thanks gang for all the great tips.

another tip i got was to leave the hammer at 1/2 cock. when i dump the powder, it has a chance to get to the nipple area. if the hammer is fully seated, it might create an air pocket so the powder will never get all the way down.

i used a spray gun cleaner that kinda smells & turns everything it touches white when it dries (kinda like acetone). it really got all the gunk out of the nipple/breech area. i tried to shine a light into the nipple threading & peered down the muzzle but i didn't see any light shining through. popping off a few caps did move a piece of tissue paper i hung up (actually blasted it into pieces) - i'm sure all is clear with no obstructions.

i'm off to the range before the snow storm hits, i'll post results when i return.