[RUDY850]

Anyone have any pics of how the die fits in the press

Is it locked in good and tight

And is the die adjusted like any other press but just uses the the lock ring threads for the adjustments then locked down were needed

[taliv]

it's not locked in at all. it floats. it's by far my favorite single-stage press.

yes, the ring controls depth like other presses

[Afy]

More info please...

[Ol` Joe]

This is a Hornady ring and not a Forster but they work the same. The ring is locked in the press by a spring/ball that can be adjusted for pressure with a allen screw on the press frame. Dies snap in and out in a second, very fast very secure.

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/thumbs/DSC01466.JPG

[BigJakeJ1s]

Ol' Joe's pic shows a die partially inserted into the press. It slides farther back into the slot in use. I use Hornady and Forster lock rings, but I make sure that the wrench flats on the Hornady rings are fore and aft, so that the body of the lock ring engages the ball-detent mechanism that keeps the die from walking out of the slot, while still allowing it to float for self-alignment.

Here is a link to their instruction manual:

http://www.forsterproducts.com/Media/forster-manual-2007.pdf

Photos 3 thru 5 show a die installed in the slot.

Yes, the die is adjusted in its lock ring, and the lock ring is tightened to secure the setting. You need cross bolt lock rings from Forster, Hornady, or the really old cross-bolt RCBS lock rings (before they switched to the hex nut with steel set screw). Lyman also makes a cross bolt lock ring (they do not include the cross bolt lock ring with their dies), but I have not tried it with the co-ax.

If you have access to a Cabella's, they stock it, and you can operate it yourself. It is a very nice press. I do not prime on mine, too much fiddling around with individual primers.

Andy

[Doug b]

Nope sorry the only lock rings that work properly in a Forster co ax press are forster lock rings.

[jerkface11]

By far the best press I've ever used. Wouldn't trade it for anything.

[BFE]

By far the best press I've ever used. Wouldn't trade it for anything.
__________________
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I'm officially the best shot on TheHighRoad for the summer of 2008.

Would have to agree with above statement.

[Ol` Joe]

Nope sorry the only lock rings that work properly in a Forster co ax press are forster lock rings.

Hate to argue but I`ve used the newer Hornady and old RCBS pistol dies with their lock rings in mine for some years now with no sign of trouble. RCBS used a allen screw in their old round rings the same as today , but it doesn`t seem to hurt.

The Hornady Custom die that is in the picture will give me as good or better runout then most of the Forster dies I have, and works just fine IMO. The old RCBS rings at times have to be flipped to see if they are "flatter" on one side then the other but they always seem to work fine in the end with a little playing.

The dies are expected to move in the press a little to self center, as long as the ring surface is flat and at 90* to the die axis it will produce good ammo in my limited experiance. That said I do agree Forster rings are possibly a better fit, and are what I have put on all my new RCBS or Redding dies. They seem to be a touch thicker in height and fit snugger in the slot.

[Doug b]

Joe I hate to argue to, so to save us from that which we don't like lets get to the bottom of this. In your reply #4 I believe you say your dies are retained with a spring/ ball detent/allen screw. Mine is not it's allen screw only.Is my new(roughly 6 mo.old) press missing something here.Dies with any lock ring other than Forster will slide in and out without any resistance with the screw down all the way.

Something missing ,model change or what I'd like to find out as I really like this press so far.


On further review my press has a spring loaded ball retainer,my bad,but it still will not retain anything but a Forster ring.

[280shooter]

I dont know how they work, But I want one,i been looking at them. Its what i need to reload my longer cases..

wished I could help.

[Doug b]

280shooter the primeing system is painfully slow but pure perfection.You could use a 20 ton come along or your index finger and the primer would be seated .005" below flush every time.

[Ol` Joe]

Joe I hate to argue to, so to save us from that which we don't like lets get to the bottom of this. In your reply #4 I believe you say your dies are retained with a spring/ ball detent/allen screw. Mine is not it's allen screw only.Is my new(roughly 6 mo.old) press missing something here.Dies with any lock ring other than Forster will slide in and out without any resistance with the screw down all the way.

Something missing ,model change or what I'd like to find out as I really like this press so far.


