I used to do the same thing with 30-30. Loaded a 30 cal round ball, sprue up, with a spot of lubriplate over a half sheet of toilet paper wadding, on top of about 6 grains of 4759, if I remember right. To chamber while deer hunting in case I saw a grouse. Even more quiet than my .22 and perfectly lethal out to about 50 yards for small game.
I wasn't very interested in deer, even when I was hunting them. But, I was always keenly interested in grouse hunting.


Best,
Ted