Model 53, .22 Centerfire Magnum

[DARE]

Got this gun from my father's estate after his death in 1992. His name was also David Reynolds.
Dad was a big fan of "The Jet." He liked the velocity and the fireball. He liked the dual firing pin set up and the .22 LR inserts.

 

[Truckman]

My 8 3/8" 4-screw no dash came with the extra numbered cylinder and the inserts...It's on the to-be-lettered list......Ben

 

[larryofcc]

I'm the proud owner of 2. The 6" is serial number K444444, and that's why I bought it. Big Larry

 

[bigmoose]

I’m a big fan of the 53.

 

[nutsforsmiths]

My 4" 53 shipped in 1970. They are fun to shoot and usually get a conversation going at the range. Quite a flame out of the end of rhe barrel with the 4"!

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Thanks for the invoice and serial number list for the Chiefs!

 

[dsf]

My 1961 made Model 53 with its 22 lr cylinder in place.



Got a good price on it, the store told me it would be easy and not too expensive to find 22 22 Jet cylinder.

They lied.

 

[6string]

I’m a big fan of the 53.

Nice picture!
Glad to see your dies and components. I don’t think anyone can truly claim to be a big fan of the M53 or .22 Jet if they don’t reload for it. That’s when it comes into it’s own! (Be sure to “double up” with ear plugs and ear muffs!)

Yours, plus the one in the OP’s post, are real beauties with those nice diamond stocks!

 

[Truckman]

They lied.

A lying gun dealer?...Why, that's almost as unheard of as a crooked politician!...Fire up the tar pot, boys, and pluck some chickens!...We'uns is about to have a party!......Ben

 

[Retired W4]

My 4 screw 53 letters with targets AND a butt swivel. Sold to Sportsman's Den in Bridgeport. What were they thinking? RR/WO for a total of $6.30. Butt swivel, $1.20. No extra charge for the walnut targets which obviously had to be modified. Fun to shoot!

 

[steelslaver]

It isn't that it is hard to find extra cylinders for model 53s. It is however, very hard to pay for them.

 

[22hipower]

My 1961 made Model 53 with its 22 lr cylinder in place.

View attachment 682034

Got a good price on it, the store told me it would be easy and not too expensive to find 22 22 Jet cylinder.

They lied.

Yes, the lied for sure. Last one I saw went for about $600 as I remember. The 22LR 53 cylinders are priced about the same.

Here's my 4 inch with 22LR cylinder numbered to the gun.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2noAP4D https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[Venom6]

Love the Jet; and love to hate it. Flat-shooting, low recoil, great fun, versatile; excellent on rats, jackrabbits, porcupines, coyotes, etc. And with earsplitting muzzle blast, hard-to-find components, and exasperating reloading features. I actually think it should be THE pistol issued to most of America's police officers, but don't want to hijack the thread.

 

[raljr1]

Local pawn shop had one that i looked at every week for months. Finally found auch nicer one online dor less money. Mine has a 2x scope on it which makes 100 yard shots a bit easier. I bought it to use on groundhogs in PA, but now that I am in exile here in Florida I have been thinking about letting someone else have the fun. I have several hundred rounds of both Remington and PPU ammo along with plenty of components.

They are fun to shoot.

 

[6string]

Anyone notice the “plagued continuously by extractor and barrel erosion problems” comment in the OP’s historical letter shown above?

I’m not used to seeing such frank statements in a S&W letter!

 

[jcelect]

The Jet is a barrel burner!

Every Jet owner MUST be a reloader if he wants to save his (non-replaceable) barrel! Also, everyone that owns a box of factory Remington ammo needs to sell it to an ammo collector! Never shoot the factory ammo, it will burn the barrel out in very few rounds. All of those flames out the end of the barrel is unburned powder which first escapes in the BC gap and flame cuts the breech end of the barrel!

Here is a couple of my Jets!

jcelect

 

[Jim Watson]

Extractor, si. I read that the best you could do was keep ammo and chambers thoroughly degreased to reduce setback. There was some wildcatting done with the idea that a conventional straight case and sharp bottleneck would do better. It didn't but the Cotterman Super Jet made a fine Cadet Martini barrel.

Would they have done better to commercialize the Harvey Kay Chuk?

Barrel erosion? Oh, ok flame cutting of the forcing cone.

 

[DARE]

The talk about flame cutting and erosion got me looking at my gun. I have a threaded hole in the top of the frame. What in the world is that?
Not a very good photo.

Edit: I had the same thought Ben, maybe a scope was mounted on it.

 

[Truckman]

I have a threaded hole in the top of the frame. What in the world is that?

It looks to be in the wrong location for the sight leaf, could the gun have once had a scope mounted on it?......Ben

 

[jcelect]

Extractor, si. I read that the best you could do was keep ammo and chambers thoroughly degreased to reduce setback. There was some wildcatting done with the idea that a conventional straight case and sharp bottleneck would do better. It didn't but the Cotterman Super Jet made a fine Cadet Martini barrel.

Would they have done better to commercialize the Harvey Kay Chuk?

Barrel erosion? Oh, ok flame cutting of the forcing cone.

I have an original Kay Chuk and had another one built on a 17-6 gun. Neither one shows any signs of barrel erosion! S&W told Remington they wanted a 40gr bullet from a 6" barrel to leave the barrel at 2450FPS. I have not chronoed any of the Kay Chuks yet, but I believe they are much slower!
The Supper Jet

The .224 Harvey Kay Chuk

My two guns

jcelect