Knurling 195 Barnes expanders

[trb0]

Looking to start knurling my bullets for more consistency. See my post about key holing. Anyone with experience and recommendations I’m listening. Tim

[jims]

I thought there was a video on this site of showing bullets being rolled between two files to produce the knurl. I would guess more than 5 years back.

[trb0]

I bought 2 double cut bastards files at the hardware store. Came home and measured the Barnes at .3990. After knurling them they measure.4000 exactly. Gonna take 3 to the range and shoot to see if it helps. Will let you know when I’m done. Tim

[trb0]

After knurling I went and shot 3 shots with light blue harvester sabots( the ones that were blowing) for a group just under an inch. I intentionally didn’t cool the barrel as much to see if it would blow the sabots. I may have solved my problem but until I test further I’ve loaded the tan sabots for our 2 day early muzzleloader season that opens in the morning just to be safe. Tim

[ET]

Thanks for taking the time to provide some feed back and good hunting.

[trb0]

No idea why it started blowing sabots. I’ve been shooting this combo for years in all 3 rifles and never a problem. In conditions much hotter I might add. It is a new batch of bullets but they all measure the same as the older ones. New package of light blue harvester sabots as well. I’m leaning toward this possibly being part of the issue but not sure. Tim

[dannoboone]

trb0, are you a fellow Iowan? I usually go out in the
evening and will be doing so today.

Every Barnes bullet I have measured are .001 less than
stated caliber. Knurling them not only gets them up to
diameter, but helps them grip the sabot. When first using
them, I was getting 4" groups until I checked the size,
knurled them, and tried again. The groups shrank to less
than one inch....great improvement. I kept using the
Harvester blues rather than the supplied brown sabots
because the browns were then too thick to get the
bullets down in my barrel.

Good luck with your hunt!

[trb0]

No I’m a Kentucky man myself. I measured the Barnes and they all measure.3990. I knurled them to .4000 and they shot less than1” at 100 yards

[kbrezlin]

I knurl everything I put in a sabot. I noticed that my groups tightened up when I started doing this so thats the standard practice now.

[jims]

I always knurl the Barnes. I find they run under .400 so I do that to increase the size and so they do not slip in the sabot, at least that is my thought. Under 1 inch is solid. They shoot well for me and are an excellent bullet but not just quite as accurate for me as the SSTs.

[pposey]

Yep I knurl every bullet that goes down the barrel. Barnes Hornady Nosler any 40 caliber bullet I'm putting in a sabot. I know it helps the bullet grip the Sabat you don't blow sabots and it usually tightens up accuracy. On recovered sabots I can find the knurl markes.