RE: powder charge compacted or not?
It is what you get in your powder measurer. I tap mine as well while I am pouring the powder in. I also tap the barrel near the breach after I pour the powder down and before I seat the bullet.
Remember you just seat the bullet, DO NOT tamp it into place smacking the ramrod down on the bullet a few times. This is not the correct way to load it. Simply push the rod firmly until it bottoms out. Then mark the rod even with the end of the barrel. This is your witness mark and lets you know when the bullet is properly seated. Obviously this will change if you change the powder charge or switch to a different style bullet.
Paul