Cleaning a BP cartridge gun is no different than cleaning a cap and ball. Taylor's has a nifty little tool that allows you to pull all 6 firing pins on the cylinder backplate with ease, same as you would nipples on a C&B. Not something you need to do every time, but makes it an easy chore. Think it was like 15 bucks or so. Highly recommended.
The only difference in cleaning you will see is with your brass. And as others have mentioned, they don't need to be shiny and polished to function. Both Mike116 and I prefer shiny, polished, new-looking brass but that's a personal preference on my part. Clean, stained brass will function as well as shiny polished brass. That part is totally up to you, Tim.
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50587232546_33d37f34b3_4k.jpg)
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51487293312_9b5b96146d_4k.jpg)
You don't need to cast your own bullets to get into reloading for BPCR. Midway sells pre-cast/prelubed bullets ready to go. Make sure you get the ones lubed with SPG lube or the green-stripe bullets with the lube suitable for either BP or smokeless. If you don't intend to load smokeless the SPG is preferred. The 'blue stripe' bullets are for smokeless only.
WRT dies; I prefer the RCBS "Cowboy" dies. They are a bit more expensive than standard carbide .45LC dies but worth it IMHO. They are designed with different tolerances for .452 flat nosed cast lead bullets while the standard dies are designed more for modern jacketed bullets. You can get with me if and when you decide to order stuff and I'll steer ya straight.