Forster Co-Ax Reloading Press

Tmitch · November 10, 2013, 02:36 PM

I'm going to purchase a Forster Co-Ax reloading from Brownells. I know it's allot of money but I'll be getting a great press in the bargain too! The only bad point about the press is their system of seating new primers. Those of you that have this press; what do you use to seat new primers?

Thank You for any information you can pass along!

TMitch
Danville, IL.

BarnardP · November 10, 2013, 02:53 PM

What's wrong with the priming system?

I have two presses; the Forster & a Rock Chucker.

I prime all my long range (300 - 1000 yard) .308 brass on the Forster and if used for one caliber it's great, all my other ammo is done on the RC with a Lee auto prime so I don't have to disturb the clamps on the Forster.

jag2 · November 11, 2013, 11:41 AM

I don't think priming on the Coax is much different from priming on any press, that's why I don't to it. Lee Auto prime has been my choice for decades. I have, a few times, used the press if I had some really tight primer pockets and I wanted the leverage the press provides. It is a nice system for those that load small quantities and are looking for consistency but if you are doing a couple hundred rounds a week for target practice the Lee is more than adequate. Personally I prefer the older round tray model that is no longer being made but you can always find them on ebay. The Coax is great and I'm sure you will love it.

johnjohn · November 11, 2013, 12:02 PM

I'm with jag2 on this. I do all my priming by hand. (Lee)

WESHOOT2 · November 11, 2013, 02:06 PM

I've had my Co-Ax since 1994 and never seated a primer using it; I (now --used to use a pair of the LEE units, until they both broke during the same seating session) keep a pair of RCBS hand-prime units in my shop.

Eppie · November 11, 2013, 03:56 PM

I've only had my co-ax about three weeks but I'm using regularly now. However, I don't use the priming system. It seems awkward to me and I prefer my hand primer.

I have a much better feel for it, and when I feel a little resistance I prefer to take the case and give it a pass with my primer pocker reamer and then they slide right in place. It happens once every 50 cases or so, but if I was using the press I'd probably jam it crocked and then have to extract it.

I also don't use the priming jar for the spent primers. I just bought a 3 foot piece of clear tubing from Home Depot attached one end to the press tube and put the other end in the trash can under the work bench. The primers just slide right into the can and I don't have to remember to empty the jar.

Mavrick79 · November 12, 2013, 08:21 AM

I have a Coax and agree, the priming system on it sucks. You will have to spend some time getting the jaws set just right and once you finally have it set the feel of the primer going in is very faint, not only that its really slow having to manually put each primer in the cup.

I use the bench mount RCBS, not the APS version, the one with the tube, and I really like it, its fast and has a great feel for when the primer bottoms out. The only bummer is the price but its built very well and you'll have it for life.

There's a lot of guys on other forums/topics that seem to like their lee hand primer, I don't have one so I can't say but for the price of it you might want to give it a try. I might pick one up so I can experience it for myself.

daboone · November 12, 2013, 09:51 AM

The Co-Ax isn't really difficult to set up and will guarantee a flush seated primer every time. No more force is put on the primer than what is required to seat it. The Co-ax seater forces the primer 0.004 below flush with the face of the case head. It is excellent especially for ammunition to be loaded in military self-loading actions.

The part called the "Locator" must be use to set up the correct seating depth for the the specific case being primed. It's not difficult. No matter how hard you try you cannot over seat the primers the design prevents it. The consistency is well worth it.

Mavrick79 · November 13, 2013, 07:52 AM

I'm confused, you say it will seat the primer flush but then you say it will seat it .004 below flush every time?

jag2 · November 13, 2013, 11:15 AM

Can't read his mind but I think what he meant a "correctly" seated primer. With a hand held primer you go a lot by feel which will change greatly depending on the brass and primer brand. On the Coax, once you have it set you just pull the handle thru the full cycle and the primer will be seated the same very time. We've all felt loose and tight fits using a hand primer, with the Coax you really don't feel anything (very little anyway) but you know you will get the same result every time you pull the handle. Hope that makes sense.

