Model 53

[panton]

I inherited my dad's model 53 a few years ago. It has both cylinders and inserts. It seemed like a pretty scary gun to fire when I was little. As an adult, I really enjoy shooting it. As best I remember, it was purchsed new in 1961 or 62. Based on what I have read about the 22 Jet that makes it an early model. Can anyone tell me any more about it based on the serial number: K446114? Thanks

 

[larryofcc]

Mine is a little lower than yours @ # K 444444. It was shipped 6-1961 and is of first years production. It is a 4 screw and has diamond center target stocks. Standard trigger and hammer. I have the adapters for it but no 22 LR cylinder or box.. I will letter this gun when I get back from the Reno Gun Show. My M53 no dash remains unfired, and yes, they do make a little noise when firing the Jet cartridge. Big Larry

 

[panton]

Thanks. My 53 also has the center diamond in the checkered grip. What is meant by 4 screw?

 

[rck281]

Thanks. My 53 also has the center diamond in the checkered grip. What is meant by 4 screw?

There are 3 screws in the sideplate - one is hidden by the grips. The 4th screw is in front of the trigger guard. This was eliminated around 1960 and the guns were stamped as a M53-2.
The diamond around the screw in the grips was eliminated about 1968.

 

[perrazi]

panton- you will need to take up reloading to shoot a jet very much. they are my favorite toy. have shot thousands thru my jets over the years.

 

[Sebago Son]

You Didn't Say....

... but which barrel length is it?

Most were 6", some were 8 3/8", a very few were 4".

Mine's a little later than yours... 1973 I would guess using the "Standard Catalog".

 

[panton]

It has a 6 inch barrel. My dad taught me how to reload when I was a teenager and I have doing it ever since. Hunted woodchucks and deer in nothern Utah when I was a kid. Now I hunt prairie dogs once a year in eastern Wyoming. It is difficult to find the .222 Hornady 40 gr. bullets. So after some research and some experimenting I started loading Hornady 35 gr. Vmax bullets. They are short and stubby like the original Hornady .222 bullets. I had some concerns about the .224 bullet diameter and the potential of increased pressure. So I moly coated the bullets. I use 10 gr. of H110 powder and Federal small pistol mag primers. Chornographed velocity is 1600 +/- with the 6 inch barrel. I have had no problems with OAL or bullet diameter in the cylinder. Bottom line is they have shot very well. What surprised me the most was a big increase in accuaracy over the .222 Hornady bullets. I guess the Hornady 35 gr. Vmax is a more accurate bullet?? Next year when I go prairie dog hunting I will take the 22 Jet for the close in ones. Should be fun.

 

[perrazi]

try sierra .223 40gr. hornet bullets. they work well for me and easier to find than the .222 hornadys.

 

[glenncal1]

Some of us are crazy enough to have the Model 53 in all three barrel lengths:

 

[panton]

Thanks for the info about the .223 hornet bullets

I really like the 8 3/4 barrel version.

 

[GLL]

The 4" is without a doubt the "funnest" revolver S&W ever produced ! Giant fireball at dusk and VERY loud ! Everyone at the range stops in their tracks when it first goes off !

Jerry

 

[Docmonkey]

New to this message board... I just got given a Model 53, but it doesnt have the 22Jet cylinder

I do have the 22LR inserts that came with the gun, and the 22Mag cylinder.

Is there any hope (chance) of locating a 22Jet to go with this guy.

It came with 900 rounds of ammo, mix of factory new in box (old boxes) and reloads in plastic boxes but the brass is about 98% 22Jet with only a handful of 357s that were converted.

If I cant find a 22Jet cylinder Im just gonna sell the ammo and the inserts, Id like to not do that but I cant afford to invest a ton in this just to get a 22Jet for myself.

 

[feralmerril]

DOCMONKEY, wonder what happened to that jet clyinder! Most of us jet owners have the jet clyinder and most of us are looking for a 22 lr clyinder! Someone gave you the gun? Why dont you backtrack. That original jet clyinder has got to be ratteling around in a drawer somewhere!

 

[GLL]

Docmonkey:

If you cannot find the original cylinder sell the gun and the inserts but KEEP the ammo ! BUY another 53 instead !

Jerry

 

[Docmonkey]

DOCMONKEY, wonder what happened to that jet clyinder! Most of us jet owners have the jet clyinder and most of us are looking for a 22 lr clyinder! Someone gave you the gun? Why dont you backtrack. That original jet clyinder has got to be ratteling around in a drawer somewhere!

Heres how this happened...

Barb and all of Barb's family live(d) in New York city. Since you cant touch a gun in NYC without 47 permits and a dispensation from the Pope, no one in the family has the foggiest idea what to do with guns (frankly they are scared of them).

Barb's grandfather died five of so years ago. There were guns and accessories that got divyed up (sadly apparently a bunch of stuff was disassembled and disposed of). Barb was moving to Texas so she took a box with a gun and apparently all the ammo that went with it.

She moved back to NYC and had to find a home for it, since Im such an upstanding mensch of a guy she gave it to me to use in good health.

The rest of the stuff is gone its so sad when bad owners happen to good guns....

I do have to mention that this is a 22Mag cylinder not a 22LR. Honestly if it was 22LR it would be more useful to me. But if Im gonna pay for a cylinder Id rather get the 22 Jet so I can play with those.

 

[4-Screw]

If you like the long barrels, here is a first year 8 3/8" in nickel...Red Ramp/ White Outline/Target Hammer/Target Trigger/TS.

 

[feralmerril]

Docmonkey, there is hope. Some guru, I think it might be linbaugh will make you a jet clinder for it. Probley wants a kidney though. Someone here may chime in if I got the wrong guy. Even the 22 wmrf clyinder is wrong for that gun, but guys tell me they work. The jet is .222 bore, that clyinder is .223 or really I think .224.
It`s a sad fact that many if not most of our guns end up with storys like that when we pass!

 

[Docmonkey]

How do I tell if this 22mag cylinder came with the gun?

 

[feralmerril]

If its 22 wmrf, it DIDNT come with the gun. It`s probley a model 48 clyinder. Someone found the jet too exspendsive to shoot and bought the model 48 clyinder, and the 53 jet sits in a box or drawer somewhere. You might find someone to rechamber that clyinder to jet but the end of it will still be about .002 over barrel diamiter.

 

[Docmonkey]

You were to correct. I saw the cylinder shape and the stamp on the pistol and assumed it was for a magnum shell. It is in fact a 22LR which is good for me, as thats what I really wanted.

If 22Jet cylinders arent outrageous I would love to get one, but I would be perfectly happy to sell off the ammo and the inserts at this point and consider myself well ahead of the game.

 

[Sebago Son]

Rick Nahas....

You might try to look up Mr. Rick Nahas... he is listed on the S&WCA Members list. He had a big pile of Jet stuff not too long ago and he was moving it along slowly...

Drew

 

[feralmerril]

As it turned out then, sounds like the clyinder you have is the original, optional 22lr clyinder rather than the 22 wmrf you at first thought? Well thats good. Now we are 1/2 way there. You really, really need a jet clyinder. Any chance at all that you can backtrack and locate it? Otherwise, good hunting. Untill then just shoot long rifles.

 

[buckspen]

22 Jet cylinder

Put an ad in the "want to buy" section of this forum. You might get lucky. Also, they do come up from time to time on GunBroker. I bought one there some months ago but it wasn't cheap!!!!

- - - Buckspen