Jet Stuff

[Venom6]

Having perhaps more enthusiasm than money,here is how I feed my 6" M53. .222" bullets are preferred,but sometimes hard to find in my area,in which case I'll use light weight (40 gr) .223's. I'm trying to work up the courage to try the .224" Hornady 36 grain Vmax but will back off on the powder charge while checking to make sure the bullet actually exits the barrel. I anneal .357 magnum cases by standing them in a tuna fish can with water half way up the neck, and play a propane torch on the upper half until cherry red, then tip them over into the water. Interestingly enough, I have better success with nickeled cases than unplated ones. Yeah, I know, counter intuitive. Even then I get about twenty percent failures in case forming, because I don't use forming dies, just a .256 sizer followed by the Jet sizer. I told you I had more enthusiasm than money. But hey, it works. I won't list powder charges, other than to say they come straight out of the older loading manuals.

 

[rburg]

I'm wondering how many bullets Remington would need to produce to make it worth their while. I would guess they still have all the dies and forming equipment from the 1980s, but maybe not, too.

It might also be possible to induce Hornady to alter their bullet shape or materials to produce a better bullet. They (as I) might not even know folks here are unhappy with their current product. Because they probably have equipment which lends itself to smaller production runs, maybe they'd be more willing.

 

[toroflow1]

I'm wondering how many bullets Remington would need to produce to make it worth their while.

Probably a million!

 

[Guest]

Well, since Remington just did another run of Factory "Jet" brass a year or so ago maybe they'd be willing to do a run of bullets.

Here is the URL for the new Remington Brass from Midway:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=1601156656

They are offering boxes of 100 for $38.49 to boxes of 2000 for $629.99.

Anbd here is the URL for the Hornady 40 grain .222 diameter bullets:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=599887

They are currently shown as "Out of Stock, Backorder OK" with an expected delivery of 5/30/09.

 

[M29since14]

It might also be possible to induce Hornady to alter their bullet shape or materials to produce a better bullet. They (as I) might not even know folks here are unhappy with their current product. Because they probably have equipment which lends itself to smaller production runs, maybe they'd be more willing.

Good point. Hornady has demonstarted an interest in acquiring a reputation for advancing the state of the art.

 

[perrazi]

maybe sierra would consider something along these lines. they could use the 40 hornet bullet and make .222 instead of .223. would be nice to have a cannelure too.

 

[Guest]

Well, here is the Hornady website:

https://www.hornady.com/index.php

I suggested I'd like to see a Boattailed Spitzer bullet in the 40 to 50 grain bullet weight in .222 diameter. I'm not sure I'd have any use for the cannelure. But, suggest whatever trips your personal trigger.

 

[perrazi]

original remington bullets had a cannelure for crimping and they work best if you use it.especially with 2400,296,and h-110.

 

[M29since14]

The original Remington bullet should be duplicated, duplicated, duplicated... No funny stuff!

Hornady is a class operation, top-notch. They could probably pull off a duplication, or maybe even come up with something better. I sent them an email, just in case.

 

[DCWilson]

I'm just getting the Jet bug, so I also appreciate the information in this thread. I recently acquired a 6-inch five-screw model, and I'm looking forward to getting into loading my own.

By the way, I'm the one who picked up the loose Jet cylinder at auction. I don't need it right now, but it seemed like one of those things a serious Jet shooter ought to have around.

Actually, that raises a question that I didn't consider until this moment: did the handedness of the ejector rod thread change during the manufacturing history of this model? Assuming the cylinder is from later in the model run, will I need to find a separate ejector rod for the new cylinder?

David W.

 

[jrm53]

On the Jet loading; in the Gun Digest of 1963 there is an article on reloading the 22 Jet by Kent Bella and that is where I got most of my info. He states "Factory bullets run about .2225 but I prefer .223". The rounds I have loaded in mine were .223. Also in this 63 G Digest is another Smith classic the S&W 38 Master or known now as a Model 52 this written by Gil Hebbard with another great reloading article for the 52 by Kent Bella both articles are worth the price you will have to pay for a used one on Yahoo.com, Just dont do like I did and get the 1962 G Digest with a picture of the new Model 53 Rem Jet, its only on the cover but it had a lot of interesting things.

 

[toroflow1]

Actually, that raises a question that I didn't consider until this moment: did the handedness of the ejector rod thread change during the manufacturing history of this model? Assuming the cylinder is from later in the model run, will I need to find a separate ejector rod for the new cylinder?

