New to black powder. Picked up an H&H .58 cal Sportsman, Triple 7, & #10caps. I also got
.59 lead balls that I was told didn't need a patch. What lubricant is advisable? Planning on 100 units (Redhead loader) to start. Any suggestions?
Well, being new to BP, I can tell you that it's a little like sex: if you do it wrong you'll hate it; but if you do it right you'll be doing it for a very long time indeed.
First, the H&R break-open is a great starter gun that many use for all their BP shooting - I've seen them conveted to use larger/hotter musket caps and 209 shotgun primers as a weather protection system.
With the right use & care, it should last a lifetime.
Second, I don't know what a "Redhead loader" is, but FWIW, black powder, or BP substitutes like Pyrodex or Triple7 should have their powder charges formed via dipping with a volumetric powder measure, and never via weighing as one would with smokeless gunpowder.
BP measures are available pretty much everywhere Triple7, etc is sold, and are marked with the various levels you can fill them to, to pour into speedloaders or directly into the barrel.
If you use a round lead ball for a bullet, it should be well under bore size, and wrapped with a linen or denim patch to both engage the rifling and seal the bore.
If you use conical bullets, they can be bore-sized, but must be lubricated.
I've had excellent luck in all my BP arms with T/C's Ox-Yoke Bore Butter 1000+ lube, but there's a LOT of choices out there, and every seasoned BP shooter has their druthers.
Let google be your friend, and search for ".58 cal black powder loads" or ".58 caliber loads"
.