I'm doing something wrong. When shooting my new SSB sabots I swabbed the barrel between shots a few times with a patch with alcohol/windshield washing fluid they got very hard to load. I shot a couple with the swab method, and then bravely decided to try and not swabbing and they load really easy. Am I doing something wrong with my swabbing? I'll run the wet patch down the barrel and then a couple of dry patches. I think it's dry, the last patch looks dry.

Then run a lubed patch down the barrel, fire a cap, then load. [ I use TC Bore Butter ]

Nope.. you're fine. What your experiencing is that when the barrel is real clean and dry you get that plastic trying to engage the rifling on the way down. Next time you load on a swabbed barrel wet the outside of the sabot with spit. Just roll the sabot outside in your mouth and get it wet. That little amount of water will be gone before it gets to the powder and will help it load a little easier.

After you have fowled the barrel there is a buildup of fowling in there that if you do not swab acts as almost a lube of sorts. The problem is if you let that build up it is more of a mess to get out, and a it closes in the barrel will make loading harder. I often times swab every third shot depending on the sabot and bullet. The SSB's by Buffalo are one that I can load about three before I have to swab.

I'm not a sabot guy, but I talked with a T/C technician and he strongly recommended against putting lubes like bore butter on sabots. Hey, whatever works.

I concur with cayugad, your doing it fine just nature of the beast if you will.

I concur with Uncle Norby. Before I knew better, tried using bore butter to make sabots go down the barrel easier. Not good. Has a big effect on point of impact and SD of velocity. I do know one guy, however, that does it every time (even lubes the barrel before the first shot) - like I do with lead conicals - and claims fairly good groups - says consistency of the lube is the key . . . .

Like Cayugad, I use a little saliva.

It really depends upon the barrel, my 54 likes a lubed barrel too group the first and second shot at the same point at 100. Dry barrel and the second shot would be 7" apart. Do it for five days and I had two nice groups 7"s apart. I was using Wonder Lube, but whatever should work.

You guys are right, some like it dry, some like it wet, some like it slimey, they all are different, you just have to find what works for you!

Don't be afraid to try something different, just be safe!

I'll try the spit idea - I'm sure it'll work. By the way, those Buffalo sabots sure shoot good. Almost unbelieveable on how well they group - I had two go thru the same hole. Baldman and I are going to try and get our local shop (45 mi away one way) to carry them.
Thanks again for your advice - what a great resource this place is.

the spit-sabot works fine - I do it too.

But usually I just run both sides of a spit-patch after firing and then charge & load without a dry patch - this has the same affect on loading and it does not affect the powder due to the heat of the just fired barrel.

You know thats the reason I don't use your mix. The alcohol causes everything to dry so quick, and tough loading. Use No13 cleaner and it at least won't make so touch unless you dry it out real good.