Forster Co-Ax Upgrade: Curved Linkage
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- Опубліковано 20 сер 2024
- Full Story: bit.ly/3YuL0wQ
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How can we make the excellent Forster Co-Ax loading press even better? In this short video, we examine the contents of the Forster Curved Link kit and install it on our Forster Co-Ax reloading press.
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The following Ultimate Reloader partners are featured in this video:
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- KMS²
- Midsouth Shooters Supply
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I bought a Bonanza Forester co-ax press in 1987. I saw it on a upper shelf in a gun store without a price tag. I got it for $75. I still use it today. It’s not much different then the Forester co-ax of today. Over the years I’ve bought and tried different presses but always go back to the co-ax, it’s still an amazing press. Great content, thanks!!
It is indeed a pretty terrific press. Thanks!
It's FORSTER YA DUMMY.
Just installed the Forster Curved Links on my Co- Ax. Very easy and a worthwhile improvement.
Nice upgrade! That’s what Josh Badeau thought when he came up with this exact design years ago. He was selling them online, but hasn’t been making them for the last year or two.
Inline Fabrication also makes some good ones, but they have a little triangle in the center that doesn’t allow quite as much clearance.
These do have a nice finish on them that matches the co-ax. My Badeau ones have a black oxide finish, which is different but very smooth.
Great Video. I ordered a set of these new Curved Linkage plates from Midway USA while watching this presentation. I've had my Forster Co-ax press for about 20 years now and I love it. thanks for sharing and informing us of this new product!! I believe they will enhance the functionality of the press.
You guys have sold me on this press and dies. it won't be long before I get one.
Me to
Looks like an absolute no-brainer upgrade to by the Forster factory curved links. Thanks for the Video! I found in stock at Mid-South in case anyone else is looking. Forster and Midway were back order.
I used a different set of curved linkage. It worked fine, but seemed to have a tiny cam over. I didn't care for that so switched back. Looking at these I think the slightly different design will probably not have that. I think I will be getting a set. Thanks for the video!
I have the Lee 4 Hole Turret press and I can't really complain but as I get more space for reloading I have been considering a single stage setup for more precise rifle reloading. The Forster was one I was looking at for sure but having played with the display model at a local store, I noticed that the linkage bars were at times in the way of my large hands.
I didn't think about it much over the past week, but then this video pops up and now I'm sold. Forster has a great online community and of course thanks to UR because I wouldn't have known about this option.
I love the co-ax there is no better press
I likewise have an older Bonanza knew there were problems with some of the aftermarket ones glad Forster made those available. I also have a Shell plate holder made by a gentleman that encapsulates the springs and makes them adjustable. Also add strength, withdrawing, brass from die. Got to get a set of these. Thank you for the great video.
Installing E-clips with pliers, place one jaw on the back side of the clip and the other jaw on the opposite side of the shaft and squeeze the jaws together. With the tip of the pliers inline with the end shaft. Less chance of sending the clip across the room. 😁
I did it that way with the second side. Should have done so with the first side! :)
@@guyminer3168 i figured i wasn't tellin ya something you didn't already know. I was running a forster press in the 80's when they were labeled "bonanza press". And anybody that was somebody owned a 25-06. I still own one. But it's a little bit different than the ones back theh. Tikka rebarreled in 1:7.5 twist, shooting a 133 berger..
@@jeffward8278 - Well, you're ahead of me. :) I'm still running a typical 25-06 barrel on my Rem 700. What a great cartridge!
@@guyminer3168 the older rems are wonderful,
Great upgrade, I did this years ago. Do it!
I'll be ordering a set as soon as this video is done! Thanks for the info. You guys are great!
Glad I saw this video. Will be ordering a set of these for my press. Need to also get some of the on-press LED lighting too.
Just ordered a Forster Co-Ax and curved linkage. I’m really looking forward to putting them to work.
I would just like to have one!!! And that 7 PRC
Thanks Guy I’m ordering me a set now lol never knew they made them… 🤨🤨
I bought the inline fab ones a few years ago, but they dont offer as much room on the sides as the new forster links, but i also dont think spending another 40 dollars on another set of links is gonna make a landslide of improvement over what i already have. If i had the stock ones still on id say yeah totally worth it.
You did fine, the Inline Fabrication links are better. The Forsters use rivets which flex. I went back to the straight ones.
A friend of mine gave me an older Bonanza press that he learned to reload on when he was a kid, 50+ years ago. I haven’t picked it up yet but i’ve already ordered the curved linkage, the new small shell holder, 12 die rings and a short handle. Is there anything else i need to get before i see the press😂 Thanks Guy, great video series, i also thought you put them on the wrong side. 😂
i bought the In Line Fab ones when i got my co-axe about 5 years. These new ones seem to be an upgrade, but I doubt I'll spend the extra cash. If i had the original ones, I would certainly get these those
I just this Press (my first press) this will be my first mod to the press and second the ufo light.
