If you look @ the equipment lists for various matches, you'll see that 99.9% of the competitors load w/ BP. The reason? -- because BP works, works well, & far better than the BP substitutes.
Below are 2 links (one is in MS Word format; the other Adobe) to an on-line BPCR reloading primer:
http://www.ssbpcrc.co.uk/Resources/Introduction%20to%20BPCR%20Loading.dochttp://www.ssbpcrc.co.uk/Resources/Introduction%20to%20BPCR%20Loading.pdfReloading a BPCR cartridge is not difficult, it is just different from White/Nitro Powder (AKA Smokeless) reloading & does require a certain am’t. of patience & attention to detail.
Also, here are links to two very good books about reloading & shooting the BPCR:
“Shooting Buffalo rifles of the Old West” by noted black powder correspondent Mike Venturino
http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,3028.htm“SPG Black Powder Cartridge Reloading Primer”, by Steve Garbe
http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,1066.htmCleaning:
When shooting BP cartridges, a Shooter needs to decap & wash the cases out w/ hot soapy water (or some other effective cleaning solution) as soon as possible. Otherwise, the BP will attack the brass & weaken it.
W/ the right load, a Shooter will not experience blowback. I shoot numerous BPCRs & the rifles are very easy to clean. For example, to take down a Sharps or a Ballard, you just remove the lever pin, & the breech block & extractor drop out. The Remington Rolling Block requires removal of the breech block & hammer pins. As a matter of habit, I remove the blocks to clean @ the end of the shooting session. Probably totally unnecessary to do @ the end of ea. range visit, but old habits die hard.
I’d visit the Shiloh board & look thru the various threads to get some more info about BPCRs, reloading, lead & paper patched bullets, etc.
http://www.shilohrifle.com/forums/http://www.shilohrifle.com/ & speaking of the PP bullet:
“Making, Loading, and Shooting Paper Patched Bullets”, Brent Danielson
http://www.iastate.edu/~codi/PPB/PPB.html