I am located in West Central Missouri.
Currently my loading tools are a RCBS Rockchucker and Lyman 3 die set for the 45 2 4/10 (45-90). 

My previous experience loading BP cartridges was a rolling block with a Numrich Arms Buffalo Hunter barrel. Those were hit and miss, but mine was a good one. Accuracy was so good I had it D&T'd and put a Unertl on it. It was an honest 1/2-3/4 gun at 100yds.
My load at the time was 70gr Dupont (I still have some) FFG and a 405gr cast bullet. I didn't have any problems loading those. The 45-90 has been a different story. Of course the chamber is probably a little more precise and I am trying to use a bigger bullet.
I looked into a compression plug for my Lyman dies. Buffalo makes one for $20.00 plus TT&L, so I will probably go that route when I have the money.

I have started getting into long range shooting with modern guns and have some places I can get out to 1000-1200yds but they are more geared to modern rifle comps. At those places it would be more of a fun side thing to let others shoot.

I would really like to hook up with some BPCR guys in my area.

Thanks Sam,
I have learned a lot from this thread already.
My problem has been with crushing cases. It has been a while, but I don't think I am running a crimp. I have tried settling the powder by vibrating and/or tapping the base of the case on the top of the bench.

I keep hearing about wads, but is it really necessary to run them?

How about the use of wafer of lube as opposed to a wad?

Yes your right, your compression stem should compress to the depth of the seated bullet. The easiest way to determine the depth is to take a loaded round and measure the overall length, then subtract the length of the bullet and then the length of the case. You will end up with a negative number but that is the depth that you want to compress to. Some people compress the powder and some compress the powder with a wad on top, if you compress without the wad, add the thickness of the wad to your compression depth. 
If you have a separate compression die your all set, if your using a die that you have to remove the compression stem and use the die for something else, what I do is measure the overall length of the die and stem with the stem adjusted to the proper depth and this will give you a number to use to reset the stem when you put it back in.
Now that you are able to compress your load separately you should just feel your bullet bottom out if seating it with a die and things should chamber and work a lot better for you.
Sam

Ok on the subject of wads. Buffalo has poly and vegetable wads of varying thickness. How does one determine the proper thickness? Is the preference poly or veggie? A guy at Sharps told me he uses milk cartons (wax cardboard).

Dan Theodore (may he RIP) preferred LDPE wads of 0.060" thickness, but many top shooters use fiber. Both work well. A newspaper wad between your bullet and the the wad will prevent the wad from sticking to your bullet. Just wipe the base of the bullet on a paper-towell to get the lube off before loading. 

From western MO the nearest two ranges are likely Tappan Hill, which is north of Salina, KS (will be shooting their matches the last weekend of May) and Effingham, IL. IIRC, there are matches at the MO or St. Louis Benchrest Club (am not sure of the correct name) and definitely at the Tulsa and OKC clubs. Check their websites for dates. These are all BPCR matches. 

For BPTR you will likely have to go further afield. Byers in CO, Lodi in WI, Greyling in MI, Oak Ridge in TN are the ones that are likely the nearest to you. And, of course, Raton, NM.