Canadian Airgun Forum
https://www.airgunforum.ca/forums/

Crosman 1100 Trapmaster: Making ammunition to shoot indoor
https://www.airgunforum.ca/forums/topic69050.html
Page 1 of 1

Author:  R-Gun Pete [ Tue Aug 04, 2015 5:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Crosman 1100 Trapmaster: Making ammunition to shoot indoor

A few years ago, I bought an "under 500 fps" PCP big bore carbine from R-Sterne and a couple of weeks ago I became the owner of another big bore airgun. In this case to be accurate, it is a CO2 shotgun and it is the Crosman 1100 Trapmaster.

As you could see in the picture, one is short and the other is fairly long.

Image

The 9 mm carbine was intended to be shot with the Eujin 77.8 grains 9 mm lead pellets. Even travelling at under 450 fps, it packs a lot more energy than a regular pellet. To be on the safe side, I made another pellet trap just for it. It has a stainless steel funnel converging the pellets to a wood board covered with 1 inch of putty and is also enclosed in an aluminum pot. Retrospectively, it was a bit of an overkill. Anyway, it is already made and it is what I used as a trap with the .375 slugs I shot with the Trapmaster.

Image

The Trapmaster is an interesting concept but is also my main problem because I don't have access to an outdoor range. Having a lot of minuscule BBs all over the place in my basement or my garage was not exactly appealing.

Plinking with the 9 mm rifle is fairly expensive when considering the cost of the Eujin pellets, so at the time (several years ago) I started to explore what other alternatives I might have.

I looked at wood projectiles but the available dowels were not the right diameter and required some sanding to bring it to size. It was a bit too much work as I was also hollowing the rear end.

An example can be seen in the container in the lower right of the picture. Another contender was the wax bullet, it can be seen in the same container as the wood projectiles. The first test was just plain cast paraffin but it is too brittle and as it crumbles it makes a mess. For the second iteration, I still used paraffin but the main core was a cotton ball. It works fairly well but it was time consuming to make (I have a container of them on the lower left).

I continued my search and found some plastic tubing that seems promising. It was the right outside diameter and only needed to be plugged to become a pellet. Placing the tubing, cut to the desired length, halfway on a rod of wood, I used a glue gun to fill the other end. The end result was an hollowed skirt with a rounded nose as seen in both upper right containers. Making the plastic bullets is also a lot of work.

On the upper left is a container of Eujin pellets, on its right there are one unfired pellet and two that were swaged from fired pellets. Due to the cost of ammunition, I also explored that option. If the fired Eujin pellet was not too deformed, it was a candidate for swaging which gives it a second life. From the experience, it would probably be best to cast the raw blank before swaging.

Image

When I received the Trapmaster I wanted to try it, but not with the shotgun shell, so I just thought to transform my 9 mm wax bullets into .375 shotgun slugs. A narrow strip of masking tape solved the problem. Once I had the exact length of tape I needed, it was really quick to experiment with the plastic bullets and the Eujin lead pellets.

My first shooting experience with the Trapmaster was satisfying but knowing all the work required to make either the wax or plastic projectiles, I decided to look again at wood dowels because this time the size should be a better fit.

I had a piece of 3/8 dowel in my garage and made my first wood slugs from it. It worked very well in the plastic shells of the Trapmaster. Because the plastic one cannot be recycled indefinitely, I asked someone to make me a few in brass. After going to Canadian Tire to buy the 3/8 dowels ($3+tax for 36 inches) that I knew would be available, the brass shells were made to fit it, I have one that is tight and 2 that are looser.

Later during the weekend, I stopped at Rona and found that they have 3/8 dowel at a better price ($2 tax included for a 6 feet length). Back at home, I discovered that not all 3/8 are equal. The ones from Rona are a bit under (.370 to .365) and the ones from CT are a bit over ( around .380 and a bit more).

The one from CT would be a force fit in the plastic shell and might split it, but the one from Rona are just snug. If you decide to go that route you might consider bringing a shell with you to the store and check the size before buying.