Truthfully these curved linkages should come standard with the press.
After watching this video I may change mine soon.
Thank you for the awesome video brother.
I bought a set from a third party a few years back.
I hope Forster bought the design from him.
I did the same and these are identical to the one's I bought 6 or 7 months ago. Because his operation was small, I paid more money for them but it included shipping. I like them and glad I bought them!
That was Josh Badeau, and I honestly doubt they gave him anything. These are just slightly more of a “C” shape at the top of the link than his, and Forster has a lot more money than someone working out of his garage. Initially after installing mine the press contacted a thicker aftermarket shell plate (Manzgear) which I like a lot more than OEM, and Josh fabbed me a set of standoffs to fit over the stops with a set screw to shorten the throw, and sent them to me for nothing. I since worked out a better solution with different shell plate screws. Great guy. In 2022 I read he stopped making them, but don’t know how accurate that was. Obviously Forster knew a good thing when they saw it.
Guy my dad used to call those Jesus clips, he would be working on a carburetor linkage and one of them would fly off, and he'd say oh Jesus where did it go?
Am I the only person that noticed that he put the links on BACKWARDS!!!! Those links have “stop” pins/nubs in them. They are supposed to face inwards to act as a mechanical over-travel stop. Oops! I guess even the professionals make mistakes. Keep up the great content!
They were installed correctly per Foster’s instructions…
www.forsterproducts.com/pdf/instructions/forster-products-curved-press-linkage-user-instructions.pdf
The curved linkage made by Foster has linkage stops on both sides of the linkage.
Thank you!!
First thing I thought, until I read the explanation. No idea why they’d have them project on the outside though, where they serve zero function? Maybe to make them different enough so Josh Badeau doesn’t sue them for ripping him off?
I've added them to the cart a few times, but, couldn't find anything else to order, so killed the orders. Maybe this year.
I bought a set and in my opinion, they are garbage. The pins on them don't make a good solid contact and get twisted as a result. I'm sending mine back. The bad thing is that I cant find my OEM stock straight linkages. So I guess I'll need to buy a set of straight linkages.
Hey Mark, i have a new press on the way and bought the curved linkages already here, you’re the second person i’ve heard this from, did you go back to the straight linkages? Thanks
Yes I did. Return yours asap unless your just loading something that does not need a lot of force against a dead stop
@@Mark6299 Thanks Mark, i appreciate your help. I only reload .223 but it’s for long range precision, the main reason i bought the Forster, i sure don’t want to take the best and. mess it up.
I have the Inlinefabric installed on my Co-Ax and the most favord benefit is that has become a Co-Ax with camover and not a hard stop as it is seen in your video of Forsters own upp grade.
What is the advantage of the camover vs. the hard stop in reloading operations?
@@michaeld9731Good luck getting an answer to that! I’ve been reloading 25 years and have yet to get a good answer to that question, other than that it stresses the hell out of your press. These don’t give any cam over, and it isn’t needed anyway if you adjust your dies correctly. “Cam over” is a term lots of people use, but don’t really understand IMO.
So you need to pay extra for the curved linkages? Maybe Forster should have put these curved linkages on the press as part of standard links rather than selling you the press and then having you buy the 'upgrade'. Thanks for making this video. I'll remember this when I am in the market for a new reloading press.
My own Co-Ax is still equipped with the stock straight linkages.
Wanna know a secret?
I like it just fine, and I say that as someone with very large hands.
I have no problem at all moving brass in and out of it or with switching the case holder jaws if needed, and it's certainly much easier than reloading on my beloved Rock Chucker, although I still have the RC for specific tasks that require a cam-over press, namely the rare occasions when using the Lee Factory Crimp die.
@@Gunners_Mate_GunsWhy do you need cam over with the FCD? I use my pistol Factory Crimp Dies on my Lee Classic Cast, (not breechlock) and it has no cam over at all. Neither does my co-ax. I adjust the die to where I want it, no need for cam over to set the crimp, full length resize, etc. Legitimateky asking, never understood the need to stress the dies or the press by camming over, which seems to me to be an unintended design flaw in older press designs with looser linkages. (?)
@@E.L.RipleyAtNostromo Actually, most O-frame presses are designed to operate in cam-over mode to ensure that the case goes all the way into the die and to ensure consistency.
I specifically use my Rock Chucker (cam-over press) for the factory crimp to ensure that the crimp is consistent from one case tot he next, since the design of the FCD requires that the bottom of the die be compressed by the ram.
