Decided it was time to clean up the bench and reorganize. After boxing up some of the older items wouldn't you know it but now I have some extra room to upgrade my primary press.

I was all set to buy a CoAx when a friend mentioned the Corbin press and swaging bullets. After looking at the Corbin for reloading it looks like it is a little more time consuming to set up as compared to the CoAx.

Anybody have any experience with reloading on a Corbin?

As much as I would like to buy one of each, I can't quite justify it now, especially if I can get Corbin to do both reloading and swaging. As I wind the career down I can see myself tinkering with bullets, loads, etc. However, I just haven't read enough to give me a warm & fuzzy on reloading with the Corbin.

FYI - I currently have a green & red single presses, red turrent, and a few oddball extras. The Forster/Corbin will become the primary rifle machine with the red turrent handling the pistol. As time permits, I plan to start shooting competition again (rifle) and want a benchrest caliber press to pursue this. If all goes well and I start shooting alot I'll end getting a Dillon progressive for volume production.

Calibers: .223REM .243REM, .270WIN, .308WIN, .300WINMAG, 30/06SPRFLD, .45ACP, .45 Colt

Thanks
Scott

These are both excellent presses. The Corbin is a screw in the die press like most on the market. The Co-Ax is something of an anomaly of a press having a slide in die it is really quick to change dies.

Lots of competition ammo loaded with both presses. The big plus in the Corbin is you can go from loading to making bullets down the road if you wish. Perhaps that is a plus with ammo prices going thru the roof.

Frankly if I were going to buy a new press to "upgrade" I would get the new Lee Classic four hole turret press, but that's just me. I know my old three hole turret is sure fast to change calibers and quick when making handgun ammo. Course I'm a Lee kind guy. If I were planning on making bullets in the future the Corbin would be my choice hands down as it does it all.

Don't know a thing about the Corbin press, but you'll never get my Co-Ax away from me! :D

The Corbin S-press is very well made, but a bit of a compromise for cartridge reloading with only 2" clearance between the press rods (i.e. the width of the opening in the press). IMHO, the CSP2 is a better press, but is much more costly. A similar design from RCE is the Walnut hill, and it is much more cost effective.

However, I have a co-ax, and it is a very fine press, one of the best designed and built reloading presses available. The design of the press is, in a way, similar to that of the guided ram on the CSP2 and Walnut Hill, but with a more convenient & accurate, floating die retention system, much better handling of spent primers/debris, and automatic shell holder jaws. I also prefer the over-the-top lever motion.

Andy

Bob,
Believe it or not but my current "red turrent" is a Lee 3 holer - it is a good press. I had actually considered the Lee Breech Lock challenger, however, as luck would have it I had a good run last year and ended up with a few extra pennies to spend - which had me looking at the CoAx.


Andy,
I had heard of similar comments you brought up on the Corbin - bullet maker 1st and bullet loader 2nd - whereas the CoAx is a loader period. This just kind of backs up what I've read also.


Andy and kdub,
Do you find any particular die sets (Lee, RCBS, Hornaby, etc.) are better or worse in the CoAx?

Do you prime your cases with the CoAx - or do you pre-prime with another press or by hand?
**they (Forster) seem to make a big point on the the priming process ...

With inline / over the top handle - do you find the CoAx works better mounted in the middle of the bench or at a corner?

I appreciate the input.

Thanks
Scott

My Co-Ax is mounted in the corner of my "L" workbench.

Only problem with some dies is the locking ring that doesn't want to fit too well in the recess of the Co-Ax. You can buy extra Forster die lock rings, which I do and replace those with hex designs, such as the RCBS. All brands of dies work well in the Co-Ax, with that exception.

I deprime brass with a Lee depriming die and tend to prime with either a Lee or RCBS handheld priming tool. On ocassion I will use the priming tool mounted on top of the Co-Ax, but usually leave the adjustable shell holder device set for a certain case that is common for several cartridges. Sort of a hassle readjusting and singly loading the priming ram all the time.

The one factor that really sets the Co-Ax apart from all the other presses is the ability to "float" the die in the press and the universal shell holder arrangement. You can also use regular shell holders is desired, but that isn't necessary with the Co-Ax equipment. My loading ranges from the tiny .22 Hornet to the large rimmed 45-70 and the press handles all with ease.

