From what I've gathered, the very moment when projectile exits a smoothbore muzzle isn't nearly as precise as that of a rifled firearm. Some windage always remains allowing gases to pass the ball in more or less irregular pattern. Still, if maintaining the best accuracy potential of a new smootbore musket happened to be of one's interest would there be any sense not to allow the iron ramrod to rub against the muzzle when loading? In other words, could muzzle wear advance to a point where accuracy loss becomes measurable, when tested with tight fitting (patched) balls, precisely measured powder and experienced musket shooter?
I got this new Pedersoli 1777 Corrigé An IX last month and I've fired it a couple of times. With military style paper cartridges the use of muzzle protector seems sort of fastidious thing to do and no one probably is doing that but I think that those who compete like to ram the balls with separate range rods. Would military type of loading practices have negative effect on match shooting potential in a long run?