Get rid of that Remington and buy an Colt 1851 Navy in .36 caliber, a real handgun. They handle and present better, well, at least in my opinion. (Ok, so this is only part in jest.) If you go whole hog and start getting an urge to buy rifles and other gee-gaws, you have two choices - embrace it or fight. They don't make shots you can take yet.
Chain firing won't be an issue is you take a few steps to ensure it doesn't happen. They make felt wads or you can use crisco or lard over the ball to seal it.
Only load five (5) cylinders. Or at least, that is what they did in the old days and what I do. Don't want that hammer resting on a cap...
Buy a nipple wrench, if you don't have one yet. Nipple wrenches are your friend.
Although pyrodex is available, I always preferred the real stuff - and yes, I am a luddite.
When you can, cast your own balls. It'll save some $ and let you shoot more....
Your regular hand gun shooting will improve, because you will relearn follow through...
Most of all - HAVE FUN!
The only problem with crisco or lard to prevent chain fire, as it warms up it willdrip away leaving little protection for chain fire. Use a 50/50 mixture of beeswax and crisco.
you can have your hammer rest on the notch BETWEEN the nipples on a '58 remington. On the 1860 Colt, there is a small pin between the nipples for the same reason.
Pyrodex will burn cleaner, but has a tendency to rust quicker than black.
If you need lead to cast the balls, let me know I have around 2500# of pure lead for casting. I'll give you enough to get started.
As far as cleaning the gun, HOT water is by far the best and fastest way to clean up after a day of shooting. After a match of 50 rounds, I can clean my Sharps or Hiwall with hot water followed by a couple dry patches and a lightly oiled patch and put it away with NO WORRY.
If you have leading problems, the leading can be removed with KROIL on a tight patch run through a few times. If you don't have Kroil ( from most auto parts stores) pure spirits of turpentine works very well.
I have around 60# of black powder in different grades, f, ff, fff, ffff, cartridge, cannon.
If you have trouble finding it locally I will help out there as well. I have it stored in a magazine at a friends fireworks plant.
