To Sabot Index or Not

All sabot indexing means is orientating the sabot to the bore to get as much of 2-lands on each sabot petal in an 8-land bore. You’re probably wondering what difference this makes? Consider this, the lands are what provides the sabots with pressure to grip the bullet. The more land contact, the more surface tension that provides the sabot a stronger grip on the bullet.
Will this improve your groups? Not significantly but does maintain a better, repeatability for group consistency. Still, it is an improvement IMO.
https://i.postimg.cc/SsqZKJSh/Indexed-Sabot.jpgpicture upload sites


The nice part is that no extra equipment needed. Just care when loading the bullet/sabot into the bore.
You will probably find that aligning a sabot petal split to the center of a bore groove pretty much gets you there.


Some may wonder why I post so much about my SML experience and some might think I seek recognition. That’s farthest from the truth. What good does my gained knowledge do when my time is up and not shared. My reward is knowing this shared knowledge has helped someone with their SML experience.
For now I’m going to stop posting for a bit as it seems like I’m hogging board space, chuckle.

I usually check this forum every couple of days to see if you have posted anything new. I have picked up a few tips from your posts. I appreciate the knowledge you are willing to share.
Thanks

Ok, so you index to the lands, now you stuff it down the barrel without a rotating ram rod or spinning jag, how does it end up when it's seated?

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Originally Posted by bdog

Ok, so you index to the lands, now you stuff it down the barrel without a rotating ram rod or spinning jag, how does it end up when it's seated?

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Bdog

Interesting question and am not 100% sure what results you would get. Never thought about this as I use a Spinjag.
https://www.spinjag.com/
One could remove the Breech Plug and send a bullet/sabot through the bore. Then examine the land impressions on the sabot as well as the head of the bullet for marks.

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Originally Posted by bdog

Ok, so you index to the lands, now you stuff it down the barrel without a rotating ram rod or spinning jag, how does it end up when it's seated?

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Guessing the sabot would rotate with the rifling as it should, mine do.

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Originally Posted by RS460

I usually check this forum every couple of days to see if you have posted anything new. I have picked up a few tips from your posts. I appreciate the knowledge you are willing to share.
Thanks

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RS460

Thanks for the kind and encouraging words. To know that it even helps one individual SML shooter makes my posting feel worthwhile.

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Originally Posted by GreyTech

Guessing the sabot would rotate with the rifling as it should, mine do.

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If youre not using a rotating ram rod or some sort of spinning jag, with the amount of pressure used to load a bullet/sabot, I cant see it being able to follow the rifling without damaging the sabot

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Originally Posted by bdog

If youre not using a rotating ram rod or some sort of spinning jag, with the amount of pressure used to load a bullet/sabot, I cant see it being able to follow the rifling without damaging the sabot

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I don't use anything fancy to ram the bullet down the bore for my muzzleloader (not a smokeless), and I can feel the ram rod twisting on my palm as I push down. The sabot stays engaged with the rifling in the same relative orientation as it was at the muzzle. I've also noticed this by finding sabots in front of the rifle - there's no sign of scrubbing on the sabot, just clean rifling marks.

That being said, I've never considered indexing the sabot. It won't make any difference for me, as I have other uncontrolled variables that would hide any effect.

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Originally Posted by rf2

, as I have other uncontrolled variables that would hide any effect.

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Don't we all...HaHa..

Interesting subject but certainly it can be firearm specific. For example, my TC Impact has no rifling at the last 1 inch of the barrel.
The reason? It allows for the quick insert of a sabot and then follow up with the ramrod to seat it to final destination. That way, you don't need to fumble with everything out in the field. Makes it a little easier when up in a tree stand or whatever other hunting situation you may find yourself into at the time.

So, indexing is a no go for this firearm. Am I penalized for this convenience? I don't bench shoot enough and I have yet to receive a complaint from a deer to really know if in my particular hunting situations it would make much of a difference.

https://i.imgur.com/EQeebz0.jpg

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Originally Posted by bdog

If youre not using a rotating ram rod or some sort of spinning jag, with the amount of pressure used to load a bullet/sabot, I cant see it being able to follow the rifling without damaging the sabot

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No difference i would guess with forces ,going up or down of the barrell. Same happens when firing and the force impacts the bullet from the opposite end. After the explosion, which propels the bullet only straight forward-the rifling engages and makes the bullet spin.
Unless the jag "grabs "the bullet and keeps it solid(which is not happening)this happens the same way.

The ramrod does grab the bullet, not all the time and not with every gun, I've seen damaged bullet tips and sabots, not all ramrod come with jags on the end, some(TC) have T handle ramrod that are only flared on the end