Model 53 conundrum

[raljr1]

I have been thinking about my Model 53 quite a bit lately. I bought it because I loved the idea of it. Thought I'd use it for small game in PA. I now live in Florida, don't do much small game hunting now. I have one full, and one partial box of Remington 22 Jet ammo, 10 boxes of PPU new ammo, and 4 or 5 boxes of various reloads. I have 10 boxes of correct Hornady bullets, empty cases, and dies. I also have 5 inserts, because that's the quantity the guy offered.

It came to me with the scope on it. I do have a rear sight for it as well.

I have thought about selling it and using the funds to buy something I might like to add to my collection. I wonder if I'd be better off selling everything as a package, or breaking it all up and selling it separately.

Or maybe just put it back in the bottom of the safe and go have fun with it once in while.

 

[madmikeb]

I've got an 8-3/8 4 screw I bought many years ago and the last box of ammo I reloaded for it is labeled from 1987! I've got some of the correct bullets, cases and dies and maybe someday I'll shoot those reloads but in the meantime it's a cool, unique gun and it just sits in my safe.

 

[505Gibbs]

The ammo itself without the reloads is worth over $500 IMO since PPU hasn't done a new batch recently after the initial run. FWIW

 

[toad67]

If you were to sell it, I'd separate it, but also offer it as a package. I'd list the gun at a certain price, and allow the new buyer the first right of refusal to any, or all of the other goodies first, before you sold them.

 

[weatherby]

Quite frankly you "can" do both

Sound like you have plenty of ammo and surplus for any needs you'd have.
Start by selling the bullets.....they sell quickly BTW

 

[dave1918a2]

It is such a unique and unusual gun. When I am at the range, mine generates a lot of interest along with My Linebaugh Custom Sixguns 475Linebaugh. Both will be buried with Me. Do as You wish, but if it were mine I would offer it as a package deal, or as a separate deal. If You do that, remove the scope and install the rear sight. That scope is just ugly. The grips look very nice. Good luck with whatever You decide.

 

[ken158]

Sell the ammo to 505gibbs, take off the Bushnell and throw it away, install the rear factory sight and prepare to take a hit since the frame has been drilled and tapped for that mount. Put it on an auction site and be prepared to accept the high bid. Use the funds to buy what you want while knowing you still made a profit on the 53.

 

[Venom6]

They are fabulous guns. The blast and flash are Biblical, combined with nearly zero recoil. I think you should take it hunting down there in Florida, and the irony of hunting "pythons" with a S&W would be inescapable...

 

[RMFnLA]

I'd hang onto it.

There will probably never be another one made.

Think "supply & demand"…

 

[jcelect]

I have been thinking about my Model 53 quite a bit lately. I bought it because I loved the idea of it. Thought I'd use it for small game in PA. I now live in Florida, don't do much small game hunting now. I have one full, and one partial box of Remington 22 Jet ammo, 10 boxes of PPU new ammo, and 4 or 5 boxes of various reloads. I have 10 boxes of correct Hornady bullets, empty cases, and dies. I also have 5 inserts, because that's the quantity the guy offered.

It came to me with the scope on it. I do have a rear sight for it as well.

I have thought about selling it and using the funds to buy something I might like to add to my collection. I wonder if I'd be better off selling everything as a package, or breaking it all up and selling it separately.

Or maybe just put it back in the bottom of the safe and go have fun with it once in while.

The sum of the parts are worth more than the whole.
jcelect

 

[22hipower]

I'm with the "throw the scope" group and put the rear sight on. If the forcing cone area is already eroded shoot the factory stuff when you feel like it. If still nice I'd probably sell some of the factory ammo and use somewhat reduced power reloads when I felt like shooting it. Fun guns and they've been appreciating quite a bit over the past couple years. I'd be happy to buy some .222 bullets if you've got too many of them.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Walter Rego]

The scope is a vintage Bushnell Magnum Phantom. I have one for my Ruger Hawkeye .256 Winchester Magnum. By today's handgun scope standards they are fairly worthless with a small field of view since they are a 7/8" tube and the eye relief is not very forgiving.

But, people do collect them along with the mounts. I sure wouldn't toss it in the trash bin.
Hopefully you have the original rear sight.

 

[raljr1]

You guys hatin on the scope is interesting... i generally dont like my guns to be anything but orignal configuration. This came to me with the scope and I bought the rear sight in antipation of wanting to put it on.

Theee are no holes thru the topstrap. I assumed that this mount used the original sight mounting holes. Wont know until, or if, i take it off.

As ungainly as the scope looks, it does permit me to keep a reasonable group at 100 yards. That, I cannot do with open sights.

I appreciate the input and will keep listening.

Sent from my SM-A136U using Tapatalk

 

[huthike]

Keep it. Put it in the safe, take it out and look at it sometimes and maybe shoot it occasionally. They ain't making any more.

 

[Jim Watson]

I think I would liquidate in favor of something currently of interest.

 

[rjm6120]

I would keep that gun. The only change I would make is put the rear sight on it, as intended, and sell the scope.

 

[Walter Rego]

Here are some scans of old advertising cuts for the Bushnell scopes. Some mounts did require drilling and tapping, others did not.

 

[raljr1]

Here are some scans of old advertising cuts for the Bushnell scopes. Some mounts did require drilling and tapping, others did not.

Thanks, Walter. I just checked again, and it is not drilled thru the top strap, so it must use the original sight holes.

I decided to shed some of the ammo amd components.....they are listed in the classifieds...i still have nearly 400 rounds and components for that many more.....i doubt I'll shoot that many round as long as I own it.

Sent from my SM-A136U using Tapatalk

 

[Mike C2]

I bought a 1960 M27 that came with that setup. I bought the gun for the Cokes that were on it. But it was SUPER cleans, so I removed the scope and reinstalled a rear site from a 1965 M27-2 along with the correct diamond Targets from same gun. There are/were no noticeable mods to the gun for the scope mount. It's a beauty now and the Cokes are on my 1957 44 Mag. (The 1965 gun was near meant but brutalized with previous owners initials carved into blue below cylinder release. It is one of my favorite shooters with some smooth non-relieved targets from eBay and a white outline rear sight from the parts bin.)

 

[drgbike]

Quite a few boxes of .222 bullets on GB.