"I removed the pellets and the bullet but had to throw the pellets away as they absorbed breach lube upon extraction"

Maybe skip the breech lube for hunting?? Not sure if this is a good idea (I have never done this -- maybe someone else will weigh in), but your hunting and only going to fire once (hopefully) or maybe twice -- how gunked up is it gonna get? Your not taking to the range and shooting it 20 times.