RE: What Powder do you use?
Let's see...
Inlines and Caplocks: Black Mag'3, Hodgdon 777 FFFG & FFG (usually 3FG), Swiss FFFG Black Powder. Remington Kleenbore and Winchester 209 Primers and RWS Dynamit-Nobel #1075 percussion caps.
Flintlocks: Swiss FFFG Black Powder (4FG priming).
As far as loads, if you are shooting patched roundball (PRB) (or whatever), you will need to pick a powder and then work up a load.
For hunting with your 54cal caplockT/C, I would suggest the following:
.530 Hornady Roundball, .018" Lubed Ticking Patch, 54 or 58 caliber lubed wonderwad and RWS caps. If .018" is too thick of a patch, then go with the standard .015" white lubed patch.
Start out by loading a moderate load about 80-90 grains or so depending on your powder choice. If you are shooting 3FG powder, then remember to reduce your max loading data by 10%. And if you are shooting BM3 or 777, reduce your loads by another 15%.
Load the powder, then the wad, then the PRB. Wad's allow you to load heavier hunting charges without blowng the patch and can really bring some great accuracy with hunting loads.
Regards,
Tahquamenon