Just bought a Forster Co-Ax and i am wondering if anyone has run into this problem, or have a solution for it. I have Hornady's Custom Grade Seating Die w/Micrometer, i have the die basically set as high as i can on the press, but its still not enough to not crimp the case... die clears the handle, but just barely. any help would be appreciated
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Forster Co-ax 300Win Die Problems
- Thread starter k3k0a808
- Start date
I have a coax and load for a 300PRC. The operation handle just clears the top of the die. So it’s close but not a problem for me
you said your all the way up and still can not crimp? in order to crimp you need to go down with the die
then you say you do not want to crimp...im confused can you explain what the problem is?
He says it clears the handle. It isnt the issue.
OP: pull the handle down to raise an empty case up into the the seater. Then loosen the lock ring and spin the seater DOWN onto the empty case until it just hits the case mouth. Then just back it out one revolution since you say you dont want to crimp. That sets the die body, from there just use the micrometer to adjust the bullet seating.
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What threads are backed all the way out ?.........seating stem on micro adjustement ?.......or......die backed out of lock ring ?......fuck it post a picture so we can see........ And while im one fingering this damn phone.....some up above might want to take a course in reading comprehension......it might help in not looking like an idiot.
@spife7980 probably figured out whats going on and gave the answer op needed. And if thats the case ( op doesnt know how to set up a seating die correctly) whats he doing pulling a handle on a press in the 1st place ?........ More reading time is advised...........But if seating die is backed just about out of lock ring and crimping, op has a die problem........
@spife7980 probably figured out whats going on and gave the answer op needed. And if thats the case ( op doesnt know how to set up a seating die correctly) whats he doing pulling a handle on a press in the 1st place ?........ More reading time is advised...........But if seating die is backed just about out of lock ring and crimping, op has a die problem........
that’s my problem, I have the die screwed all the way up/out there’s no more adjustment up to make the die not crimp
don't have to be a dick about it, yeah its probably a die problem but the reason im asking here is to see if anyone else has run into this and if someone has a solution before i go out and buy another 100 dollar die
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cool, thank you.. don't mind spending the money just don't want to if i don't have to. just gotta find the dies now lol
Hmm, I know in my coax and hornady custom 300bo (fucking polar opposite end of the spectrum) with micro stop seater gives me a very similar issue. I always assumed because it was so short of a case in the long seater but you are having the problem with it and a long case. (For those who dont know, the hornady custom grade uses the same generic seater body for all cases, the 300bo and the 300wm use the same seater)
I have to have the seater all the way out like that and even then I cant came over, I just have to stop right at in the middle of the handle throw with the press handle parallel to the floor or it does something similar and starts to crimp and smash the case too.
Get a different dies, the hornady custom seater is apparently a bad combo with the coax. Works alright for my 270 and 22 creed but this blackout is a pain in the ass and yours is too seemingly. Its the only die Ive had this issue with.
I have to have the seater all the way out like that and even then I cant came over, I just have to stop right at in the middle of the handle throw with the press handle parallel to the floor or it does something similar and starts to crimp and smash the case too.
Get a different dies, the hornady custom seater is apparently a bad combo with the coax. Works alright for my 270 and 22 creed but this blackout is a pain in the ass and yours is too seemingly. Its the only die Ive had this issue with.
yeah it smashes the case, i want the handle to be able to go all the way to the end of the travel so i get consistent seating
I agree with cascade, new dies. I would have already but I dont hardly shoot the blackout anymore.
So did you get it figued out? My post wasnt intended to be an ass....if you took it as so.......SO
But i did kinda call out the reading comprehension problem by some.
Edit: @spife7980 thanks for explanation.......ive seen hornady seating dies used in co axle press but havent seen this problem...live and learn
@OP thanks for the picture ....again didnt intend to be a ass......peace
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Just to piggyback Spife, all of my dies are at the end of their thread engagement in my CoAx. They work fine but there isn't much room to work with. All it takes for the dies to run out of engagement is to have the die reamed a little shallow. Since Hornady is making dies for their own presses they aren't taking into consideration thread engagement necessary for compatibility with the CoAx. It is a bummer to find out the hard way though and neither company is going to tell you up front.
yeah, but good thing i only have 2 of these hornady dies, for my 6.5CM and 300Win. always wanted a co-ax so when i found one for sale i jumped on it. to tell you the truth i don't really like the hornady micrometer, sometimes its hard to see the numbers with the lightly etched markings on the polished surface
Redding comp seaters work great for me. I like their micrometer most. Forster second, hornady last.
