Determine the barrel twist. If it's 1:66, you've got a round ball rifle. If it's 1:48, it's more along the line of a conical.
For any muzzle loader you'll need: power flask/horn, power measure (preferably adjustable), patches, ball.
Loading procedure is "Powder, patch and ball, or it won't shoot at all."
You should also get a range rod and not rely on the wood ramrod for range use. If that wood breaks, you can get impaled and that hurts. For field use, a synthetic rod is good or if you use wood occasionally, be careful to hold the side of the rod when you load.
Prior to shooting put a cap on the nipple and hold the barrel down near a blade of grass or the dirt. When you snap the cap, look for the dirt or blade of grass to move. This procedure tells you that the nipple is unobstructed and that the barrel is clear. You may have to do it twice before you load with powder.
Always load from the powder measure and not the powder horn or flask. An ember in the barrel can ignite the powder as it is poured down the barrel. If the sparks transfer to your horn/flask, you've got a grenade. Note: For round ball, I'd start with 30 grains 2F and may go as high as 50 grains (in five grain increments).
After you poured the powder down the barrel, get your patch and center it on the muzzle. The patch size depends on the ball diameter and you're searching for a compromise between a tight fit (necessary for accuracy) and ease of loading. Super tight fights may require a small mallet to get the ball started down the barrel.
Place your ball atop the patch and with a ball (or short) starter, push the ball into the muzzle. Now use the long end of the ball starter to push the patched ball the 3 or 4" length of the starter further down the barrel. Afterward use your ramrod that has been fitted with a jag to push the ball all the way down until you hit bottom.
Now you are ready to cap the rifle. Safety rule: Never cap a rifle before you load. This can be dangerous if the hammer slips while you're loading. So load with powder, patch and ball before capping the nipple.
After capping the nipple you are ready to shoot.
Useful accessories include: 1) Stuck ball remover. It's a wood screw that fits on the end of the ramrod and is used to bore into the lead ball so you can pull it out. This is necessary if you loaded the barrel without first pouring powder down it. Doing that is called a dry ball. Another way to remove a lead ball is to use a C02 discharger. 2) Worm. This is a twisted wire that can be fitted on the ramrod. The wire is used to ensnare a patch and to pull it out of the barrel. This may be useful if you're cleaning the gun and the patch slips off the jag. 3) Moose milk. Home made barrel lube and cleaner. 1/3 Murphy Soap, 1/3 water, 1/3 Hydrogen Peroxide. You can wet a patch, run it down the bore to loosen and remove the fouling and there will be a lot of it. 4) Possibles Bag - leather pouch that is slung over the shoulder to carry your patches, balls, spare caps (or capper), accoutrements.
