I use a short starter and a stiff ramrod. It is just a little ruff on the way down. These patches are lubed pretty good. I think the cleaning will help since I got alot of crud out of the barrel. I have a .530ball and a .015 patch. I tried a .010 patch that I could load really easily and thumb start. I will try both next time I go out and shoot. I do not know if I could get good accuracy out of a .530 ball and a .010 patch. We will see next time I shoot.