Author Topic: "Frankengun" - "Frankenrifle", where, oh where does this belong? Here I hope... (Read 1593 times)

MSP Ret · « **on:** February 21, 2009, 06:12:08 AM »

Well guys this is the second time I am trying to type this, the first went to never never land in cyberspace. AND I am typing on a small old laptop since my old desktop finally gave up the ghost.
I have decided to post this here because it is built around a centerfire receiver (or you could use a shotgun reciever).
I just recently received my new carrierless primer holder for my Huntsman and tried it out with the only shotgun primers I had on hand right now, some old Remington #57's.

They worked but as I looked at the fired primer I got to thinking, and that as we all know can be a dangerous thing.

The fired #57 shotgun primer looked like a short .22 cartridge with a primer in the center, Hmmmm, very interesting...

Out comes a .22 LR Sportster and in goes the fired primer, except for learning to be careful to prevent the primer lip from getting under the ejector lip when laoding it fit well and then ejected fine.

Step 2, now it gets more interesting, take the .22 rimfire barrel off it's frame and try the barrel on a couple of rifle frames and a shotgun frame, it would not lock up, but I have a "few" more frames to try it on. Thinking of the experiment that Larry just did by firing his 32-20 with no latch installed gave me confidence, and this was only a primer right?

Here I go, I loaded an unfired #57 Remington Shotgun primer in the .22 LR barrel on a centerfire (or shotgun) frame, pointed it in a safe direction, and pulled the trigger.

BLAM!!!, about a foot of white flame coming out of the barrel. What a great noisemaker and what a great show at night... and by the way, the fired primer ejected great...

BUT, as they say on TV infommercials, Wait!!! There's more!!!

now for the good part, or the crazy part. My mind is reeling with ideas, how about loading a .22 caliber lead pellet ahead of the primer? A primer fired pellet gun. I have saved some fired .22 Caliber colibri bullets I have recovered, I may even try those.

I do not know if there is a brand of 209 Shotgun primers that may fit in a .22 WMR chamber but I would sure like to find out which 209 primer is the smallest diameter.

What I have found and done is fire a #57 Remington shotgun primer in a .22 Rimfire Sportster barrel, mounted on a Centerfire (or shotgun) frame. A true Frankenrifle, comprised of rimfire, centerfire, and shotgun compatible pieces, and now I am going to get some air rifle .22 caliber pellets to complete my creation..

Remember, have fun and be safe....<><....

P.S. - is this a sign of cabin fever or just a warped mind?.....never mind...by the way, did I ever tell you about the zip guns and rocket lauchers/bazookas I would make as a kid? Powered by my own home brewed black powder of course...

Smokin Joe · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2009, 06:55:25 AM »

You're not gonna start reloadin' the primers, are you?

cwlongshot · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2009, 07:12:59 AM »

Andy,
Fun stuff!! Dont "put your eye out"!!!

CW

MSP Ret · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2009, 07:32:32 AM »

"don't put your eye out"...all I can think of whenever I hear that is...

his mother was HOT!!!....<><....

Hammerspur · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2009, 07:53:11 AM »

Yep, sounds like fun!

Two thoughts...
Seems to me I recall a pellet rifle made by some firm years back that was powered by .22 blanks for starter pistols... classified as a firearm of course.
And I have seen a .22 starter pistol altered to set off 209 primers...cheaper than blank ammo.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #5 on:** February 21, 2009, 09:26:49 AM »

yes, it was an interesting way to spend a little time today. I pulled the bullet out of an old .22 LR round that I have about 20 of and have been meaning to get rid of. They are old and don't fire. I worked the bullet back and forth a few times with my fingers and it came right out of the shell case. Put in in the chamber, pushed it forward with a primer and fired it into the end of a 2x4, it made a dent and bounced off, I recovered it with the rifling nicely engraved on it. It was not even deformed from the impact..just fun and games, I wonder if any particular 209 primers would fit in a .22 Mag chamber? These make better noise makers than anything else....<><....

