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

[graydog]

Hi
I have a chance to maybe buy a S&W model 53 with a 6 inch barrel .22 Rem Jet in very nice shape. Do these guns work ok or what? I have a heard a few people say they were nothing but trouble. I would like to hear from people who know. Thanks for any and all help on this matter.

Graydog

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

GREYDOG~ Well I have never had any trouble with mine. However--- They can be trouble if you don't keep the ammo, AND the holes DRY-- I REPEAT--- DRY--- I have both cylinders with mine but never use the .22LR-- There was some brass made available some years back, and I added a case to my stash. Whether or not there is still any available-- I do not know. Any ammo would more than likely be collectible, so you will have to load your own. I am not up on the latest here so I guess someone MIGHT?? be making it--- I doubt it though. Another thing. Many of these were drilled for scope mounts. Check under the strap across the cylinder for this. Such holes can be plugged-- or not. Value is somewhat reduced as a collector item if so drilled.
In loading for this gun, you are better downloading a bit as it will make that pricy brass last longer. By now, I expect bullets may be getting hard to come by as well. JMHO

OH YES-- SOME OF THE EARLY GUNS- the ejecctor rods had LEFT hand threads FYI

 

[feralmerril]

I have one too. Havent shot mine in ages. Nothing wrong with them as weems told you, just keep it clean. They are about the loudest ear splitting handgun you will ever shoot.

 

[jepp2]

OH YES-- SOME OF THE EARLY GUNS- the ejecctor rods had LEFT hand threads FYI

Don't you mean Right Hand threads?

Graf's has Jet brass in stock:
22 Rem Jet Brass

Wear your hearing protection. It has quite the fireball at the cylinder gap and barrel erosion happens quickly.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

Don't you mean Right Hand threads?

Graf's has Jet brass in stock:
22 Rem Jet Brass

Wear your hearing protection. It has quite the fireball at the cylinder gap and barrel erosion happens quickly.

NOPE- Mine has LEFT hand threads. I think they had a RED tag stating this as well? They were later changed to right hand. I don't have my S&W book in front of me so I cannot list the page number, but I believe it does state so.

 

[Iowahunter]

I picked up one with the 8 3/8 inch barrel quite awhile ago and I never have gotten around to fireing it. It came with several boxes of shells factory made but, not Remington

 

[happy jackson]

I have an 8 3/8 mod. 53 that I shoot occasionally.As others stated the charge holes and cartridges must be thoroughly degreased or upon firing the case will setback on the recoil shield and tie up the gun.Uprimed brass is available and Hornady sells .222 diameter bullets that are the correct size for the Jet.As stated before this gun is very loud.I would advise wearing both ear plugs and muffs when firing.Hope this helps.

 

[jrm53]

I would say get it and some brass from Grafs as every one says you must keep brass dry and the chambers de-greased or they will set back, as to the BLAST its loud, but theres no recoil to speak of. I cast my own bullets and size to .223 and never load any where near max loads. Jeff

 

[JudgeColt]

NOPE- Mine has LEFT hand threads. I think they had a RED tag stating this as well? They were later changed to right hand. I don't have my S&W book in front of me so I cannot list the page number, but I believe it does state so.

You have that backwards. It is the other way around. The right-hand thread tended to unscrew as the cylinder rotated counterclockwise, which would prevent the cylinder from being opened. Switching to the left-hand thread tended to tighten the ejector rod as the cylinder rotated, preventing the rod from unscrewing. The left-hand thread came AFTER the right-hand thread, not before.

 

[buckspen]

Ejector Rod Thread

The change to the direction of the thread of the ejector rod (from right hand to left hand) occurred in 1960. The Model 53 .22 Jet was introduced in 1961, so there probably were not any Model 53 .22 Jet revolvers with right hand threaded ejector rods.
(I won't say there were none, but if there are any, they are very few and far between.)
The Model 53 is fun to shoot. I have four (two 4 inchers, one 6 and one 8). Remington unprimed brass can still be found if you look for it. I recently bought several boxes on GunBroker. Original ammo is getting expensive and is really too hot to shoot comfortably (and erodes the barrel), so I load my own. Two of my guns have the .22 LR aux cylinders and I to shoot them, too.

