Model 53 in .22 Jet/.22 WMR

Huckelberry75

Huckelberry75

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I was in a shop today and saw a pretty spiffy Model 53. The barrel was stamped .22 magnum, but the cylinder was for .22 Jet and had what looked to be aluminum sleeves in each chamber. It was in 8 out of 10 condition and had sat there a while. Is it worth the $800 price tag? How hard is the 22 jet ammunition to find and would a person be better off shooting the 22 wmr or reloading 22 jet. Thanks for any info/advice.
 
Huck: Are you sure the inserts were chambered for .22 WRM? I am not aware of the factory ever doing that. They were always in .22 LR. It might have been done by an owner down the line. Anyhoo.......... if the revolver was in good condition the asking price is more than fair, but your 80% condition report doesn't support that asking price. The Jet ammo is available but not real common anymore. You would more than likely have to order it from one of the internet companies. The Jet is a literal pain in the left ear to shoot. Most people shoot them with ear plugs and muffs both. Jets are love/hate handgun. As usual, this is IMHO ...... Big Cholla
 
All Model 53 barrels say '22 Magnum' on them, since the caliber is the 22 Remington Jet Magnum. It can be a bit confusing.

The inserts are chambered for 22LR and any extra cylinders encountered are also in 22LR. The Jet bullet is of the .222 diameter.

As for Jet ammo, Remington stopped making factory Jet ammunition in about 1990. Old Western Scrounger used to make it, and it was quite expensive, but good stuff. Original Remington boxes show up from time to time at gun shows, but they too can be quite expensive. If you are planning on shooting the Jet round a lot, reloading is the way to go. RCBS makes the dies for it and it takes a regular 357 shell plate. If you don't plan to shoot the Jet rounds too often, and just want to know what they are like, then either pick up a box of old Remington ammo for fun or call Old Western Scrounger.

I have shot my Model 53 with the inserts and it is quite accurate. The empty cases come out easily with a fingernail. It's not the quickest way to shoot 22LR, but it does work. Just make sure the hammer select switch is in the correct position for rimfire, since the Jet round is a centerfire cartridge.

I have a lot of fun shooting my Model 53 from time to time. They are conversation starters at the range, since they sound like a 357, but leave tiny 22 holes in the target!

The price on the one you saw seem fair, but if it has been there awhile, there might be room for negotiation.

Good luck!
 
Jet

As they have said above, all Model 53 say ".22 mag " on the barrel. The inserts are .22 rimfire. The factory would provide another cylinder ,at a price, for .22 rimfire. I know of others who have bored the inserts for .22 mag, but this was unsuccessful as the inserts split. I have had my extra cylinder bored out many years ago to .22 mag and that has worked out fine. It's a fine weapon.
 
TLflag said:
As they have said above, all Model 53 say ".22 mag " on the barrel. The inserts are .22 rimfire. The factory would provide another cylinder ,at a price, for .22 rimfire. I know of others who have bored the inserts for .22 mag, but this was unsuccessful as the inserts split. I have had my extra cylinder bored out many years ago to .22 mag and that has worked out fine. It's a fine weapon.
Click to expand...

A friend of mine also has a spare cylinder in 22 mag that he's been shooting since the early 80's with no problems and it's accurate. Quite a few people will balk at this because of the bore diameter but I have a 63 and a TC barrel that were both converted from 22lr to mag and both shoot very well and niether have grenaded on me in the 15 yrs I've owned them.
 
OK, so it's not 22 WMR, it's actually 22 Rem Jet Magnum. That is a little confusing for the novice. But I guess you get the economy of 22 LR, and then when you want to slit someone's ear drums next to you at the range or "ding" some jack rabbits, you load up the Jet's. Great, just what I need, another loud toy to reload for!!
 
Huckelberry75 said:
.... How hard is the 22 jet ammunition to find and would a person be better off shooting the 22 wmr or reloading 22 jet. Thanks for any info/advice.
Click to expand...

I picked up a Jet a few months ago and have yet to find any ammunition for it. I thought I had found some at a gun show in OKC – asked a guy at a table with ammo odds and ends if he had any and he said “How much do you want? I have six boxes.” Jackpot!

Then he told me it was reloads and I made a face, but he said that he knew the feller who loaded it, otherwise it wouldn’t be behind his table. I looked some of it over and out of about 12-15 cartridges I looked at, 3 or 4 had cracked necks. I left it behind his table. Just another example of why you should always be leery of handloads of unknown origin.
 
Ballistically, the .22 WMRF will not do what the Jet will do, if that is what you are asking in your original post. Jets loaded the way most shooters seem to are in the area of 1800 FPS or so. The WMRF will be at least 500 FPS slower. (These figures from 6-8 inch revolver barrels.)

If I were buying a gun to use in the field, I would buy the WMRF, but I still have two Jets and do not plan to sell them.

If you are buying a gun to toy around with, the Jet is certainly the one for that. The "toying" possibilities area close to endless.
 
Old Western Scrounger has the ammunition. I bought 2 boxes last year. You may have to wait a few weeks to get it.
It shoots beautifully, but you MUST have hearing protection!
 
I have been shooting a jet for years and at the moment probably have a 1000 rounds loaded....many years ago on the Tc forum someone was selling 5000 plus Hornady 222 bullets and I bought them all...sure glad I did I would not sell my Jets for any price. (almost) VBG
Charlie
 
Somewhere I misplaced the cylinder inserts for my 53 and would like to replace them.Any ideas on locating some?
 
Watch Flea Bay Closely

specmet said:
Somewhere I misplaced the cylinder inserts for my 53 and would like to replace them.Any ideas on locating some?
Click to expand...

The inserts come up frequently on the Flea Bay Gun Parts site. Watch daily because they go quickly. .............
 
I had a 53 with the extra 22LR cylinder and sold it to a member here. I bought it on a wim. I realized that I would never reload for it and it would just sit in the safe so off it went. Make sure you really want it before buying it.
 
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