Should I replace my Rockchucker with a Forster CO AX?

[five.five-six]

I use my rockchucker for a lot of tasks like load developing, trying to make precision rifle rounds, decaping for wet tumble but mostly I use the collit puller to take apart large numbers of mistakes.

Seems like with the universal shell holder and the way the dies pop in and out, the CO AX would be a lot easier to change tasks, but is there a cost in precision?

New problem though, in my research, I decided that I really want a Präzipress but I only have room for 1 single stage press.... Rockchucker or CO AX?

[hntnnut]

I went a slightly differnt route, I retired my old rcbs special 2 then bought and converted my Redding big boss II to use the hornady LNL bushings. I considered the Rock chucker but couldn't deal with the spent primer issue.

Richard

[Paseclipse]

I vote RCBS with Hornady LNL Bushings.

What's the point of getting another press when you've already paid for used your RCBS? You'd be wasting $ buying another press.

[pacrat]

I must confess a bit of initial confusion when I read your poll.

I thought WTF is a "Prazi"? And why would you want to press one? Especially while wearing a rag on your head?

Unless of course you happen to be Sikh.

Then I read your post.

mostly I use the collit puller to take apart large numbers of mistakes.

Stick with the tried and true RC. Quickly changing dies is the least of your problems.

[five.five-six]

Originally Posted by pacrat

I must confess a bit of initial confusion when I read your poll.

I thought WTF is a "Prazi"? And why would you want to press one? Especially while [racist comment removed]?

Unless of course you happen to be Sikh.

Then I read your post.



Stick with the tried and true RC. Quickly changing dies is the least of your problems.

Ya think? Have you been talking to my therapist?

My German is a little bit rusty... still, I think I need one.

[707electrician]

I cant comment on the actual differences in accuracy between the two because I'm not a good enough shooter to tell, but I believe the point of the co-ax is that the floating die and shell holder setup allows the components to line up while loading. This, in theory, makes for more accurate ammo.

I do have both presses, and typically use the co-ax, FWIW

[anyracoon]

I have both also. Started out with RC way back when and still use it for sizing and case forming brass. It's a real work horse. Bought a Co-Ax a couple of years ago and very happy with it. Just used for my bolt action reloading. Use Dillon's for pistol and semi-auto.

[sghart]

"Should I replace my Rockchucker with a Forster CO AX?"


No

[five.five-six]

Originally Posted by 707electrician

I cant comment on the actual differences in accuracy between the two because I'm not a good enough shooter to tell, but I believe the point of the co-ax is that the floating die and shell holder setup allows the components to line up while loading. This, in theory, makes for more accurate ammo.

I do have both presses, and typically use the co-ax, FWIW

Originally Posted by anyracoon

I have both also. Started out with RC way back when and still use it for sizing and case forming brass. It's a real work horse. Bought a Co-Ax a couple of years ago and very happy with it. Just used for my bolt action reloading. Use Dillon's for pistol and semi-auto.

I really only have room on the bench for 1 single stage.


I do love the rockchucker and I use it for a lot of things, I am constantly changing out dies and shell holders... which can be an issue, I have 2 sets of shell holders and if I have one in the hand primer, and another in the trimmer... and I need to do something in the press .... it just seems I’m always changing out shell holders.



Even though it solves none of that, I find myself really wanting the Präzipress.

[pennstater]

Been using my RC since '77-'78. Never even considered upgrading, easy enough to work with and I'm in no hurry. No, no need to change.

[JackEllis]

Originally Posted by five.five-six

... I find myself really wanting the Präzipress.

There's your answer.

[five.five-six]

Originally Posted by JackEllis

There's your answer.

I think you're right but have you seen the price

[JackEllis]

Originally Posted by five.five-six

I think you're right but have you seen the price

No, and I'm not going to look either.

Sometimes you just need to get what you want and damn the cost (if you can afford it).

[Ruger15151]

Depends on what your goal is.

If you are trying to load good quality Ammo, hard to bett the RC.