Smokin Joe · « **Reply #6 on:** February 21, 2009, 10:34:42 AM »

You might try using a 22 cal air gun pellet.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2009, 10:59:22 AM »

Thanks Joe, my Crosman has long since bit the dust wwith leaks, I sent it out to be repaired years ago and when I got it back it still leaked, I would like to get it fixed by a reputable outfit someday (can yoiu fix/rebuild them yourselves). I thought I had some .22 caliber pellets around somewhere but all I could find were some .177 I use in a cheap Daisy. I will try some at some point, unless I run out of the 60 or so #57 primers I have left first....<><....

quickdtoo · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2009, 11:13:32 AM »

MSP, post in the Airgun forum here, I'm sure you'll get some recommendations on getting the Crosman fixed, sources for repair parts if available.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/board,77.0.html

MSP Ret · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2009, 11:36:27 AM »

Thanks Tim, I will post there....<><....

dk17hmr · « **Reply #10 on:** February 21, 2009, 12:33:35 PM »

Awhile ago I modified a few 22 hornet cases to take a 209 shotgun primer. Push an air rifle pellet in the case mouth chamber it and put in a 209 primer. That works very well for shooting birds, its also quieter than a Springer Air rifle.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #11 on:** February 21, 2009, 12:38:25 PM »

Easier on scopes too!!

Tim

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #12 on:** February 21, 2009, 01:51:05 PM »

You guys must eat some weird stuff before going to bed to dream this stuff up. Pretty darn interesting ideas you have, I'll have to try the 22 Hornet case one. DP

MSP Ret · « **Reply #13 on:** February 21, 2009, 02:05:14 PM »

Now that IS nice. I would hate to ruin a good .22 Hornet case though. I will have to be on the lookout for some old ones. How did you go about modifying the case?....<><....

P.S. - I don't eat too much wierd stuff, but some. I just had a half a peanut butter sandwich on white bread and now have to decide if I want to take a glass of red wine or a scotch with me out to the hot tub on the patio. Most of the snow is gone for a while but there is still some ice around. The 105 degree water and steam rising makes the 20 degree evening very enjoyable....<><....

dk17hmr · « **Reply #14 on:** February 21, 2009, 02:13:02 PM »

I set the right size drill bit in a vise at a 90 degree angle, or close enough to a 90. Chucked the case in the drill press and drilled it out. Had to put a file on the case head to take it down a bit so the primer and case would close in the action.

I dont remember what size drill bit it was, I guess you could just measure the primer and use a bit larger bit so the primers go in and out of the case easy.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #15 on:** February 21, 2009, 02:43:09 PM »

Thanks, sounds simple enough, and simple is GOOD!!!....<><....

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #16 on:** February 21, 2009, 02:51:54 PM »

Been a long time since my drinkin' days, but I believe the red wine would be a mistake. Scotch, yes Scotch would be the correct choice.

DP

MSP Ret · « **Reply #17 on:** February 21, 2009, 03:09:48 PM »

Thanks, your vote put it over the top, I am headed out back right now....<><...

Rustyinfla · « **Reply #18 on:** February 21, 2009, 03:18:15 PM »

Andy,
FWIW .223 cases can be made to work with a 209 primer as well if you have a .223 as well. It doesn't hurt as much to use up .223 cases since you can get them by the bucket full at most ranges.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #19 on:** February 21, 2009, 05:23:41 PM »

I just had to check this out but my CCI 209 won't chamber in my .22 barrel I do have a .22 hornet case done that way and it works pretty well, It didn't work as well in the .223, dont know why thou. Never bothered to find out.

dk17hmr · « **Reply #20 on:** February 21, 2009, 06:36:49 PM »

I tried some 223 cases and a 17 Rem case with the 209 primers. They worked but not as well as the hornet. I think it is because of the lack of case capacity with the hornet, primer causes more psi with the smaller case than the larger case.

tallyho · « **Reply #21 on:** February 21, 2009, 09:44:05 PM »

Hey Andy, cool idea!