I have a CO-AX and I love it. Unlike many people, I don't like priming by hand with one of the many hand tools. I use the priming system on the CO-AX press and I really like it. I believe the spent primer system on the CO-AX is better too.

I prime with an RCBS Universal hand primer. The co-ax primer seating system is very good; I just don't like handling individual primers.

The only lock rings that I know of that absolutely will not work are Lee and Dillon. But Forster and Hornady lock rings work best with it, because they are thicker than most rings, and fit the slot better. Most dies work fine in the co-ax, except for Hornady seating dies with the optional micrometer stem installed (too tall). Users have reported that even the RCBS competition (windowed) micrometer seating dies work with it.

I think any press works best with a little room on both sides of the bench for cartridges before/after the operation (I work left to right).

The I think the spent primer handling on the co-ax is the best available. Several modern conventional presses now offer hollow rams and tubes to direct the spent primer and debris into a catch bottle, etc., but since there is no slot in the ram for a priming arm on the co-ax, and the cartridge is farther away from the ways, there is much less chance of primer debris finding its way into the bearings where it can do damage.

There are a couple of odd-ball cartridges that won't fit in any of the jaws for the coax, but they have a shell holder adapter that works with traditional shell holders for those.

Andy

I prime with the Lee auto-prime and have been for a bunch of years. Like another poster said I don't like handling primers. I deprime with a Lee universal depriming die then tumble clean the cases. Once cleaned and resized they go back into the tumbler for half an hour or so to remove any traces of lube left on the cases. Then their primed, powder measured in and bullets seated.

Here's the way my bench is set up and I end up using both presses a bunch.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/faucettb/Reloading/ReloadingbenchRemodel-40.jpg

I like Lee, but the Co-Ax is an excellent press and a great addition to a reloading bench. Lots of military competition brass is loaded on the Co-Ax. I'd still take a look at the new Lee cast four hole turret press. I got to look at one up at Cabela's last month and it's impressive, plus you can keep all your dies set up in their own turret ready to pop in and load. Turrets are under ten bucks apiece from Midway.

If you read the specs on the Corbin S-1 press they are impressive. Often thought about making my own bullets, but there is a pretty good initial setup expense getting all the equipment to do that. I may change my mind if bullet prices keep going up though. It seems like this stuff should top out somewhere.

Appreciate all the comments and suggestions.

I've decided to go the CoAx route - which leads to two final questions for kdub, Andy, or ldv -
-Can you use the Hornady cam lock bullet puller with the CoAx? it looks a little tight...
-With competition/match type die sets - do you see a major difference between the Forester brand as compared others?

After reading over some of the archives I have decided to expand on my reorganization by rebuilding my loading bench and set up a "dirty" area with one of my single presses to handle depriming and case prep, etc with the clean area to mount the CoAx and Lee turrent - with expansion room to put a Corbin and/or Dillon in the future. I probably won't get finished this year put I'm a lot farther down the road than if I hadn't found this site and your assistance.

Thanks again

regards,
Scott

I use the RCBS collet type bullet puller, as well as the inertia hammer type. Don't know how the Hornady would work. Also, don't own any of the precision mic sizers or seaters, so again, can't advise.

I got one fo the Forster bullet pullers the go in the COAX press. Not a good thing. On the instructions it says "will scratch bullet" Not only that you can't get the bullet out without pliers. I think you are supposed to be able to push the last bullet out with the next one, but mine doesn't work that way. I'd go with the Hornady camlock one. It's supposed to work in the COAX press. Even the collet type of Forster bullet puller says right on the box "Not for use in COAX press"

As for the Forster Benchrest dies, they are very good I have a set for my .222 and they are as good as the best and better that the rest. That being said, I get as good of reloads with Lee dies as anything else.

RJ

The Hornady cam lock bullet puller is a jewel. Had used a RCBS puller for years and an inerta puller for the occassional round. Decided to puller a bunch of FMJ from milsur ammo and got tired of the old puller so went the Hornady route. Gave my old puller to my nephew who just started in the reloading game. With the Hornady you advance the bullet into the collet and cam the lever to lock on the bullet. Lower the ram and when you release the cam the bullet falls from the collet. Easier, faster and causes less bullet damage than the RSBS ever did. You'll never look back if you buy one.