schmellba99 · November 13, 2013, 01:47 PM

What is so special about this press that they charge that much for it? I can get an LnL AP or a Dillon 500 for that price, and do a lot more in a lot less time.

jag2 · November 14, 2013, 10:45 AM

I guess you could use a simple car comparison (plug in your favorite brand) that an inexpensive car will still get you to work but you might enjoy the ride a little more in a luxury car. I've had mine several years now (replacing a Rockchucker) and just remember thinking, hey this is nice. If you watch a video on one they can point out it's pluses better than I can. I have no desire to go the progressive route but that's just me so an easy to use single stage is what I wanted. As for pricing, for some reason you can buy them a lot cheaper from places like Cabelas than you can directly from Forster. Never could figure that out.

Clark · November 14, 2013, 11:04 AM

I have found the seating head on the co-ax to be miserable to adjust.

I made some fixtures, and then the system works well.

The two diameters are:
Bottom: 0.312" for the Bonanza co-ax, 0.313" Forster co-ax
Top: The maximum extractor groove measured in your brass collection, e.g. 0.477" for a belted magnum

theshephard · November 20, 2013, 08:32 PM

This is what I use to complement my Co-Ax: The RCBS Automatic Bench Priming Tool. Great feel, you can get a good and fast rhythm going.
Some say it doesn't have as good a feel as the best hand primers. Okay, but it's probably a very close second, certainly miles better than priming on a press, and being bench-mounted you get good leverage and no hand cramps (for all you arthritics out there).
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/457...h-priming-tool

Mavrick79 · November 20, 2013, 10:28 PM

That's the same one I use and really like it too. I think it gives a really good feel when the primer bottoms out.

WESHOOT2 · November 22, 2013, 04:39 PM

It's noted for its self-alignment function.
It requires no shellholders.
Dies slide in and out; no screwing.

I bought mine for $10 in 1994; my friend was using it as a doorstop in his garage.

November 10, 2013, 02:36 PM	#1
Tmitch Member Join Date: January 22, 2013 Posts: 33	Forster Co-Ax Reloading Press I'm going to purchase a Forster Co-Ax reloading from Brownells. I know it's allot of money but I'll be getting a great press in the bargain too! The only bad point about the press is their system of seating new primers. Those of you that have this press; what do you use to seat new primers? Thank You for any information you can pass along! TMitch Danville, IL.

November 11, 2013, 02:06 PM	#5
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	by hand or by XL650 I've had my Co-Ax since 1994 and never seated a primer using it; I (now --used to use a pair of the LEE units, until they both broke during the same seating session) keep a pair of RCBS hand-prime units in my shop. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

November 11, 2013, 03:56 PM	#6
Eppie Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2010 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 802	I've only had my co-ax about three weeks but I'm using regularly now. However, I don't use the priming system. It seems awkward to me and I prefer my hand primer. I have a much better feel for it, and when I feel a little resistance I prefer to take the case and give it a pass with my primer pocker reamer and then they slide right in place. It happens once every 50 cases or so, but if I was using the press I'd probably jam it crocked and then have to extract it. I also don't use the priming jar for the spent primers. I just bought a 3 foot piece of clear tubing from Home Depot attached one end to the press tube and put the other end in the trash can under the work bench. The primers just slide right into the can and I don't have to remember to empty the jar. __________________ "Socialized Medicine is the Keystone to the Arch of the Socialist State.” -Vladimir Lenin "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Thomas Jefferson (An early warning to Obama care)

November 20, 2013, 08:32 PM	#14
theshephard Member Join Date: October 1, 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 26	RCBS Auto This is what I use to complement my Co-Ax: The RCBS Automatic Bench Priming Tool. Great feel, you can get a good and fast rhythm going. Some say it doesn't have as good a feel as the best hand primers. Okay, but it's probably a very close second, certainly miles better than priming on a press, and being bench-mounted you get good leverage and no hand cramps (for all you arthritics out there). http://www.midwayusa.com/product/457...h-priming-tool

November 22, 2013, 04:39 PM	#16
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	claim to fame It's noted for its self-alignment function. It requires no shellholders. Dies slide in and out; no screwing. I bought mine for $10 in 1994; my friend was using it as a doorstop in his garage. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

November 10, 2013, 02:53 PM	#2
BarnardP Junior Member Join Date: October 13, 2013 Location: US of England Posts: 6	What's wrong with the priming system? I have two presses; the Forster & a Rock Chucker. I prime all my long range (300 - 1000 yard) .308 brass on the Forster and if used for one caliber it's great, all my other ammo is done on the RC with a Lee auto prime so I don't have to disturb the clamps on the Forster.

