I have been curious about the Remington jet for some time and occasionally I browse through some of the auction sites on the internet looking at the different ones on offer. (I nearly choke when I see the prices the sellers are hoping to get).
I suppose if I wanted to buy a 22 I could settle for a Model 17 or a 617 but I particularly like the look of the Jet with the 8 3/8” barrel and the half under-lug; The actual Jet cartridge doesn’t appeal to me so much because I think I may have difficulty getting reloading components for it but I am sure it would be a fine gun for plinking in 22 Long.
I have noticed that some guns were manufactured with a Jet cylinder and supplied with 22 Long inserts and others are made with the Jet cylinder and an additional interchangeable 22 Long cylinder.
Can someone here tell me;
If the Jet is a centrefire cartridge, is the same firing pin used to set-off the rimfire 22 Long or is there some alteration to the hammer so this can happen.
Campfire

If you closely at the hammer of a model 53 Jet, you'll see at the top of it it has a "switch" that you pull back on to engage the rimfire portion of it. There is no firing pin on the hammer, they are "floating" mounted in the frame, two of them. Quite a slick set up. And don't bother with the 22lr inserts that come with 53s, they are a pain to use. If you want to shoot LRs, make sure you get one with the extra cyl.

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ken
SWCA #1959

Reloading tools are readily available for the 22 Jet. Brass is manufactured seasonally by Remington. Reed's sells a quality reload for the 22 Jet.
IF the 22 Jet cartridge doesn't really do anything for you, then an 8 3/8 model 17 would be just fine for your purpose.
To me wanting to shoot 22 LR out of a model 53 is a waste. I have many with the 22 LR cylinder and inserts, I will never use them. I have only fired the 22 Jet rounds out of any of my model 53s. The 22LR I save for my model 41s and 17s.

I was fortunate enough to stumble into one a couple month's ago at a reasonable price, 97% or better with box and inserts, no ppwrk tho (looking). I found brand new brass @ Lock,Stock and Barrel for $18 per hundred and ordered 500, found .222 and .223 dia bullets on Midway and ordered 1K of each.
The Jet takes either the .222 or .223 dia oddly enough and not the common .224, either 40 or 45 grain seem to be standard.
I just today started loading for it so that is all the info I can offer, other than I plan to leave the inserts in the box where they belong. If you just want a .22 lr go with a nice K-22. It will cost you much less and serve you better.
RD

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Got a Phd from Hard Knocks U

I've seen Model 53 paperwork advertised on GunBroker and eBay recently. Not sure if it is original, but you can check it out.

I have a six inch 53 that l like to shoot and reload for. It's not difficult. I use the Remington cases, .223 45 grain bullets, Federal small rifle primers and WW-296 powder. I load the cartridges somewhat less "hot" than factory loads and it is quite accurate. I recently found a .22 LR cylinder for the gun (correct length) and intend to try it out soon.

I caught 2 last weekend a 53 no dash and 53-2.
No extra cylinder but all the inserts.
Can't wait to shoot a jet;-)

Someone say M53 Jet. I tried to get a picture of the trigger but I think the picture shows my lack of photography skills. Oh well, can I get an A for effort?

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The Jet is at best a curiosity. There's not much you can do with the Model 53 and the .22 Magnum Centerfire that can't be done with a Model 19 in .357 without the extraction issues... Mine just lays in the box.

As was said earlier, the cartridge adaptors are difficult to use and while they do accomplish the task, they are at best slow and cumbersome. The interchangeable .22 LR cylinder is neat, but in the end it simply makes the Jet a K-22.

Not worth the bother in my book.

Thanks for the replies,I think I have satisfied my curiosity.
I will save myself the agravation of messing about with changing inserts and cylinders and just buy a new S&W 617 and be done with it.
Campfire

..agravation? Changing cylinders on a Jet is just like doing a proper cleaning on any S&W...loosen or remove the crane screw, slide crane and cylinder off, slide cylinder off the crane, replace with other cylinder and slide the assembly back on the frame...tighten down the screw and you are done...

I've had a 1962 Model 53 since the mid-1970s and it is still my favorite S&W .22...and I have a bunch of them. The 6" looks like a Model 19 with a ramp front sight...and the balance is much better than a Model 17. And speaking of balance..you may want to handle a 617 before you buy...the 6" is especially nose heavy.