If I relied on no cam-over with the FCD, I would get badly inconsistent crimps because I wouldn't have the solid stop at the top of the press stroke.
@@Gunners_Mate_GunsOk, that does make sense for consistency on each round, but as I specifically stated, the LEE factory crimp die works fine on the LEE Classic Cast, which has no cam over at all. (And neither does the co-ax.). So “most” O-Frame presses aren’t necessarily designed to cam over at all, and that action certainly isn’t needed to compress the ram completely into the bottom of the die, or to get the FCD to be consistent. On some presses cam over gives you that last amount of play when inserting the case into the die, and I can appreciate that consistency, but not having it doesn’t give you wildly inaccurate anything. Especially on a rigid cast iron press with stops that has zero play, and the bottom of the handle range always equals the top of the ram stroke. I can adjust my FCD by screwing it down further, and have no problem fully seating a round all the way into any die on a press that can’t be forced to cam over by torquing the linkage.
So if LEE designed both the FCD and a LEE press that doesn’t cam over, then they must know something about their die and their press I would think. (?)
Finally, RCBS specifically includes an instruction with their dies that says “DO NOT CAM OVER,” so they clearly realize that some of their older presses are being pushed past their design limits by camming over and can damage their dies.
That being said if I had done it for years on a certain press and dies and it had been working for me, I wouldn’t change anything. But, as I said on my presses it’s not an option, and they both load good consistent ammo.
I'm getting more than 0.005" bump variance when I set it to 0.002" readjusting the lock ring and getting crazy variation. I emailed Forster this morning about it. I would buy this product if you're used to getting 0.002" shoulder bump without variance.
Are you using Forster lock rings on your dies? They're necessary for this press.
@Nobo35 yes.
These curved connectors work well with every form of resizing day that I have tried, but they do not work with short action custom resizing days
I wonder if they would have some flex when resizing big hard cases
Good question. I don't know, only used them on 7 PRC which is a middlin' sized fat case.
So, they implemented a Nautilus cam system for reloading 🤣
(yes I'm showing my age by remembering how influential the lobe shaped cam was for weight lifting)
Ha! I remember lifting on Nautilus machines in the 1970's! Thank you.
I have the inlinefab on my newer coax, wonder if there is any strength deference? lol will get a set of these since my older b2 coax if feeling neglected. These do look like there is more room for my hands over the older inlinefab set i have.
All good..
Nobody asking "how much"🤔
Forster shows them at $39.50 on their website.
I load a lot on my Forster coax. Are the c shaped brackets as strong as the straight brackets. I load .338 mag and 300 win mags on my press and need the strength.
I think so.. But I only loaded 7 PRC.
I thought i saw an aftermarket set a year or so ago that when installed ine way it had no cam over and if installed the other way it would give the press a bit of cam over. Will this set do that? Or what was the brand that could? I like the idea of having the option.
Do the new presses come with the curved plates or do you still have to upgrade?
Nope, you want them, buy them as extras. There was a guy selling his own make 10 yrs ago, took them this long to get around to makng them, same with the newer one pc jaw sets, they were quite a bit quicker on those in getting them out though.
Why don't they come as standard?
You mention that the pins that stick out have to be oriented to the top; what do they do?
I've been wondering the same thing. At first I thought they might provide a positive stop, but no. They appear to serve no purpose.
If i remember right, they are travel stops for the yoke.
Ya, the little pins that stick out are on both sides of each curved link, and work as a stop for the press arm.
@@ancientorder4645 - they stick out on each side of the curved link. On the inside, they do serve as a stop for the press arm.
Interesting, I assumed he put them on backwards, because the Badeau curved links only have the pin projecting on one side. Wonder why they have them stick out on the outside, since that serves no purpose?
What’s the little pin on the curved plates used for. Did you install it backwards?
No, it's on as shown by Forster.
There's tabs on both sides of (of each arm) to stop the press on the back instead of the front like the factory ones
Nice job what light kit do you have in that press please ?
It's by KMS Squared.
@@guyminer3168 thanks I just ordered both items I knew of the upgrade before but the video reminded me so thanks ! Fyi midway USA has them on sale.
C Clip, E Clip. The most proper name is Jesus Clip. Because once one gets away, only Jesus knows where it got off too....
👍✌️‼️
I find that it distorts the aesthetic aspect of the press.
And also makes the press far more functional, which is the ultimate aesthetic aspect of any piece of machinery.
If you buy a new one will it come with it these brackets
I hope so, they're a good improvement.
Not unless they very recently changed it, or a store you happened to see the press in had put them on or ordered them specifically to be on there.