On further review my press has a spring loaded ball retainer,my bad,but it still will not retain anything but a Forster ring.


DougB, I`m not sure where your problem lies, my press holds all three die brands I listed pretty much equally tight.
The rings are very close in thickness, I just measured them and found the Forster cross lock runs 0.315", the RCBS-0.305" and the Hornady - 0.310" I do adjust the press lock screw on occasion a half turn or so to allow easier insertion or removal but they all snap right in place. I`d call Forster and ask them about it. I`m sure they will say to use their rings but they should have a answer as to why the press won`t accept rings a couple thousanths off their rings in size. The tolerance in the press just shouldn`t be that tight, I would think, if the die is supposed to float.

BTW mine is about 15 yr old, I don`t know if a change was introduced in that time or not. We both agree though the press is a class by its self. ;-)

[JimKirk]

I'm with Ol'Joe ..Had my Coax for around thirty yrs. and I've used just about any round (non-hex) rings that are anywhere near what Forster rings are ....and they work just fine....they may not "lock" quite as tight as forster ...but I kinda like for mine to be able to move slightly....that is what makes the Forster so good.....kinda aligns it self.

Jimmy K

[280shooter]

oh i want it then,,
My ole Lyman C style press is a bear to size my 280 and 30-06

Man thinking back when I bought that lyman,over 35 years ago..wow
i put a lot of dif. calibers through it,

[BigJakeJ1s]

Other than the aforementioned issue with the Hornady lock rings (wrench flat orientation), I've not had any problems with them or the old RCBS rings.

Be careful not to tighten the ball detent screw too much; the ball has to be able to go flush with the slot or it will keep the die from sitting square in the slot.

Andy

[Clark]

Don't load for 10 years and then get around to buying the Co Ax, like I did.

Get one sooner.

[JimKirk]

The priming system is kinda slow(slower than auto system) ...but it will seat primers the most consistent of any system out there. It takes longer to tell you how to adjust the system than to actually do it. I like to stick the post( the little round bar with a small and large primer pilot on each end) on top of the primer arm(where the primer would set).. slide the shellholder jaws plates out ..lower the handle so the post stick out of top....set a unprimed case on the pilot end ..slide the shellholders jaws back inward(not real tight.. but snug) tighten the shellholder plates and you're done.
Forster also makes a primer system that mounts to the bench that has the setup as the press, but has a feed tube that holds 100 primers.
I find that the priming works fairly fast ...you only have to pull(towards the operator)the Coax handle just far enough for the primer cup to go flush with the floor of the priming base plate...drop a primer in and slide a case in the jaws ...a short push (backwards) on the handle and your primer is seated...pull the handle forward until the case slides out and the cup should be just about right to drop the next primer in and start all over again. The trick is not to set the jaws too tight but tight enough to hold the rims. The primer cup is machined to seat primers .005 below flush with the base of the case. This can be adjusted slightly by unscrewing the primer post out a part turn. Very consistent seating depth!!

I always do one step at a time (size, deprime, clean the primer pockets, prime, charge and then seat & crimp. I always throw a couple extra charges in a larger case( if I'm loading 223 ...I put them in 30/06 case) and set them aside ...I'm willing to bet you'll need a spare or two before you finish seating all you bullets.
This is from older posts about Forster Presses
Jimmy K

[RUDY850]

Thank you all for the information

[moonzapa]

FYI...The Forster Coax press is excellent. I have about 5,000 round loaded on my press, however, I have noted recently that I have to assist each case so that it is aligned with the die so that I can resize my cases. (I use only Forster coax die rings). I don't seem to have this problem when using Lapua brass, only when I'm using Winchester brass. Since this condition has begun, I went to the regular shell holder setup that Forster offers and it seems to helped out a lot. I still let the die "float" and I believe I'm making very good ammo. The priming tool on this press is the best I've ever used. You can't crush a primer and it seats it perfectly every time.

[something vague]

This thread is def. a reassurance for me as I was just about to drop the cash on one of these presses in the next few days. Just something about a well built single stage press that gets me goin'. All reviews of this thing are positative, don't believe that exists with any other press.