RE: Crud ring location?
Use a cooler priimer like Winchester/Triple Se7en 209s or Remington Kleanbore 209.
Switch to 777 FFF loose powder .. it's smaller/cleaner - thus a tad softer fouling.
Get yourself a palm-saver or T-Handle device for the end of your ramrod. Gives you more powder to push/more leverage for loading bullets.
Use a bore brush instead of a jag for swabbing. Then use the jag for seating the bullet. I always take two ramrods to the range. Keep your patches wet to the touch & turn the ramrod clockwise a revolution or three when you reach the bore-bottom -- for better cleaning of the crud area - then clean with up & down strokes.