This is my first post and trying to get acclimated to this site. I recently came across a Model 53 revolver with dual firing pins for rimfire and centerfire. It's been impossible since I obtained the gun to locate .22 Jet ammunition or reload brass. I have also not been able to determine the year the gun was manufactured. Have taken it to a couple gun shops and the best they can tell me is that the gun was made betwen 1961 and 1972. Finally, have not been able to locate a user manual for this gun. Any assistance from this group to locate .22 Jet ammo, user manual or manufacture date would be greatly appreciated. I will likely not fire the gun much but would like to obtain a couple hundred .22 Jet rounds. I have not reloaded ammo but have friends that do. However, have also not been able to locate brass and would also need to purchase dies. Thanks for any help.
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S&W Model 53 revolver
- Thread starter painter54
- Start date
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Welcome to the forum and congrats on finding a Model 53. The 53 came with inserts to fire 22LR, hence the dual firing pin. I hope yours has them. A 22 LR cylinder could be ordered for the same purpose. I have found PPU Jet ammo is the most common these days, but it really is pretty scarce.
Once you get the ammo try shooting it at night. Talk about a fireball!
Once you get the ammo try shooting it at night. Talk about a fireball!
I've tried contacting PPU but they will not be producing any more until first or second quarter of next year. Will have to fire at night when I get ammo. Are you aware of any dealers or web sites that might be good to check for .22 Jet ammo? Thanks for getting back
22 Jet ammo (and brass)shows up occasionally on Gun Broker and at gun shows. I would avoid shooting the old/original Remington 22 Jet ammo though as it will fairly quickly erode the forcing cone of your revolver (and costs $50-$75 a box if you do find any). We'd love to see pictures of yours as well as some closeups of the forcing cone as many show that erosion (use the search button to find previous posts on that issue). I'd recommend shooting handloads with somewhat reduced velocity. The Jet takes .222 bullets which are not all that easy to find. Fortunately .223 40 and 45 grain bullets work fine and Sierra (and maybe others) still make them (sometimes labelled as 22 Hornet bullets).
If you don't have the 22 LR inserts I wouldn't worry about it too much; sometimes they can be found but at $20-$30 each these days and some of the newer repro ones don't fit; and a little clumsy to use anyway. You might find a 22LR cylinder that fits but that is unlikely and will be expensive (one sold recently on eBay for around $860).
Post your SN and we can get close on the manufacture date and if you really want detail a Historical Letter (Letter of Authenticity I think we're calling them now) can be purchased which will give you the exact ship date and the location to which it was shipped.
Great gun, welcome to the Forum.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
If you don't have the 22 LR inserts I wouldn't worry about it too much; sometimes they can be found but at $20-$30 each these days and some of the newer repro ones don't fit; and a little clumsy to use anyway. You might find a 22LR cylinder that fits but that is unlikely and will be expensive (one sold recently on eBay for around $860).
Post your SN and we can get close on the manufacture date and if you really want detail a Historical Letter (Letter of Authenticity I think we're calling them now) can be purchased which will give you the exact ship date and the location to which it was shipped.
Great gun, welcome to the Forum.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
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ColbyBruce
Member
Huntingtons.com will sometimes have brass and bullets.
Erosion! ! ! !
As stated above by 22Hipower,DO NOT shoot Remington 22 Jet rounds in your gun! The Remington rounds are too hot and cause barrel erosion and the last I seen at a gun show was priced at $125/box!
This is barrel erosion and I would say less than 500rds!
This is barrel erosion after(my guess) a coupe thousand rds!
Shoot reloads and this will solve most of the problems associated with the mod 53! They are a boat load of fun to shoot! Ware ear plugs AND muffs!
jcelect
As stated above by 22Hipower,DO NOT shoot Remington 22 Jet rounds in your gun! The Remington rounds are too hot and cause barrel erosion and the last I seen at a gun show was priced at $125/box!
This is barrel erosion and I would say less than 500rds!
This is barrel erosion after(my guess) a coupe thousand rds!