The Co-Ax currently comes only with the stock straight linkages.
Mine still has them, and I see no need for changing to curved one,s and I say that as a guy with very large "mitts."
Maybe this is just conjecture, but I have to wonder if the curved linkages might induce a tiny bit of flex,. especially over time or with very hard to size brass.
One of the big advantages of the Co-Ax is that the forces are kept linear,and it seems unavoidable that the curved design would subtly compromise that.
😊
Solves one problem by creating another...
What problem? Other than that he installed them backwards, these don’t create any problem.
@@E.L.RipleyAtNostromo guess you’re not an engineer…
@@ralfrude3532And guess you’re not either, since you’re incapable of explaining your totally unjustified comment. As if everyone who has invented these didn’t know what they were doing! Right.
I also guess you’re not a reloader, since I’ve been using curved links for years on my co-ax with no problems or loss of mechanical advantage.
That’s OK, lots of guys trolling UA-cam videos commenting on things cryptically and knowingly as if they know what they’re talking about. Funny, but none of them explain themselves either.
My favorite was from a guy who pronounced “WD-40 destroys steel! Don’t use it!” When questioned about it, he just sat back and puffed: “Guess you’re not an engineer!” LOL! 🙄😅
@@E.L.RipleyAtNostromo you’re admitting of having to technical competence, but expect that I explain technical issues to you? Why should I? Work on your behavior first.
If you experienced no issues, then you might also not notice, if you use an aluminum die-cast c-frame press for your reloading purposes. Especially for resizing. I don’t think you even know, what this means for headspace. It’s ok not everyone is loading match ammunition.
Why doesn’t the factory co-ax press use straight shaped linkage and not c shaped linkage? If there is any need for such an improvement, then the guys designing the co-ax press didn’t know what they do. Right? But why do you buy a press, that was by your definition designed by a dumb one and needs improvement?
Just start thinking and not insulting Mr. Knowitall. 😉
@@ralfrude3532Making a ridiculous cryptic comment and not explaining it, doesn’t mean the guy asking you to explain it isn’t technically competent. Forster has great engineers and designed a great press years ago, but it’s been improved with curved links which dramatically increases side access and has no affect on setting “headspace” or anything else. They acknowledged this when they came up with their own links here that copy the old Badeau links.
So everyone but you is clueless as to why these “create a problem?” Who’s the “Mr. Knowitall” then??
By the way, I don’t know what you’re talking about with aluminum C frame presses; the only ones I know of those are cheaper Lee presses, which have nothing in common with the co-ax. I have three presses, and they’re all cast iron and steel, and I “precision load” on all of them.
These are pretty terrible. The ones from Inline Fabrication are much better. The Forsters completely ruin the feel of the press, and change the way the cam-over and stops operate. They relocate the stops to rivets in the arms, which flex. The Inline Fabrication use projections from the arms which eliminate the flexing.
Wow that video was stretched out past 7 minutes for a procedure that could be started and finished in seconds. You must understand that everyone's time is at a premium these days. To blatantly disrespect you viewers by wasting our time with an installation explanation. If someone is reloading their own ammunition I'm sure in my mind there has to be a minimum skill set. So in the channels mind we the viewers aren't as smart as the channels host. Some of the content being produced by the channel can be in my opinion condescending. I'm of the opinion that there involves a minimum amount of intelligence to reload ammunition and videos like this is disrespectful. Parts upgrades I'm all for them. Any tool that improves someone's life by making something easier or faster is a good thing.
If your time is that important, then why stay for the whole video?
I just got my Forster Coax XL press this week- literally because of Gavin’s videos. This vid and his others helped me with assembly/getting started.
You must understand that to blatantly waste everyone’s time with your negative comments makes nothing easier or faster…..it is just disrespectful.
A man as efficient as yourself shouldnt even be taking the time to watch youtube let alone leave an entire paragraph of how you think the videos should be produced.
I bought a set, and one of the arms didn't fit due to the whole being too small. I was very surprised that forster would mess something like that up.
Bummer. I'd hope that they'll replace it with one that is correct.
@@guyminer3168 they havent got back to me yet
Snap rings...you need snap ring pliers....I'm totally shocked that you are supposed to be precision guys...wow
Snap rings and snap ring pliers are completely different and would not work with the e-clips used on the press
@duanearmstrong2920 ...then you must know, as I have a couple of sets, they do come in sets and I guarantee they would work...thats no new science there, and video is clear enough
@@duanearmstrong2920exactly correct
No, you don’t need to use snap ring pliers that are for a completely different type of clip. These clips easily pry off with a wide blade screwdriver and snap on with a push from pliers.