Pickettpuncher
WKR
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2020
- Messages
- 1,330
It can also help “raise” the bullet. So if your bullet is a hair undersized it helps to fit a bit better. I’ve tried it, and abandoned it almost as fast lol.Knurling with a couple files just creates a rough surface on the bullet that causes it to grip the sabot better. Some have theorized that a slick bullet can slip in the sabot as the sabot is fired (especially at the moment the powder ignites) and travels down the bore. Any inconsistencies can affect groups (dispersion). Most of us have seen improvements in group size (sometimes dramatic ones) by knurling saboted bullets (especially monometal bullets like Barnes). You basically roll the bullet between two files. You can do search on a dedicated muzzy forum like ModernMuzzleloader for more specific info.
On the note about Barnes, and probably any mono bullet. They’re a tad hard, and sometimes they need extra help to get them sealed properly and that’s where a wad really helps. I’ve strayed from the conventional methods and shoot a smokeless these days without a sabot, but I’d never heard of using wads until I got my smokeless.