The Hornady cam-lock puller will work in the co-ax, but you have to fiddle with it a bit. Depending on whether you are pulling down short pistol ammo, or longer rifle ammo, the cam-lock lever may need to be behind or in front of the press handle. Once you play around with it, it's not hard to figure out (a lot easier than trying to decipher my description below!)

BTW, the new cam-lock pullers have a lock ring on the screw adjustment for the cam (i.e. the fine adjustment on the cam/collet). This helps a lot, since when the cam-lock lever is positioned behind the press handle, the cam lever needs to be swung around to the side to clear the priming assembly as it comes up behind the puller. The lock ring on the collet/cam adjustment lets you do that easily without changing the collet adjustment. The floating die retention system lets you rotate the whole die freely without affecting the setup. That's also a reason why an RCBS type collet puller would have problems (there's nothing to work against when tightening the collet with the handle on the RCBS type.

The last time I looked, Forster's "superfast" collet pullers were no longer on their website. Those are the only Forster ones that would work on the co-ax. Forster also makes a puller very similar to the RCBS one, with the same issues if you try to use it in the co-ax.

As far as the Forster dies are concerned, they seem to have similar reputation to the Redding competition series, at less cost.

Andy

Love the Co-Ax. Superfast bullet pullers are still on the web-site (just looked)...though I'd give them a call and see if they are still making them. I have Redding and Forester dies ( standard and competion) and I like the Forester more....

The price on Forrester is better as well......

Hope everyone is doing well.....

ldv444,

Where did you find the superfast pullers on their website? They have a picture of them that appears when you mouse over the "Bullet Pullers & Stuck Case Remover" link on the products page, but they are not listed on the corresponding page or in their price list.

Thanks,

Andy

BigJakeJ1s-
Yeah...your right. Comes up on site, but no specific listing. Called Forester and they told me this morning that they have eliminated the puller! They still have some left, but I didn't get into that with them. I can't understand, even if it didn't sell that well, why they would eliminate the pullet designed to work with the only press they make?! Doesn't make sense......

Anyway.......sorry if I confused anyone. Hopefully my follow up this am will clarify things.
Thanks,
LDDV

Hallo to all

I'm new user of this forum, live in Italy and my name is Mauro.
I have one question for all Forster Co-Ax users:
This press work with Redding Competition dies in cal. 308 ????
Sorry but I not found info for this.

Dolphin99-
Yes.......it works fine with Redding Comp dies in 308. My Forester is three years old and I use the Redding Comp Die in 308 with great results. Last year, Forester updated the Co-Ax with a larger yolk handle opening, so the press will now work with all comp dies in all calibers. Hope this helps...

Hallo Idv444,
many thank for reply, my question, because on the site of Sinclair I read these instructions:
"Redding Competition seaters longer than 308 Winchester will not work in this press due to length."

Dolphin99,

Welcome to the forum! Rules are to join in and be polite and not post anything an eight-year-old should not see (we have some young readers).

Sinclair's warning is overly cautious. My Co-ax press must be about as old as my house (16 years) and it works with the .30-06 Redding Competition seater, though that is with it setup near standard SAMMI max to seat the 175 grain Sierra MatchKing for feeding from the Garand. If I set the adjustment out to seat bullets near the lands of a long throat in .30-06, it might well get into conflict with the yoke? It has about 1/8" clearance as it is now.

I also run the .308 and .223 Competition seaters in that press. No issues.

There are many good bullet pullers out there. I expect Forster just decided they didn't want to bother continue tooling up runs to compete in an area that is heavily populated already. Try the Hornady cam puller for something that will work in that press space. By the way, bullet pulling is a great use for an old Challenger press left over from a Lee Anniversary Kit, if you ever had one of those? I was well into reloading long before that kit came out, but I did pick up a Challenger at a gun show years ago just to have for odd tasks like that. It is small and light and can be mounted on a plywood base and clamped to benches and put away in between uses.

ALL-
The last two Sinclair catalogs have stated that the Forester press now accepts all dies. Look at Foresters web site and you will see the same thing. The Co-Ax yolk is now made larger and with a bigger opening. Hope this helps.....................