I tried two type of wood slugs, one that has a hollow rear end as seen in the container on the right and one that is just plain as seen in the second from left. I didn't see any difference so I made a lot of the plain ones because it is a lot quicker. As noticeable in the left container there is a dot on each of the projectiles. It is just a mark for myself to remind me that it is the chamfered edge and should go forward in the barrel.

Image

I read somewhere that a .375 round lead ball can be used with a wad in the Trapmaster. In mine, I can shoot a .385 wood slug and this means a .380 lead ball could also work and would not need a wad. This is another thing I will explore if I can get a mold.

To make the wood slugs and standardize the size as well as the procedure, I used a .75 square bar of aluminum.

I started with a small drill that correspond to a pin I had available (step 1) and drilled through the bar (step 2). With a drill letter V which is .377 (step 3), I drilled to the length of the desired slug (about 7/16 in my case) (step 4) then the dowel (step 5) is lightly chamfered (step 6) before being inserted in the guide (step 7) to be cut with a metal saw (step 8 ). A metal saw is used because it is rubbing again the aluminum guide and because the teeth are really fine. Place a piece of wood under the dowel to avoid splitting on the last stroke. Finally use the pin (step 9) to push the slug out (step 10).

Image

Beware that the wood slugs have no penetration (none were stuck in the putty when the lead ones would be embedded in it) but still pack a wack and are lethal to pop cans.

The one on the left had 3 hits only and I stopped but the one on the right was shot over and over and is destroyed.

Image

I hope you enjoyed the presentation.

R-Gun Pete

Author:  Plinkercases [ Tue Aug 04, 2015 9:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crosman 1100 Trapmaster: Making ammunition to shoot indo

I may be missing it in the read but where are the brass shells from?

Very cool load ideas thanks Pierre.

Author:  R-Gun Pete [ Tue Aug 04, 2015 9:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crosman 1100 Trapmaster: Making ammunition to shoot indo

Hi Plinkercases!

The brass shells were made for me by one of my friend.

Now that I have a better idea of the fits, I may try to make some in aluminum.

That would be a project for the fall.

Also I have lots of used pellets so if I can get a round ball mold I would like to try to cast my own.

For the time being, the wood slugs are good enough.

R-Gun Pete

Author:  Plinkercases [ Tue Aug 04, 2015 10:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crosman 1100 Trapmaster: Making ammunition to shoot indo

if you can get a cost effective brass or aluminum shell you may have a market with the 1100 owners out here.

Keep up the good work and posts.

Thanks.

Author:  Whitewolf [ Thu Aug 06, 2015 1:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Crosman 1100 Trapmaster: Making ammunition to shoot indo

For your inside shooting try a blend of bees wax and parrifin for your slugs. Not so brittle to shatter into little pieces. Cound also kick it up for can shredding with those aluminum 6mm airsoft ammo. Fill with melted wax behind it.

Author:  R-Gun Pete [ Thu Aug 06, 2015 10:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Crosman 1100 Trapmaster: Making ammunition to shoot indo

Thanks Whitewolf!

I will try to find some bee wax and blend it with the paraffin.

You are right, the blend will probably be less crumbly.

Already with the cotton puff core it was better but this will improve it more.

R-Gun Pete

Author:  R-Gun Pete [ Thu Aug 06, 2015 10:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Crosman 1100 Trapmaster: Making ammunition to shoot indo

Hi Plinkercases!

I can make parts for myself but I am not really equipped for manufacturing on a larger scale.

Once my tests are finished, I will publish the drawing with the dimensions I used.

It wil be sometime in the Fall.

R-Gun Pete

Author:  Whitewolf [ Thu Aug 06, 2015 10:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Crosman 1100 Trapmaster: Making ammunition to shoot indo

Bees wax can be found at craft stores for making candles. IIRC percentage was somewhere around a third bees wax.

