Cap and ball, proper loading.

[mec]

In his book Sixguns -1955, Elmer Keith had a chapter or a section of one on shooting colt percussion revolvers. He said that when he was young there were people in the North West who had used percussion revolvers when they were state of the art. One of these told him that they would punch wads out of old felt hats treat them with mutton tallow.
Keith said that he routinely did this himself, blowing over the barrel after each cylinder full and the bore would remain clear of substantial fouling for extensive shooting.
These are the original Colt Instructions saying not to use wads and making no mention of over-projectile grease

 

[MCgunner]

I quit using Crisco over ball quite some time ago. At first, I just did this when loading conicals owing to the added contact with the cylinder of a conical. Then, thinkin' about it, I have good, tight fitting ball pressed over cornmeal filler. I can't see how any spark would make it to the powder from the ball side of the cylinder, so I quit using Crisco over the ball and haven't (knock on wood) had a problem. I think the danger of a chain fire is much exaggerated, at least from the front, if you have proper fitted ball and, too, especially if you're using a filler. I think a chain fire is more likely from the nipple side of the cylinder from loose caps, so I want my caps to fit proper. They're all different and now days, just FINDING caps of ANY brand is tough enough. I've been pinching number 11 CCIs for my guns, not the optimum thing to do, but haven't had...knock on wood...any chain fires.

 

[mec]

Several years ago, there was a guy who posted on this board named Bear Tracker. He said that he had shot at least 300 rounds without using any over ball grease and had not had any cross fires. I started doing the same with the same result plus eliminating the action bogging down from excess fouling and mush less powder residue in the barrel. The only cross ignition ive seen was when a ball that had been removed from a chamber was reloaded- a loose fit. No damaged done and a real non-event.