.54 Caliber Ante Chamber - What MFG's Don't Have One??

I had posted awhile back about my continued mis-fire issues with my Investarms (Hawken style) .54 caliber percussion. So many great responses and awesome information. One of the many things I learned was my gun has an "Ante-Chamber" which as I understand it is part of the manufacturing process for certain manufactures. I will be in the market in 2025 for another .54 Caliber percussion but what manufactures would/does NOT have an Ante Chamber in a .54 Caliber Hawken.

Turtle2 said:

I had posted awhile back about my continued mis-fire issues with my Investarms (Hawken style) .54 caliber percussion. So many great responses and awesome information. One of the many things I learned was my gun has an "Ante-Chamber" which as I understand it is part of the manufacturing process for certain manufactures. I will be in the market in 2025 for another .54 Caliber percussion but what manufactures would/does NOT have an Ante Chamber in a .54 Caliber Hawken.

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Here is another thought: PM BigSkyRambler and ask him what he may have or can get for you. He sells lots of previously owned rifles.
Larry

None that I know of. The only guns that don't have a patent breach are usually custom guns.

flconch53 said:

None that I know of. The only guns that don't have a patent breach are usually custom guns.

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For liability reasons I am not going to tell you how I addressed it in my own guns

next time you load your rifle have the hammer at half cock
when the hammer is down it forms a seal and air don't flow freely
when you are at half cock the air can move and the act of seating the ball will send powder into the breach

betcha a dollar against a donut this will solve your issue

Turtle2 said:

I had posted awhile back about my continued mis-fire issues with my Investarms (Hawken style) .54 caliber percussion. So many great responses and awesome information. One of the many things I learned was my gun has an "Ante-Chamber" which as I understand it is part of the manufacturing process for certain manufactures. I will be in the market in 2025 for another .54 Caliber percussion but what manufactures would/does NOT have an Ante Chamber in a .54 Caliber Hawken.

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I am not aware of any manufacturers making a Hawken without a chambered breech (doesn’t mean they are not out there), though one could easily enough be made if you were to go with a custom build.

I read your post from a while back about mis-fires with your Investarm Hawken, and to be honest I believe there is good chance going to a Hawken without a chambered breech may NOT solve your ignition issues. There are too many folks that simply have no issues with ignition reliability using a variety of manufacturers’ guns with chambered breeches, though it doesn’t mean your particular example doesn’t have an issue. Now a number of those folks that have issues with chambered breeches seem to have issues with multiple manufacturers’ guns… I am aware of more than one gun with ignition or accuracy issues that became great shooters after a change of scenery. ‘New’ owners would change a few things, maybe even just one and like magic, the gun became a real shooter. Think things like cleaning or lubrication procedure, powder type, cap type, touchhole size, patch material, for example. Doesn’t matter if we are talking chambered breeches vs no chamber, flint vs percussion, real black powder vs subs, it comes down to basic problem solving skills.

Note that the original Hawkens made by Jake and Sam had chambered breeches. You are not going to find production "Hawkens" made without a chambered breech. Some custom rifles in the Pennsylvania/Kentucky style will have flat breeches. The solution for those of us with chambered breeches is to load in a way that doesn't push fouling into the chambered breech. The firing of a cap to clear the breech, tapping the loosely poured powder to settle some at the breech, using real black powder that is easier to ignite and/or using a "no wiping" between shots loading and firing procedure is likely to solve the problems.

You might consider sending the barrel back under a warranty claim.

The other option might be to remove the breech for a thorough inspection. That would be my option but you may not feel comfortable about doing it.

SDSmlf said:

Doesn’t matter if we are talking chambered breeches vs no chamber, flint vs percussion, real black powder vs subs, it comes down to basic problem solving skills.

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YES!

IMO: Too much attention is given to the patent breech. There's no need to pump water through the patent breech and flame channel.


Usually an obstructed patent breech can be cleared by putting powder under the nipple and stuffing it into the flame channel: Replacing the nipple, capping and firing.

On my gun rack there's a ramrod with a drill bit for clearing an obstructed patent breech.

Okie Hog said:

YES!

IMO: Too much attention is given to the patent breech. IMO:: There's no need to pump water through the patent breech and flame channel.


Usually an obstructed patent breech cam be cleared by putting powder under the nipple and stuffing it into the flame channel: Replacing the nipple, capping and firing.

On my gun rack there's a ramrod with a drill bit for clearing an obstructed patent breech.

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I really don't have a probelm with percussion patent breach. Flintlocks are a little fussier. Mostly all I did to them was get rid of the factory touch hole liner(they were very small in outside diameter) and drill for a 5/16 diameter liner. This let more powder down around the flash hole.
I am talking about CVA's .
.

flconch53 said:

I really don't have a probelm with percussion patent breach. Flintlocks are a little fussier. Mostly all I did to them was get rid of the factory touch hole liner(they were very small in outside diameter) and drill for a 5/16 diameter liner. This let more powder down around the flash hole.
I am talking about CVA's .
.

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This is what a factory CVA touch hole liner looks like
I haven't torn into one but I imagine traditions are the same