Picking a quick change single stage press

deepcore · November 2, 2010, 02:28 PM

Been looking at single stage presses for loading rifle ammo.
Interested in the ones with quick change die feature.
Forster Coax on high end of spectrum $250ish.
And the two Lees with the breech lock die feature (Classic $100ish and
the other Lee is half that).
Is the Coax worth the extra money?

Thanks

PA-Joe · November 2, 2010, 04:34 PM

You can also get a Hornady LNL Classic Single Stage Press. Do you have the dies etc or are you looking for a kit? LNL Kit is about 250 and then you get 75 in free bullets.

deepcore · November 2, 2010, 05:32 PM

Have a set of Dillon dies for now.
Right now looking just for the press.

Hog Buster · November 2, 2010, 06:56 PM

Is the Coax worth the extra money?

I think so. I’ve been loading on a forerunner to it for over 50 years. Thousands and thousands of rounds with never a problem.

BDS-THR · November 2, 2010, 07:57 PM

deepcore, you can remove the index bar off Lee Classic Turret press and use it like a single stage press.

This way you can have all your dies mounted and set in a turret and easily swap for caliber change.

jpdavis423 · November 2, 2010, 08:06 PM

I agree with Hog Buster about the Coax. I've had several single stage presses over the years (Lee, Lyman, and RCBS) and the Forster is the best. I like it for several reasons:

It is smoother than any other press I've used.
It has a universal shell holder so you don't have to find the individual holders for each caliber.
It has the best priming system of all the ones I've tried. I've stopped using my RCBS hand priming tool.
It catches all the spent primers and primer residue.

I just saw it on sale at Midway for $225.00

Jeff

BigJakeJ1s · November 2, 2010, 10:36 PM

I can definitely vouch for the worthiness of the Forster Co-Ax.

It has a combination of convenience and accuracy-enhancing features simply not found on any other single stage press.

If the co-ax is not in your price range, I would lean toward the Lee Classic Cast press, with a Hornady LNL press conversion kit so it can use the LNL bushings.

I'm not convinced that Lee's interrupted thread, aluminum QC bushings are as good as the LNL system. Both pale in comparision to the Co-Ax QC system.

Andy

engineermike · November 2, 2010, 11:12 PM

I have the Hornady Classic but you might take a look at the Redding Big Boss.

November 2, 2010, 02:28 PM	#1
deepcore Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2010 Posts: 364	Picking a quick change single stage press Been looking at single stage presses for loading rifle ammo. Interested in the ones with quick change die feature. Forster Coax on high end of spectrum $250ish. And the two Lees with the breech lock die feature (Classic $100ish and the other Lee is half that). Is the Coax worth the extra money? Thanks

November 2, 2010, 06:56 PM	#4
Hog Buster Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2009 Location: Pointe Coupee, Louisana Posts: 772	Is the Coax worth the extra money? I think so. I’ve been loading on a forerunner to it for over 50 years. Thousands and thousands of rounds with never a problem. __________________ Those who beat their guns into plows, will plow for those who don't.-Thomas Jefferson

November 2, 2010, 08:06 PM	#6
jpdavis423 Member Join Date: September 22, 2007 Posts: 52	I agree with Hog Buster about the Coax. I've had several single stage presses over the years (Lee, Lyman, and RCBS) and the Forster is the best. I like it for several reasons: It is smoother than any other press I've used. It has a universal shell holder so you don't have to find the individual holders for each caliber. It has the best priming system of all the ones I've tried. I've stopped using my RCBS hand priming tool. It catches all the spent primers and primer residue. I just saw it on sale at Midway for $225.00 Jeff

November 2, 2010, 04:34 PM	#2
PA-Joe Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: NEPA Posts: 909	You can also get a Hornady LNL Classic Single Stage Press. Do you have the dies etc or are you looking for a kit? LNL Kit is about 250 and then you get 75 in free bullets.

November 2, 2010, 05:32 PM	#3
deepcore Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2010 Posts: 364	Have a set of Dillon dies for now. Right now looking just for the press.

November 2, 2010, 07:57 PM	#5
BDS-THR Senior Member Join Date: June 12, 2010 Posts: 479	deepcore, you can remove the index bar off Lee Classic Turret press and use it like a single stage press. This way you can have all your dies mounted and set in a turret and easily swap for caliber change.

November 2, 2010, 10:36 PM	#7
BigJakeJ1s Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2005 Location: Arlington TX Posts: 663	I can definitely vouch for the worthiness of the Forster Co-Ax. It has a combination of convenience and accuracy-enhancing features simply not found on any other single stage press. If the co-ax is not in your price range, I would lean toward the Lee Classic Cast press, with a Hornady LNL press conversion kit so it can use the LNL bushings. I'm not convinced that Lee's interrupted thread, aluminum QC bushings are as good as the LNL system. Both pale in comparision to the Co-Ax QC system. Andy

November 2, 2010, 11:12 PM	#8
engineermike Junior member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Oklahaoma City Posts: 538	I have the Hornady Classic but you might take a look at the Redding Big Boss.