Tapered compressed powder charge for muzzleloader and black powder firearms

An improved premeasured compressed charge for use with a black powder firearm having a desired caliber of an intended firearm, the compressed charge comprising:

• a leading end portion and a trailing end portion, the leading end portion having a smaller dimension than both the trailing end portion and the desired caliber of the intended firearm, while the trailing end portion having a larger diagonal dimension than the desired caliber of the firearm such that the leading end portion of the compressed charge is received within the desired caliber of the firearm while the trailing end portion must be forced into the desired caliber of the firearm;
• the leading end portion of the compressed charge designed to be located closely adjacent an outlet of the flash channel of the firearm, following loading of the compressed charge within the firearm, and the leading end portion facilitating flame propagation of the flame along sidewalls of the compressed charge;
• wherein one of a density and a compaction of a volume of the compressed charge adjacent the leading end portion is between 0.1% to about 5% less than one of the density and the compaction of a volume of the charge adjacent the trailing end portion, so as to facilitate a complete combustion of the compressed charge upon discharge of the firearm.