S&W Model 53 Revolver .22 Rem. Jet

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Sh0ot15T

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Well, I did it again. Another estate purchase by the Gun Shop I work in 2 days a week. In it was a number of S&W revolvers. A clean pre-29 with 5 1/2" barrel and a few others. The one that drew my eye is a Model 53, in the original box with all 6 inserts for rim fire cartridges. This revolver brings back good memories from 60 years ago. My dad owned one and it was the first handgun I ever fired, and for an 8 year old: "That was cool!"
Unfortunately, their house was burglarized in 74' while I was in the Navy. I've been looking for one I could afford for years. Boss gave me a really great price. S/N is K442568, anyone have any idea on date of manufacture? Also, any ideas on solving the occasional issue of brass backing out and locking up the cylinder?
 
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Sh0ot15T said:
Also, any ideas on solving the occasional issue of brass backing out and locking up the cylinder?
Click to expand...

Keep the chambers dry and don't use factory loads, especially the old Remington ones. I load Sierra .223 45 grain Hornet bullets in front of 9 grains of H110. Plenty of flash and bang and they're accurate but don't seem to cause erosion of the forcing cone and I've had no problems with the brass backing out. Enjoy yours. We love pictures. Here's one with 22LR cylinder with matching SN that doesn't get shot. . . . .at least not yet.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2noAP4D https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
 
How common are 4" 53s?
I thought they were all 6"
Seems 8" would be ideal for a cartridge with such a low expansion ratio.
 
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CH4 said:
How common are 4" 53s?
I thought they were all 6"
Seems 8" would be ideal for a cartridge with such a low expansion ratio.
Click to expand...
They seem to be fairly common in 4". Two for sale on GB right now. There are also two 6" barrel for sale and one 8 3/8" on there. One also says it's got an 8 5/8" barrel - maybe?

I haven't checked GI but imagine they are approximately the same ratio.
 
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Very nice shooters with modern PPU

Great find by the OP.........gotta love those estate sales. Some older real classics are coming around these days. I got mine also recently, and yes......if you can find the PPU factory ammo they chamber (in clean and wiped dry) cylinder charge holes and no issues with backing out that I have found.

How is the forcing cone erosion at 6 o'clock low in your new treasure? Other members reported that a large amount of erosion has been reported from guns that saw a lot of factory Remington rounds in their lifetime.

As far as the 22LR inserts go I've not even tried them. They do fit and 22LR (CCI Standard Velocity) also fits good, but for me it is easier (and more fun) to just have my Model 34-1 or my Model 17-3 along if I really want 22LR.

So according to SCSW 4th, the Model 53 came out in 1961, available in 4", 6", and 8-3/8" barrel lengths, blued finish, and the Model 53-1 was never in production, the Model 53-2 came out 12/29/1961 and eliminated the trigger guard screw.

As far as manufacture vs ship date.........only a Factory Letter, or asking Dr. Roy will tell you. Mine is serial number K445579 so probably also a first year gun as far as the frame getting serialized...however when I asked Dr. Roy for a ship date...the answer came back...June 1966! Wow...long time in the vault!

One other thing as other members told me before I went to the range.......They are LOUD...especially on the indoor range. Wear your best ears, and let the RSO know it is loud. I swapped out of the occupied bay (8 lanes, 7 in use) for an adjacent separate bay with only on other shooter so 7 lanes separating us..all good to go.

Enjoy that Model 53....expensive to shoot at this time with PPU, but a real hoot to do so....kinda wish I'd had this back in the early 60's hunting woodchucks with my Stevens Savage 22 Hornet rifle...maybe could have left the rifle at home.:D
 

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Ammo

I bought my 4" 53 in 1974 or '75. I was working at a Gunshop in Fort Worth and we were told S&W was going to discontinue the m-53. I got my Second about '97 , in a pawnshop in Lockhart , no box but came with a extra cylinder in 22. My 8 3/8th I bought here off the buy/sell site. I also picked up a Nickeled 6" just for grins. I knew it wasn't factory, I asked Roy Jinks before I bought it. But I digress, I bought 4 boxes of Remington While on Guam $1 a box. The shop ordered .22 long rifle and got Jet instead and the owner was blowing it out because there were no Jets on the Island. I shot up 2 and now I reload those 2 boxes.
SWCA 892
 
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I can attest to the very loud report. Astonishing muzzle and BC gap flash (PPU). I have several boxes of the old Remington Jet ammo, but this one already has the barrel erosion so I'll probably not shoot those through it.

