Tell me about a 22 Jet.

[CajunBass]

Today at Ali-Babba's, they showed me a Model 53? I think it was...On the right side of the barrel it was marked 22 Magnum. It had SS or nickel inserts in the cylinder. 4" barrel, Smith & Wesson target grips. A couple of worn spots on the frame but overall not bad. Probably still a shooter, not a collector. The firing pin was an over and under arragment, with a switch on the hammer to change from centerfire to rimfire I guess?

So what's the deal with these? I understand they jet inserts were to allow the use of 22 LR when not useing the 22 Jet. Can you still get 22 Jet ammo? Ali-Babba didn't seem to have any. How do you get the empties out? The ejector rod didn't move, and I'm not sure if there was something wrong with it, or just that it wouldn't work with the inserts in place. Are they rare? I've never seen one I know but that doesn't mean anything. They didn't have a price on the gun, so I have no idea what they wanted for it. I believe they had just taken it in on a trade.

I'm not really interested in it, other than to learn something about it.

 

[bamabiker]

The 4" Jets are more scarce than the 6". The insert are for shooting 22 LR and mine will fall out if I hold the gun up. The ejector should work. You have the firing pin figured out.
22 Jet ammo can be found but it is expensive. I bought 3 boxes at one of our last shows for $100 and I considered it a very good deal. If you are going to shoot a Jet you need to reload.

Let me add, you have to pluck the 22 LRs out of the inserts with your finger. Most people don't care for this and would rather just shoot a 22 LR gun.

 

[CajunBass]

Thanks BB. When I tried the ejector rod, I met some resistance, so I didn't want to try to push it too hard, being that it's not my gun. I was concerned that the inserts are frozen in the cylinder for some reason. I figured the inserts would be ejected with empty cases in them.

The other thing that concerned me was the barrel being marked "22 Magnum." Were they marked that way, or might the barrel have been replaced?

 

[DCWilson]

".22 MAGNUM" was the proper marking. You can see it here.

There are still specialty loaders that produce .22 Jet, but the price is exorbitant. Most Jet shooters reload.

In case you don't know, the .22 Jet is basically a necked down .357 Magnum.

 

[CajunBass]

Thanks Dave. I knew it was something necked down.

The one I was looking at had grips like the one in your picture, but they appeared to be well worn, or at least a subdued finish. I will say it was a very nice looking, and feeling gun.

I need to stay away from there for a couple of days before I end up with a 22 Jet.

I have no need for a 22 centerfire...I have no need for a 22 centerfire...I have no need for a 22 centerfire.

 

[rburg]

Oh, just go ahead and buy the gun. You know you want it, and if you don't act quick, some scoundrel will crawl underneath you and score it.

They may be called a sickness. I've not met many Jet owners who aren't in the market for another. Even if they lie and tell you they're not.

Some hints, also pick up a good set of ear muffs. Might as well pick up a handy 100 pack of ear plugs, too. You actually can use both at the same time. Whats really fun are the folks who scoff at you for only bringing and shooting a 22. Only a 22. Then when the first round goes off, you've got folks swearing and others running for cover. One reason they're so much fun is they make the noise of a 44 Magnum, with the recoil of a 22 rimfire. And they're accurate (or can be).

The guy who said he bought 3 boxes for $100 needs to turn himself in at the local jail. He stole them. Owning a Jet kind of changes your life. You're always on the lookout for ammo. Full boxes, empty boxes, partial boxes, it doesn't matter. The best deals are usually the partial box where the seller has about half fired but the empties in their place. You learn the value of scrounging. My best deal was when a poster here, Memphis, gave me a gift of a couple of hundred cases and loaded rounds. Wow was that great. Sometimes you can even find a Remington bag of virgin brass at gun shows. Or a box or partial of the .222 Hornady bullets. I like those days.

When I bought my first one 20 some odd years ago, a buddy was laughing like mad at me. I paid $700 for a 22 revolver! And with the other stuff I'd bought that day, I needed help carrying it out to the car. It wasn't the Jet, the oversize box with the gun, extra cylinder (22 rimfire) or the inserts. It was the 10 full boxes of ammo that came with it! The steal of a lifetime. The ammo was worth $700, the gun was free.

The 4" guns tend to be a bit on the noisy side. Don't fire it without ear protection, you'll pay dearly for that mistake.

 

[feralmerril]

Have you seen that commercial that shows a penguin with those hand cymbals sneaking up on a polar bear? That gun will ring your bell! I have one too. Another is the old single shot ruger hawkeye in .256 win mag.

 

[M29since14]

They may be called a sickness. I've not met many Jet owners who aren't in the market for another. Even if they lie and tell you they're not.

Pretty much perfectly describes "the Jet problem."

But I am not one of those guys. I don't need another Jet. Really!

 

[Xfuzz]

Very loud.....

 

[GLL]

The 4” Model 53 is more fun to shoot than any other S&W I own and easily the most difficult to find for sale !
BUY IT ! ! !
As Dick indicates they are "bit on the noisy side".... read VERY loud ! Double up on the ear protection !

Jerry

 

[bigmoose]

Get it soon, it's a hobby unto itself!

 

[CajunBass]

You know. Y'all were supposed to tell me it was pretty much worthless, the barrel had been replaced, the stocks were probably worthless, the cylinder inserts were most likely frozen into place by rust, nobody wants them and they're more common than Model 10's.

You're not helping my "not going to buy as many this year" resolution at all.

It IS just one more.

 

[rburg]

Don't worry about the inserts. When you get the gun home, take them out and put them in a zip lock. Then staple the zip lock shut and put it away, you won't need it again. If you sell the gun (only because you've found a better one), then put the inserts back with it. Could be the worst idea ever, including them. The box with mine holds the inserts and the extra cylinder. If I want to shoot 22lr, I take out a K22. But if you wait, someone else will score the gun, and you'll be left out in the cold. And it will be a few years before you find another. In worse condition and for more money.

 

[glenncal1]

Like others here, I started with a 6" 53 and then added a 8 3/8" and a 4"

The 4" is the only one without a LR cylinder (but I have 2 18's and a 4" 17-6), the guns are fun to shoot and the jet is a good long range plinking/small game round. There are a couple of sources for loaded ammo, but like others have said you will want to reload for the round. You can usually get loaded rounds for about $40 a box. I just bought some to get more brass. My 6" gun is very accurate with the both the jet and LR cylinders. Cylinders themselves are hard to find and $$. You cant use the cylinder from a 17 or 18 as the model cylinder is a little longer. It is easy for us to spend your money but I don't think you will regret it. 4" seem to be the hardest to find.

 

[CajunBass]

Thanks for all the advice. It does sound like an attractive addition, but I'm going to leave it alone for a while. I know I wouldn't have any use for it at all, and would probably never shoot it. I might as well leave it and see if someone else comes along who has been looking for one.

If it's still there next week....

 

[Linda The Lioness]

S & W m 53 (.22 Jet)

Did you get it? If your not going to get it, can you hook me up with a web site or phone #. Thanks