S&W model 53 help

[Boomboomganske]

The story
I have a S&W 53 I acquired from my father that he purchased new. It came from the factory with the inserts to shoot 22 lr but not a 22lr cylinder. It has had thousands of 22 jet mag centerfire cartridges fired though it with no problems but the normal cartridge cylinder back out issues. It has been a great revolver, fun to shoot and accurate. I recently acquired a 22lr cylinder for this revolver. I decided it would be a good idea to send it in to S&W to have the new cylinder timed and to have the revolver tuned up. I send the revolver in and a few months later receive a quote for the cylinder timing and spring replacement and tune up. I promptly sent of a check. Today after a couple more months of waiting I received a call from S&W customer service. I was informed that they could tell the barrel was original but it was not the correct barrel for the revolver. It was marked 22 magnum but needed to be a 22 lr barrel. They were calling to get authorization to replace the barrel with a 22 lr barrel stating that they were surprised that the gun had not experienced some sort of failure.
I asked to speak with the gunsmith because I was concerned about barrel replacement (because we all know of how odd this revolver is) customer service let me know that the gunsmith was to busy to speak with me and let me know that the barrel swap was “non negotiable” If I wanted them to do a full service of the revolver. After a lengthy conversation about how this revolver fired a 22 centerfire cartridge and also a 22 lr cartridge (but not a 22 rimfire magnum cartridge) I was informed that they would do some research and get back with me.

The question
Has anyone experienced this issue when sending in a S&W 53?
Does anyone know someone that knows someone that has any pull at S&W? I just have the feeling that in this case S&W may be confused about what they are dealing with.
Thanks for the help

 

[diecidecimi]

Well, I admit I have some issues translating without any error . Anyway, I own a M53 since decades, I believe I'm a discrete expert in S&W revolvers, and I can certainly say that the barrel is marked ".22 Magnum". It is well known by S&W collectors. The cartridge for this revolver is the .22 Remington Jet, full stop. Of course a lot of people is wrong when they think it is the .22 WMR Winchester Magnum Rimfire. In fact the model 48 ha sa barrel marked .22 WMR . The .22 lr cylinder of the M53 is an optional part, chambered .22lr and NOT .22 WMR.
Again, .22 lr and RemJet have a bullet size of .223", when .22 WMR is .224" (for that they said your barrel is wrong! not true!)
It is neither the same cylinder of the M17 .22 lr, because it have to be longer, due to the wider frame window.
For these reasons the S&W Customer Service is totally wrong, and they abuse of your gun refusing to deliver it as it is

 

[diecidecimi]

From Handloader Magazine:



And .22 lr specs



.224 for WMR

 

[Karl Haemmerlein]

The story
I have a S&W 53 I acquired from my father that he purchased new. It came from the factory with the inserts to shoot 22 lr but not a 22lr cylinder. It has had thousands of 22 jet mag centerfire cartridges fired though it with no problems but the normal cartridge cylinder back out issues. It has been a great revolver, fun to shoot and accurate. I recently acquired a 22lr cylinder for this revolver. I decided it would be a good idea to send it in to S&W to have the new cylinder timed and to have the revolver tuned up. I send the revolver in and a few months later receive a quote for the cylinder timing and spring replacement and tune up. I promptly sent of a check. Today after a couple more months of waiting I received a call from S&W customer service. I was informed that they could tell the barrel was original but it was not the correct barrel for the revolver. It was marked 22 magnum but needed to be a 22 lr barrel. They were calling to get authorization to replace the barrel with a 22 lr barrel stating that they were surprised that the gun had not experienced some sort of failure.
I asked to speak with the gunsmith because I was concerned about barrel replacement (because we all know of how odd this revolver is) customer service let me know that the gunsmith was to busy to speak with me and let me know that the barrel swap was “non negotiable” If I wanted them to do a full service of the revolver. After a lengthy conversation about how this revolver fired a 22 centerfire cartridge and also a 22 lr cartridge (but not a 22 rimfire magnum cartridge) I was informed that they would do some research and get back with me.

The question
Has anyone experienced this issue when sending in a S&W 53?
Does anyone know someone that knows someone that has any pull at S&W? I just have the feeling that in this case S&W may be confused about what they are dealing with.
Thanks for the help

I hate to say this, your first mistake was sending an older S&W to them instead of a recognized S&W gunsmith, I personally wouldn't trust them to clean one of my older S&W's much less do anything else.

The model 53 barrel is labelled 22 magnum and is correct. Same as the model 53's that came with both cylinders. Don't let them touch it.

They do understand you are not changing it to 22lr and will use both cylinder's I hope. God forbid they did anything to the frame fitting a 22 cylinder to it.

 

[Doc44]

If you have one, or could find one, you could send S&W the Parts & Instruction Sheet for the .22 Magnum Revolver, Model No. 53 as it shows the 22 Rim Fire Cylinder as an accessory (Part No. 5793). That should convince them the cylinder should be fitted and no barrel change is necessary.

If you don't have a Parts & Instruction Sheet, I would be happy to email you a copy of one of mine.

Bill

 

[jcelect]

Mod 53

Sorry to hear about your problem! First of all I'm surprised the factory accept a long-time discontinued model to work on. They normally do not do that because of problems of not having replacement parts for the guns, which is the problem they are having with your 60s gun! Second, there is probably no one remaining at the plant that even knows what a mod 53 is! You stated the gun has been shot a lot which probably caused barrel erosion at the forcing cone! This might be the reason the factory wants to replace the barrel. If it was my gun, I would not let them replace the barrel!
jcelect

 

[rjm6120]

+1 for .22 Magnum on the barrel (like mine is). DO NOT allow them to replace that barrel!

 

[Boomboomganske]

The answer
S&W customer service contacted me today and assured me that after some research and checking the barrel was correct and the work would be completed as I had requested.

Thanks for all of the comments and sugestions

 

[snw19_357]

sigh of relief!

 

[steelslaver]

Did you sent them a model 53 22 cylinder?
If you sent them a regular K22 cylinder from a model 17 or 18 it will not work with a model 53 barrel. The barrel shank on a model 53 is to short as the model 53 used a model 19 length cylinder. The only 22lr cylinder that will work is one that was originally for a model 53 or one that was modified by someone

 

[Karl Haemmerlein]

Sorry to hear about your problem! First of all I'm surprised the factory accept a long-time discontinued model to work on. They normally do not do that because of problems of not having replacement parts for the guns, which is the problem they are having with your 60s gun! Second, there is probably no one remaining at the plant that even knows what a mod 53 is! You stated the gun has been shot a lot which probably caused barrel erosion at the forcing cone! This might be the reason the factory wants to replace the barrel. If it was my gun, I would not let them replace the barrel!
jcelect

I would be banned from this forum if I replied honestly to your post. Late 90's they butchered my early 70's model 25-2 45 acp. I got a call from the last gunsmith that existed there, he apprenticed in the early 60's under a couple masters from the 30's that were still around. He called me after work from his house because he couldn't talk at work, my model 25 wasn't 5 minutes of a nearly 5 hour phone call. I don't know which of us has a dimmer view of modern S&W.

 

[maxfam]

Bullet diameter is.222 for the Jet cartridge. .223 can be used in a pinch.