- - Buckspen

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

You have that backwards. It is the other way around. The right-hand thread tended to unscrew as the cylinder rotated counterclockwise, which would prevent the cylinder from being opened. Switching to the left-hand thread tended to tighten the ejector rod as the cylinder rotated, preventing the rod from unscrewing. The left-hand thread came AFTER the right-hand thread, not before.

Well, I am old. I knew it was something like that. THANKS for the correction.

 

[hanken]

I have 2ea. 8 inch barrel model 53s . one in a factory wood box and the other in the blue box.Both have the extra 22 cylinders. These guns are great fun to shoot and to load for. You can get the remington brass and Hornady .222 bullets from Midwayusa.com.
the brass sales are seasonal only sold once a year. Searia .223 dia. bullets are the most accurate to shoot you have to reduce the loads.

 

[1-1917]

Had one, pain to use with the .22RF inserts, pain to reload for. Looked and sounded cool. Sold it to a collector for a lot more than I paid for it. Got a nice pair of K22's in 4" and 6" with the money to replace it. I wanted a shooter so this was the best solution for me. The little 4" .22 has had a ton of use and I wouldn't trade it for a box of model 53s if I had to keep them.. (-:}

 

[joseph whitney]

advise on model 53 Jet

I definetly advise you to wear the plugs and muffs. I lost my hearing back in the 60's firing a 6 incher. Not totally but 30%. I fired it without either, not knowing the outcome. I had read articles about these guns but I guess I must not believed they could be this loud.
I made most of my cases from fireforming .357 cases after annealing them, they worked fine but I handloaded most of the .357 cases both factory and my own formed ones. I also used reduced loads as I found they worked as well as the factory loads. Took out a badger with this pistol. Wish I still had it as it was ordered with the extra .22 long rifle cylinder, target hammer, target trigger, target stocks, red ramp front sight, white outline rear and the most beautiful bright blue finish I had ever seen. Wish I still had it and I would buy another if I ever found one. The dentist that has it now won't sell it back to me regardless of price. I should have sold it to a commom laborer I guess. Oh well, this has happened many times before with other guns.

 

[austintexas]

I bought my 4 incher for $200.00 in '73 when I heard that Smith & Wesson was going to quit making 53s. I shot it alot at that time, I was already informed about keeping it clean and degreased. I was shipped to Guam in '74 and the Smith & Wesson distributer there had a sale on .22 Jet ammo, $1.00 a box. He had ordered .22 lr and was shipped Jet. He said there were no .22 Jet pistols on the island. I had the only one so I stocked up. I think I still have 2 or 3 boxes left. Great gun to shoot and very accurate but keep the ear protection on.

SWCA 892

 

[CRH83]

I recently inherited the 8 inch model 53 and enjoy shooting it, i agree that it is a pain to reload the 22lr shells in the inserts. Can anyone give me any info on where to get ahold of a 22lr cylinder for it? any info is appreciated thanks!

 

[nutsforsmiths]

I have a 4" barrel one that I bought in about 1997. It has the box and inserts, but no extra cylinder. I started out by shooting Jet ammo made by Old Western Scrounger, when they were located in California. I then went onto reloading my own and have shot it quite a bit. I don't find them that hard to reload for. The inserts aren't the easiest things to use, but time and patiences is needed when using them.

Every time I have someone shooting with me who has never shot a Jet before, I make sure they do. Every one of them end up loving the pistol and round. Very loud, like shooting a .357, but zero recoil, like a 22. The only negative thing I have to say about it is they are a pain to clean.

I recently bought a T/C Contender and found a 10" Jet barrel for it. of late I have been shooting it more then the 53.

 

[Bear-1]

I have a first yr mod 53 Jet, it is one of the most accurate revolvers i own, keep it dry and you will not have problems, they are extreemly loud, never the less, i like my 53, George.

 

[upacreekk]

I am looking for a S&W 53

If you have one for sale, please let me know. Thanks, Kent

 

[lcvsouza]

.22 hornet

Hi
Do you know where can I find a model 53? Or some .22 revolver that can have the 3 cylinders? 22lr,22Hornet and 22 magnum