A variety of adjustable measures are available to help you get a uniform charge every time. Next, place a lubricated cloth patch over the muzzle and seat the ball flush on top of it. For target shooting when the shot will be fired immediately, you can get away with a light moistening with water, but in hunting situations where there's a guaranteed delay, a light grease or oil will do a better job of preventing drying out, freezing, or moisture from reaching the powder charge. Once the ball has been seated to starter depth, use the ramrod to push it the rest of the way down to the top of the powder charge. This is a crucial step, since an improperly seated ball can result in an exploding barrel.
Ramrods are available in wood, brass and nylon, all of which are good if handled properly.
The major safety rule to remember is to never grip the rod at the top and always seat the ball in stages to reduce the chance of breakage. The last step to proper loading is priming. With a percussion system this entails simply placing a cap on the nipple. A flintlock, on the other hand, requires the hammer to be placed on the half-cock position, the frizzen to be opened, and a small amount of 4F black powder poured in the pan. For faster ignition with the flintlock, it helps to be certain that the powder doesn't come in contact with the touch hole.