While I agree that the majority of the shooters used a measure of some kind, there is reference from journals of the mountain rendevous days, when they talked about a "ball's measure of powder." This was done by placing a ball in the cup of one's handand then pouring powder on top of the ball until is measured to the top of the ball.... I've always meant to test that theory and see how much powder would actually be produced by that kind of measure. As for accuracy, I see no waya person could get a good measure time after time.

Another thing many may not know or do not understand is in old days, powder and ball was hard to come by in many cases. Most powder charges used were just enough to get the job done. Many powderloads were very small in size for deer sized game. Maybe they depended more on their ability to close distances to game, or theirtracking abilitity then dragging ability...

In a book by Don Davis, he talks about one of his favorite loads from his flintlock for deer hunting. Fifty grains of powder and a patchedroundball. Makes a hundred and fifty grain charge sound like a horn full...