Model 53 22 Jet

[Mickey Rat]

I was hitting the Gun and Pawn Shops with my son having a "play day" when I saw it...an actual model 53 in 22 Jet. Price was 625.00. I scarfed it up and started asking about it. No extra cylinder, no inserts, no box. I had my son use his phone to check value on my Blue Book on-line. Price was way high, my son was trying to talk me out of it. We left it and went home, that was Friday evening.

Saturday morning I got up, grabbed some cash and went to get the model 53. I got it for 500.00 and took off. A quick check of Midway USA got me dies and cases on the way. Research showed me the bullets were .222 and not available at Midway (on backorder).

I loaded some very low loads using .223 40 grain bullets.

How about some help? Any suggested loads? Will the .223 bullets cause problems?

 

[rburg]

You got the gun at a great price. Ammo will become pricey as time goes on. Its already been up to $75 a box, buy has retreated some over the last couple of years. My niche purchasing style had me buying partial boxes of ammo. Usually with the empties tossed in. I often found half boxes or more for about $25 or so.

All Jet owners reload. The ones who don't just can't fire their guns very often. Inserts are a royal pain. I recently found my extra's but I'll never fire them. A normal K22 is much easier to shoot rimfire ammo.

We have posters here who claim (and I can't verify) they get better accuracy with .224 ammo. I'd suggest you give it a try with a gunload or two. But don't go loading up a bunch until you're convinced. .223 Hornet bullets seem to work just fine.

Case life can be greatly extended by reducing the load just a little. You still get the satisfying roar and ball of flame, just not the pressure. You're choice.

 

[smithfan4152]

If you decided to put a lower load in by reducing the powder by half you could end up destroying the gun. There is very little recoil, just one hell of a bang, and a nice fireball.
Reeds Quality ammo makes Jet loads, cheaper than buying old original ammo. Good luck with your purchase you did well.

 

[perrazi]

don't use a slow burning powder like 2400,h-110,296, or anything else in that burn range for your lighter loads. use a faster burning powder like hs-6 or unique. i shoot sierra .223 diameter bullets almost exclusively in my jets. older sierra loading manuals have a lot of info as does the older hodgdon manuals. my everyday load runs around 1500fps out of the 83/38 in gun down to 1375 out of the 4in gun and about 1425 out of the 6in gun. the noise isn't as great as a factory type load,but it's easier on the guns and easier on the ears. always use good ear protection regardless of type of load used with these guns. even light loads are noisy.

 

[Mickey Rat]

I tried my reloads today. They worked well. Now the rest of the story...

I had the dies and cases come in from Midway. I checked my primers and had about 25 small pistol primers and a bunch of Federal Small Pistol Magnum primers. I know from years of reloading (started in 1976) that substituting magnum primers raises pressure. I also know that magnum primers are often used and/or required for spherical powders or heavier loads of powder (usually slower powders). And what about the .222 bore and .223 or .224 bullets?

Here is my line of reasoning:
1. The .223 bullets should do OK.
2. H-100 was a heavier (by weight) than most loads and is spherical.
3. Loads for 22 Hornet were about 10% lower than 22 Jet (same powder and bullet)
4. Starting loads for H-110 was 9.8 grains, I started with 8.9 grains.

My results:
1. There was no noticable difference in reports between the primers.
2. Primers were not showing pressure signs.
3. Necks with both primers were occasionally smoky (too low powered).
4. .223 bullets worked great.

Conclusions:
1. Starting loads with the magnum primers/larger bullets is no problem.
2. Next try the same loads with a .224 bullet.
3. Try lower loads with faster powders.
4. Most Hornet loads will work well in the Jet.

I will continue my load research and as load development gets to hotter loads, I'll break out the Chrony.


1.

 

[nutsforsmiths]

Just as a point of reference for you; I reload my Jet with 11.5 grains of IRM 4227, using the .222 Hornady bullet and a small magnum pistol primer. I shoot this load out of a 4" barrel 53 and is very accurate. I also shoot it out of a 10" Jet barrel T/C Contender and it does well in that one too.

 

[jrm53]

I have a Jet and reload I would not use very heavy bullets and I hve shot .223 diameters but I will not load any .224 dia, it may not hurt but I wont do it. You will really like the jet. Jeff

 

[partguy]

Mickey Rat,

I still have 2 boxes of original factory ammo (Peters) and a partial box (48) of probably once reloaded cases if you know anyone interested. Traded my Model 53 in about 1982 some similar vintage.

 

[Mickey Rat]

I just had to try making my own cases for the 22 Jet. What a bummer! I had no sucess. After regrouping and rethinking, I tried necking down to 257 WIN MAG first, still a wash out. Next I heated my cases up and let them cool down naturally, and some I quinched in water. Next I necked them down to 256. Still no luck. I could get GREAT 256 cases, but they still wrinkled going sown to 22. Finally I tried heating and no quinching, neck down to 256, reheat no quinch and tTHEN down to 22. Fair sucess. I can make GREAT 256 cases and pretty good 22 Jet cases, but heavy on the labor.

Now that I was able to make cases, I will streamline my operation by using a propane torch (gas stove the first time). I just want to know that I CAN make my cases JUST IN CASE!

Meanwhile, I'm placing another order with Midway....54.00/100 doesn't look so expensive now.