Shoot reloads and this will solve most of the problems associated with the mod 53! They are a boat load of fun to shoot! Ware ear plugs AND muffs!
jcelect
diecidecimi
Member
If you'd like more info on the Model 53, I did an article on it some time ago and posted it on this forum. You may find it informative. Here is the link:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...-22-jet-model-53-a.html?633020=#post140948397
John
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...-22-jet-model-53-a.html?633020=#post140948397
John
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There was one box for sale at last weekends Expo show. What I have seen is $75-80/box, PPU.
Walter Rego
Member
Check Gunbroker auctions for .22 Remington Magnum AKA .22 Jet reloading components. There is also some factory ammo available but at ridiculous prices. You can find once fired and new brass fairly easily although plan on spending about $1 per round even for just brass. If you have a reloader friend you can make up some rounds to fire fairly easily.
Don't bother trying to form brass from .357 brass, way too much work and the forming dies are expensive. As others mentioned, look for .223" bullets made for the .22 Hornet, the 40 grain ones will best duplicate the factory bullets. Hornady hasn't made the correct .222" bullets for several years now but they can sometimes be found at gunshows or online.
Regarding the owners manual, it's really no different from that of any S&W revolver manual except it shows the proper position of the switch on the hammer that controls whether it strikes the rimfire or centerfire firing pin and has a caution to make sure that your ammo and the chambers have been thoroughly degreased before firing to keep the cases from setting back upon firing and tying up the gun.
Model 53's are fun ! Obligatory photo below.
Don't bother trying to form brass from .357 brass, way too much work and the forming dies are expensive. As others mentioned, look for .223" bullets made for the .22 Hornet, the 40 grain ones will best duplicate the factory bullets. Hornady hasn't made the correct .222" bullets for several years now but they can sometimes be found at gunshows or online.
Regarding the owners manual, it's really no different from that of any S&W revolver manual except it shows the proper position of the switch on the hammer that controls whether it strikes the rimfire or centerfire firing pin and has a caution to make sure that your ammo and the chambers have been thoroughly degreased before firing to keep the cases from setting back upon firing and tying up the gun.
Model 53's are fun ! Obligatory photo below.
Attachments
Probably the going rate these days although I did buy a box for $35 at a gun show in February.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
$35 is a great deal these days. I thoroughly enjoyed the DFW Metroplex gun shows in the 90s, once you learn to stay clear of the Branch Davidians, Texas Militia and ATF. 
Cruising Cash America and First Cash was usually fruitful.
Cruising Cash America and First Cash was usually fruitful.larryofcc
SWCA Member
The M53 is very accurate out to 100 yards or maybe more. I once won the running deer contest at 100 yards with one of mine. I was last in my relay and folks were making jokes about my 22. I won and even beat out an Air Force guy who was a Distinguished Pistol shot. He used his match 45. Big Larry
There was a discussion about modifying the 22 LR cylinder. I believe the consensus was not to ruin a $300 cylinder for that purpose. I'll have to go back and reread that thread. As I remember, the modification of the inserts for 22mag has never been successful.
Shooting 22's using the inserts is time consuming, but fun. My gun really likes the Remington Yellow jackets in the inserts. Your post doesn't list a location, so no one here can really offer to help with ammo or reloads.
austintexas
SWCA Member
ammo
Go down to the classifieds and post you want to buy ammo or components and I'm sure someone will come up with some for sale.
SWCA 892.
I bought my 53 new in '75 (4"), in the '90s I picked up a 6" with a 22 mag cylinder and Bought my 8 3/8th off the classifieds in this forum.
Go down to the classifieds and post you want to buy ammo or components and I'm sure someone will come up with some for sale.
SWCA 892.
I bought my 53 new in '75 (4"), in the '90s I picked up a 6" with a 22 mag cylinder and Bought my 8 3/8th off the classifieds in this forum.
This thread is a good one but rather short on pictures. While we're waiting for the OP to show us his, here's my 4 inch and a picture of a relatively unmolested forcing cone.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
https://flic.kr/p/2noAP4D https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
https://flic.kr/p/2noAZRx https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
https://flic.kr/p/2noDriY https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
Jeff
SWCA #1457
https://flic.kr/p/2noAP4D https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
https://flic.kr/p/2noAZRx https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
https://flic.kr/p/2noDriY https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
