Basically other than real BP or BH you can get a crud ring. It can be minimal to really tough...

I would suggest do not damp patch with anything that has an oil in it....

North, this is one reason why I stick with Goex...I've got to have it anyway for my flintlocks, so I just use it in my Knight as well...I have used Pyrodex from time to time when WalMart wants to give it away but I usually use real black powder...I just don't see a big advantage to using the subs...

I use both loose Pyrodex and Pellets (not at the same time) and I can get a clean barrel with 3 spit patches if no cleaners are available. Just swab down slowly and flip and reuse, get another and so on. Crud ring will happen but you can minimize it by cleaning the gun. Muzzleloaders are more maintenance but in my opinion they are more fun to shoot and some of the new guns out have really neat and fast ways to clean them. I have all my ramrods maked when the bullet is seated, only I do not use tape, I have permanentenly cut a mark around the ramrod in which it meets the crown of the barrel flush. I used a good pocket knife and the marks are going strong even after 10 years of weathering.

Now just out of curiosity - and this is obvious to most of us. But just to be sure: You are seating the bullets firmly into the sabot prior to seating it on the charge.

Hmmm, i didn't think to ask that question

Yup, I am seating the bullet in the sabot. i have been cleaning it with Hoppes 9 and then not firing a primer before shooting, so that might be leaving some oil in the barrel for crud to stick to. I am going to try cleaning with windex, and popping a primer before shooting.

Well, you never know. Sometimes its the most obvious and overlooked that causes the problem. I just wanted to make sure.