What Forster Products does

Forster Products Inc. is a privately held American manufacturer of precision reloading and gunsmithing tools, founded in 1935 and headquartered in Lanark, Illinois-area USA. The company designs and builds mechanical equipment for handloading ammunition and gunsmithing workflows, serving precision reloaders, professional gunsmiths, custom rifle builders, and military/law enforcement armorer operations. Its catalog spans reloading presses, sizing and seating dies, headspace gages, chamber reamers, sight mounting fixtures, case preparation and inspection instruments, and a range of supporting accessories, all manufactured in the USA to tolerances as tight as .0003 inches.

The company's flagship product line is the Co-Ax Reloading Press, distinguished by its spring-loaded floating shell holder jaws that self-center cartridges in the die during each stroke. The portfolio has expanded to include the heavy-duty Co-Ax XL Press for extreme long-range (ELR) shooters, the Ultra Die Set and Bench Rest Die Set series used by U.S. military and Olympic shooting teams, SAAMI-dimensioned headspace gages across rimless, rimmed/belted, and NATO calibers, and a 2024 entry into monolithic match bullets under the Glider brand. All products are positioned in the premium segment of the precision reloading market.

Forster operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce via forsterproducts.com with a wholesale distribution network spanning the United States and international markets. Pricing is one-time hardware at premium levels (Co-Ax Press from $590; Co-Ax XL Press $1,297.50; Ultra Die Sets $179-$508; headspace gages $40-$43). The company supplements sales with multimedia content (podcast, YouTube), a ProStaff ambassador program, an email newsletter, and a custom precision machining service.

Name

Forster Products

Legal name

Forster Products Inc.

Website

https://forsterproducts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Forster Products is a privately held American manufacturer founded in 1935 that designs and produces precision reloading presses, dies, headspace gages, and gunsmithing tools for individual reloaders, professional gunsmiths, and military/competitive shooting customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Reloading and Gunsmithing Tools

NAICS

Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420), Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Reloading & Gunsmithing Supplies Retail (CRAMAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Shooting Sports Equipment Retail (Targets, Clay, Range Gear, Hearing/Eye Protection) (CRAMAKAG)

Keywords

• Reloading presses
• Gunsmithing tools
• Headspace gages
• Sizing dies
• Precision machining

Headquarters

HQ city

Lanark

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Reloading Equipment Sales: Sale of precision reloading equipment including presses, dies, case trimmers, and accessories to individual consumers and gunsmiths via direct e-commerce and through distributor network.
2. Gunsmithing Tools Sales: Sale of gunsmithing equipment including headspace gages, sight mounting fixtures, screwdrivers, and chamber reamers to professional gunsmiths.
3. Wholesale Distribution: Sale of products in bulk to USA and international distributors who resell to end customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Forster Products manufactures and sells precision reloading and gunsmithing tools, including the proprietary Co-Ax reloading press system, sizing and seating dies, SAAMI-dimensioned headspace gages, sight mounting fixtures, and chamber reamers. The company sells directly through its e-commerce site and via USA and international distributors to individual reloaders, professional gunsmiths, and government/defense customers. All products are made in the USA with tolerances reaching .0003 inch.