They are just fun and interesting guns...Bob

I purchased an 8 3/8" barrel Model 53 in 1962 which I still have along with an additional 6" which I purchased approximately 25 years ago. The Model 53's came with and without the extra separate 22 rim-fire cylinder. At the time of purchase the majority came with only the Jet cylinder and the inserts and if you wanted the extra 22 rim-fire cylinder frequently the dealer had to special order the 53 with the extra rim-fire cylinder from S&W. It took me approximately 6 months to obtain my 8 3/8" on special order through Gil Hebbard (a large volume dealer).
With the Jet having a potential velocity similar to the 22 Hornet, there is a significant loss for every 0.01" increase in the cylinder/sizing cone gap. This loss is approximately 5% of the velocity for every 0.01" increase in the distance between the cylinder and the sizing cone. (This distance can easily be measured by using an ignition feeler gauge, and should never exceed 0.08") I have obtained some newer wheel guns with a distance of 0.09" - including some Smith's. I never purchase a revolver without taking my ignition feeler gauge to the gun shop and check everything out. ( This can annoy some gun dealers, particularly if you tell them they have a worthless revolver). I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND A PURCHASER DOING THIS.
When I received my 8 3/8" the gaps were 0.08-0.09" and I considered that inadequate and poor quality. I wrote to S&W about the problem and they had me return the gun for alteration. When I received if back all gaps were 0.02, which probably gained me approx. 125 feet per second muzzle velocity. With the smaller gaps there is also a lot less flash at the head of the cylinder. Toward dusk or on a dark day this flash from a large gap can be very visually disturbing. I did not return the 6'', which came without the auxiliary rim-fire cylinder as I bought it used but like new and it has c/sc gaps of 0.06"-0.07"
One problem with the bottle neck case is that the case very frequently backs up on firing and locking up the cylinder so that it will not turn. This problem can be eliminated by carrying a small bottle of ethyl alcohol or acetone and some cotton tipped applicators and swabbing out the cylinder after a couple of rounds have been fired from the each of the six sites. WORKS GREAT!!!!
In regard to the hammer there is a selector cam/pivot that must be moved to determine if you want to fire rim-fire or center-fire.
Needless to say despite it's idiosyncrasies, I love my 53's and find them to be accurate, interesting and of a quality that you don't see in Smith's today.

I have owned this jet since about 1972. I dont have the extra clyinder but wish I did. I havent had any trouble with the inserts, slow but so am I. I have dies and have reloaded for it. You can find bullets and everything you need. They are a ear ringer, no recoil. I must admit, I havent shot it a lot for no good reason.

I liked the lugged barrel as well but have no use for a Jet. Found a 4" Jet lugged barrel on Gunbroker and swapped barrels on my K22 Combat Mstp. Looks cool. Interesting that the Mod 48 .22 Mag doesn't have a lugged barrel but that's another option for you. Occasionally they are found with an auxillary 22 LR cylinder or can be sent back to have one fitted.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Hondo, that sounds like a nice conversion! Got a picture of it?

My 6" 53 is extremely accurate with the 22lr cylinder and it a great gun to carry. It balances very well. Changing cylinders takes all of two minutes.



Buy one, you won't regret it. I would buy one that has both cylinders and not count on finding the 22lr cylinder to add.

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

My son takes my pics for me. Will post when I do.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I recently brought my 53 out of storage to play with it. I tried loading 22LR, but they would not fit in the insert. Left a good 3/32 casing out the back. Could not even close the cylinder. Almost as bad with a 22L, ended up shooting 22 Shorts.
What is the problem? Will shooting 22 shorts hurt the revolver?

Many say just buy a K-22 if you want a rimfire, but the 53 has one advatage to me that the K-22 does not have, the enclosed underlug, it for me makes the guns line look like I have a direct companion to my model 28, hahaha!!
Really the model 53 shoot rimfire is not as accurate as my K-22 of Pre-17, like many, mine sits to be admired in the box, cheers Dale Z in Canada

Recently purchased Model 53 and firstly want to thank Redboneben for his excellent post. My purchase did NOT come with manual - does anybody out there know where I can get copy (even reprint). Called S&W - they do not have specific manual for the Model 53. Didn't see any listings from Google search or Ebay/etc.

Any suggestions anybody?

I squirrel hunted with a H&R 158 rifle that was chambered in 22 Jet about 30 years ago and it was loud. I have always wanted a model 53 but have not run across one that was for sale. I remember that most of the factory ammo split in the neck when I fired them.

Here's mine just the way I bought it. I used the 22 inserts once just to see how they worked and that was enough for me. The original owner of this pistol bought it for coyote hunting! Every time I fire this on an indoor range it shuts the place down!
Jim

I like mine. I jokingly refer to it as the worlds loudest 22. Seriously, It's easy to load for and as long as loads are kept reasonable and chambers oil free it's a great shooter.

I see this is an old thread but I have been debating a similar project.. wondering ,

Did S&W cut back your 53 barrel shoulder or did you use a 53 aux cylinder as the Model 53 barrel is meant to work with a longer magnum length cylinder.
Also did the underlug overhang the frame by the yoke?

Do you have this gun still and any pics ?

Best regards
Brad

This is one of my Model 53's. I actually carried this one on duty. Mass State Police would meet me at our local range and fire it.
I took this to the Smith & Wesson range. I brought 100 rounds, I left with 100 once fires brass. Everyone loved shooting it. We almost had top brass convinced to bring it out again. For some reason it never happened, too bad.