If you are loading precision rifle Ammo with consistent neck bump, minimal neck runout, consistent bullet seating, and have high quality does, buy the first Forster you see. If you need to replace your rifle dies, buy Forster dies as well.


I currently have a Dillion 750 and a Forester. I have owned and RC, Hornady LNL single and progressive, and Redding T-7.

The forester is like butter and keeps everything consistent and straight. I wouldn’t trade m Forster for anything.

You just have to try one to understand why they are so great.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[capo602002]

NO - I have a single stage and a Co-Ax. Single stage gets used for 90% of my reloads. I think you are better off buying precision bullet seating dies instead.

[Bumslie]

Get what you want.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[Divernhunter]

your money so get what you want
Myself I look at it as it takes 30 seconds to change the die. Heck it takes me longer to go get the die from where I store them.
If the time it takes to change dies is so important to you then maybe loading is not for you.
This is just my take on it---like I said your money fo do as you want

[noylj]

I HATED me RockChucker and, after the first ad I saw for a Co-Ax, had one on my bench and the RockChucker sold off.
Love my Co-Ax. Love my 1050s.

[five.five-six]

Originally Posted by Divernhunter

your money so get what you want
Myself I look at it as it takes 30 seconds to change the die. Heck it takes me longer to go get the die from where I store them.
If the time it takes to change dies is so important to you then maybe loading is not for you.
This is just my take on it---like I said your money fo do as you want

You might be right but I think you misunderstood what I'm saying. and perhaps it's because I'm starting from scratch with load development on everything I load. I recently transitioned from mixed brass to matching sets of new brass for most things I load and picked up a labradar. At this point I find myself making small runs on the single stage for each caliber and gun I load for. It's 4 or 5 guns in .40S&W alone.

But yea, you could be right, reloading might not be for me. or maybe, just maybe, I'm looking for a more efficient way of doing it.

[five.five-six]

Originally Posted by Bumslie

Get what you want.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Wou're kinda cute... whacha doing Saturday sailor?




Dude, that press is like $1,100, and just because I can afford it should I? It may end up like all the other crap I have or could be one of the things I really dig.

[C.G.]

Originally Posted by Paseclipse

I vote RCBS with Hornady LNL Bushings.

What's the point of getting another press when you've already paid for used your RCBS? You'd be wasting $ buying another press.

What he said and exactly what I did although only after I bought the Hornady AP. Rockchucker is only used for small batches and development.

[five.five-six]

Originally Posted by C.G.

What he said and exactly what I did although only after I bought the Hornady AP. Rockchucker is only used for small batches and development.

So basically, I buy one of these and 2 10 packs of bushing and 2 10 packs of bushing adapters to cover the 20 or so dies I use regularly?

Hmm interesting idea

[superdave50]

Ha! Good luck finding a coax

[five.five-six]

Originally Posted by superdave50

Ha! Good luck finding a coax

I did find a bonanza

[C.G.]

Originally Posted by five.five-six

So basically, I buy one of these and 2 10 packs of bushing and 2 10 packs of bushing adapters to cover the 20 or so dies I use regularly?

Hmm interesting idea

Exactly, but you might want to start out small to see if it suits you, if it does not you can always go for the coax option without having much invested in the bushings. The Hornady solution worked for me but it may not work for you.

[dameron762]

Get both!

[Ronsroom1]

My Rock Chucker is like my Wife.

Had them both for 47 years.

Both still going strong.

Although me and Flo do show some wear. ( LOL ).

[five.five-six]

Originally Posted by dameron762

Get both!

I don’t have room on my bench.

I ended up installing LnL system on the rockchucker and changing things is a LOT more efficient.

[fguffey]

I considered the Rock chucker but couldn't deal with the spent primer issue.

This is the reason I can not take a reloaders opinion about a press seriously. They have argued with me for years about the Rock Chucker being a 'cam over' press. The Rock Chucker is not a cam over press, that makes it impossible to cam over, it also means the Rock Chucker can not 'bump' the shoulder back because it is not a cam over press. The Rock Chucker is a lock-up, jam press that goes into a bind before it has a chance to cam over.

