JB-Bore paste I would not call a real abrasive. I use it about every six months on my rifles just to get that bore back to a nice clean shine. They look like a new dime when your done. It is not like a grinding compound is what I am trying to say, that would actually lapp the barrel.

Since the bore looks clean to you, I really have no idea why it is so tight. Granted I still need to put a little pressure on the ball when I seat it, but I would rather do that then have it fall or free slide down the barrel.

Pyrodex is a lot more messy then Triple Se7en. Fowling is worse, but I was going to suggest that, just in case the Triple Seven was putting a hard deposit in the bore and that is what you were experiencing. I think you just have a tight bore.

You can lapp it to make it loose, but I really would not do that either. I would just swab the barrel ever couple shots and learn to live with it. Or get a replacement barrel. Perhaps a telephone call to thompson center might be in order. Of course they are going to tell you it is because the barrel needs to be seasoned and you are not using bore butter. So that might do you much good. I use the moose milk all the time and would not change lubes.