Most of you use it for rifle reloading and a small portion use it for pistol. This is what concerns me I only reload three pistol calibers; such as: 44 Mag, 45 ACP and 45 AR. In the years past I have owned a RCBS RC, RCBS Partner single stage presses. I have a brand new in the box Forster Co Ax press with the short handle and several other options for the press. Did I over buy? Would I be happier with something else? At this point the only other press that interests me is the Redding T-7 turret press. I am open for suggestions
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Foster Co Ax Press
- Thread starter Tmitch
- Start date
My first press was a Rockchucker and after several years moved on to the Forster. I can't imagine a better single stage press. You got the short handle so I'd say you are ready to go for any pistol reloading. I usually do 400 to 500 9mm at a time but spread it out over a couple of days. Progressives are just a different animal, not interested for my purposes.
I have a CoAx and only reload pistol. Like you, I'm new and have only reloaded .45 Colt. Just got dies for 9mm and will start that.
No doubt there are other great presses out there. Redding T-7 is one. After using a friend's setup and then reloading on my CoAx, I am thoroughly convinced I made the right decision. Smooth as glass. Johnnie Walker Blue.
You did not over buy. Enjoy driving your Lamborghini.
No doubt there are other great presses out there. Redding T-7 is one. After using a friend's setup and then reloading on my CoAx, I am thoroughly convinced I made the right decision. Smooth as glass. Johnnie Walker Blue.
You did not over buy. Enjoy driving your Lamborghini.
If you think you will ever shoot rifle, that's where it will shine. For pistol, since the precision of handguns is typically around a fifth that of rifles, the advantages in cartridge alignment over a more conventional press will be harder to discern on paper (though I can think of a couple of examples that go against that). There are a couple of areas in which it will still be advantageous over the presses you've already had, though. One is the die quick change. It literally takes no more time to change a die than putting a case in the shell holder. If you are used to having to unscrew and screw in a die ever time you change it, this will seem like real breath of fresh air.
Another is the priming tool built into the Co-ax press. For high reliability priming it is hard to beat. The one-at-a-time aspect of it is slower than most most people loading for handguns will put up with, but that's because of the volume of ammunition they are shooting. It sets the bridge on primers optimally for sensitivity and reliable ignition, and that helps accuracy if you are shooting match grade guns.
The Co-ax's simple spent primer drop tube and jar captures primer dust better than any other presses I have.
To your question: did you over-buy? Well, maybe. Do you really need a press like this to load good handgun ammo, no. But will it make highest reliability and highest accuracy ammo, yes. Will it be quicker and more convenient than a screw-in-die single stage press, yes.
So I think it comes down to the quantity and type of shooting you do. If accuracy and reliability are a main purpose and you are not producing and shooting hundreds of rounds a week, it may be a reasonable choice. But if you are producing hundreds rounds a week, you will probably be happier with the time you save using a progressive press. I don't think you'll find the non-indexing turret presses especially faster than the Co-ax press. I own an old Lyman turret that I have to index manually, and I always wound up batch processing with it anyway because putting cases in and out of the shell holder seemed quicker and easier than rotating the turret. The newer Lee turret press with auto indexing would be better, but I figure that if volume is your purpose, go progressive and get a completed round with each handle stroke instead of four. YMMV.
Another is the priming tool built into the Co-ax press. For high reliability priming it is hard to beat. The one-at-a-time aspect of it is slower than most most people loading for handguns will put up with, but that's because of the volume of ammunition they are shooting. It sets the bridge on primers optimally for sensitivity and reliable ignition, and that helps accuracy if you are shooting match grade guns.
The Co-ax's simple spent primer drop tube and jar captures primer dust better than any other presses I have.
To your question: did you over-buy? Well, maybe. Do you really need a press like this to load good handgun ammo, no. But will it make highest reliability and highest accuracy ammo, yes. Will it be quicker and more convenient than a screw-in-die single stage press, yes.
So I think it comes down to the quantity and type of shooting you do. If accuracy and reliability are a main purpose and you are not producing and shooting hundreds of rounds a week, it may be a reasonable choice. But if you are producing hundreds rounds a week, you will probably be happier with the time you save using a progressive press. I don't think you'll find the non-indexing turret presses especially faster than the Co-ax press. I own an old Lyman turret that I have to index manually, and I always wound up batch processing with it anyway because putting cases in and out of the shell holder seemed quicker and easier than rotating the turret. The newer Lee turret press with auto indexing would be better, but I figure that if volume is your purpose, go progressive and get a completed round with each handle stroke instead of four. YMMV.
oldreloader
New member
What flashole said.
I graduated from Lee's whack-a-mole hammer kit to a Co-Ax when I found one for a good price. I use it for all of my modest reloading (4 rifle calibers, 2 pistols). I've got nothing but good results out the ammo I make, but when I want to get serious about freshening up my supply of pistol ammunition, it takes some motivation. Personally, I've been looking at the Redding T-7 to do pistol calibers on, and only doing rifles on the Co-Ax. Single stage pistol reloading is not fun for me. YMMV though.
bbqncigars
New member
My Co-Ax is my first press that was purchased with scarce funds from my paper route back in the sixties. It still gets a lot of use, but mass reloading gets handled by my Hornady AP.