This is one of the best discussions I have read in a long time. I see both s(all) sides and have had this same argument with myself over and over. They all make sense.
Several years ago, I acquired a Chilean '95 action with a Swedish '94 barrel screwed onto it.
I already had a couple 6.5x55s and had planned for years to convert the '95 to a 18" full-stocked .35 Remington for cast bullets.
Then, I started reading about the .357 in a carbine and decided that it was going to be cheaper and easier and started looking for one of those contoured barrelled Handis. Looked, waited. Waited looked........
Gave up on the Handi, sold the Mauser and bought a Rossi .357 carbine. It's been a great little gun but 158 grain bullets are the heaviest I can shoot well with it and started looking to move it and resume the Handi search. Looked, waited. Waited looked........ Still using the Rossi.
Then, Zastava M85 Mini-Mausers in 7.62x39 show up on Century's site for under $400 and were confirmed to be IN STOCK when I ordered. I'm thinking I could use it as a "almost 30-30" until I could have it rebored to a .357x39 eventually, but eventaually, the M85 never showed up. Cancelled the order - resumed the Handi search. Looked, waited. Waited looked........ Still using the Rossi.
The new owner of the Chilean Mauser got a girlfriend and didn't need the Mauser any more. Hmmmmmm,.... Nope, holding out for a Handi.
JUST missed a .357 Max barrel. Looked, waited. Waited looked........
Spotted a svelte, nickel .357 max barrel on ebay........... Unfortunately, someone outbid me by a huge margin.
Gave up and bought a WHOLE 30-30, shipped and transferred for less than that barrel the same night. It won't be as easy to cast for but won't deplete the lead stash any quicker than the .357, has the potential to make it easier for me to connect at 200 yards, brass is fairly available and I can do away with the small pistol primers in my inventory - only to add gas checks,..... maybe. I will also have to buy some new moulds now, but the ones I have for the .357 cast great and I like the bullet designs.
If I see a .357 barrel, I will still grab it. I still want one and don't know if I will leave it a .357 or ream to Max or Herret. Max sounds really good for what I need. In the meantime, all the merits of the 30-30 will do just fine. Maybe it even makes more sense than the .35 for me, but I do like the .35 in a "not-so-hot" chambering and still plan to have one.