Ohiochuck,
There are three levels of pressure you need to consider when loading for your rifles. The proof marks will tell you the limit you need to put on your loads. You may very well have to use a different load in each rifle. A rifle with only black powder proofs would need the lowest level loads; a "nitro" proofed rifle would use the next, and most common, level; A rifle with "Express" proof ( crown E) can be loaded to slightly higher levels. I usually use a tuft of kapok tamped down over the powder, but importantly, this is not a recommendation. The use of fillers and the type filler are vary controversial subjects; with some claiming this can result in "ringed" chambers, some with anecdotal evidence. Only you can decide whether you use filler and which type, since no one else can control the handloading practices you follow . That said, my favorite cast bullet load is a 210gr blunt nose bullet( H&G 512c)in front of 13 gr of Red Dot ( Ed Harris-The Load), but with kapok. Another common load which also works as a "Nitro for Black" load is 12 gr of Unique behind a 200 gr( Lyman mold block shortened to drop 200 gr) bullet. Someone mentioned using 40-42 gr 3031 with a 200 gr bullet. In my main rifle ( Express proofed), 41 grains of 3031, with kapok, gives the RWS 193 gr bullet about 2270 fps. Other fast to medium burning powders give similar results. I often use military "pull down" 4895, 4198, Unique, Red Dot; sometimes Norma 201, 4320, or 4064. I sometimes use Bullseye with cast 95gr 9mm Makrov in a squib load( this is a fun, but not very accurate load, since the short bullet is not well supported in the throat).I have recently been made aware that Vit.VN140 has a burning rate similar to the old German R5 powder and if I get another rifle I may try to duplicate old German loads.
For anyone with a computer loading program, I would limit loads for black powder rifles to about 1200 bar; for Nitro proofed, about 1800 bar; and for Express proofed, about 2000 bar ( CUP). I hope you find this helpful.
Mike