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Don Mundell

You carried an 8" barreled revolver? If you had to use it you would have been deaf. I cannot see how the 22 Jet would be a good personal defense round. Cool gun though!

James

...thousand word pictures.

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I have several hundred rounds of OEM Remington Jet ammo.

Boo bah.



Dave

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Dave Th.

Dont have a 53 or any opinion on the them but those stocks are unbelievable!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk

Hi Brad,

Great questions. I had to mount the barrel in my lathe and cut the barrel shoulder back for almost one full turn because it tightened up past 12 o'clock. That was OK because it also solved the problem of the barrel/cyl gap which was way too large with the Mod 18 shorter cyl, so I killed two birds with one stone.

And yes, the shroud hung way over the flat front face of the frame. But there's quite a bit of metal on the bottom of the shroud under the cutout for the Extractor rod. I carefully removed metal and re-contoured the bottom of the shroud on my son's knife maker's belt grinder; a wonderful machine! It came out very close and looks good. Of course I had to re-blue the barrel, but I had to anyway.....read on.

The biggest issue is the wide rib on the Jet barrel did not match up with the front of the top strap either! So I had to mill down the sides of the barrel rib to match. Fortunately, the grooves in the rib don't go all the way to the edge of the rib because the rib tapers to the muzzle! By milling off the sides right up to the grooves, the rib is now straight like the original M 18-4 barrel and matches the top strap perfectly.

What I really wanted is the tapered barrel look of the of the '50s and the M 18 before it was discontinued and came out with the full lug as a M 17 4". But that was too much hand work and I'd have lost the roll stamp on both sides of the barrel. Although I could have spent a few bucks to have Fords blue it and re-roll stamp both sides.

Plan B: I hardly ever shoot Mags, but since the barrel is roll stamped .22 Magnum, I'd like to find a M 48 .22 WRM cyl or spare .22 LR cyl to ream out to WRM and make it a convertible....just because. But in no real hurry with so many other irons on the fire.

Frankly, if I had it to do over again, I believe I'd start with the original tapered barrel, mill off the lug, cut the shroud from a scrap barrel, and silver solder in place. But still have some re-contouring of the bottom of the shroud. No lathe work and no milling of the rib.

It's usually mistaken for a M 19. My son takes pictures and loads them into Foto time for me but he's so busy making his custom folders, I have to bug him 'til he gets it done.
http://www.cucchiaraknives.com/

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Jim
S&WCA #819

James
I carried an 8 3/8 27 and a 29, both nickel plated, gold bead front sight and full target done for me at Smith & Wesson. Of all the custom work I had done by them, I never paid a penny. Smith & Wesson took care of police officers. I had to switch holsters for the 53.
My chief questioned my carrying a .22, until we went to the range.
After he shot a cylinder full, he asked "Can I get one?" He never did, of course I rarely carried the 53, I did carry the 29 for about 3 years, switching to a 4 inch 27.

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Don Mundell

Here are a few from 1962 and the way they came from the factory. Neat revolver, fun to collect and shoot. The 4 inch version is a blast, literally.
Chuk



One of 2 original shipped nickel jets. No longer in my collection

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SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!

Dont have a 53 or any opinion on the them but those stocks are unbelievable!

I carried it with those stocks.

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Don Mundell

I've owned several Jets and have really enjoyed them. Trying to match the inflated factory loads is not a realistic goal. I shoot a 45 grain cast/gascheck bullet with a reasonable load and love it.

I never carried a M-53 on duty; however, I carried mine a lot for personal defense. Having seen what the Jet could do to Jack Rabbits, coyotes, and a couple of pronghorn antelope I never had any doubt that it would work. The following quotes are from an article in the 1966 GUN DIGEST TREASURY entitled "The Modern Sporting Pistol." "...............A really striking advantage of the Jet is its ability to shoot rimfire ammunition for practice, by means of steel sleeves inserted in the chambers. This is an enormous asset to the one-gun man, providing him a plinker and a hunting gun for the price of one revolver. (And don't underrate its combat potential ---- the Jet hits about twice as hard as a 38 Special." And later: ".........The four sporting pistol cartridges, then, stack up about like this: 1) The 22 Jet. Excellent for small game, larger than squirrels, ditto for varmints of the woodchuck-fox-coyote class. The only "triple-purpose" handgun equally useful for plinking, field shooting, and self defense..........". Oh yeah, the article was written by none other than Lt Col Jeff Cooper. I'd say that is a pretty good endorsement.

I have had my M-53 since 1965 and it will be the last gun I'll ever give up.

For DocAnyday: If you PM me with a snail mail address, I will send a copy of the 4 page Owner Instruction/Spec sheet that came with my M-53.

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Keep Shootin' and check 6

I've had my 53 for 25 years now and reload for it. Love the 53. Every time I go to the range with it it gathers a crowd. Very few know what it is or have ever heard of it.

And they do not believe you when you tell them it is a 22 Magnum