WTB: Saeco #257 mold

Otony

Member
These may have been discontinued recently, I’m not sure, but I’m certainly not finding any for sale anywhere.

One, two, three or four cavity, any version will do so long as it is in good condition. To be clear, this a .25 caliber mold that throws a 100 grain bullet.

Thank you for any assistance!

Otony
 

shuz

Active Member
Lotsa luck!!
I placed a WTB ad on Cast Boolits for 25 cal moulds and had 1 person respond "that he thought that he had a Saeco 25 100 in a drawer somewhere "
I sent him a PM and have yet to receive a reply!. That was 4 days ago!
 

Ole_270

Well-Known Member
For some reason 25 cal is becoming the red headed step child. Look at jacketed bullets, about half the variety as a few years ago. Here I sit with 25-20, a pair of 250-3000 and a 257 Roberts. They are my 3 favorites. I run 70-90 gr cast in the 25-20 M94 Marlin, but the other two haven't been tested with cast.
 

Otony

Member
Yeah, I figured it was a long shot but I felt I should try.

Probably going to order a mold from Cast Bullet Engineering in Australia….sigh
 

shuz

Active Member
I have the RCBS 25-100 that is very similar to the NOE boolit in stock. The Saeco 25 -100 is the only one I've found in the nominal 100g range that is a true bore rider . I like the idea of only 1 grease groove also since it minimizes the lube purging phenomenon, if such a thing is truly a reality.
 

Ian

Notorious member
Lube purging is real, but dealing with it isn't as simple as choosinga single versus multi-groove bullet style. Depending on the lube you use and all the other factors of your load, alloy, rifle, and your weather, sometimes it is good to be able to lube three, two, one, or just the space above the gas check to control the amount of lube in play. Often it's a lit easier to fix the lube than the bullet when experiencing cyclic purge flyers.

Powder coat the bullets and the question of lube becomes moot.
 
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Otony

Member
So here is where I throw the BIG monkey wrench into the mix. I want to buy the Saeco mold, have it altered so it is a plain base rather than a gas check design, and then…..breach seat the bullet in a .25-20 Low Wall that has a fast twist, 1 in 10” rather than 1 in 14”.

Yes, yes, this is the fringe element of cast bullet shooting, lol!
 

shuz

Active Member
Ive tried powder coating and except for my .44 mag handguns, I have not been able to get good groups with powder coated boolits in my .250 Savage.
 

harrympope

Active Member
David Mos makes such a 25 mold.CPA has them at times or David can make you one.i have one and it's very similar to the NOE.I also have a Barnett that's about the same as the Mos.I breech seat them in a 25-20 single shot and a 25/357 Schuetzen. If you can find the 25720 in one of the heavier versions that works as well and I have a Fred Leeth that looks very similar to the 25720/100.
In the 25-20 wcf you will need to throat it for breech seating imho.

The #257 of isn't very much like a Pope bullet. The only thing it does it tapers from groove to bore diameter similar to their other designs.
When I was shooting a 6 mm I had A SAECO design like that and it shot very well.
 
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harrympope

Active Member
Yes he did and he apologized for taking so much time. He said he was traveling.
I have a 100g RN GC Cramer that's shooting good in my 25-06. Not good enough to be competitive in hunter class but it's getting better.
 

shuz

Active Member
I have a 100g RN GC Cramer that's shooting good in my 25-06. Not good enough to be competitive in hunter class but it's getting better.
Is your 100g Cramer the 55A?
I have that mould and have shot some decent groups and scores with it in local CBA matches. Cartridge, of course, was the. 250 Savage!
 

shuz

Active Member
I cast a few out of the new to me Saeco #257. Mould looks real good and no damage seen, but I really had to beat on the handle hinge pin to get them to drop out of the mould. I stopped after casting just a few, and then worked on the mould edges wit a grey type pencil eraser. I have yet to see how it casts now.
In the meantime I had a fellow surprise me with a bunch of NOE 100g and some Lyman 257318's that are all sized and checked and ready to load! So many boolits and so little time!!