And then there are reloaders that allow themselves to be intimidator, I was told I could not be a member of the in-crown if I did no own a Foster Co Ax. I have 12 Herter presses, every one of them is a cam over press and because they are cam over presses they 'bump'. And then there are the shell holders, the Herter shell holders are different and the difference is not the obvious.

Rather than cuss the darkness I use 3M electrical tape to hold the primer tray in place on he Rock Chucker. For color and style the reloader can use black electrical tape, green electrical tape or red during the Holidays.

I was lined up to get on a plane in Newark NJ, the inspectors were curious about all of the little metal rings imbedded into my neoprene soles. I told them I use the metal round rings for traction on ice and snow in the winter. Those that laughed are the ones I can get along with.

F. Guffey

[TAS]

If I were to add another press, I would add the Forster but I would not replace the RC. My XL650 & RC make a great pair and I still get a lot of use out of the RC.

[vhuang168]

I went the route of converting my RC with Hornady LNL bushings. I can quickly change between dies without losing any die adjustments I have made.

Check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqcYI0G2hqM&t=744s

In his tests, the RC came neck and neck with the Prazipress in terms of quality of ammo produced.

You can go directly to each press reviewed by clicking on the timestamps in the description so you don't have to go through the whole video.

[hambam105]

I know lots of rifle competitors who went to a Co-Ax from a RC. But not one shooter went from a Co-Ax to a RC.

[J-cat]

No issues with precision with coax with shell holder adapter.

[BigBronco]

I love my Forster Co-Ax. Great press I had a Bonanza once, not as tall as the Forster for longer calibers. It has a draw back or two. Forget priming on it. Next small and large shell holders are a bit of a pain to switch over. Best to use their aluminum die rings. if something is going to wear out let it be the die ring and not the slot in the press.

[Bastard]

yes you should sell the RC - no you should not buy the Co-Ax

buy the Redding Big Boss II - or not, you're and adult, do whatever the hell you want... it's your money, your bench, your press.

I want to sell my Hornady/Pacific single stage press and buy the Redding if for no other reason than how hollow ram... I reload in a carpeted room and I swear those stupid primer anvils are everywhere and they get stuck to everything

[mtenenhaus]

I've never had the privilege of using the Prizi or the new Area 419 single stage presses though they'd be pretty awesome to own.

I have a Forster Co-Ax . Not sure if it makes a difference but i do seat the projectiles in 2 steps, i seat 1/5 of the way, then i turn the case about 180 degrees way and seat the projectile the rest of the way. I use Forster dies and rings. I do check each case for length and chamfer as needed. I also use a separate expander die instead of the Forster expander ball.

My neighbor has some nice precision gauges and he checked out neck runout and compared several loads to see how consistent it was loading. The numbers were very favorable.

I only reload rifle cartridges and as such i prime on the Co-Ax, thankfully most all of the cases i use employ larger primers so i don't have to change the priming unit...but honestly after doing it a couple of times it's not a huge deal. I'm too cheap to go out and purchase another primer tool as my results have been very pleasing to date and i'm pretty used to doing it as needed.

[MrElectric03]

I have both. I have found that given the design on the coax it can't do everything. For example, I go through a lot of 10mm and when I buy once fired brass it all goes through a grx full length sizer first. Can't do that on a coax, easily anyway. So I use an inline fab quick change plate and swap in the oil rock chucker for stuff now and then. I do really like the coax for precision rounds though.

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by Paseclipse

What's the point of getting another press when you've already paid for used your RCBS?

The Coax is commonly regarded as the most rigid press available for full length resizing because of how the linkage works.
The Coax seems to have a bunch more leverage than the RCBS based on the fact that many people remove the 6" long factory handle and switch out to a ball mounted directly on the end of the yoke or just use the yoke without any handle.

[noylj]

Don't know if I replied already.
Happiest reloading day for me was when I sold my Rock Chucker (SpentPrimerChucker) and bolted a Co-Ax to my bench.
Do what makes you happy, but THAT made me happy.