Forester Co Ax Problem

[Seaweed02]

Hello out there. I have a Forester Co Ax press and have been reloading various calibers on it for a couple years now. But today I tried to do some 9mm and discovered that the shell plate holder won't hold the 9mm brass. Well it will if I use the small side, but I fight to get the case both in and out of the shell plate.

So today I took the time to order a Forester Shell Plate adapter so that I can at least use a regular shell holder with this press. But I just thought I would ask and see if anyone else has every had this problem. Not that a lot of people would reload pistol ammo on a single stage press, but just in case. I know that I need to get a Dillon 550B, and I will when I get some money together.

[jumbopanda]

Perhaps you need to adjust the pointed rod underneath the case holder in order to spread the jaws more. I think a regular shell holder is probably quicker anyways.

[Seaweed02]

I'll check

Perhaps you need to adjust the pointed rod underneath the case holder in order to spread the jaws more. I think a regular shell holder is probably quicker anyways.

I didn't know that it was adjustable. I'll check into that real quick and post back so someone else might be able to learn from this thread. Just in case someone else out there is as slow as I am. Thanks for the tip.

[bender152]

+1 on adjusting the pointed rod. You just screw it in or out to adjust how far the shell plate opens.

[Spanky8601]

+1 on adjusting the pointed rod. You just screw it in or out to adjust how far the shell plate opens.

Yep,

[noylj]

Getting a shell holder adapter destroys one of the best features of the press.
Do you have the manual?

http://stevespages.com/pdf/forster_coaxpress.pdf

Remove the shell plate, being careful NOT to lose the springs, and clean it. Adjust the pointy rod up.

[bsumoba]

yup...pointy rod adjusted upwards to open the jaws more. and...solved

[Seaweed02]

Thanks fellas.

Yep that did the trick. I am now rolling on 9mm. Thanks for all the advice on how to fix this problem of mine. I appreciate the help. I still want the Dillon 550B when I get the money, but for now this will do.

[bender152]

Remove the shell plate, being careful NOT to lose the springs, and clean it. Adjust the pointy rod up.

The guy below makes and sells an upgrade that encloses the springs.

I have no affiliation with the guy. Just something I came across.

[Seaweed02]

I have two

The guy below makes and sells an upgrade that encloses the springs.

I have no affiliation with the guy. Just something I came across.

I have two of them from this guy. One for the regular jaws and one for my LS jaws. And that was part of my problem. On the regular Forster jaw plate the spring sits in an open slot with closed ends. But on this guy's version the springs are completely enclosed and the ends are capped with a set screw, one for each spring. Well my set screws were in too far and not letting the jaws open up all the way because the springs had too much tension on them. So along with adjusting the jaw divider a little, I let out the set screw a little bit and this fixed the issue I was having with getting the cases in and out of the shell holder jaws.