I bought one years ago, when they were reasonably priced. About $200. I thought that was high, until I saw current prices. Recently I bought the upgraded linkages, and the baseplate from a couple of guys advertising on Facebook. They are quite an improvement over the originals.
Forster Co-ax sure are popular
- Thread starter MartyK2500
- Start date
- Location
- sudbury, ontario
Hay it seems we all do this ...except a few ..buy this press ...cheap ...ya it works ..but well you know ...and then we get tired and buy the proper tools ......it’s a major purchase buy ...that’s it ..done....
I’m looking at the prazipress ....
Sold the Dillon ....and now have a mark 7 .....it’s on route to me ...
I’m looking at the prazipress ....
Sold the Dillon ....and now have a mark 7 .....it’s on route to me ...
I have went through this in my last 2 years, concerning everything reload wise.
RCBS charge master switched to FX120 with auto stuff,
Annealeez propane changed for AMPmk2,
And now my Lee Cast will be changed for Co-Ax,
I guess if I wanted all the cool stuff at once and to start with, I would of never started precision reloads when I did.
Just looked at that Mark 7. Holllllyyy cow.
Had a friend show me one of the early Bonanza B-1 Co-Ax presses the other day. Apparently
this was the 1st design, only difference I could see between this one & the current model is this
earlier design used a normal shell holder to seat primers. What are these things worth these days ?
this was the 1st design, only difference I could see between this one & the current model is this
earlier design used a normal shell holder to seat primers. What are these things worth these days ?
The difference in old to new is the inside length of the yoke for die clearance, which isn't an issue, unless you get into long cartridges, I forget what the length on them is. And this year they came out with new jaw sets for them with retained springs, those don't ship with them at present, have to buy separate, although, it may be able to be bought installed in the press if ordered direct, otherwise you'll get the old style jaws. To the best of my knowledge, they always came with their jaws, to use an RCBS type shell holder, they supply an adaptor to use on the press. That may be what you saw on it. At half price of a new one you are still in the 250.00 range.
- Location
- West Quebec
Have a link ? p.m. me
Finally got the chance to set my dies on this press, gotta say i'm in love with this press.
I'm not as impressed by the smoothness, as i'm impressed by the amount of torque this press generates.
FLS has never been this easy, and I have to be careful Lee collet die neck sizing as I can over do it if I am not careful.
I feel like since I have installed it in the bench (vs hanging off the edge), the weight is more evenly distributed and you can torque more without anything flexing.
It took a 2 5/8'' hole saw (I imagine it doesn't have to be exact just one of the few I had in hand) to install mid bench and clear everything.
Then the ''front lip'' was not touching bench, so I shimmed it with a SS washer that fits tight, so when torqueing down I am insured that there is absolute zero press movement.
I'm not as impressed by the smoothness, as i'm impressed by the amount of torque this press generates.
FLS has never been this easy, and I have to be careful Lee collet die neck sizing as I can over do it if I am not careful.
I feel like since I have installed it in the bench (vs hanging off the edge), the weight is more evenly distributed and you can torque more without anything flexing.
It took a 2 5/8'' hole saw (I imagine it doesn't have to be exact just one of the few I had in hand) to install mid bench and clear everything.
Then the ''front lip'' was not touching bench, so I shimmed it with a SS washer that fits tight, so when torqueing down I am insured that there is absolute zero press movement.
Finally got the chance to set my dies on this press, gotta say i'm in love with this press.
I'm not as impressed by the smoothness, as i'm impressed by the amount of torque this press generates.
FLS has never been this easy, and I have to be careful Lee collet die neck sizing as I can over do it if I am not careful.
I feel like since I have installed it in the bench (vs hanging off the edge), the weight is more evenly distributed and you can torque more without anything flexing.
It took a 2 5/8'' hole saw (I imagine it doesn't have to be exact just one of the few I had in hand) to install mid bench and clear everything.
Then the ''front lip'' was not touching bench, so I shimmed it with a SS washer that fits tight, so when torqueing down I am insured that there is absolute zero press movement.
I Like how you mounted it !!!! you are giving my Ideas haahahhaha
No question that they are a good press, but it depends on how fussy you want to be, the other popular brands can also turn out some good ammo without the larger investment required.
it all depends on how much of a stickler you are for getting similar results.
it all depends on how much of a stickler you are for getting similar results.
- Location
- West Quebec
It made all the difference in my approach to long range loading thanks to DAVE
I will stay honest to myself, the Forster Co-Ax does not produce better ammo than my Lee cast press, in my case anyways.
But, it's far more pleasant to use.
What the Forster will do : much cleaner spent primer management, much less required torque to resize, can be mounted off the edge of table so that front of press is shimmed to bench (resulting in much less press/table movement), quickest die change system with easily adjusted dies via allen screw lock ring, thin shellplate means I can resize lower than other presses (without having to sand down shellplates) easier.
In my opinion, what it won't do : Load better ammo (my runout was already sub 1 thou, with 90%+of my casings being around 0.5 thou, got Lee collet die to thank for that), switching between 308 and 223 is a bit more labour required switching shellplate around than a conventional system.
If you really want to go whole hog, order the new style jaws, not cheap, but they are nicer to switch out. Not sure if Forster is doing them themselves, thay could be sourcing from Manzgear, as he built them before they did.. He has a vid on YT.
- Location
- West Quebec
Forster should make them standard if they have not already
