Advise on S&W model 53 in 22 Rem Jet Please

[SuperMan]

The 1961 Model 53 I have was purchased in about 1974. It is a 6" model with the extra rimfire cylinder. Regarding the question of where to find and extra cylinder...good luck. S&W chose to make the cylinder longer than the Model 17 or 48 so the cylinder is specific to the 53..and needless to say all Jet owners want one.

The 53 was my only .22 handgun from 1974 to about 1990. It saw thousands of .22 Long Rifle ammo and well over 1000 Jet rounds...to the point of the forcing cone looking like a funnel. Was lucky enough a few years ago to find not only a Jet barrel but one correct to the period with the sight base pinned to the barrel rib. Since being rebarreled there have been no more Jets down the tube.

Most of my Jet ammo now goes down the TC Contender tube. This has always been one of the most accurate hanguns I have ever shot....

That was at 50 yards a few weeks ago. The gun has shot sub-moa groups since day one no matter what it was fed, factory or reloads...

Killed a truck load of small game with the 53..... Once shot a 5' cottonmouth through the head at 60 yards. Has shot tons of squirrels and even one pheasant. The last time I hunted with it was in 1995 in Az. for coyote...didn't get one though. That was the last time Jets were fired...

Great guns....Bob

 

[Larry from Bend]

When I was in college, a hunting partner sometime used his 6" Jet for Black Bear. We'd hunt in the Spring when they were first out of hibernation. I know I saw him kill one with the Jet and it might have been 2. As I remember, we finally learned that the real velocity figures for Jets were a lot less than the advertisements. Of course, back then no one owned a chrono. I remember the fireballs.

 

[larryofcc]

Greydog. If not a shooter, they are a great investment. I once used a 6"er at a 100 yard turkey shoot and beat out a USAF Distinguished shooter for the top prize. They are highly accurate. No mention made of selling price on your gun or if it is a 4 screw. Makes a big difference in value, but not in accuracy. I have a 1961 first year and a 1974 last year and have fired neither and may never fire them. The 1961 gun is drippy mint and will stay that way. If you are getting a good deal, don't worry about shooting it. They are getting scarcer as many are adding them to their collections. Another factor, factory Jet ammo runs near $65 a box or more. Big Larry

 

[Jersey Doug]

Question for model 53 owners. Have a N.O.S. barrel 8 3/8th has same front site as a M-53 has same shrouded ejector rod as a M-53. It says ".22 Magnum" on the side of the barrel, and is for a K-frame. Is the M-53 on a K or N frame? What does a M-53 say on the side of the barrel as a designation?

 

[Big Cholla]

You have a barrel for the M 53. S&W shipped the original handguns with the roll marking on the side of the barrel reading, "22 Magnum".

PM me if you are interested in selling that barrel. Thanks.

 

[ColbyBruce]

The S&W 53 is a K frame. The barrels were marked .22 magnum on the few I have seen. Here is a photo of mine.

 

[Jersey Doug]

Thanks for the info. I was thinking it was since it's for a longer cylinder than my Model 48. This would be a great find for someone that wants to convert their Model 53 to the longer barrel version. Now I have to decide how much to ask for it?