With your new rifle you might want to get some bore size conical bullets like great plains or similar to shoot initially which will help to smooth up the bore. Plastic sabots will not do the job and that is why some lap or at least use JB bore paste. I used the paste in my stainless Omega as I did not have the time to shoot a lot of conicals and needed it to be settled down for an upcoming hunt. The JB did a nice job of making the bore shine like a mirror. Most muzzleloaders will shoot better after several shots have been through it. Doc White says he recommends 200 or 300 shots before he thinks the barrel has broken in. I don't think I have shot that many through my Omega and I have owned it for three years. Just don't have the time to shoot like I would like to and the range is too far away to be handy. Cayugad has the set-up I would like.