Author:  rrdstarr [ Thu Aug 06, 2015 1:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crosman 1100 Trapmaster: Making ammunition to shoot indo

Very cool Pete! :D

Author:  R-Gun Pete [ Sun Aug 09, 2015 5:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crosman 1100 Trapmaster: Making ammunition to shoot indo

I don't have the drawing that I gave my friend for the brass shell. It is at work and I am on leave... so I am not going back.

I just slapped a new one with optimized (or simplified) sizes. Hacked2pieces was interested to have some metal shells made by his friend so that could get him started.

Image

I also mentioned that I took sizes from existing plastic shells and from an incomplete diagram that I found on the web. I didn't realize that there was much more on that site. It is a really interesting post for 1100 owners. This is the link:

http://www.luftvapenbladet.com/crosman_ ... master.htm

Have fun.

R-Gun Pete

Author:  tomsp8 [ Sat Jan 30, 2016 10:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Crosman 1100 Trapmaster: Making ammunition to shoot indo

Hey there.
Joined so I could get advise on my recently purchased Trapmaster.
I want to shoot lead projectiles more so than lead shot. My bore
is about .380, but the largest diameter projectile I can insert into
the plastic shell and still chamber it is about .370 or so.
I have some lead cast bullets for my 9x18 Makarov pistol I am
experimenting with, as they are .367 diameter, but accuracy will
be questionable at best. I crafted a fixed rear sight and attached it
to the rib with 2 sided tape, by the way. I keep reading about using
.375 lead balls, perhaps even patched balls, but how are they being
loaded? I bought mine locally for $25 by, the way, in near excellent
condition ! :D

Author:  R-Gun Pete [ Sat Jan 30, 2016 7:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crosman 1100 Trapmaster: Making ammunition to shoot indo

Hi tomps8!

It seems that you made a fabulous deal!

Here it could be $350 or more for one.

As for lead ball, if you can get .375, you may have to sacrificed one plastic shell and stretched a bit to accommodate it. Maybe it should be warmed up to avoid splitting.

With the ball in it, if it doesn't fit in the breech, the outside of the plastic shell could be sanded down to fit.

Have fun.

R-Gun Pete

Author:  tomsp8 [ Sat Jan 30, 2016 9:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crosman 1100 Trapmaster: Making ammunition to shoot indo

Great idea on reducing outside diameter if necessary. Much easier then trying to thin it from the
inside. I wrapped electrical tape around my cast .367 bullet until it mic'd about .380. Fits the bore, muzzle end,
just snug but not tight (can easily push in with finger pressure.) But no way would it chamber when forced into the empty shot capsule. I removed tape until it mic'd at about .375, and I was indeed able to chamber it, although it was tight. A .380 ball with
the outside of the case thinned might work perfect, although accuracy may not be much better than the
looser .375 ball, since there is no rifling.
As far as the deal goes, I had no idea what a Crosman Trapmaster 1100 even was. I just thought it
sounded interesting, I love old stuff with character and history. Although I didn't have one as a kid, I was
nearly of the right age when they were being produced. (I was born in '65). The seller said it wouldn't hold
air and needed repairs. I figured it would make a good winter project. Got it home, put in two co2's, and it
seemed to work. Let it sit in the safe for 3 or 4 days and it was still charged up! Did some research and
ordered 100 rounds from Phoxx Manufacturing ($37 shipped! More than I paid for the gun!). The seller said
it was his fathers. I told him he should keep it just for that fact, as a souvinear, but he had no interest.
Oh well, I tried. I hate to see people give up family mementos like that. For $25 no less. I was expecting it
to be beat up or rusty, but it is rather immaculate. Even the wood stocks are near perfect. He even threw
in the vintage canvas rifle case it was in! lol

Oh, then a guy at work gives me an old Daisy model 25 pump gun he had as a kid. (Rogers Arkansas model, no
value, missing the shot tube/barrel.) So I ended up with a winter project after all!

Thanks for the tips!

Tom Va Beach Va USA

Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 5 hours
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/