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  DTB,                                                                                        
         Actually, several years ago I took a 105 lb. spikehorn buck in a steady drizzle during the black powder deer season in Massachusetts.
When the lock is uncovered you can have several seconds before it becomes wet enough to cause problems with ignition ( depending on how bad the rain is, of course. ) Historically, it was common to make an accessory called a"cow's knee" which is a leather cover for the lock mechanism. I have used large plastic ziplock bags with the bottom cut open to form a tube and the ends secured with rubber bands. This arrangement was sufficient to keep the lock dry for several hours in a steady rain, but I had to carry the rifle carefully, keeping the muzzle pointing down so the rain water would not run down the side of the barrel toward the lock. As for the buck I took in a drizzle, I had the lock covered in clingwrap. Just like the large plastic bag, I used a sheet of clingwrap wide enough to cover the entire lock area from several inches up the barrel ahead of the lock all the way back to the wrist of the stock.                                                                                    
         Just out of curiosity, what make and model is your rifle, and what caliber? Also, what are you using for a target? I have found that paper pie plates at 50 to 75 yards are good for practice as these are about the same size as the vital area ( the "boiler room" ) of a whitetail deer. The life size deer targets, although more expensive, are a lot of fun, though.                                                                    
         With summer coming, I hope you can get in a lot of range time!                                                                  .......Dan

     Tumakas,                                                                        
         Grease is one of those universal things that is useful for many applications! Not only do 18th century reenactors use it to lubricate their muskets and their patching material for round balls, but I have seen "mountain man" guys thoroughly smear their high topped moccasins to waterproof them for travel on the snow in winter.       
         Yes, you can do a lot more with grease than just put it in your hair. Use your imagination!                                                
                                                                                   .......Dan

     Practice makes perfect, DTB!                                                   
        Shooting muzzleloaders is fascinating because it allows you to explore 700 years of history in a very "hands-on" sort of way! Let me also suggest that you read MUZZLE BLASTS and MUZZLELOADER magazines if you can find them, as these periodicals are full of useful information.                                                         .......Dan