Forster Co-Ax Press Video Review (and Sale Notice)
In recent years, Forster Co-Ax® presses have been somewhat hard to find, as demand has out-stripped supply. However, right now Grafs.com has Co-Ax presses in stock, at just $299.99 — that’s six percent off the regular price. This sale price includes a set of jaws, and includes ground shipping (in the lower 48), after a single $7.95 (per order) handling fee. If you’ve been hankering for a Co-Ax press, now is definitely a good time to buy.
If you are not yet familiar with the many unique features of the Forster Co-Ax, we recommend you watch the video embedded below. This shows how the press operates and highlights the design elements which set the Co-Ax apart from every other reloading press on the market.
Forster Co-Ax Press Video Review
This is a very thorough review of the Forster Co-Ax done by Rex Roach. This 14-minute video shows the key Co-Ax features, explaining how the floating case-holder jaws work (3:30 time-mark), how the dies are held in place (4:40 time-mark), how spent primers are captured (6:10 time-mark), and how to set the primer seating depth (10:00 time-mark). We’ve used a Co-Ax for years and we still learned a few new things by watching this detailed video. If you are considering purchasing a Co-Ax, definitely watch this video start to finish.
The Co-Ax case-holder features spring-loaded, floating jaws. These jaws have two sets of openings, small and large. This allows the system to adapt to various rim diameters. The jaw plates can simply be reversed to switch from small jaw to large jaw. In the photo above, the Co-Ax is configured with the large jaw openings in the center.
Photos are screen shots from Forster Co-Ax Review by Rex Roach on YouTube.
Is this “really” a good purchase? I’ve read that some dies don’t work with this press and does it really help decrease runout? The dies are relying on the lock ring for per say straightness – this must be effective then.
The current B3 version afaik works with most all dies. The issue has been the various micrometer topped dies sticking up too high so the handle has been progressively raised for clearance.
It is quite true that some still won’t fit. The .50 BMG and some of the big English double rifle cartridges and the biggest of American black powder and shotshell dies won’t work. Mostly if it won’t work in the B3 Forster it won’t work with the competition either.
I wouldn’t say the dies are relying on the lock ring – rather there is a float, self centering effect. Good results can be had with most anything on the market and practice – including sometimes o-rings and other finicky fiddling with details.
I’ve had a Rockchucker and ignoring progressives currently I have a Harrell’s, a Load Anywhere Meacham, a T7 Redding, a Hollywood Universal Turret (museum piece don’t use it for any current cartridges) as well as the Forster. For some purposes some of the time the Forster is unmatched and for anything with 7/8-14 dies the Forster is good enough and better than most.
Hollis, are you asking earnest questions, or are you just upset with how expensive it is?
As an example: using a Redding BR in the CoAx, seating 80 SMK bullets into unturned Lake City brass, I see an average TIR of 0.0021″ +/- ~0.0015″. That’s pretty okay.
Seating depth consistency is nearly as good as the Wilson hand die and Arbor press I no longer use. It runs in a max range of +/- 0.001, base-to-ogive, and never really gets outside that unless I get sloppy. I think that that is also pretty okay.
I have taken the ball bearing OUT of my press, and dies just slip in and out. I can do a complete cartridge change in less that 5 minutes, including resetting the powder meter.
I also prefer to seat without the jaws on the press. I have the dies all set this way, and I just seat off the bare plate, only putting in the jaws to size.
Know why I DON’T use the Wilson BR die anymore? Runout. It’s not even close.
I am definitely asking in earnest. Just trying to get peoples opinions that have experience (which there is ample on this site) and not the opinions of people that will benefit from its sales. I am looking for a second press. Will this press work with Widden’s dies?
I didn’t mean to come off that way.
The old Bonanza press this press is based off of could not take some dies. Not a problem with the modern Forster version. Whidden dies are the same size as Forster Ultra dies and both work in the Co-Ax.
Sinclair is still using an image of the old Co-Ax:
http://www.brownells.com/userdocs/products/l_749008316_1.jpg
Midway has a picture of the current one:
http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880×660/Primary/265/265719.jpg
Note the difference in the “Y” part of the lever.
Nate, is there something you do that rigs the jaws open when you’re seating or do you simply remove them?