Best reloading press ??

[James Jones]

Hey their guys , my house is finaly comming back together and it'll soon be time to get my reloading tool picked out so they can be replaced. I have used several presses the RCBS partner and Rock Chucker and a Forster Bonanza in the past all three were lost in the hurricane so I'm looking to replace them with one maybe two new presses and was just wondering what everbody out their was using and if you could change what would you change to ??

 

[Centre Punch]

Hi JD,
glad to hear that your home will soon be finished.
I have a Redding Ultramag press permanantly set up at home and a RCBS reloader Special for my portable set up.

Ian.

 

[MT4XFore]

JD,
I use a Forester Co-Ax and I would never change it. I have used a lot of different ones, and I also have an RCBS A-4 (Big Max) for the really heavy stuff. I am happy with my set-up!
Good luck, and good shooting.
Jim

 

[James Jones]

I realy liked my Co-Ax press I was just wondering if their might be any better ways to go , the biggest rounds I'll ever work with are probably the RUM's and the 378-460 based cases so I realy don't need a monster. its hard to believ that the crazy setup that Forster uses loads such accurate ammo , I have buddies that looked at it and said theirs no way it can load strait ammo thenthey watch me load and then we shoot ?

 

[dawaba]

Your buddies must have Mad Cow Disease.

Bonanza Co-Ax all the way.

 

[kfrye]

How does the Co Ax work with RCBS and Redding dies? I am in the market for a new press, I have loaded for years on my Dads Rock Chucker. But I am torn between the Co Ax and Ultra Mag Press. Anyone have experience with loading a 22-250 case or similar on these presses? Biggest case I would be reloading would be the Ultra Mag/ Weatherby cases. I would ultimately like to have something to cover all of the bases.



Thanks in advance.

Ken

 

[Carl L]

I have two Bonanza CoAx presses, a Hollywood 12 station turret press, a Hollywood single station press, and a Sinclair arbor. The only action the Hollywoods get anymore is for bullet pulling. The RCBS collet bullet puller will not work with the coax. The Sinclair is in a drawer here and never sees any work. With two CoAx presses I do not have to switch the shell holders from large to small and reverse, and take a chance of loosing one of the shell holder coil springs. The presses set side by side on my loading bench and do not interfere with each other when loading...whatever. Also the handles(the coax is a downstroke press) are up and out of the way when not being used. The longest cartridge that I reload is the 30'06. The handle clears those dies with plenty of room to spare. The CoAx works well with Redding, Lyman, RCBS, Forster and CH dies. I have used/owned the CH press, RCBS Rockchucker and other presses of similar construction. For me, the Bonanza CoAx is the best press for my purposes.

 

[Delta Hunter]

I cast my vote in favor of the Co-Ax also. However, you can run into a problem with longer cartridges. Certain dies will not work because the handle will not clear them. The Redding Competition seaters are pretty long and the longest cartridge you can use these for is going to be a .300 Win Mag I believe, but I'm not sure. I use Redding Comp seaters for 7mm Rem Mag and .30-06, but for my .300 Wby Mag I have to use the Forster Ultra Benchrest seater.

 

[jwp475]

I like the dillion 550 or 650,grat customer service and warrenty. David Tubbs loads his match ammo on a Dillion with a couple of modifications.

 

[Centre Punch]

Boomstick,
I bought my Ultramag press initially for loading the 3 1/4" Sharps cases but have loaded down to .222 and many in between including .22-250 with excellent results.
There is also enough leverage to use this press as a swage if you want to make your own bullets.
I highly reccommend it.

Ian

 

[Exhaust3]

Most are posting progressive presses. I recently bought a Lee Classic single stage press. It's all steel construction and large ram and enough leverage to load up to the big 50bmg, it's all business. I am most satisfied w/ mine and won't look at another single stage press. If you are looking at a single stage press that is, otherwise what has been posted should steer you in the right direction.

 

[Delta Hunter]

The Co-Ax is a single stage press.

 

[Nathanial]

The Co-Ax all the way! I have two Forsters and would not consider another. Have used them for ten years now. Bought a Redding turret press last year used it for a short while. Now it is only used for deprimming and holding five long mic seater dies, IMO money not well spent. My old Rock Chucker is under the bench.

 

[Ol'Gator]

Well after many many years using a rock chucker, I decided to go for the Co-Ax. After a lot of searching I found Midway has by far the best price. If what I understand is correct, I won't be able to use some of the longer dies in this press. Seems 7mm STW and the like are too long to fit in the space given. Anyone experienced this? Solution appears to be going to Forster dies for those calibers.

For those who have been using this press, any special tips that you have learned would be appreciated.