Today's video covers what I belive are the BEST Forster Co-ax press accessories. if you would like to contact us reach out via email @ justinatkmo@gmail.com
Nice job with the video. I have been reloading for 40 years and I just purchased the forester press. I am waiting for it to be delivered. Thanks for the tips they will come in handy.
100% agree it is a phenomenal single stage press. The floating Die design is precision on point. I have noticed that some F-class and PRC shooters use this press and these guys deal with precision down to the thousands of an inch or less. I ordered extra Forster locking rings for my other dies that came with different ones because as far as I know Forster recommends to use their locking rings due to the perfect fit (No Slop) which insures precision. You obviously can use other locking rings such as the ones that come with Redding dies but I dont recommend them because the locking set screw drives into the threads on the die. I also agree the long handle is well..a little too long but ensures plenty of torque on the down stroke. I am thinking about making my own shorter handle with a wooden dowel and wood knob just for the sake of a classic contemporary look. I use bar clamps or Quick Grip wood clamps to mount mine to my table, I dont have a solid work bench so this method seems to work ok. I was debating on making a wooden mounting plate but the clamps hold rather well for now. I dont think the wife would appreciate holes drilled into the kitchen table lol. Nice review and thanks for info on the extra accessories.
Cool, thanks...I just bought my Forster COAX, be here in a few days and I do a lot of aluminum fabrication, so I'm thinking to make a stand. Being my first reloader, if I were to make a stand, what width & height would you other reloaders consider and if a sitting station is preferred, what type of chair should I think of using? Thanks for advice...
This is one of those “measure twice cut once” things. Decide first whether you will sit or stand, that’s key. If standing you have more latitude, but need a taller mount. If sitting to me the standard coax handle is high, so I put the press flush to the bench on an inline fab QD plate. A Classic Cast Lee right next to it sits shorter, so I put it on an Inline Fab 4” Ultramount. Dan at Inline fab makes mounts from 4” to 7” to 9” to 12” I think, one should work for you unless you make your own, but those are good heights depending on your preferences and the press. Remember the coax is higher than most presses. A Dillon 550B at another higher bench is on tall Dillon strong mounts which I really like, so I pretty much stand there on a standing pad. At the bench where I sit I shopped around and bought the Stanley proto stool, which was the best I could find. I’m big and tall, and it has a foot ring, back support, and is height adjustable. It cost more, but was probably the single best investment I could make for comfort. Good luck! 🙏
Hey, beautiful job brother! I have a high bench so mounted mine using the Inline Fab QD flush mount plate to the bench. Inline also sells a two bin bracket system very much like your setup, but I don’t really have the space to dedicate the bins like that on each side. So I mounted bins to the left front of the bench instead to keep my work space clear. I also have the KMS 2 light and love it, an Inline Fab short roller handle which honestly I think you’d appreciate because at 6” it’s just a slight bit longer than the short Forster ball but you don’t have to shift your hand to use it, and the Badeau links which are the best. One question, what is the finish on your links? It looks much blacker than mine. He used to make them unfinished, then later did a black nitride finish, but yours look almost painted. (?). I was thinking of having mine hot blued but the finish still looks OK. The final upgrade to mine was a Manzgear shell plate. It has 4 adjustable springs rather than the Forster 2, is a fraction thicker so can never bend or distort, and is nice work. One thing: since the Manzgear plate is a fraction thicker, the Badeau links were allowing the press to contact the shell plate screws. Josh actually sent me some standoffs for the link stops, but I was able to fix the problem by taking the shell plate mounting screws down maybe 3/32nds with a slack belt grinder and then cold bluing them. Turned out great, so both the upgraded plate and Badeau links can work together. I envy your ability to work with metal to make the mount, I don’t have a welder or the means to use more than a hacksaw and drills, so rely on Dan at Inline Fab for my mounts. Ok, sorry for the long post, but this is a point of interest. P.S. Something I do with my three presses (a Dillon 550B and a Lee Classic Cast as well) is run a tube from the primer output to a large plastic jar on the ground. I throw a couple of 1 lb lead ingots at the bottom of each. They have to be emptied once every 10 years or so 😉. Thanks again for the look at your work! 👍🙏
Wow, awesome comment. Sounds like you have in incredible setup! Honestly I have no idea the finish on the arms, it appears he stopped selling them shortly after I got mine, I'm not sure why or if he ever returned to selling them.
@@PracticallySquared1 Thanks, I was just wondering it they look painted like the original Forster straight links (they do in your light which is why I asked), or have a dark "browned" nitrided look where the metal is darkened, and you can still make it out underneath? I think Josh mostly did the latter because it's fast and gives good rust protection to the metal while allowing the clips to move freely. Dan at Inline Fab does sell his own curved links, but he has this triangle stop in the middle that gives you a bit less room than the Badeau links. I'm glad I picked them up at the time. You should be proud of that custom mount for your Forster!
I was also wondering about the quick release parts how they work and if they are worth it. Also if you can use rcbs dies and rings with this press or do you have to by the rings that are specific to the forester press and use them on the rcbs dies. Thanks
What quick release parts? As far as RCBS dies and lock rings, you can use them however there's a good bit of slop. I used a set of RCBS 308 dies with the factory lock rings but ended up switching them too over. Personally I like using the Hornady lock rings. You can get 6 packs on Amazon for around $20 and they fit well. Still have some wiggle (which is how the press is designed) but are solid. I switch all my dies (except forster) over to the Hornady lock rings when I use them on this press. Forster lock rings of course work great but the Hornady is a little better imo and cheaper in the bulk packs.
There is no way that would work for me. It is already too high for me with a standard height bench, and Forster includes a built in mount for the press anyway.
I generally stand to load. If it doesn't fit your needs then don't do it. I tried to stress in the video all the upgrades were not entirely needed. God bless.
