Paper patch vs Lube, Black powder.?

The only paper patched bullets for black powder I am familiar with are those used in black powder cartridge rifles like a Sharps 1874. I have never heard of anyone using a paper patched conical bullet in a muzzle loader.

I have seen 2 types of conical bullets for muzzle loaders. The traditional kind has a hollow base that expands into the rifling upon firing (minie ball type) and the kind that has a few thin bands that are groove diameter that must be started like a patched ball when loading them (maxi-ball type).

Paper patched bullets for cartridge guns do not have any grooves for lube, and they are smaller in diameter because they are going to be wrapped with the paper patch. Since they have no lube on the bullet itself, they are often loaded with what is called a "grease cookie". This is nothing more than a thin wad, some lube, and another wad, just like a little oreo cookie placed between the bullet and the compressed load of powder.

Check out the link below for a good variety of bullets for your rifle.

Where do you live that there is no water? It takes about 1 quart to completely clean a BP firearm. I use water heated to just about boiling. Once it has heated the barrel, and you run a few dry patches through it, it will dry out any remaining moisture in a very short time so that rust is NOT a problem. I NEVER use WD40 to clean ANY firearm! The residue it leaves behind attracts grit/dirt/dust, etc. MOST basic chemistry books have the formula for black powder, BUT, note that it is NOW against the law to make your own, since BATFE reclassified black powder to a class A explosive. I use "solid" crisco shortening myself as a patch lubricant. I also use cotton flannel I buy by the yard and cut up for patches. I simply rub some crisco into the patch material, and put a stack of precut patches in my "hawkins" patch box.

A paper quickload like in the Civil War? That's not going to help you one bit because it's going to tear.

Just shoot the conicals as they come in the package - with whatever lube they have. If they are unlubed, then I'd put something like a Crisco or bore butter on them. If you shoot during the hot summer, I'd be melting wax and coating the bullet with that because it tends to make less of a mess.

Leading in a muzzleloader (which typically have deep grooves) --- not an issue.

Xqqz_me is correct. Moreover, if you ever do load paper-patched bullets in a BP cartridge rifle, you'll find it's something of a pain in the rear: you can't use just any old paper, and it has to be cut and shaped just so. If your bullet has grease grooves, use them.

HA, use powerbelt bullets and you won't look back! I would say lube is better.