Forster Co-Ax Press - Case Alignment w/Die

[Phil3]

I have a new Forster Co-Ax press that under use, results in the case (223 Remington) being quite a bit off center from the die. Enough so that the resizing ball on the Redding FL die catches on the edge of the case sometimes and tries to crush the neck edge. You can nudge the case slightly to the left and all is fine, but do not want to do that all the time.

Under closer observation, it is obvious that when the jaws close around the case, the case tilts to the right from where it was sitting unclamped. I tried various brass, new and once fired, with no difference. The jaws ARE slightly to the right in a resting position when closed with no case and not held open by the tapered screw (photo #1).

I called Forster. They said to snip a coil of a jaw spring to cause the jaws to move the left. A snipped coil on the spring may fix this, but am surprised it is this way for a brand new press. I will order more springs before cutting anything.

The first pic is a closeup of the jaws without the tapered screw holding them open. Hard to see, but the jaws are slightly to the left of the primer hole.

The second photo clearly shows the misalignment.

The third photo shows the case clamped in the jaws, ready to raise.

The fourth photo shows the case sitting on the shell plate, but not clamped.

Notice how the case tilts slightly to right in photo #3 from where it is photo #4.

I am new to reloading and this press, so any guidance or wisdom from others on how best to deal with this is welcome.

- Phil

 

[9H_Cracka]

Re: Forster Co-Ax Press - Case Alignment w/Die

Don't sweat it- the case self-aligns when it goes into the die.

If you want to be really anal about it, mess with the springs under the jaw assembly to equalize the pressure on the case.

 

[Ratbert]

Re: Forster Co-Ax Press - Case Alignment w/Die

The jaws let the case wiggle left to right and the die can wiggle front to back so everything will sort itself out when the case enters the die.

 

[BillCominos]

Re: Forster Co-Ax Press - Case Alignment w/Die

I'm a newer Co-Ax user and have found this to be correct so far in my experience...... Loading .232 & .308....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ratbert</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The jaws let the case wiggle left to right and the die can wiggle front to back so everything will sort itself out when the case enters the die. </div></div>

 

[Phil3]

Re: Forster Co-Ax Press - Case Alignment w/Die

I understand how the press permits things to move around to assure alignment. What does not seem right to me is that the case can be out alignment enough so that the expander ball on the Redding die catches the case edge and will start to crush it, instead of slipping inside it. Wax does not help.

- Phil

 

[former naval person]

Re: Forster Co-Ax Press - Case Alignment w/Die

Try turning the plate 180 degrees...and, with the socket head screws loosened, can you move the top plate a bit? Try turning the moveable plates inside the top plate from one side to the other. Sometimes tolerance stack up can bite. Otherwise, send it back. JMHO

 

[IsleofGough]

Re: Forster Co-Ax Press - Case Alignment w/Die

I would send it back or replace the plate mechanism. My Forster aligns much better than yours.

 

[rg1]

Re: Forster Co-Ax Press - Case Alignment w/Die

I'd try taking the entire auto-case holding assembly apart. Then I'd take a flat fine stone and lightly stone the jaws, the blue steel spacer and all other surfaces. Just use the stone to look for any burrs and not to remove metal. Especially the blue steel spacer which has the holes punched in it can have burrs. The jaws should slide easily with no sticking. By smoothing any burrs it will let the jaws locate better. Mine were sticking and this stoning helped smooth the operation of the jaws. Again, the blue steel spacer could have burrs where the holes were punched. Clean the assembly and dry and check with your fingers to see if the jaws slide smoothly.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Forster Co-Ax Press - Case Alignment w/Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: former naval person</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Try turning the plate 180 degrees...and, with the socket head screws loosened, can you move the top plate a bit? Try turning the moveable plates inside the top plate from one side to the other. Sometimes tolerance stack up can bite. Otherwise, send it back. JMHO </div></div>

+1

 

[Phil3]

Re: Forster Co-Ax Press - Case Alignment w/Die

I took it all apart, cleaned, and tried it with a .308 case using the bigger side of the jaws. Works perfect. I turned the jaws around for the 223 Remington, and still misaligned.

I had been unable to swap the jaws side to side because for some reason, the tapered screw would not push the jaws apart when the jaws were swapped left to right. I just thought the jaws only fit one way. For whatever reason, upon this most recent reassembly, the jaws WOULD open with the jaws flipped side to side. Now, it is much better aligned. It is generally off a bit, in one direction or the other, and sometimes dead on center with the decapping pin, but nothing near as bad as it once was.

I think the jaws would not operate before when flipped side to side because of some burr or roughness on the jaw edges. Upon inspection, the jaw bevels are not cut exactly straight, making for smaller beveled edges on one side of the jaws vs the other. It is apparent the smaller beveled jaw edges were reluctant to work with the tapered screw, until now.

Looks like I am good to go. Now, to learn about resizing cases and FL die adjustment in the press for an AR15.

- Phil

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Forster Co-Ax Press - Case Alignment w/Die

9H told me along time ago to use the small opening for 308, my Co-Ax has been that way ever since, I load 223 260 308 30-06 40s&w 45acp with the small jaws, maybe you should call Forster

 

[Clark]

Re: Forster Co-Ax Press - Case Alignment w/Die

I have done some things to my co-ax's:
1) Change the screws.
2) Drill and tap the shell holder housing to capture the jaws between housing and shell plate.
3) Make an improved housing.
4) Make my own shell plate.
5) Make my own jaws.

What does it all mean?
It is possible to not be happy with an aspect of your co-ax, but it is still the best, so you may want to improve it.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

Re: Forster Co-Ax Press - Case Alignment w/Die

The newer presses (last couple of years?) are missing a feature that mine has that might help in this regard. The older ones had a separate conical tipped screw in the front that was threaded into the pressure block (the "ram"). You adjusted it so that it would only let the jaws close enough to grip the case head and no more. That way, it kept the jaws centered to start with. It was one more adjustment when changing calibers, but IMHO, worth it. I guess they felt like they did not need it anymore. If your press has a threaded hole in front of the spent primer tube in the pressure block, you may be able to call Forster and request the screw that goes into it. This screw is different from the case opening screw that is behind the spent primer tube, which is longer, and threaded into the press frame, for opening the shell holder jaws at the bottom of the ram stroke.

Forster also offers a conventional shell holder adapter plate, that allows the use of regular shell holders.

Andy