Thread: Forster Co-Ax press

Has anyone out there used one of the Forster Co-Ax presses for reloading?

I am noticing more and more that my brass after re-sizing is not straight, and I think that this press might cure that problem. It's kind of expensive to just go out and buy one without doing a little research. I've watched a couple of the youtube videos on it, but would like some first hand experience from someone before I buy one. Or are there any other tricks to alleviate the problem of crooked brass. My problem seems to be random, some cases come out pretty straight, others wobble like crazy when I chuck them up in the Lee case trimmer.

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.

I use the Lee universal holder, one with the jaws, and often need to spin the case or open and close the jaws a few times before the case is seated properly. Do you have a way to check concentricity?
Perhaps try chucking one up and spin before you size it and then again after you size to see if there is a difference.

What press are using now?
What brand dies?

I am currently using a Redding Big Boss II press and Redding dies. The Lee trimmer I use is the caliber specific one that I chuck in a cordless drill. I have tried to spin test before and after sizing, it seems completely random. I've even made sure the shell holder on the press is in the same orientation during these tests. The caliber/case size dosen't seem to have anything to do with it as I get similar results weather I'm doing handgun cases short rifle case or long rifle cases. It's perplexing to say the least.

If all you are going by is the wobble while using the lee trimmer, I wouldn't worry about it.

Lee is not known for tight tolerences. Have you simply rolled the case on a table top?
I think the Lee holder is your weak link.

Have you seperated the wobblers from the good ones? Then go ahead and load them exactly the same, is there a difference in accuracy? After all, accuracy is the name of the game.

Good luck,
Ray

Originally Posted by padd54

If all you are going by is the wobble while using the lee trimmer, I wouldn't worry about it.

Lee is not known for tight tolerences. Have you simply rolled the case on a table top?
I think the Lee holder is your weak link.

Have you seperated the wobblers from the good ones? Then go ahead and load them exactly the same, is there a difference in accuracy? After all, accuracy is the name of the game.

Good luck,
Ray

I know that Lee isn't known for "precision" as their name would imply, I just thought the randomness of the cases wobbling in the case trimmer was unsettling. I don't see it affecting accuracy wich is strange now that you mention it. Maybe I'm trying to fix a problem that dosen't exist?

If the accuracy isn't affected, then I probably shouldn't worry about it right? I guess it's more annoying than anything (the wobble). When I am prepping my brass I usually full length size then chuck them up in the case trimmer. First step is to trim to length, then while the case is still in the chuck I'll inside and outside deburr the case mouth, and finally I'll deburr the inside of the primer flash hole. Once all this is done then I uniform the primer pockets. The annoying wobble sometimes causes the case to jump out of the chuck while performing these functions. I thought that the wobbly cases were not only annoying, but a symptom of a larger problem with the press, sizing die or press shellholder? I guess I worry to much...

The Forster Co-Ax is certainly a fine press but probably not necessary.

The Lee trimmer case turning tool is not a good way to check concentricity of a case. If there is the slightest burr on the head of the case it will cock it in the tool giving the illusion of a crooked case.

If concentricity is a concern, I would first check a finished cartridge on a concentricity gauge like the Hornady. If you have an issue then take a look at your sizing die(s). When a case is sized the case is squeezed back to original size and the case neck is undersized. When extracting the case from the die the expander then forced the brass outward to a finished dimension of .002"-.003" smaller than the bullet diameter. When this expander is being pulled out it can actually make the case neck "crooked". The "ball" will follow the side of the case neck that is thinnest/weakest. Some dies use a more tapered expander which keeps the case neck straighter. Surprisingly enough, the Lee Collet Die is among the best for making straight cases if you are neck sizing only. It forms the case neck around a mandrel rather than "squishing" the case neck then pulling an expander back through to get the right size. For regular full length sizing dies improper lube of the case neck can cause problems. If the expander drags unequally on the sides of the neck a crooked case can result.

The above also makes a good argument for Case Neck Turning and annealing.

In summary, I wouldn't jump on another press yet, I'd check first to see if I really had a problem by checking the finished ammo for run-out.