Does the inevitable variations in bullet seating pressure cause more problems with the highly energetic smokeless?
A. In a word, no. Muzzleloaders of all persuasions over the years know that “consistency means accuracy,” and seat their bullets over the powder charge with about 30-35 lbs. of seating pressure to wring out the most accuracy. Those in search of “bench-rest quality” groups use the “Kadooty” or other pressure regulators to try to wring out that last few bits of accuracy. Using the Savage with smokeless powder as its black powder substitute is no different at all, and the same 35 lb. area seating pressure is preferred, just as it is with Pyrodex. I find it actually easier to seat a sabot with the same pressure in a Savage, as there is dramatically less fouling to push your saboted projectile through, so little that I never swab between shots.