November 11, 2013, 11:41 AM	#3
jag2 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2009 Location: dallas Posts: 773	I don't think priming on the Coax is much different from priming on any press, that's why I don't to it. Lee Auto prime has been my choice for decades. I have, a few times, used the press if I had some really tight primer pockets and I wanted the leverage the press provides. It is a nice system for those that load small quantities and are looking for consistency but if you are doing a couple hundred rounds a week for target practice the Lee is more than adequate. Personally I prefer the older round tray model that is no longer being made but you can always find them on ebay. The Coax is great and I'm sure you will love it.

November 11, 2013, 12:02 PM	#4
johnjohn Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2009 Location: Baton Rouge La. Posts: 122	I'm with jag2 on this. I do all my priming by hand. (Lee)

November 12, 2013, 08:21 AM	#7
Mavrick79 Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2013 Posts: 143	I have a Coax and agree, the priming system on it sucks. You will have to spend some time getting the jaws set just right and once you finally have it set the feel of the primer going in is very faint, not only that its really slow having to manually put each primer in the cup. I use the bench mount RCBS, not the APS version, the one with the tube, and I really like it, its fast and has a great feel for when the primer bottoms out. The only bummer is the price but its built very well and you'll have it for life. There's a lot of guys on other forums/topics that seem to like their lee hand primer, I don't have one so I can't say but for the price of it you might want to give it a try. I might pick one up so I can experience it for myself.

November 12, 2013, 09:51 AM	#8
daboone Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Phoenix AZ, Kealakekua HI Posts: 100	The Co-Ax isn't really difficult to set up and will guarantee a flush seated primer every time. No more force is put on the primer than what is required to seat it. The Co-ax seater forces the primer 0.004 below flush with the face of the case head. It is excellent especially for ammunition to be loaded in military self-loading actions. The part called the "Locator" must be use to set up the correct seating depth for the the specific case being primed. It's not difficult. No matter how hard you try you cannot over seat the primers the design prevents it. The consistency is well worth it.

November 13, 2013, 07:52 AM	#9
Mavrick79 Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2013 Posts: 143	I'm confused, you say it will seat the primer flush but then you say it will seat it .004 below flush every time?

November 13, 2013, 11:15 AM	#10
jag2 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2009 Location: dallas Posts: 773	Can't read his mind but I think what he meant a "correctly" seated primer. With a hand held primer you go a lot by feel which will change greatly depending on the brass and primer brand. On the Coax, once you have it set you just pull the handle thru the full cycle and the primer will be seated the same very time. We've all felt loose and tight fits using a hand primer, with the Coax you really don't feel anything (very little anyway) but you know you will get the same result every time you pull the handle. Hope that makes sense.

November 13, 2013, 01:47 PM	#11
schmellba99 Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2008 Posts: 803	What is so special about this press that they charge that much for it? I can get an LnL AP or a Dillon 500 for that price, and do a lot more in a lot less time.

November 14, 2013, 10:45 AM	#12
jag2 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2009 Location: dallas Posts: 773	I guess you could use a simple car comparison (plug in your favorite brand) that an inexpensive car will still get you to work but you might enjoy the ride a little more in a luxury car. I've had mine several years now (replacing a Rockchucker) and just remember thinking, hey this is nice. If you watch a video on one they can point out it's pluses better than I can. I have no desire to go the progressive route but that's just me so an easy to use single stage is what I wanted. As for pricing, for some reason you can buy them a lot cheaper from places like Cabelas than you can directly from Forster. Never could figure that out.

November 20, 2013, 10:28 PM	#15
Mavrick79 Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2013 Posts: 143	That's the same one I use and really like it too. I think it gives a really good feel when the primer bottoms out.