Product overview

Forster Products is a precision tooling manufacturer specializing in reloading and gunsmithing equipment since 1935. The product portfolio centers on the Co-Ax Reloading Press system (including the new Co-Ax XL for ELR shooters), supplemented by comprehensive die sets (Full Length Sizing Dies, Bushing dies, Ultra Die Sets, Bench Rest Die Sets), precision Headspace Gages (SAAMI-dimensioned for rimless, rimmed/belted, and NATO calibers), and gunsmithing tools including Universal Sight Mounting Fixtures and Chamber Reamers. The product ecosystem is supported by a full range of accessories including shell holder jaws (S, LS, Quick-change), primer seating equipment, case trimmers, inspection tools (Datum Dial, Neck Tension Gage), and storage solutions (Deluxe Die Box). The company offers Custom Machining Services and maintains a proprietary product line through the Forster Exclusive Products category. All products are manufactured in the USA with tolerances as precise as .0003 inches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Co-Ax® Reloading Press Flagship reloading press featuring spring-loaded floating shell holder jaws that allow cartridges to self-center in dies for perfect alignment; self-acting jaws automatically release cases. Designed for serious reloaders seeking match-grade precision.
• Co-Ax XL Press Heavy-duty reloading press built for Extreme Long Range shooters; accepts large 1-1/4 inch and 7/8 inch dies with smooth ball-bearing operation and extended handle for leverage.
• SAAMI Dimensioned Headspace Gages (Rimless) Precision headspace gages for rimless rifle cartridges, available in GO, NO-GO, and FIELD configurations for safety-critical chamber length verification.
• SAAMI Dimensioned Headspace Gages (Rimmed and Belted) Headspace gages for rimmed and belted cartridge calibers such as .303 British, 30-30 Winchester, and 300 Win Mag for verifying safe chamber dimensions.
• NATO Chamber Headspace Gages Military-specification headspace gages for 5.56 and 7.62 NATO calibers, including Minimum and Maximum gages for verifying safe chamber dimensions in military firearms.
• Full Length Sizing Dies Precision sizing dies for resizing fired brass cases to factory dimensions; available across many calibers with optional Accu-Ring technology.
• Bushing Full Length Sizing Die Bushing-style sizing die that allows precise neck diameter control without full-length resizing; includes Accu-Ring for consistent case tension.
• Bushing Bump Neck Sizing Dies Neck-only sizing dies for neck-turning reloaders; control neck wall thickness precisely while preserving annealed case body sections.
• Ultra Die Set Premium full length sizing die and Ultra Seater die combination designed for bench rest precision; trusted by U.S. Marines, Navy Seals, Army Rangers, Secret Service, and the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team.
• Bench Rest Die Sets Competition-grade die sets engineered for benchrest shooting, setting the standard for quality and precision in competitive reloading.
• Co-Ax® Primer Seater Exclusive primer seater with E-Z-Just jaws that eliminate all slop for perfect primer seating depth, with built-in primer flipper tray and self-acting jaws.
• Co-Ax XL Priming System Priming system purpose-built for the Co-Ax XL press; includes BMG and Large Rifle Primer assemblies with adjustable jaws and controlled stop for consistent seating.
• Universal Sight Mounting Fixture Versatile gunsmithing fixture for mounting pivot, peep, and aperture rifle sights; accommodates various barrel diameters.
• Chamber Reamers Precision chamber reamers for gunsmiths performing custom chamber work, with custom machining available for specific chamber specifications.
• Power Case Trimmer Powered case trimmer for high-volume brass preparation; precise cutting action for uniform case lengths.
• Datum Dial Kit Inspection tool for verifying case concentricity and identifying high spots; supports precision reloading quality control.
• Neck Tension Gage (NTG) Tool for measuring and controlling neck tension on reloaded ammunition; ensures consistent bullet retention and pressure.
• Custom Machining Service Custom precision machining service for rifle components and specialized tooling requirements, leveraging Forsters precision manufacturing expertise since 1935.
• Gold Inlay Filling Kit Kit for filling gun engraving with a gold (bronze powder) finish; includes cleaner, powder, liquid base, and application patches sufficient for 5-10 guns.
• Glider Monolithic Match Bullets Precision high-BC monolithic bullets engineered for long-range and extreme long-range shooting, 50-count package, intended primarily for single-fire use beyond 2000 yards.
• Dillon Bullet Seater Micrometer Upgrade Screw-in upgrade accessory that converts a standard Dillon bullet seater into a micrometer-style seater for quick, precise seating depth changes with hash-mark increments.
• Arbor Die Conversion Kit Conversion kit enabling standard bullet seaters to be used in an arbor press; compatible with 7/8-14 thread dies.
• Deluxe Die Box 8.5 x 5.5 x 2.5 inch blow-molded storage box holding up to 3 dies including longer Ultra Micrometer dies; double-wall construction protects dies during storage and shipping.

Quantifiable outcome

• Precision tolerance of .0003 inch achievable on select products
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Midway USA: Midway USA is a major firearms and shooting-sports retailer/distributor that stocks Forster products alongside many competitors. It is comparable as a channel partner rather than a manufacturer peer, and influences Forster's end-customer reach.

Broad incumbents

• Brownells: Brownells is the dominant U.S. retailer and distributor of gunsmithing and reloading supplies, carrying Forster's products alongside competing brands. As both a customer (distributor) and a seller of overlapping in-house and third-party products, it is a broad incumbent shaping channel access.
• Sinclair International: Sinclair International (now part of Brownells) supplies precision reloading tools, case gauges, and competition shooting accessories, directly competing with Forster in precision reloading components for competitive shooters.

Direct peers

• Hornady Manufacturing: Hornady is a major ammunition manufacturer that also produces reloading dies, presses, and accessories. Its Lock-N-Load and related product lines directly compete with Forster in precision reloading tooling.
• RCBS: RCBS is one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of reloading presses, dies, and accessories, directly competing with Forster across presses, dies, and case-prep equipment. Their broader catalog and larger marketing footprint make them Forster's primary direct peer.
• Dillon Precision: Dillon Precision specializes in high-volume reloading presses (e.g., XL 650, XL 750, Super 1050) and competes directly with Forster's Co-Ax and Co-Ax XL press lines, particularly for serious reloaders and high-volume shooters.
• Lee Precision: Lee Precision manufactures reloading presses, dies, and loading tools at value price points, competing with Forster in the same product categories (presses, dies, accessories) but typically at lower price tiers and higher volume.
• Lyman Products: Lyman is a long-standing manufacturer of reloading equipment (turbine powder scales, presses, dies) and gunsmithing tools, historically comparable to Forster in brand longevity and product breadth across reloading and gunsmithing categories.
• Redding Reloading Equipment: Redding manufactures precision reloading dies, case gauges, and competition-grade equipment, directly competing with Forster's Ultra Die Sets, Bench Rest Die Sets, and Headspace Gages in the precision-shooter segment.
• L.E. Wilson: L.E. Wilson specializes in precision case gauges and reloading dies for benchrest and varmint shooters, directly overlapping with Forster's precision measurement tools and die sets for competition shooters.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ForsterProducts
• Facebookfacebook.com/ForsterProducts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forster Products