I had the same problem when I got started muzzleloading last year. Started out with 2 50 grain pellets 777 and powerbelts, terrible crusting. Switched over to shockwave sabots and stopped lubing the barrel with bore butter as I did with the powerbelt and the crust ring was reduced greatly. Then I increased my load to 130 grains total in pellets and now I barely get a crust ring.