First, I wish to thank all that gave suggestions/insights toward getting my 10 " barreled Contender in .357 Herrett to shoot cast bullets.
http://thebirdsnest.aimoo.com/forum/...readID=1958615
I did som more lookin', and here's what I came up withsee attachment)
This Chamber does have a throat/leade, albeit a Looong one of about 1/2 INCH, and .360" diameter. The case neck area measures .383". The bore is right at .353".
As in the attached pic, if I try to seat the Lee 6-cav 180gr bullets anywhere near the beginning of the rifling, I'll only have about .150" of the bullet seated in the case neck. This leaves the lube grooves exposed, and isn't a very sturdy arrangement for hunting. That and the lube is left open to all kinds of foreign matter. So, I guess I'm pretty well reconciled to deeper seating.
I have increased my boolit diameter to .360" (courtesy of Waksupi) to fit the freebore. It helped, but groups are still much larger than FLGC bullets.
I ran the same powders, and stayed b/t 1800-2000fps.
I could also use some more neck thickness, as loaded necks run about .375, leaving .o13 slop, but that's a moot point too. I have what there is, and no more!
If you would, look at this thing again, and see if you can think of anything else I can do to get my 100 yd groups down to around the 2" mark. Right now they run around 4-5" with cast. The Hornady XTPs make the grade, but I've got my heart set on using cast in this barrel. And thanks, guys. I really do apreciate your help & expertise....................Bug.