The one I have (posted earlier) is likely one of the few, and possibly the only one that came out of the factory with a butt swivel. It also has the optional RR/WO and 22LR cylinder. Why someone wanted a butt swivel on that gun is a mystery.
 
cmansguns said:
So according to SCSW 4th, the Model 53 came out in 1961, available in 4", 6", and 8-3/8" barrel lengths, blued finish, and the Model 53-1 was never in production, the Model 53-2 came out 12/29/1961 and eliminated the trigger guard screw.

As far as manufacture vs ship date.........only a Factory Letter, or asking Dr. Roy will tell you. Mine is serial number K445579 so probably also a first year gun as far as the frame getting serialized...however when I asked Dr. Roy for a ship date...the answer came back...June 1966! Wow...long time in the vault!
Click to expand...


Yes, ship dates on these vary a lot. The 4 inch I showed above is K474212, theoretically made well after yours, yet Dr. Jinks says it shipped in August of 1964. One of my 6 inch guns (K441478) shipped in June of 1961.

Jeff
SWCA #1457
 
To answer Your question. I wet a rag with 95% isopropyl alcohol and wipe down all rounds. Then I use some patches on a cleaning rod and wipe the chambers. I have also sprayed out the chambers with carb cleaner. VERY carefully. I have serial # 442470 and it really likes the Yellow Jackets in the inserts. I load the 45 gr Hornet .223 bullets with 11gr 4227. I hope You enjoy yours as much as I enjoy Mine. Mine will be the last one to go. You also should get some interest from range members who have never heard of it.
 
22hipower gave good advice! Slightly reduced reloads and clean chambers will solve all the problems with the 22 Jet! DO NOT shoot Rem factory loads(too hot)! This is what will happen, and very quickly!
gsu3wtM.jpg

06aUl68.jpg

Here's a couple from my collection.
QIrb7ve.jpg

jcelect
 
22hipower said:
Yes, ship dates on these vary a lot. The 4 inch I showed above is K474212, theoretically made well after yours, yet Dr. Jinks says it shipped in August of 1964. One of my 6 inch guns (K441478) shipped in June of 1961.

Jeff
SWCA #1457
Click to expand...

My Model 53 is just a few dozen numbers shy of K440,000 and also shipped in June 1961.
I stocked up on the PPU a few years ago when it was first released and about $35/50. I haven't seen it in stock for a long time. Has anyone chronographed it vs. the original Peters or Remington ammo ? I'd be curious how much they throttled down the velocity.

Regarding the throat erosion, I wonder if any of the fairly recent powders that are supposed to burn "cooler" would be suitable in the Jet ?
 
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20221206_163010.jpgThanks to all. dave1918a2, I'm going to try duplex loads for my BPCR .45-90 and 4227 is the smokeless I'm planning on using. 22highpower, I use Win. 296, now the same load data as H110, will also give your load a try. As far as the pre-29, it is a 5 1/2" barrel.
I checked, and there is very minor throat wear @ 6:00. Nothing too major. I don't think it had a lot of Rem. Jet fired through it. Can't find brass available anywhere, and finally found some PPU ammo. $75 for 1 box of 50, but it'll get me started till I can find brass.
 
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Oh, does anyone have any experience shooting .22 WMR through their 53? I found Magnum cylinders at Numrich, they are currently back ordered.
 
Sh0ot15T said:
Oh, does anyone have any experience shooting .22 WMR through their 53? I found Magnum cylinders at Numrich, they are currently back ordered.
Click to expand...
S&W goofed, they stamped the right side of the model 53 guns with "22 Magnum". This is not the 22 WinMagnumRimfire cartridge. Remington seen the problem with the names so they named their cartridge the 22 Jet. The extra cylinders seen, from the factory for the model 53, are chambered in 22 long rifle. There have been some 22WMR cylinders found but they were custom made from a 22 long rifle cylinder. Here is a custom model 53 I seen on an auction site AND I did not buy it!
xD9rhEO.jpg

Sdf5aYa.jpg

jcelect
 
jcelect said:
S&W goofed, they stamped the right side of the model 53 guns with "22 Magnum". This is not the 22 WinMagnumRimfire cartridge. Remington seen the problem with the names so they named their cartridge the 22 Jet. The extra cylinders seen, from the factory for the model 53, are chambered in 22 long rifle. There have been some 22WMR cylinders found but they were custom made from a 22 long rifle cylinder. Here is a custom model 53 I seen on an auction site AND I did not buy it!
xD9rhEO.jpg

Sdf5aYa.jpg

jcelect
Click to expand...

Oooooh, that would have been hard to resist.

Jeff
SWCA #1457
 
Bald1 said:
Not so bad. I recently paid $2 a round for Winchester 22 Hornet shipped to my door. Old/Odd calibers are expensive if you don't reload.
Click to expand...

