.22 Jet inserts for a Model 53

[Sueshe]

Just purchased a group of 3 S&W pistols which included a Model 53. There were no cylinder inserts to accommodate the .22LR.
Does anyone have any for sale?

 

[gfors]

Check Numrich. They have them listed at about $20 each. That said, I barely use the inserts on my 53, because .22 Rem Jet is so much more exciting to shoot than .22 anything else.

 

[SuperMan]

Be careful where you purchase your inserts...from what I have read some members here have had their non-S&W inserts split...

Bob

 

[Murdock]

Wouldn't it be wonderful if S&W simply did a run of rimfire cylinders for the M53? Either .22LR or .22WRM woud sell out pretty quick.

 

[steelslaver]

I have model 53 and while I wish I had a spare cylinder, I get by the problem by having a few k frame 22s and an I frame. Last cylinder I saw up for bids sold for 1/2 the cost of a K22

 

[snw19_357]

...from what I have read some members here have had their non-S&W inserts split...

Two of the twelve I purchased from Numrich split the first day but they quickly replaced them at no charge (including shipping both ways) and I have had no further problems.
They're also great for conserving ammo since they take awhile to fill and refill.

 

[diecidecimi]

Shooting .22 lr with inserts is annoying . Every round needs to be extracted twice: the adapter before, the brass case after. Very often the brass is sticked to the insert, so you have to use a rod to clean the adapter.
The spare cylinder is the solution, but he suffers the same issues of other .22 rimfires: tight chambers and stuck cases......

 

[Walter Rego]

My Model 53 came with a set of inserts. I tried the gun with the inserts the first time I fired it, I think I ran a couple of cylinders full through it just to see how they worked. They worked OK. Then I forget to switch the firing pin on the hammer back to centerfire when I loaded it with .22 Jet ammo.
I guess if you own no other .22 LR handguns or plan on giving it very limited shooting with the inserts they are a good idea, or you want to fill out all the accessories that came with a Jet in a box, otherwise they seem to be better in theory than in practice.

 

[SuperMan]

Bought a first year of production 53 in 1974. It had the extra cylinder and inserts. ZERO issues with the LR cylinder and "was" the most accurate S&W rimfire I have owned...

I say "was" as I had the original barrel (that was burned out and replaced) and the .22 Rimfire cylinder rebored/rechambered to .327 Federal...and it gets a lot more use now than it did as a Jet.

It can be converted back to .22 Jet but the .22 Rimfire cylinder is lost to history...

For that matter the Rimfire cylinder should have come standard with ALL 53s...

Bob

 

[22hipower]

I agree with gfors comment above. I bought an M53 which came with two inserts (four more promised but still have not arrived). Neither of those two inserts will fit in the cylinder.

But as gfors says, the 22 Jet is so much fun to shoot I can't imagine ever shooting it with 22LR. I wouldn't waste the $100-$200 on the inserts; you'll likely never use them.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[raljr1]

Like I said in another post about these inserts. I bought 5 of them for my model 53, just because....with a couple k22s and model 63 in the gun case, not to mention several other 22s handguns, I can't conceive ever using them. Now if it was the only 22 caliber I had, maybe I'd think differently...but who would buy a 53 as their only 22??

 

[Dave.357]

I have a 53 with inserts,I shot one
box of 50 -.22 's they worked fine.
I have several S&W .22's so
I doubt they will ever be used
Again.If I had nice gun with
box and no inserts I would
Probably start looking for
Some.If it is a shooter grade gun
I would buy Jet ammo with
Insert money.

 

[epj]

The one I had came with both inserts and a .22LR cylinder. Never tried the inserts

 

[Green Frog]

There was an article in one of the gun rags back when the Model 53 was readily available, telling about converting a Model 53 to 32 S&W Long with a heavy barrel and rechambered cylinder from 22 lr. Supposedly the frame mounted firing pin was going to confer some advantage and of course the 32 recoiled less than a 38... I guess a kind of a PPC "Race Gun." Sounds like Superman carried the idea a couple of steps further!

Froggie
Father of Project 616

 

[dave1918a2]

I have had My 53 for a very long time. It's a first year gun and I got it in 68 I think. I bought inserts from Numrich and never had a problem with any of them. Have originals also and even three rechambered for 22 Mag. If You chamber the inserts with the flat to the outside You do not need to remove the insert to empty. I take mine grouse hunting and chamber three Jets and three .22LR. That way I can take other rascals if I want. Lots of fun at the range also as very few people even know what the Jet is. And the noise brings the question" what the hXXX is that? "

 

[Jersey Doug]

I have model 53 and while I wish I had a spare cylinder, I get by the problem by having a few k frame 22s and an I frame. Last cylinder I saw up for bids sold for 1/2 the cost of a K22[/QU

Yes, S&W really should make a run of .22 cylinders for the Model 53 posted that many times.

Does anyone here know if Hickock .45 did a You Tube on the M-53 ? If not, would the one to recommend.

 

[garland kellum]

I have two 53's both with inserts which i never use. there isn't any one that make cylinders for s&w. it would cost more to get them than to buy a 22lr and a22mag.gun.

 

[steelslaver]

I made as model 53 length 22 lr cylinder for my 22 jet. First I sleeved a model 19 cylinder, the fit a K22 extractor and reamed the sleeves to 22lr.

 

[Venom6]

Fabulous and fascinating handguns, not least because of their versatility. I often carry mine with the first two up being rimfire for small varmints around the place, the rest Jets for bigger or further away critters such as coyotes. I don't wear ear protection in this setting, and the Jet's muzzle blast is Biblical, hence the first two being .22's. I did have to practice under a timer to instill pressure to remember to flick the firing pin selector. My 53 with inserts is actually more accurate than either of my K22's or my 5" 63, which puzzles me given the former's long jump the rifling.

I'm only half kidding when I suggest that American law enforcement transition to the M53. Easier and cheaper to train recruits (many of whom these days have never even held a gun until the Academy) due to low recoil and blast. Knowing they only have six rounds would help slow down what sometimes becomes "spray and pray" in actual gunfights. The M53 reloads faster than any other revolver due to the relative ease with which those .22 bullets go into the back of the .357 chambers. While the blast is horrific the recoil is very light. And those narrow, wicked, fast bullets will penetrate a lot more armor than any other commonly used pistol round (yeah, that can be important; we are seeing more and more bad guys wearing armor to commit robberies and mass shootings). If a .223 is effective at 300 yards (and we can argue that point) then the Jet is effective at the close ranges most police gunfights happen. So there.

 

[steelslaver]

The 223 fires 52 to 70 gr bullets while the Jet would have problems with any bullet over 45gr. Most of those light bullets are very fragile and I do not believe they would do well in a lot of situations. Winter clothes, hit a bone, car windows, etc etc.

I have a 55gr bullet mold and plan to machine the base side down to the point that the bullets are closer to 40-45 gr. and try them in my Jet and Harvey Kay Chuck.