Forster Co-Ax or Turret press

[Jeff423]

Is there any difference in the speed of reloading between these two? It seems like it would take the same # of handle pulls.
Although on the Forster you would need to perform one operation on all the cases and then move on to the next operation. On the turret you could do all the steps and then move in to the next cartridge. But is there much of a difference in time?
I do realize that on a single stage press time is not the most important consideration.

 

[rockquarry]

Is there any difference in the speed of reloading between these two? It seems like it would take the same # of handle pulls.
Although on the Forster you would need to perform one operation on all the cases and then move on to the next operation. On the turret you could do all the steps and then move in to the next cartridge. But is there much of a difference in time?
I do realize that on a single stage press time is not the most important consideration.

I've been using a Texan Turret and a Co-Ax for more than forty years. Same number of pulls on the handle, but the turret is a little faster as you can leave the shell in the shellholder for all the steps you choose to do at one time. Example: size a case, turn the turret, then bell the case.

I've never loaded handgun ammo on my Co-Ax, only rifle, but it can be used for handgun cartridges. I use the turret press for handgun cartridges, but it will also work for rifle ammo.

 

[mikerjf]

Count handle pulls *and* the number of times you have to handle the case. Makes the comparison more accurate.

 

[Imissedagain]

Depending on caliber and purpose, the most accurate press, of those two, would be my choice.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I Started on a Lyman All American Turret press, "Good Enough" accurate. Best Friend has an 80s/90s massive Lyman that is hammer tone grey. It is M=1 A match accurate. I replaced the "Good Enough" Lyman with a Redding T-7 in the late 90s. Accuracy is better than I or my rifles can shoot at 1000 yards! (3" @ 1000 is .3 MOA) and a 200 yards: less than .1 MOA.

A Forrester Tru-line will do better than you at any distance!

BEWARE of FRANKFORT ARSENAL TRU-LINE PRESSES!

Ivan

 

[Jeff423]

Thanks for the above. Yesterday I found an almost brand new Lyman 8 station turret at a price I couldn't resist. I bought it (even though I've got a Forster) because I've never used a turret press. I currently load pistol rounds on a progressive and rifle on the Co-Ax so I didn't need this press but couldn't pass it up. I'm trying to decide what to use it for?
I only load one rifle caliber so I don't need it for that, but maybe a less used pistol cartridge - .44wc or 185 gr .45acp?

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

My 5' long loading bench has a RCBS Rock Chucker on the left end for "Utility" work. A Dillon 550 in the middle and the Redding T-7 on the right end. Had it that way for 10 years, had it that way for 10 years now.

The T-7 has 308 win, 338 Lapua, and 22 BR dies in it for about 7 years now, because that's the "good stuff" I've been shooting. Having a utility press allows small batch, experimental batches or even bullet pulling without disturbing a die set that you'll be using again soon.

My Rock Chucker has the Hornady L-N-L bushing in it. That allows quick changing of preset dies. Your Forrester, dose that using by gripping the lock ring.

A friend uses a Forrester to load all his precision ammo for BR shoots and Prairie Dog hunts!

Ivan

Ivan

 

[GypsmJim]

I probably waste a lot of time reloading. Nevertheless, in 55 years of pursuing the hobby I can only account for a single bad round.

I inspect every case after certain steps, I clean primer pockets and I always inspect to ensure it has a full powder charge. I also load 28 different calibers, so whatever press I use must have the dies installed and adjusted when I switch calibers.

Personally, a turret press does not fit into my regimen, and a progressive eliminates some of my safety steps. I DO use 2 single stage presses, one to flare/charge and the second to seat/crimp. That way the case never leaves my hand. Easy peasy.

 

[rockquarry]

I probably waste a lot of time reloading. Nevertheless, in 55 years of pursuing the hobby I can only account for a single bad round.

I inspect every case after certain steps, I clean primer pockets and I always inspect to ensure it has a full powder charge. I also load 28 different calibers, so whatever press I use must have the dies installed and adjusted when I switch calibers.

Personally, a turret press does not fit into my regimen, and a progressive eliminates some of my safety steps. I DO use 2 single stage presses, one to flare/charge and the second to seat/crimp. That way the case never leaves my hand. Easy peasy.

Certainly nothing wrong with your loading tools or methods. Speed of production is not as important as making good quality ammo.

 

[jcelect]

SPEED??????????????????

