my dads italian made hawken does that. you have to hold it a certain way when pouring the powder down the barrel, if you dont, the powder dont go into the drum and therefore he gets a cap burst only. He found out the hardway this september when he shot at a deer and only had the cap go off. Pulled the nipple and zero powder was in the drum. I dont care much for the made in italy guns after i bought a 1851 confederate navy 44cal pistol and after every shot i would have to look for the wedge pin and put the barrel back in place. That was 1 scary pistol! But i would load up, take your first shot, reload and then pull the nipple and see if theres powder, my dad always has to load his rifle at leaning to the right at a sharpe angle.