Frankford Arsenal M-press. I’m not m-pressed!!

[SteelBanger]

Easiest fix (for future readers of this thread) is to save a few more dollars and get the Co-Ax. As I mentioned above I waited a long while on the inventory to come around and finally got my hands on a Co-Ax a couple weeks ago. Very worth the wait and few extra bucks!

 

[Kmccord]

I had been waiting since June for them too come back in stock, gave up and purchased a Frankford Arsenal. I have not had any issues with mine, but can you tell me where you found the Forster in stock?

 

[SteelBanger]

I had been waiting since June for them too come back in stock, gave up and purchased a Frankford Arsenal. I have not had any issues with mine, but can you tell me where you found the Forster in stock?

They were in-stock at Natchez for maybe 30 minutes or so a couple weeks ago. I had email notifications setup with multiple online retailers but happened to be on here when someone posted an in-stock notice so I jumped over there and got one in time.

 

[JakeC]

Easiest fix (for future readers of this thread) is to save a few more dollars and get the Co-Ax. As I mentioned above I waited a long while on the inventory to come around and finally got my hands on a Co-Ax a couple weeks ago. Very worth the wait and few extra bucks!

That is an idea. but it's not a few more dollars, it's more than twice what I paid. A bunch more. And as far as the wait, competing and signing up for notifications and worrying about checking? I'm putting that energy elsewhere, like training my dog or cooking for my lady. That's why I made my decision to get a reasonable knockoff.

 

[SteelBanger]

That is an idea. but it's not a few more dollars, it's more than twice what I paid. A bunch more. And as far as the wait, competing and signing up for notifications and worrying about checking? I'm putting that energy elsewhere, like training my dog or cooking for my lady. That's why I made my decision to get a reasonable knockoff.

Whatever works for you man I say go for it! Trust me I get it, I've been loading both handgun and rifle cartridges on a Lee Classic Turret for the past 9 years because it was a cheap way into the hobby and it got the job done but I was finally ready to get into a quality press so that's why I waited for the Co-Ax.

Dollars are fairly relative though and when you consider the amount of money most of us dump into this hobby it really is just a few more dollars, or a couple boxes of bergers. Obviously "a few" has different meanings to different people, I'm firmly of the "buy once, cry once" philosophy so things such as a quality press are worth the extra time and money to me. Some sites also offer backordering the co-ax so in that case you don't have to invest any time into trying to find one, simply place the order and don't think about it again until it arrives at your doorstep.

 

[JakeC]

I finally got around to enlarging and retapping the shell plate screws last night. It went really well, I switched the 3mm bugle heads that are maybe 6mm long to 4mmx12mm dome heads. I also lightly polished some of the rubbing surfaces inside the sliding plate area and that went well too. It had been extremely hard to rotate and slide one side. The thing works great, I definitely trust it now and I like it. Resizing feels really great, can't wait to dial it in better. You can definitely still tell it's a knockoff but I like how it feels. The sheer mass of the moving parts make it really soft without losing sensitivity. The screw retapping I would definitely recommend as a preventative measure but I think it'll be worth the pain to anyone who is considering one. Just bear in mind you'll need a 10mm hex driver, on a 3/8 ratchet ideally, to get the base off.

Whatever works for you man I say go for it! Trust me I get it, I've been loading both handgun and rifle cartridges on a Lee Classic Turret for the past 9 years because it was a cheap way into the hobby and it got the job done but I was finally ready to get into a quality press so that's why I waited for the Co-Ax.

Dollars are fairly relative though and when you consider the amount of money most of us dump into this hobby it really is just a few more dollars, or a couple boxes of bergers. Obviously "a few" has different meanings to different people, I'm firmly of the "buy once, cry once" philosophy so things such as a quality press are worth the extra time and money to me. Some sites also offer backordering the co-ax so in that case you don't have to invest any time into trying to find one, simply place the order and don't think about it again until it arrives at your doorstep.

Yeah, I couldn't tie up that amount of money for an unknown period of time. My cheap entry had been the Lee hand press, the one that looks like a nutcracker and I really couldn't limp along with that for any longer. I basically couldn't shoot any more until I replaced it. It banged up my elbow so bad I couldn't fish and use that thing in the same week. I'd still recommend it to someone else, I just had a lot of dislocations as a kid so my elbow is touchy. Oddly that hand press produced some really accurate ammo as long as I was really careful about how the expander ball came back out of the neck.

 

[willfrye027]

I'm glad you guys turned my "bash" thread into a problem solving thread! Nice work above on those modifications

 

[JakeC]

I'm glad you guys turned my "bash" thread into a problem solving thread! Nice work above on those modifications

Have you replaced yours yet?

 

[SDPlinker]

I'm glad you guys turned my "bash" thread into a problem solving thread! Nice work above on those modifications

You solved your own problem I thought( on trash day) MADE IN USA!!!

 

[willfrye027]

I bought a rock chucker supreme instead

 

[SteelBanger]

I bought a rock chucker supreme instead

How do you like that supreme chucker? It's supposed to be a great press and was in my top 3 choices - Chucker Supreme, MEC Marksmen, and Co-Ax. I then narrowed it down to the MEC and Co-Ax and obviously ended up choosing the Co-Ax. I liked the primer catch on the Co-Ax better plus I liked the ability to prime on the press with the Co-Ax ... even though I've never used a press to prime, and it does work well.

For those still considering the Frankford because of the price I'd really recommend looking at the MEC, it's a great press by all accounts I've read, and at the same price point as the Frankford.

 

[willfrye027]

How do you like that supreme chucker? It's supposed to be a great press and was in my top 3 choices - Chucker Supreme, MEC Marksmen, and Co-Ax. I then narrowed it down to the MEC and Co-Ax and obviously ended up choosing the Co-Ax. I liked the primer catch on the Co-Ax better plus I liked the ability to prime on the press with the Co-Ax ... even though I've never used a press to prime, and it does work well.

For those still considering the Frankford because of the price I'd really recommend looking at the MEC, it's a great press by all accounts I've read, and at the same price point as the Frankford.

It's a very nice press. Build quality is higher than the frankford. No flex or slop at all really. I use Forster seating dies and don't really "believe" in run out so I don't measure it but my ammo looks great.

I did get the auto prime system...not a huge fan so far. I'll probably upgrade to something on bench in the future

 

[TXTrained]

Sized the first case in my new M-press today. The shell holder assembly bent during the downstroke of the ram. It stripped the case rim and now the case is stuck in my die. For reference it was 30-06 in a Forster full length sizing die.

I did use a bit of force as the case was feeling a little sticky in the die. But nothing crazy and nothing the RCBS reloader special I've been using couldn't handle. I've used the dies set up the same way many times before and I followed all the instructions in setting up and using it.

not sure if the issue is due to weak materials, poor design, or maybe both. But I will be returning the press (thanks Midway) and not purchasing another.

My lesson learned...buy American products

I bought a Frankford to replace my Hornady Single stage.I ga c e had no issues..but I bought a Forster after that.I got mixed up on advice from a buddy So n I w I have 2 Co Ax presses . But neither have given me a oroblem

 

[.30-06]

the easy solution use the right amount of case lube, or better yet Hornady unique or Redding imperial wax. I smear a dab evenly on index, middle, thumb to a thin coat, then apply to case and expander ball and inside the neck, and you won't bend the shell holder cover from a stuck case.