Speed is not a term that should be associated with reloading! Reloading is an endeavor that should be accomplished in solitude with no distractions! That's, no TV, no Cell phone, no visitors, with total attention to the task of producing a quality round! I have an old Herters 6 hole turret with 270, 243, and 30-06 dies installed(never moved). Herters presses require a different type shell holder and all three calibers require the same shell holder so nothing needs to be changed when switching calibers and or processes. Next is a Dillon 550 w/13 blocks and dies of different calibers of hand guns! I also have an old Herters single station press for operations that require task or special die for limited use. Please note, once my dies have been adjusted for a caliber they are never moved, and the only adjustment needed is bullet seating. In regard to "time spend" at the reloading bench, my time is better spent in the reloading process not in changing dies and making adjustments for each step of making a quality round!
jcelect

 

[H Richard]

My first press (and I still use it sometimes), is a Texan turret press. Same number of pulls, just the convenience of leaving all the dies in the press ans easily switching from one to the other. My Texan is Accurate, and I have built all my match loads, and my long range loads on it. My 22-250's will go into a 1/4" at 100 yds, and take Prairie Dogs out to 500 yds.

 

[sinister]

I have both a Forster Co-Ax and a Redding T-7.

I'm never selling the Forster.

I'll make you a good deal on the T-7.

 

[Jeff423]

I have both a Forster Co-Ax and a Redding T-7.

I'm never selling the Forster.

I'll make you a good deal on the T-7.

I agree about the Forster. I'm still evaluating the Lyman 8 station.

 

[SS336]

I have had a Co-Ax since the mid 70’s. I reload for both rifle and pistol cartridges and it really does a good job on both.
Not the fastest, but I batch reload so it hasn’t been a problem. It reloads very accurate rifle ammo and for my purposes it is fast enough for pistol. If I was in the need for faster reloading for pistol cartridges I would opt for a Dillon.
The snap in dies makes it as fast as a turret press I think. I don’t think you could go wrong with either one. Both quality presses that should last a lifetime.

 

[Jeff423]

I really like the Forster. Especially the fact that you don't need shell holders. For short runs I also use it's priming system.
Today I was experimenting with the Lyman and it for resizing .44 mag. brass. It seemed like the Forster required less handle pressure than the Lyman even though the Lyman had a longer handle.
I will say Lyman customer service is very good. They are sending me free replacement primer parts even though I bought a used press.

 

[sinister]

Forster now has Josh Badou speed links -- they open up platform access to speed up getting cases in and out:

A travel limiter screw also shortens your handle stroke if you're processing and loading pistol rounds:

 

[Jeff423]

I saw those on their website and ordered a set on Monday.

 

[SS336]

Forster now has Josh Badou speed links -- they open up platform access to speed up getting cases in and out:

I like this idea, it would definitely make load cartridges easier. Sometimes my hand will bump the link and spill the powder.
I have added a couple of improvements to mine over the years. Later primer head and the captured spring shell holder.

 

[DWalt]

I have used a Ponsness Warren P-200 press for many years, and it is my favorite. It is a manual turret press, but the turret remains fixed. What moves is the shell holder. Another nice feature is you can have two sets of dies mounted on the same turret, say, .38 Special and .45 ACP. You just rotate the turret 180 degrees, plus change the shell holder, to change dies. Saves a lot of time. I use it only for handgun rounds, but it would probably work OK for smaller/shorter rifle calibers such as .223. A powder measure can be attached to the turret plate, but for safety's sake I prefer to charge powder as a separate off-press operation so I can visually inspect the powder level in each charged case before bullet seating.

 

[pmhayden]

I have a RCBS Rockchucker for rifle/resizing, and a Harrell’s turret press for pistol priming, flare, seating, crimp. My previous turret was a Lyman T-Mag2. I bought the Harrell’s turret because the Lyman ram seemed off center. But in retrospect, I suspect the press was fine but for large manufacturing tolerances - the spring clip holding the shell holder was pushing the shell holder over. Try replacing the shell holder spring clip with a rubber ring from the hardware store. I ended up doing the same to the Harrell’s turret. No matter how precisely built the press, there is enough variances in shell holder feet from different makers. The ram has some tolerance built into the shell holder slot, and the spring clip applies pressure to one point. The shell holder will self-center if you let it. The Lyman seems to have more slack built into it than the RCBS.


That said, I do like the Harrell’s turret for pistol. No point in dying with money in the bank.