New (to me) Forster Co-Ax

[EchoDeltaSierra]

Just got my Inline Fabrication mounting plates and accessories for the Forster Co-Ax press bought from @Clans1971. The new (to me) press is setups and ready to use for loading my 300 pieces of match brass. Everything setup wonderfully less my RCBS bullet puller die... that’ll need to be replaced with either a Forster or Hornady.

 

[EchoDeltaSierra]

Crap... it’d help if I wouldn’t have deleted my quesiton before I clicked “post”.

For those using this press, are there any tips or tricks worth sharing? I do notice that my RCBS collet bullet puller won’t work with this press and am looking at either the Hornady or Forster equivalent.

Anything else that might be worth considering? Thanks in advance.

 

[antithesis]

Tip: Go buy a decent kinetic puller and use the anvil on your bench vise or get a cheap vise/anvil to use with the puller. Way faster, and if it has a piece of foam in the tip you won't even mark up a single bullet.

This is the best puller I have ever used: https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0003802031/deluxe-bullet-puller-with-4-collets-(kinetic)

As for the press, it is straight forward. If you did not get the instructions you can download them from Forster. The wear plate must go in in a specific direction, and keep the wear side against the jaws (brass holders). If your jaw housing is the older model without the posts that hold the springs in place, then definitely get the updated housing from Forster.

The priming system is good when you have things just right, and in-op when not. Pockets that are tight tend to not seat fully, and failure to line up the brass properly (even when you use the alignment tool for setup) won't seat properly.

The short handle is all that is needed.

The quality of the rings on the dies matter. They must be completely fat on the top and square to the die or you could end up with concentricity problems. Most rings are good, but it is still worth mentioning. If you use a split ring, rotate your die until the split is facing forwards. You don't need to lock the die in with the set screw, just make sure it is snug enough that the die has resistance when getting put in and taken out. When using the press, don't go to fast or the die may walk on you a little and cause the case mouth to catch the bottom of the die on the way up.

Great presses. Enjoy.

 

[Milo 2.5]

I'd keep whatever press you have so you can run whatever bullet puller you have.

 

[spife7980]

Crap... it’d help if I wouldn’t have deleted my quesiton before I clicked “post”.

For those using this press, are there any tips or tricks worth sharing? I do notice that my RCBS collet bullet puller won’t work with this press and am looking at either the Hornady or Forster equivalent.

Anything else that might be worth considering? Thanks in advance.

If you already have the rcbs puller it can work. The rcbs has a hex nut and I stick a, 3 mm I think, Allen wrench in beside it and that stops it from spinning. If you’re buying one then yes, hornady all the way. But if you already have the rcbs it’s not the end of the world.

 

[EchoDeltaSierra]

I'd keep whatever press you have so you can run whatever bullet puller you have.

Having upgraded to an Inline Fab mounting system, I’m inclined to keep my rock chucker and get a play for that. She’s loaded many thousands of rounds of good precision ammo. I’m also planning to get a decent vice since there’s a mounting plate available for that.

 

[Milo 2.5]

Having upgraded to an Inline Fab mounting system, I’m inclined to keep my rock chucker and get a play for that. She’s loaded many thousands of rounds of good precision ammo. I’m also planning to get a decent vice since there’s a mounting plate available for that.

I kept a T-7 just for this, maybe decap some cases too.

 

[One1Bravo]

I use the RCBS collet puller die on my CoAx without any issues or special set up. What issue are you having?

 

[spife7980]

I use the RCBS collet puller die on my CoAx without any issues or special set up. What issue are you having?

The rcbs screws in until it stops and the forster allows it to rotate endlessly.

 

[One1Bravo]

The rcbs screws in until it stops and the forster allows it to rotate endlessly.

Mine has a handle on top to tighten. I just tighten it before I put the die in then lower the handle and use my other hand to open half of the shell holder.

 

[spife7980]

This is what my rcbs puller set up looks like in a coax with the Allen wrench jamming the hexnut from spinning.

So you’re saying that you assemble it all outside of the press and then stick it into the press to pull?

 

[One1Bravo]

This is what my rcbs puller set up looks like in a coax with the Allen wrench jamming the hexnut from spinning.
View attachment 7057048

So you’re saying that you assemble it all outside of the press and then stick it into the press to pull?

Yup. Tighten the collet on the bullet outside the press. Put the die in the press, lower handle while holding half of the shell holder open, once the case makes contact let the shell holder grab and then I can push the handle up and pull the bullet.