When my kids were little I had a couple of TC frames, and in addition to the pistol components, had a youth stock and a .223 carbine barrel. I also had a basement that was about 35 feet across. My kids had shot the the TC with the .22LR barrel and .223 at the range a few times, but during one particular spell of winter and miserable, I got the idea of loading a small rifle primer (CCI I think) into a .223 case and putting a .22 cal pellet (my wife has a Crosman MkI .22 pistol) in the neck and shooting it in the basement at a pellet trap (old phone books)... Man was that a hit with the kids,

. We could shoot the same rig they were used to (had to adjust the scope of course) no matter what the weather, and it was cheap and quiet, and very not powerful. Didn't think of using a shotgun primer, or modding a case to accept one at the time, though I kinda wish I had thought of it... anyway it was simple and straight forward with the equipment I had to just load primers and .22 pellets into cases. For awhile there we had our own little indoor shooting gallery... though too much shooting got a "stop now" from the wife 'cause the smoke and smell started permeating up the stairs into the main floor. Fun while it lasted!

BTW when I was a newbie messing with airguns a few years back, I participated on a forum that helped me out - almost as much as GBO has helped me out in messing with Handis...

If you don't get the info you want via GBO's airgun forum, here's the link: http://www.network54.com/Index/12861 You may be able to find the resource you are looking for to fix up your 180.

Cheers
Kerry

Airsporter · « **Reply #22 on:** February 22, 2009, 12:28:18 AM »

Quick word of caution to those who will push the 'power' button. Before somebody starts using .22 blanks, nail driver cartridges, or powder charges, keep the power levels in mind when using .22 pellets. Many of the pure lead 'hour-glass' designs, are kinda weak. And, some have really thin heads - like hollow based wadcutters.

There was a gunwriter back in the 70's experimenting with .22 blanks loaded behind the old Crosman 'flying ashcan' pellets in a .22 revolver. The blank charge blew the head right off some of the pellets and left the pellet's 'skirt' in the gun.

I think the heavier domed .22 pellets such as the 21 grain Beeman Kodiak, or better yet, the 28 grain Korean EunJin might be a good bet if ya gotta go there.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #23 on:** February 22, 2009, 02:28:50 AM »

Guys, Thanks for all the great info and insight...I will try a 209 Primer in a .22 Mag when I get some, unless someone else out there has a .22 Mag and some 209 primers available. A .22 LR will accept the old Remington #57's but the 209's are larger, and since the .22 Mags are a bit larger in diameter I was hoping the smallest diameter 209 primer MIGHT fit in a .22 Mag chamber....Thnaks again to all for the great info....<><....

I will pursue getting my old Crosman pellet gun fixed..

skifastchad · « **Reply #24 on:** February 22, 2009, 02:57:43 AM »

I tried a test fit with my 17 HMR, and winchester 777 209 primers fit perfectly. They should fit the same in a 22mag chamber.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #25 on:** February 22, 2009, 04:14:46 AM »

GREAT!!!, that should be an even better bet for this conglomeration of parts since #57 primers are hard to come by now...a proper .22 lead airgun pellet pushed into the chamber of a .22 Mag rimfire barrel by a 209 primer and the barrel mounted on a centerfire rifle or shotgun frame should make a great fun piece. Since there are lower powered 209 primers for BP applications, standard primers and even Magnum primers it should be possible to adjust the power of the setup...This may be fun in the cellar or the back yard for small pests. Thanks to all....<><....

as a thought, since it is such a screwed up item made up from different items with no real purpose or idea behind it we could refer to it as an "alfrankengun", however the gun might not appreciate being referred to in the same breath as a dishonest, liberal, left wing, anti American nut like Al Franken....<><....

tallyho · « **Reply #26 on:** February 22, 2009, 05:42:37 AM »

Andy, as (Rhett Butler said to Scarlett) Franken? My dear, I don't give a damn!

Cheers
Kerry

PHATINJUN · « **Reply #27 on:** February 22, 2009, 06:39:34 AM »

Don't they use something like that to propell the air shotgun capsulls? Kurt

Smokin Joe · « **Reply #28 on:** February 22, 2009, 08:07:55 AM »

MSP, I would never denigrate this idea by associating it in any way with Al Franken.

How 'bout the 209 Basement Express?

MSP Ret · « **Reply #29 on:** February 22, 2009, 08:08:54 AM »

well well, there is another idea to shoot big mosquitos with, a small wad, some #12 shot and another wad, then a primer...an instant mini shotgun!!!....<><....

"the basement express"...I like that...thanks...