Morning folks, bear with me, long post, lots of questions and musing's most of which I've discussed addinfinitum with a mate with lots of cast bullet experience but always open to others sharing there experience !!!

I'm confident I have the .357 mag sorted - here's what I'm doing.

At present I'm shooting Westcast .358 158gr RNFP 15gr AR2205 and 180gr RNFP 13.5gr AR2205 from it with excellent accuracy and zero leading. Sure the Westcasts are good value but this is an exercise in greater self sufficiency with my shooting.I have previously established .358 cast projectiles shoot well.

I have a .358 Lee resizing die. My Rossi M92 has .350 Bore / .357 Groove

I'll be pan lubing using homemade lube 200 grams Red Carnuba Wax, 200 grams Bees Wax, 100 grams Parrafin, 100ml ATF. It's a little tacky, it's an unkwown at this stage if it will require stiffening up with a little more Bee's Wax ?? Parrafin ?? Carnuba ???. Any suggestions or experience to share ???

I also have a bottle of Lee ALOX lube. Is it worthwhile lubing with this alone or perhaps lubing with ALOX then pan lubing. Waste of time ??? One or the other ?? I'm drawn to making my own shooting / hunting gear so mixing my own lube holds lots of appeal !!

I am limited just now in projectile choice for the .357 mag to the Ideal .357 446 mould, a plain base SWC. It feeds slickly through my lovely Rossi's action, guess I'll find out soon enough if it will shoot.

With a view to the the plain base projectile I've cast from straight wheel weights I have loaded up only one load at the moment 161gr 357 446 6.7gr of AP70N. Book suggests about 1400 fps, I'll mess about with this load up or down looking for best accuracy and function.

AP70N fills the case well but it does not develop the .357'mags full ballistics. I have another option of AR2205 which is finer grained and at least in my experience is best with stiffer loads. As my lube's performance is unknown at this stage I am leaning towards the slower velocity's the AP70N loads will develop.

I will be buying a mould with a similar design to the Westcasts but Gas Checked for my .357 mag. I'll develop faster hunting loads with AR2205 once I purchase this mould.

35.303 - This is where I am a little patchy

I know I should do a chamber cast and slug my barrel but due to my impatience I have cast projectiles using a borrowed Lyman 358 315 mould and curiousity is killing me as too how well these projectiles will shot. It casts a .359 208 gr gas checked projectile from straight wheel weights.

I am saving at present for a custom mould and do intend to do a chamber cast to determine throat length and slug my barrel to determine bore and groove diameter for the 35.303. I'd like something around 230 gr and be able to replicate my Jacketed loads but this is a way off yet. If the 358 315 projectiles shoot I'll be quite happy and cast up a mess of projectiles to hold me over until I get the custom mould.

I only have AR2208 powder on hand. It fills the case very well. I currently use 44 grains under a 225 grain Sierra Gameking projectile. This load fills the case almost to the base of the case neck and shows zero signs of pressure. It simply struck a sweet spot with the Rifle. No actual chrony numbers but according to Data I have approx 2200 fps.

I was going to start at 38 grains as AR2208 fills the case so well and work up to best accuracy / minimum to zero leading.

If the .358 sizing die proves unsatisfactory I will buy a .359 sizing die and keep the .358 die for my .357. I really should slug my barrel !!!!!!

I often read about loads of pistol type powders being used with Cast Bullets loads and similar cartridges to my 35.303. Usually they talk of Unique or 2400 powder and velocity's in the sub 1800 fps. As I use similar powders for my .357 mag amd .44 mag Lever Rifles there is not just a curiousity factor but a practicality factor also.

I do understand that in the 35.303 these reduced loads could well make my .44 mag redundant. Thats fine, sell it and part finance a 45.90 1874 Sharps replica. Any thoughts on the use of such Powders in cartridges such as my 35.303

I have read and been adviced enough to understand the pro's and cons of fillers. Any thuoghts or experience, always open to these ????

Paper Patching - is this an option for me to achieve my 35.303's full ballistic potential with ??? I have done some research and am intrigued !!!!

Depending on these results I have the .44 mag to develop cast loads for next - barely touched the surface and I'm hooked.

regards Jacko