New .22 Mold / Mold Handle Question

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  • Last Post 05 June 2025
Wm Cook posted this 02 June 2025

I ordered a two cavity #221 .22 cal 60g SAECO/Redding die today. This is the first SAECO I’ve bought. It’s probably the first because of all the groaning I’ve read about Reddings mold quality. That might not be justified. Who knows. After reading Kieth thread about his new .223 project and I started to skim through my .22 load data and I noticed the SAECO #221 in the Lyman reloading manual.

I’m a sucker for .22 molds and saw Midway had it listed as discontinued but lo and behold Graf’s showed they had one last remaining one available. Well heck, I just couldn’t pass that up. Last one in the world kind of deal !!

1) Has anyone ever used that mold and 2) Do any other handles besides Redding’s fit the mold.

Current inventory includes the MP227 38g, Lyman 225438 44g, 225415 55g, Lee C225 55g and the NOE 235-61.

It sounds like Al @ NOE has a couple people about trained up and when available (July-ish?), next up will be his 225-72 RN and the 79g that JA worked with him on.

Platform’s a Production Class Savage F10 with a 1 in 9 Shilen. Thanks for any help. Bill.

Ps. Thanks a lot Kieth! That thread you started has already cost me $150 and if the only handles that’ll fit it are Redding I’ll be out another $90 😁.

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delmarskid posted this 02 June 2025

Lee six cavity handles fit. If Saeco has quality issues it’s news to me. Mine work just fine.

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Bud Hyett posted this 02 June 2025

I've never had quality problems with any SAECO molds. I own several from 6mm to .45 Rifle. 

Farm boy from Illinois, living in the magical Pacific Northwest

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linoww posted this 03 June 2025

lee commercial handles typically don't work with SAECO molds  without modification to the front of the "tines" or the blocks won't close fully. and also the screw diameter needs to be opened up. And *sometimes* when you open the hole up adjust the metal up front there is not much meat left over at the inside of the screw hole and they can wear through over time.

 

Sill better than $90 handles! 

 

see picture.

 

 

 

"if it was easy we'd let women do it" don't tell my wife I said that!

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Tom Acheson posted this 04 June 2025

My experience with Saeco products has been stellar! No challenges ever and I have owned (9) molds. The best non-custom, production molds.

Well known BPCR single cavity mold maker Paul Jones (now retired) used to provide Saeco with mold blocks.

Tom

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Glenn R. Latham posted this 05 June 2025

Bill, unfortunately, if your Savage has a Shilen barrel it no longer qualifies for Production Class.  It makes the weight, but the non-factory barrel kicks it up to Heavy class.

Glenn

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axman posted this 05 June 2025

Wm Cook PM Sent

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