A couple of other points...Years ago I used prelubed patches...I had them in .010, .015 and .020...Well one year I started burning patches and my accuracy went to heck...I started using wasp nesting between the ball and patch and this "fixed" the problem...

Then I decided to start buying patch material in bulk...My problem went away...Since then I have seen where others have seen the same thing...Evidently greased cotton patches can break down over time...I now buy a yard of cotton ticking at WalMart for about 4 bucks...I also make my own lube from bees wax, castor oil and Murphy's Oil Soap...This way my patches and lube are fresh...I use a loading block and carry 4 balls in her and cut at the muzzle as well...

I also hear a lot about the ball and patche being hard to load...I used to shoot competition, I have seen guys start a ball with a mallet...One thing you need to remember, that ball is made of lead and will conform to the bore of the rifle...Once you get her started and 4-5 inches down the bore it shouldn't be a bear to slide down...This is with a clean barrel and a good, slick bore...

This is another reason I like to at least run a spit patch down after a shot...Most stuck balls come after a guy has shot and wants to load quickly in a fouled bore...Until you find the right ball/patch/powder combo be very careful of loading with a fouled bore, or at least have a stout range rod to finish the process...

As you get to know the gun, you can change this...I now know that I can load 2-3 times with my .54 in the woods with my ramrod...After that, I either swab the bore or go from a .018 patch to a .015 patch...The smaller patched ball give me good hunting accuracy and loads well in an already fouled bore...

Finally...I used to shoot 100grs of FF Goex...About 10 years ago, I went to FFF and dropped the load to 80grs...This does two things...I use FFF to prime my flinters and for the main charge...In addition, over 55% of black powder is not burned but left as residue...By dropping the charge, you reduce the fouling left in the barrel...By moving to FFF you have more complete burning of the powder...

You will be impressed with what a lead round ball does to a deer...Charges of 70-80grs FFF are plenty for .45, .50 and .54 caliber balls...