Its real hard to tell you what charge your rifle will like with a conical. I would start shooting with 70 grains and work up until the load is accurate or the recoil is more then you want. You can also try adding a bore button under some conicals or even corn meal (20 grams) and see if that does not make a difference. As for the use of the musket nipple I really never had a problem getting a Hawkins to ignite. I see no need for the musket cap, but to each their own.