Yeah I probably should have emphasized I didn’t want to try talking you out of taking it slow. Not only is that a personal choice but I agree it’s prudent any time there is uncertainty or you’re acquiring knowledge…and for any number of other reasons.
However on the suggestion to push a couple of pellets through to feel for a hitch at the muzzle, there is no sequence of steps that should omit it and it’s easy to do so might as well do it prior to shooting groups. Because if it groups badly, the very next thing you’re going to do is check for a burr. But even if it groups better than before, maybe it can be even better so you still want to check for a burr.
Regarding keeping the screw centered, it’s counterintuitive but in order to form a uniform bevel, you have to expressly NOT try to keep the screw centered. See the advice in the guide about orbiting the drill in wide sweeping arcs and figure 8’s. If instead you try to keep it centered, you will inevitably apply a bias that will create an irregular bevel. By orbiting the drill, you randomize the bias and you end up with a nicely uniform bevel. On into the thread there is some further discussion on this topic…do a CTRL+F for “Reuleaux triangle” to find it. And here’s a video by Sean Pero where he discusses it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PG-VHKfe0Y
