what press and why?? redding 700 or forster co-ax??

Slaysesh

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Dec 3, 2012
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262
Location
oregon coast
What ones are you guys using and what one you like more?
I think I like the co-ax more. but then the redding can do anything you could ever own!!! 223 to 50 bmg I think that's very appealing.
There's not much room for the ultra mags in the co-ax but can be done I hear
Let the some oppinions
 
I have loaded thousands of rounds of 7STW, .300RUM, and .338EDGE on my co-ax press using Forster dies without problems. Runout averages less than .001 . Gary
 
I have a Bananza B2 which predates the Forster buy out of Bananza. Pretty much identical otherwise. Bought it the summer of 1978, if memory is correct (a couple weeks after the NRA convention). It's just s square and tight this morning as it was the day I took it out of the shipping box. Frieds rode me pretty hard about spending $83 for a reloading press! But I've sat back and watched each of them buy four or five presses in that same length of time that I've owned this press. Have seen no press that does heavy cae forming as well as this press, but it dosn't do everythig as well as some others do. It's somewhat of a pain to pull bullets with (there are new and better bullet pulling dies than the Forster). Also a pain to cut off cases after forming them in a die. Otherwise it's near perfect. But I do have a small RCBS press sitting right next to it for these ops.

When I went the convention, they had a row of presses setup to do .308 brass. There must have been 20 to 25 presses. All sorta felt similar, but one. I kept going back to the one that was different. It was the Bananza. There were no sales folks there, and you were literally on your own. While sizing some .308 brass a little guy walks over to me and says "buy that one!" That wa Bob Milek (wrote for years in Shooting Times), nd was the father of long range hand gun hunting. Milek introduced me to Skeeter Skelton and John Wooters. Then I met Bill Jordan and spoke with Elmer Keith. I was in seventh heaven! Milek said he had two Co-Ax presses setting side by side, and there were times he wish he had a third one!

When I got home, I told my brother I was ordering one. He said I was nuts for spending tht kinda money on a press. The following Monday I spoke with a dealer that I regularly bought firearms from. Had him order me one, and he said I was nuts! Two weeks later he tells me he has the press, but asked me if he could use it a couple three days to see how it works. He brings it in to work, and tells me he's ordered in five of them as he's never seen anything like it. Sold all of them in a week, and orders in ten more. He set one up in his store, and was selling two or three a week.
gary
 
Thanks for the response. I like the idea of the forester Wayy better but the idea of loading everything from 9mm to 50bmg is very appealing!!!
 
Thanks for the response. I like the idea of the forester Wayy better but the idea of loading everything from 9mm to 50bmg is very appealing!!!

I have a buddy that loads for three different Barretts, and he uses a specialized press that is very expensive (can't think of the brand name at the moment). He told me once a few years back that he has a minimum of three dollars in every round he reloads, and some are closer to five dollars a hit. 98% of the reloaders are not doing this, and probably never will. Hate to think what the cost is now! But Steve's got more money than he knows what to do with anyway! The average guy loads nothing longer than a .300 Weatherby. But some of us like to play with big long strait walled cases as well (I do). That's where you'll seriously see the difference between the presses in about a thousand rounds.
gary
 
I bought my co-ax after seeing what all the old timers at my club used....they swore up and down about it. I gotta say, there isnt anything I wish it did that it doesnt now either. Its stays clean with the used primer container, its overbuilt, ambidextrous, self centering, and has unebelievable leverage while giving you a fairly short & fast throw. One guy I know says hes relaoded nearly 750k rounds with it and its still smooth and tight as the day he bought it.
 
I agree 100 percent what's the chance I will but sure would be nice to be set up if I ever did get something that big! I plan on having big stuff in the future.. I am only 18 I have my whole life to collect don't plan on changing reloading hear if I don't have you I got to remember I'm only 18 and have a life of guns ahead of me!
 
I agree 100 percent what's the chance I will but sure would be nice to be set up if I ever did get something that big! I plan on having big stuff in the future.. I am only 18 I have my whole life to collect don't plan on changing reloading hear if I don't have you I got to remember I'm only 18 and have a life of guns ahead of me!

being as your on the left coast, I doubt you ever will. The cost alone is fairly prohibitive. Steve buys powder in the 8Lb. kegs, and when he does, he buys several. A 225 grain load goes thru a lot of powder in a hurry. Bullets are expensive. Even the primers are hard to come by, and are expensive.
gary
 
I agree expensive!!! but you only live once and might as well get something if you want it. I think for now I will get the forester because it can do a lot and if I need to buy another in the future I can. I would like to upgrade from my lyman crusher 2

Still would like to hear about peoples experiences with the redding ultra mag!!!!
 
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