Finally! Forester Co-Ax In route

[Taz575]

I use 2 F clamps to clamp mine down to my workbench and it works fine. I don't use the press to prime anymore (RCBS hand primer works better for the different calibers I shoot so I don't have to adjust the Forster), but I love the Forster for everything else. I went with the short ball handle because I sit when I reload and the long handle made me sit farther away and very offset. The short handle works great. I just got my Forster 6.5 Grendel (sizing and the micrometer seating die) in, so I need to get those set up! I often use Forster lock rings on my other dies, too and in other presses, like the Lee Turret and Auto Breech Lock.

[Bfglowkee]

All dies set up, midway is shipping my 12 pack of rings today. Getting my groove down and I am very pleased I decided to get the press. The priming is slower then my hand primer for sure but it reduces my hand fatigue ( I have very aggressive RA in hands and elbows) so it is a welcomed reduction in discomfort while ensuring each case is primed exactly the same.
The difference in how sizing a case feels is taking time to adjust to. My brain keeps telling me you didn’t do it cause it takes so less effort and sizing a Grendel case feels like seating a bullet in my old press lol. My daughter is now self sufficient with her own reloading area, press etc. Now if I can just refrain from building a 223 bench trainer I won’t have to worry about ever changing the jaws for small cases.

[Mad Charlie]

Glad you're dialing in with it, I have been happy with mine from the start too.
The nearly effortless priming is really good for those of us with arthritis in our hands, and the very consistent seating is a big plus for me.

Just keep it oiled and clean and it will be good to go for as long as you want.

[Bfglowkee]

First batch of Grendel, Creedmoor and 308 assembled for this weekends range work!

[centerfire]

The CoAx handle is about 14" higher than traditional presses that mount the handle to the bottom of the linkage. I went with an Inline Fab short roller handle that is offset to one side. I had to remove my press riser because the CoAx handle is so high.

I thought this was worth a follow up. My bench is set up for the presses to be used while standing or sitting on a full height bar stool. Even after removing the press riser the handle height still felt too tall. The Press handle is just a piece of pipe, or miled steel bar stock in the case of Inline Fab, so I cut two inches off the bottom. I may still take another inch off the handle depending on how this feels. If your Coax feels too tall all you have to do is chop the bottom off of the handle.

[JSH]

I picked up a COAX for a song last summer. I had wanted to try one for years. My main single stage press is/was a rock chucker. I still use both.

My one concern on the coax was the small foot print. I easily solved that with a 1/2 thick piece of aluminum flat bar wider than the coax. Drilled and tapped it and used counter sunk hex bolts to fasten press to the flat bar. Drilled some holes in the flat bar to bolt the whole thing to the bench.

I tinker with a lot of different calibers and find my self using the COAX for easy of swapping dies.

I prefer to use a hand primer just so I can feel a bit better. My hand priming is also my last inspection of the brass.
Jeff

[DDRanch]

Finally scored a COAX. I can't believe I waited this long to get one?

I need to order some more Forster Lock rings, any one interested in splitting a order. No use for more than 6, so will have some up for grabs. Send me a PM if interested.

[centerfire]

Finally scored a COAX. I can't believe I waited this long to get one?

I need to order some more Forster Lock rings, any one interested in splitting a order. No use for more than 6, so will have some up for grabs. Send me a PM if interested.

If you're buying rings the Sinclair are the best fitting and steel so they won't change shape over time. For non critical press functions such as decapping and collet puller I prefer the Hornady rings.

[centerfire]

If you're buying rings the Sinclair are the best fitting and steel so they won't change shape over time. For non critical press functions such as decapping and collet puller I prefer the Hornady rings.

Interesting story time...none of the Sinclair rings I bought are flat while the Hornady rings are more flat and easier to stone down to make them flat.

I also completely gave up on the automatic jaws despite going back to them to give them another try. The runout induced by the jaws and the lack of support for 223 and magnum case heads finally got so tiresome (and expensive) that I permanently went back to traditional shell holders. Frankly, my Rock Chucker Supreme produces better ammo than the CoAx...The CoAx is just easier to swap dies and the primers are actually captured. I've loaded thousands of rounds on the CoAx at this point.

For anyone that cares.