I am so not sure in asking this... for discussion by those that know better than me - but if we used something small in diameter to push the pellet in past the transfer port... does the lead in of the barrel up into the rifling... allow for the pellet to become, and/ or load not square at that point?
Yes, the lead in helps no doubt, but think of the head of the pellet. Ya know how when you put a pellet in the breech and it tilts down nose first and then gets hung up in the stupid screw counter-bore. Well using the hollow tip probe seems to help that a bit and should keep the pellet held in place all the way to its final resting place.
My theory is that if using just a straight tipped probe the pellet could be pushed into the barrel tilted all the way to its final resting place, distorting the skirt.
Now, does that actually happen? Who knows for sure. I would like to make a plexiglass barrel and see for sure.
Anyway, there is my twisted train of thought.
Rich