Got one of these in an estate sale. Was old enough it was labeled "Bonanza" in the casting vs forster. I rebuilt it and powder coated to make her look new. I love that dang thing.
I bought mine back in 2005. I use this press more than any other press. It's the fastest press I've ever used. Make sure you buy a pack Forster lock rings for your dies.
I loaded for years on an old RCBS partner press and was happy w the results, until I bought my Co-ax and saw an immediate improvement in accuracy in my rifles! It wasn’t a huge difference but it was measurable. My .308 went from shooting half inch groups to shooting in the .3-.4 range. My shooting is the limiting factor most likely. Now I am working on my Dillon 550 to get it more consistent.
I've had my Co-Ax for about seven years, I love the nearly perfect ammo that it produces, and the crazy small groups that ammo makes. The thing Iblike the most is the self centering achieved from the shell holder floating in the x axis and the die floating in the y axis. I don't bother to check run-out any more. FL size, neck turn, load, shoot, bushing size/bump size, wash, rinse, repeat. Hope you enjoy your Co-Ax.
Have been reloading .44 magnums & .38 spl with my forester for about 6 months and really enjoy working with this great piece of equipment. Yes it might be slower than other presses but it works for me. Thanks for the video.
I enjoyed watching your reviews of the Co=Ax and the Mec Bushmaster. Do you have a preference for one or the other? Also, are Mighty Armory dies usable in the Co-Ax?
Great channel....subbed and just purchased this press from Scheels they were only ones that had them in stock. I am a newbie to reloading and starting to gather up all the necessary accessories...super excited to start reloading I need a hobby that will allow me to shoot more 😀
I like everyone having quality reviews. What many don’t elaborate on is the fact that the CO-AX press has been around for years. It was originally manufactured by Bonanza before they were purchased by Forster in 1984. I have owned mine for 40 years. Nothing really new guys!
Curious: Please excuse me if you have another video that goes over you bench. I’d love a link. I would like to know what you did to your bench to build the rail system for the mounts. The concept seems well thought out to be able to slide your mounts for the presses left and right on your bench.
yes i would also like to see this comparison, what is a more accurate reloading press, assume this would also depend on the Die and would need to both use the same, it would also be good to extend this to a Die comparison as well, LE Wilson v Forster etc cheers.
Interested to see how it works for you. I've had one for about a year now and have produced the most concentric and accurate ammo of my life with it (using Redding dies) for multiple calibers, but namely 6.5 creedmoor. Looking forward to your loading/shooting/review. :)
One of the best things you can get for the Co-Ax is a jaw plate upgrade made by "Manzgear". He has a video on youtube about them. Good to deal with and well made. You start swapping jaws with springs popping out of the original plate, remember this. Another worthy upgrade is the short handle sold by Forster. Forster die rings work best with Co-Ax. Hornady steel rings work, they are thinner. This allows some vertical die movement when using but works without issue.
You will love it. Only advise I have is really pay attention to your dies for bumping magnum cartridges. Depending on the brand the dies will bottom out on base of press before bumping the neck.
Nice press, really interesting design. Can't see using it seated though, considering how much you had to move out of the way of each stroke while operating it. Food for thought. Thanks for the video.
So for once fired brass, would a good strategy be to get a cheap depriming die and deprime all the brass, clean the brass and then use the Forster Micrometer sizing die to size the brass? Just trying to keep dirty brass away from the nice forester dies while having the cleanest brass
Hey Gavin great video! Got a question; I use Forster Ultra Micrometer Seater Dies with all my calibers and was wondering how well it works on Co-Ax press specific to micro seating adjustments. On my Lee Classic Cast, the die is locked down and easy to turn the dial when making those .0005 adjustments. So how do you hold the die when turning the dial? Thanks, Tom
Gavin (or anyone else that reads this post), wanted to know if there was any issues with this press and the micrometer knob when pulling the handle forward? I've seen on another webpage that some of these style dies will not clear the handle when pulling forward...thanks. Reloading the following: 300 Wthby, 300 Norma, 300 Win Mag, 28 Nosler, 257 Wthby (probably not an issue with this one), and 7mm Rem Mag
I'm still partial to the MEC, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on a comparison as you start using the Forster. Also, seems like the primer function on the Forster is pretty crude or "kludge-y", I hope you can focus on that also, probably a full video could be done just on that alone! Thanks.
Nice! I've been following your videos for a few years now and always look forward to what you're going to show off next. I started out reloading with a Loadmaster and was super disappointed until your review of the RCBS Pro2000, which is what I use every weekend now.
I'm seriously considering buying this press but i'm not sure if the price is worth for what i am loading. I'm currently loading for hunting and to do some long distance shooting just for fun, nothing competitive. Anyone still recomend this press or would i be better off looking at a different press for a lower price? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Every review of this press is all PROs. What are the CONs? I load small lots of multiple semi auto rifle Cartriges, BAR Magnums, wilcats, obsolete rounds, etc. I work the single stage pretty hard but in small quanities. This looks perfect, but i have never pulled the trigger as thaey are always out of stock.
Mr. Gavin I thought this would be good as any video to ask but I'm 15 and have been reloading for a year now since the beginning of last summer and I bought my second 9mm a G19 2 days ago I already reload for it but was wondering what other loadings and new and interesting bullets you could come up with thanks!
I would experiment with various bullet weights (115gr, 124gr, 147gr) and see how you like the performance. What are your goals with 9mm? What will you be using your loads for?
gavintoobe Thanks! For replying back! Anything that you have lying on the shelf DON'T go buy anything unless you have videos planned already. I'm just looking for more 9mm content I've watched a lot of course not all of it but I like your videos and how your straight to it. I am mainly shooting at paper and hopefully in the future some steel I've got a load for missouri bullet company 115 parebellum (don't know how to spell that one) using 3.7 grains of tite group don't know the seating depth. I wouldn't mind really light loads or even heavy for cougar I live in Missouri and while nobody believes cougars are here yet we have seen tracks on our property and my dad doesn't like when I go down tho the lower ground without something too shoot them with if it came to that thanks again hope I answered your questions!
When you see this rudimentary packaging with almost no protection, it really does not give an image of seriousness, especially compared to other brands, it is even a contempt for the customer.
There's something awkward about the press handle being centered over the press. Standing directly in front of a press placing and removing casings but having to shift your head and body out of the way with each stroke seems cumbersome and unnatural. Watch as the resizing starts at 7:33 , with each press stroke you have to lean off to the side then center up to the press to remove the casing. Rocking back and fourth like this would get old at about 50 casings. Poor design for the user.
The pressure needed on the stroke is so minimal that I don't even use the handle extension except occaisionaly for resizing of very large brass cases. It is very comfortable to use sitting down and after removing the handle.
its worth it for the precision reloader chasing concentricity and runnout improvements. If you're on a serious budget like me they can be had often for 200 bucks used. I got mine for 100 bucks, (bonanza version) at a garage sale.
I love my Redding Big Boss II, but this is a totally different animal. Leverage, priming system, universal shellplate, quick change die slot. Very little in common :)
I have a rcbs supreme and a Redding big boss 2 , the big boss is my favorite but I think I'll add a Forster to the lineup to see if it really is all that much better.
