Just bought a Forester Press

One e. ;)

Congrats. It's a great press.

When you get used to it, take a look see around for a guy....maybe it was even on youtube...that makes a jawholder plate that fully captures the springs, and has stainless hex-head screws that allow you to tune the jaw strength.

It's cool, but bigger than that, it keeps the dern springs from going into orbit.
 
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You'll shoot your eye out!

HA! That's actually almost entirely possible with those little springs!!

OP: what I forgot to say is that...until you get one of those cool aftermarket jaw plates....order SPARE springs. Guarantee you'll need one sooner or later...:)
 
It is a great press and you will be very happy that you started with it!

+1

Buy extra locking rings while you're buying stuff. The strong mount is also worthwhile.

The only problem I've had has been primers sticking in the spent primer tube eventually popping the split ring off the end of the tube. I understand later versions have a redesigned frame. Not possible to retrofit the fix to older machines unfortunately.

They're not very good about sending replacement tubes.
 
OP: what I forgot to say is that...until you get one of those cool aftermarket jaw plates....order SPARE springs. Guarantee you'll need one sooner or later...

Nat
Who is supplying aftermarket jaw plates, and why better than what comes with press? Spring retention device?
 
After you use it you'll never look back to another single stage press ever.
That's close to, but not quite my opinion... and the reason for that is the Larry Willis collet die for resizing just ahead of the belt on belted magnum cases. The shell plate retention screw heads get in the way of a flange on the bottom of the Willis die.

One Hide user trimmed the screw heads to alleviate the issue, but what I chose to do is use another press (Hornady) with that die.

However, other than that, I am extremely happy with my CoAx.
 
OP: what I forgot to say is that...until you get one of those cool aftermarket jaw plates....order SPARE springs. Guarantee you'll need one sooner or later...

Nat
Who is supplying aftermarket jaw plates, and why better than what comes with press? Spring retention device?

I tried out the ones from the guy on youtube that fabricates them- I think Manzel something maybe? Save your money, the stock ones are completely fine. In my opinion, that is a piece that does not necessarily require an overly stout/ over engineered upgrade. I found the stock one to actually work better.

Now I would say I am super happy with IF stuff for it- small handle, ultramount, and the increased access linkages. But the press is solid from the factory. I ought to load a video one day showing some of the aftermarket stuff.
 
That's close to, but not quite my opinion... and the reason for that is the Larry Willis collet die for resizing just ahead of the belt on belted magnum cases. The shell plate retention screw heads get in the way of a flange on the bottom of the Willis die.

One Hide user trimmed the screw heads to alleviate the issue, but what I chose to do is use another press (Hornady) with that die.

However, other than that, I am extremely happy with my CoAx.


Yep agree - it's a great piece of kit, but not the only one. I still use an old RCBS w/ an auto eject setup if speed is of importance and crank through stuff like decapping.
 
Where did you find one? I ordered one on Brownells showing in stock. Order confirmed as in stock. A day later I was updated w/ shipping info and low and behold, the Co-Ax is on backorder. Just like everywhere else. I kept checking daily and no inventory. I would search my Cabelas but never saw one on the shelf. Then one day while checking online inventory I notice my Cabela's showed 'limited inventory'. Sure enough I found one in it's smallish box I had overlooked at least three times before. I snatched it up and carried it to the register like I had just taken a unicorn from the wild and wanted to show everyone my hunting abilities. My mother in law would be proud of my shopping prowess. I even paid the $50 Cabela's tax ($20 more other stores and my local 8.6% tax rate) to get it over with.
 
I used a little JB Weld to keep the spring in place. I cant confirm, but the springs seem to be the same ones they use in a standard ink pen with refillable ink.
Only replaced the left side easy-access linkage since my right hand is on the press handle. You can buy the lights from Inline Fabrication, or just look on eBay.
I have the shell plate holder but ordered recently ordered the larger jaws for the 300 Norma.
 
I’ve tried many single stage presses from Redding to Hornady’s new Iron Press but this one was the one I settled on. $170 brand new from a local ad. Very glad I got it (especially now).
You will not be disappointed with this press.
And as previously mentioned, an ultra mount is a must. I also added the in-line fab handle, it is a great upgrade IMO
 
Myself and multiple others I know have issues with shoulder bumping consistency with the Forster Co-Ax. Thought it was either my technique or maybe my die, but a friend who just "upgraded" his press to the Co-Ax all of a sudden started having the same issue. He's been reaching out, and lo and behold, a bunch of his shooting contacts have been reporting the same thing.

Going to replace the floating jaws with a shell holder to see if that mitigates the issue.

Other than that, I like the press.
 
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