I’m adding a modern in-line Knight USAK 50 cal to my stable of flintlocks and percussion cap sidelocks. My first one is my sacrificial learning gun - abused but not unsalvageable.
Of course the barrel looked like a sewer pipe. Thousands of lapping strokes (!), finished with 600 grit, lands are smooth, grooves still pitted (of course) but no raised edges or micro-burrs.
Federal B.O.R. bullets load smoothly and will fill tags, but they’re pricey for practice and plinking.
Knight sells saboted lead bullets that are cost effective, but are hard to load.
All this background for the real question. Can I lubricate a saboted bullet to make loading easier? If yes, what do I use?