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I ran into the similar situation with the Hornady micrometer top on my seater. Less than $2 at the hardware store fixed this and I get consistent seating depth now at a positive stop now at about 1/2 stroke with the handle. I, too, could not even get close to 'camover' with this die setup like I can with my Forster and Redding dies. I'll post a pic up by morning of how I solved this.
thank you! hope i get itForster Bonanza 300 Winchester magnum bench rest die set | eBay
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Here's the pics in a thread I added...
www.snipershide.com
I see no need to buy new dies! YMMV
Forster CoAx Fix
Years ago, before 6 CM brass could be bought and the 22 CM was a true wildcat I had to neck down 6.5 Creedmoor brass, and with no dies available I had to stuff new internals into parent case dies to load my 22 Creedmoor. The Hornady micrometer top seater would not allow me to get cam over at...
www.snipershide.com
I see no need to buy new dies! YMMV
Nice! Such a simple fix, thank you. I kind of did the same thing yesterday just to seat some loads to test, just to get me by. I took the funnel extension piece off the top of one of my lee expander dies and put it in between the two guide rods, worked well but I had to make sure that piece was in the same spot every time or the seating depth would be off
I use the same dies that you are discussing on my co-ax and I have no issue over 2k of .308 loaded. I get a picture up soon but I have about 2 threads shows left on the die.
i don't have a .308 anymore, but my 6.5 creedmoor i have no problems with the hornady die.. maybe its just the 300win length that gives me trouble
Swap the guts of the 6.5 die with the 300 die and see if the problem moves with it?
The body of most of the Hornady seating dies is too long for the Co-Ax which is what you are experiencing. I haven’t had any issues with any other brand of seating dies yet. Redfoot’s solution is one I might have to try since the few seaters I have that don’t work I just use on a different press.
I didn't see if you said that you bought the press new or used. The older Co-Ax presses didn't have as much clearance under the yoke area in the handle. I have the newer style and my Hornady New Dimension seater dies setup just fine. The die is screwed in to the lock nut about two or three threads.
The issue is the Hornady seating die in magnum calibers.
i have the forster coax and its more effort to load 300WM and now 300PRC due to the length of the brass, and how far you seat the projectile. 300WM is OAL 3.5 300PRC is 3.575
300WM i have JUST enough room to pull the loaded cartridge out. 300 PRC i found out as of last weekend, after i seat each bullet i have to pull the entire DIE and loaded round out and start over.
i am not loading hundreds of rounds at a time so its not the end of the world for me. but it is annoying
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018047052 i use that die for the 300 WM and the https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1021619055?pid=859760 for the PRC
300WM i have JUST enough room to pull the loaded cartridge out. 300 PRC i found out as of last weekend, after i seat each bullet i have to pull the entire DIE and loaded round out and start over.
i am not loading hundreds of rounds at a time so its not the end of the world for me. but it is annoying
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018047052 i use that die for the 300 WM and the https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1021619055?pid=859760 for the PRC
i actually made a stop like redfoot ranch did, and im getting some good consistent seating with the hornady die, but yeah there's no room in there, the hornady has the alignment sleeve in the die, and i have to push that up to put the bullet in, and to get the round out
I have been able to install my 300 WM Hornady Seating die without modifications being done to my Forster Co-AX.
I however had to remove the Micrometer from my match die and replace it with the seat adjustment screw from the custom grade die.
I backed out the seat adjustment screw all the way and was able to adjust my die without the crimp
Then when seating the bullet I just used the Seat Adjustment Screw of the Custom Die to get my proper seating depth.
Yes it still will be at the last 3 threads. The instructions include these..
When properly adjusted, the Hornady® seating die may appear as though it’s not threaded far enough into the press (they are adjusted for long or short cases). Don’t be alarmed: as few as three threads need be screwed into the press for precise and accurate reloading.
My OAL is 3.55 seating the bullet 0.04 seating depth with the Nosler RDF 210 Bullet
By cases are trimmed to 2.613 ( I don't trim them to the wick)
Only bump my shoulder about 0.002
I get very consistent seating depth and concentricity with the Co-Ax with consistent primer seating as well using the priming tool on top of it.
Hope this helps folks going forward.
I however had to remove the Micrometer from my match die and replace it with the seat adjustment screw from the custom grade die.
I backed out the seat adjustment screw all the way and was able to adjust my die without the crimp
Then when seating the bullet I just used the Seat Adjustment Screw of the Custom Die to get my proper seating depth.
Yes it still will be at the last 3 threads. The instructions include these..
When properly adjusted, the Hornady® seating die may appear as though it’s not threaded far enough into the press (they are adjusted for long or short cases). Don’t be alarmed: as few as three threads need be screwed into the press for precise and accurate reloading.
My OAL is 3.55 seating the bullet 0.04 seating depth with the Nosler RDF 210 Bullet
By cases are trimmed to 2.613 ( I don't trim them to the wick)
Only bump my shoulder about 0.002
I get very consistent seating depth and concentricity with the Co-Ax with consistent primer seating as well using the priming tool on top of it.
Hope this helps folks going forward.
As others have said, if you don’t want to swap out the micrometer top for a regular seating stem screw, look at the Forster or Redding dies. I have a Redding die with the micrometer top for 300 WM and it does fit.
How old is your Forster? The older ones had a shorter yoke handle that can be replaced/upgraded with the newer longer one.