A K frame 22lr or 22 magnum cylinders will not work in a model 53. Model 53 used the 357 length cylinder and 17/18 or 48 cylinders are about 1/10" to short.

22 cylinders that fit model 53 are very hard to find.


I did make one out of a K frame 357 cylinder however.
19 cylinder conversion to 22lr mdl 53
 
steelslaver said:
A K frame 22lr or 22 magnum cylinders will not work in a model 53. Model 53 used the 357 length cylinder and 17/18 or 48 cylinders are about 1/10" to short.

22 cylinders that fit model 53 are very hard to find.


I did make one out of a K frame 357 cylinder however.
19 cylinder conversion to 22lr mdl 53
Click to expand...
Thank you, sir! Your point is spot on, and I forget to mention it above!
jcelect
 
For now I do have the rimfire inserts that came with the revolver. Thanks to Dr. Charlie for nailing down the mfg. date. That makes my next question even more difficult to ask, and I think I know how you all will answer. My dad had a Leupold 2 1/2x20 pistol scope mounted on his. I own the same scope, bought one for a .22 Hornet barrel on my contender. So, should I have the revolver drilled and tapped? Wiegand makes a base for K-frames. We have an outdoor range out here with steel at 1, 2, 3,4,5, and 800 yards. The jet sounds like a perfect round to reach out to 200, bit my eyes aren't quite there. I shoot the 400 yard steel Creedmor style with my X-frame and hot .45 Colts. It sports a 4x scope. Just not sure about doing that to this early model 53.
 
If it is in relatively high condition (95+%), and you said you have the inserts and original box, I wouldn't D&T it. I suppose there are still quite a few of those packages around but I wouldn't modify a 60 year old nice S&W by D&Ting it. Values on these packages have been going up, everything has, but perhaps these 53s as much as any. I started watching them when they were $800ish and "too expensive." One with box, inserts, and extra cylinder can now easily reach $2k. D&T it and for most folks you now have a $800 gun with a box and inserts worth a couple hundred more. . .with the scope on it.

It if is in not so great condition maybe. Just my opinion, your gun, do what feels right to you. Maybe check accuracy without the scope first. If it has been fired quite a bit and has forcing cone erosion, jcelect, who knows as much about them as anybody here I think, says accuracy beyond 50 yards suffers. Not much point in scoping it if it isn't accurate at longer ranges. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Jeff
SWCA #1457
 
True. As I stated, a little erosion and I mean very little. I'll test it at 50, and 100 yards and see. At the least I can do steel at 100. my eyes are good to that point. Also, can look for a B-Square no drill base. Think you sold me on no drill and tap. I was kind of already there, just had to hear it from someone else.
 
Sh0ot15T said:
True. As I stated, a little erosion and I mean very little. I'll test it at 50, and 100 yards and see. At the least I can do steel at 100. my eyes are good to that point. Also, can look for a B-Square no drill base. Think you sold me on no drill and tap. I was kind of already there, just had to hear it from someone else.
Click to expand...
IMHO - GOOD IDEA! In the above pic of the eroded barrels, one of them is my "shooter"! I have shot a Jet at 150yds, but with open sights and my ageing eyes I won't brag about the group. For my shooter, it will do fine out to about 50yds but at 100yds I end up with a better pattern than a group. If you are intrigued by the cartridge, buy a TC barrel. They are out there and you have no erosion problems. You are shooting from a closed chamber! My interest has turned to Winchester's answer to the 22 Jet, back in the 60s, the .256 Win Mag! S&W chambered ONE 8 3/8" model 53 in the caliber and I don't own it!
jcelect
 
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I was able to locate a re-published owners manual, and a Weaver #307 no drill scope base for K-frames. Now I can try a scope and NOT ruin the revolver. Keeping it all original.
 
Have a 6" which I dearly love. Would echo above posts: thoroughly degrease the cases and the chambers. I can go 2 to 3 cylinders before caes start to back out. I believe this is because most gunpowders are coated with graphite (I've been told that is to reduce static electricity and to allow the kernels to flow through the equipment better, but I don't know). Graphite is of course a lubricant, and I believe as some of it gets deposited on the cases and chamber walls during ignition, the cases start to back out.

Interestingly, my pistol is at least as accurate with the inserts in .22lr, despite the long jump to the rifling, as the Jet cylinder/ammo.

The blast is sobering, though recoil is mild. I took mine to Montana this year on a prairie dog hunt. The rancher insists we also kill any badger we see, so I did. 35 gr. Vmax at about 30 yards worked well.
 
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