Are you looking for cast boolit Data that seemingly doesn't exist?
this post is primarily for newbies who can't find published data for a specific boolit...because it doesn't exist, due to many of the new molds available from the many mold makers that have started up businesses since the turn of the Century.
...But I also would like input from those seasoned boolit casters if you have experience with the two powders that I'd like to use for this project. Hodgdon HS7 and Vihtavuori N110.
I am planning to load some full-house 357 Mag loads (1600+ fps) for the NOE 358-128-SWC (plain base) cast with a strong alloy, and I have two different powders in my stash that I have never used and there is a few lbs of each (mentioned above) and I'd think each one might work well, but there isn't a great amount of data from my usual sources, and of course there is no specific data available for the NOE boolit. The following is my process (extrapolate) to come up with a place to start to work up a load.
As I thumb through my paper manuals, I see some instances where these powders are used in similar loads but not exactly the info I would want to see, if I was looking for specific data. Also, my favorite manual "Lyman Castbullet Handbook 4th Ed" did NOT have any relate-able data, and that is the reason I decided to make this post.
======================================
Here is what I found for HS7:
Lyman 49th
120gr Lead RN (linotype alloy) mold 356242
Start 10gr 1050fps
Max 13.2gr 1436fps
Lee Manual 2nd ed.
125gr jacketed
start 11.5gr 1511fps
MAX 12.5gr 1604fps
Nick Harvey's reloading Manual (I really like this manual because he "independently" developed his own data)
110gr JSP
start 12gr 1570fps
MAX 13gr 1650fps
=====================================
Here is what I found for N110
Lee Manual 2nd ed.
124gr Lead (COAL-1.614)
start 15.7gr 1546fps
MAX 17.4gr-c 1699fps
Lee Manual 2nd ed.
145gr Lead
start 14.0gr-c 1475fps
MAX 15.3gr-c 1591fps
Lyman 49th
150gr Lead (linotype alloy)mold 358477
start 13.2gr 1152fps
MAX 14.7gr 1374fps
Gun-Guides "reloading guide for 357 Mag Revolvers"
I rarely use these little blue booklets you see at gunshows, but I do have a few and this one had Vihtavuori data, also they credit Vihtavuori and other powder manufacturers in the forward
124gr LSWC Intercast (COAL-1.614)
start 17.1gr 1673fps
MAX 18.7gr 1813fps
I included COAL because it matches the Lee data for 124gr and it's a specific unique length, as I suspect Lee got this data from Vihtavuori, but it's interesting that the charges and speed is different
Vihtavuori website
They don't list the 124gr LSWC for some reason, but they have a couple Jacketed loads that are fairly similar.
125gr JHP, Sierra [I](COAL-1.575)[/I
start 16.3gr 1783fps
MAX 18.5gr-c 1811fps
================================================== ===
So after comparing all these charges and knowing my target is around 1600fps or a bit more,
I have extrapolated that if I use HS7, I'll start at 11.0gr and work up to 12.5gr.
OR
If I use N110, I "might" start at 15.0gr and work up. But first I need to investigate case capacity, especially since I suspect N110 prefers a full case much like H110...of course I do not know that, I only suspect it from the narrow data on Vihtavuori's website.
If anyone knows for sure about N110, please comment, because they don't go into much detail on their website.
https://www.vihtavuori.com/powder/n110-rifle-powder/