No, the change in ejector rod thread "handedness" occured in 1960, whereas the Jet (model 53) was introduced in 1961. Also, there were no 5 screw Jets, only 3 & 4.

 

[DCWilson]

Originally posted by toroflow1:

No, the change in ejector rod thread "handedness" occured in 1960, whereas the Jet (model 53) was introduced in 1961. Also, there were no 5 screw Jets, only 3 & 4.

(Slapping forehead.) D'oh! Yes, of course: four-screw. I think I was still obsessing about another new gun, a 5-screw Pre-23, when I wrote that.

Thanks for clarifying the thread direction issue for me.

David W.

 

[toroflow1]

OK DCWilson, now we need pictures of that pre 23!

 

[DCWilson]

Originally posted by toroflow1:
OK DCWilson, now we need pictures of that pre 23!

Ken, patience! That revolver just entered California's 10-day transfer purgatory, so I won't be able to post anything for a couple of weeks. But you all will be able to see it soon; it's a nice one.

David

 

[BUFF]

Graf & Sons sent a flier out last month. They had .22 Jet brass made by Prvi Partizan for $21.99/100. I thought about trying some but I still have a box of 1,000 bulk Remingtons sitting around, plus a few 50 count boxes. Graf adds $6.95 to any order for shipping and handling. Good folks to trade with.

I haven't reloaded any Prvi Partizan brass but a few samples of rifle ammo made by them has shot well in a couple of my rifles.

I have only shot the Hornady Jet bullets, handloaded, in a M-53. I can't get anywhere near factory ammo results in my S&W guns with them. I have an old T/C barrel in this chambering and it shoots the 40 grain Hornet bullets from other makers fairly well.

The Lyman 45th Edition manual listed Remington's 40 gr. soft point (No. B22990) as the jacketed bullet they used, so Remington DID offer it as a component in the past.

The Lyman manual only listed 3 powders used with the jacketed bullet, 2400, IMR 4227 and SR4756. Which powder have you folks gotten the best results with? Has anyone tried W-296?

 

[M29since14]

Has anyone tried W-296?

Yes, with no success. Just a ballistics-for-dummies type of thought (no evidence to base it on), but I imagine the very lightweight bullet of the Jet makes reliable ignition and efficient burning of that powder problematic - which accounts for the unsatisfactory results. Remember too that it is also difficult to work with 296/H-110 in the Jet because of the dreaded 3% rule-precaution.

As mentioned earlier, I have always had best results with medium speed powders, which was something the first Jet reloaders I bumped into told me to expect. Selection of powders was limited back then, but no one I knew used 2400 and 4227 and could produce results with it, in a Model 53.

Now, we have many more powders available, but apparently the interest is not there, thus we have no reliable data. We really do need someone the likes of Hornady and/or Hodgdon to take another thorough look at the Jet in the Model 53, addressing the most modern, yet commonly available, components. And we need a better bullet. Unfortunately, I doubt any of it will happen.

 

[S/W - Lifer]

Here's a couple of more thoughts. As already noted, it's nearly 50 years since the Jet hit the market. There are new powders to work with. Maybe some focused effort using fresh brass and Remington 6 1/2 primers will be a place to start.

The Hornady idea is brilliant and I wish I had thought of it. Once again, any one person requesting a manufacturer for help with the Jet may be wasting their time. A Forum representive may meet with more success. If Remington won't make bullets maybe they would license Hornady to use their design.

I'm even thinking of sending sample bullets to Corbin, the swaging die makers, to see what they can come up with.

My vote for first choice is to contact Remington via the Forum. I'm delighted with the original bullet - anything else is making due.

I'm also wondering about accuracy in the 53 with reduced loads. I have seen in working with the .308 rifle that accuracy - with a particular load - increased with additional powder. Perhaps barrel twist rate will not support accuracy in reduced loads. Also, as previously pointed out, bearing surface of the bullet may impact this.

One lifetime may not be enough...

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by S/W - Lifer: ...My vote for first choice is to contact Remington via the Forum. I'm delighted with the original bullet - anything else is making due....

What's stopping you??? I've already contacted Hornady but haven't gotten any reply yet.

 

[perrazi]

couple of years ago i started trying reduced loads. pb seemed to work the best. tried 700x, sr4756,sr7625,unique, and bullseye. can load the pb down to 22mag velocities with sierra 40gr .223 bullet and shoots as well as 22 mag. tried hornady jet bullet also,but not as accurate. this was with cases loaded at least 6-8 times and trimmed to proper length. tried wspm and wsp not much difference in accuracy.