How hard do you pack the bullet on the powder. I know not to tap, but how hard do you press down.

Also I learned today that if I shoot more than 3 shots without cleaning, no telling where the bullet is going. Is this normal. My fourth and fifth shots didn't hit paper. Does that sound right?

I shoot only round ball muzzleloaders so I will stay with what I know. The main thing is to be absolutely certain that the projectile is on top of the powder with no air space. Anything short of that creates an obstruction in the barrel and can lead to bulging or bursting the tube depending on God only knows what variables. I compress black powder cartridge loads in 45-70 and see no adverse effects with accuracy. I can hear the crunch of powder when I seat the bullet by levering the press. I can't imagine honking on a loading rod or hickory ramrod in a front stuffer will crush much powder. As for fowling and loss of accuracy, I assume you're talking about a rifled barrel. If it gets that dirty that quick then you're probably not getting complete burn of the powder. You might try varying charges, adding a felt cushion wad between powder and patched round ball or bullet, or switching lube. OxYoke Wonder Lube is the best thing since sliced bread and I understand that TC Bore Butter works the same way. I've also gotten excellent reports about Bridger's Best Power Lube out of Clinton, Montana. The trick with all of these is to boil ALL OF THE PETROLEUM DISTILLATES AND OIL OUT OF THE BARREL STEELE. Use hot water and raise the barrel heat to where you have to use rubber gloves to handle it. Then swab with patches of these wintergreen smelling lubes and never use oil on the guns again. Grease your patches with the same lube. I can shoot all morning in my rifles and never clean between shots. My felt wads are also "cured" in Wonder Lube and I have them in .45 cal, .54 cal, .62 cal, 14 bore or .69 cal, and .82 cal or 8 bore for my mastadon killer. Hope this helps.
I remain,
Yer mOOste huMble & Obt serVant
Yallerstone
Dept of the Clark's Fork