gent]

How heavy are your bench legs? Could you possibly bolt a block on the leg and mount it down lower. A boxed in angle plate type set up on the leg possibly. Done right it could be adjustable to determine the height thats right for you. But your also going to be lowering the shell holder so finding a happy medium may be tricky.

[Rapidrob]

I've been a COAX user for over 55 years. The older "Brown" painted press. I now have two of them. I could not count the number of rounds loaded over the decades using these presses. The loaded rounds are very accurate due to the floating dies self aligning to the case being reloaded. Run-out of the seated bullet shows very little misalignment.

[Three44s]

Someone please define "over-centering" for me?
Tony

You feel the handle pressure drop off slightly as the handle finishes its down stroke.

Three44s

[Three44s]

How heavy are your bench legs? Could you possibly bolt a block on the leg and mount it down lower. A boxed in angle plate type set up on the leg possibly. Done right it could be adjustable to determine the height thats right for you. But your also going to be lowering the shell holder so finding a happy medium may be tricky.

My bench is actually an all steel framed table and it's built Iike a "tank". The legs are more than up to the task but the frame is massive.

I could mount about anything to it. Make it vertically adjustable as well as rotatable.

I have been thinking about it since I saw the vid in the link in my previous post.

Mark

[Three44s]

I've been a COAX user for over 55 years. The older "Brown" painted press. I now have two of them. I could not count the number of rounds loaded over the decades using these presses. The loaded rounds are very accurate due to the floating dies self aligning to the case being reloaded. Run-out of the seated bullet shows very little misalignment.

Music to my ears! My bread and butter loading is for varmint hunting. I do all sorts of cartridges but varmints are number one!

Three44s

[THE_ANTIDOTE]

Here is how I have mine mounted and it works for me. I can pull up a full size chair or just a stool, having it this way I can sit to the left, center, or right of the press.

[Three44s]

That's very trick! Thanks for sharing!

Three44s

[THE_ANTIDOTE]

You're welcome. Obviously you could mount yours at whatever distance works for you. Not sure if you can tell, but I mount my bullet sizers the same way. The bullets drop through a hole I cut out in the table. Underneath I have a small SS pet bowl bolted to the table with one bolt which serves as a catch tray and when I need to collect my sized bullets...I simply pivot the full bowl out towards the outside of the table and scoop up my bullets, push it back in and I'm ready to go again.

[THE_ANTIDOTE]

Just a follow up.

[Three44s]

Thanks again, I did not catch that earlier!

Good photography BTW.

Question: What is the bullet sizer (I guess I am dense here) as I don't recognize it?

Best regards

Three44s

[THE_ANTIDOTE]

The blue/silver one is a STAR LUBE SIZER, the red one I do not know exactly what it was used for but I modified it and turned it into a bullet sizer. I think the red one was some kind of rivet tool.

[THE_ANTIDOTE]

The blue/silver one is a STAR LUBE SIZER, the red one I do not know exactly what it was used for but I modified it and turned it into a bullet sizer. I think the red one was some kind of rivet tool.

[Three44s]

Thanks

Three44s

[Three44s]

Got some bench time with the Coax yesterday.

My number one reason for buying this press was quick die changes. Does it ever work like advertised!

I am bad at having batches of brass at different stages of processing (especially) in 223 and last night I blundered into dabs of this and that, while doing a big clean up of my man cave. So this batch needs this die and that batch needs this die and so it went back and forth. :sad:

Full disclosure: I have a couple of turret presses, one is the iconic Lee Classic and I like them. However, in rifle brass processing, especially small bore (varmint cartridges) I do not like the tilting of the turret as pressure is applied during press operations.

I know folks see no runout issues with their turrets but I can not get warm and fuzzy on the issue.

Hence I bought a Coax! :bigsmyl2:

Best regards

Three44s

[oley55]

the high handle issue mentioned can be helped with the shorter ball handle. I rarely encounter times when the standard taller leverage is needed.

[Three44s]

Yes, getting or making a short handle is certainly part of my goals with this press. I may also experiment with some different styles as well.

Mounting the press at adjustable heights and different angles as well.

Three44s