Everyone has an opinion and a recipe. IMHO, with rifles .58 or larger, ff BP is recommended. I do like using (as a main charge), of 20-25grs. of FFF first followed by60+ grains of FF on top to that. A lot depends on if your hunting moose or shooting paper, and the range your shooting. Because BP burns and not "explodes" like a modern smokeless powder, you reach a point of diminishing return. Meaning you can only expect so much powder to actually burn and produce pressure, the rest is wasted after the ball or bullet leaves the barrel. Using the finer powder burns quicker, helping ignite the heavier powder. I don't know if with your rifle or conditions this will help much. A basic starting point is 1 gr of powder charge per caliber. Depending on your barrel(old antique, new, how heavy), counts a lot as to the pressures you want it to go through. Remember, with a RB, the patch takes the rifling. I use the thickest patch possible that I don't have to hammer down the barrel. I'm sure lubes are just as important, especially to the AR target shooters. But I've used everything from spit to mink oil. When rampaging squirrels threaten the homestead a man has to do what's nessisary, but I prefer bore butter, again, a personal preference.
