RE: Lyman Great Plains Flintlock Rifle
A pan charger will dispense about 3 gr of powder per push. Sometimes it is more or less, and you may have to give it a little more or stop pouring it in and dump a little. I tap mine to loosen up the powder, push in the plunger and release while still holding my finger on the hole. Then move your finger and pour the charge in the pan. Then I give the gun a little side to side shake to put the powder against the hole and distribute it in the pan.
Substitutes may work in the pan, in the most ideal conditions, but the guys who are experienced on this board told me that it is unreliable to use substitutes in the pan. Blackpowder ignites at a lower temp and catches from sparks much better than the others. With low humidity, the very best spark and a little luck, substitutes MAY ignite in the pan.