Clint Tickler
New member
Never heard of the 22 Jet. Kinda been looking at getting a 22 mag pistol and an older S & W in that caliber has piqued my interest. What can any of you tell me about this? Thanks. Clint
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22mag/22Jet?
- Thread starter Clint Tickler
- Start date
While I have no experience with the .22 Jet, I do have a cursory knowledge of them. It seems that S&W chambered their K-frame revolver in the .22 Jet back some 30 years ago. If my memory serves me right, it was a S&W Model 53 and sometimes had .22LR inserts for the chambers as well.
The .22 Jet had a reputation for "brass set-back" that would jam the cylinder, thus preventing cylinder rotation. This is a characteristc of bottle neck cartridges. Even coming from the 6.5" barrel it had a reputation for a fierce muzzle blast.
Except for the possibility of the Thompson Contender single shot, I'm unaware of another firearm being chambered for the .22 Jet.
The S&W .22 Jet revolver is best left to collectors not shooters. It was not one of S&W's better ideas.
If you must, just get an S&W revolver in .22WMR. Can't remember that Model number but they were available in the K-frame format and are likely discontinued. The .22WMR was also available in the J-frame S&W but I've never seen one with anything longer than a 4" barrel (which IMHO is a waste).
IMHO new S&W revolvers are of no interest to me due to the many undesirable changes. Look for an old S&W.
The .22 Jet had a reputation for "brass set-back" that would jam the cylinder, thus preventing cylinder rotation. This is a characteristc of bottle neck cartridges. Even coming from the 6.5" barrel it had a reputation for a fierce muzzle blast.
Except for the possibility of the Thompson Contender single shot, I'm unaware of another firearm being chambered for the .22 Jet.
The S&W .22 Jet revolver is best left to collectors not shooters. It was not one of S&W's better ideas.
If you must, just get an S&W revolver in .22WMR. Can't remember that Model number but they were available in the K-frame format and are likely discontinued. The .22WMR was also available in the J-frame S&W but I've never seen one with anything longer than a 4" barrel (which IMHO is a waste).
IMHO new S&W revolvers are of no interest to me due to the many undesirable changes. Look for an old S&W.
Chuck McDonald
New member
S&W M53
I'm surprised someone who has never shot a M53 would give you advice to avoid one.
I like mine a lot... the case set back issue is not a problem if you will keep your chambers clean and free of oil. If you let oil get into the chambers you will have set back, but otherwise it works fine.
The gun has a loud bark, but little recoil.... it has quite a muzzel flash, but since I don't use it for a carry gun, that is not a problem either.
Being able to use .22 LR ammo with the cyl. inserts is very handy as well.... as a bonus the gun is VERY accurate, and the little .40 gr. bullet at around 2,000 fps works on small targets quite well.
I like mine a lot....
FWIW
Chuck
I'm surprised someone who has never shot a M53 would give you advice to avoid one.
I like mine a lot... the case set back issue is not a problem if you will keep your chambers clean and free of oil. If you let oil get into the chambers you will have set back, but otherwise it works fine.
The gun has a loud bark, but little recoil.... it has quite a muzzel flash, but since I don't use it for a carry gun, that is not a problem either.
Being able to use .22 LR ammo with the cyl. inserts is very handy as well.... as a bonus the gun is VERY accurate, and the little .40 gr. bullet at around 2,000 fps works on small targets quite well.
I like mine a lot....
FWIW
Chuck
Clint,
If you thoroughly degrease the chambers prior to shooting and if you have touroughly degreased the brass after (re)sizing you'll not have a problem with setback.
Ammunition is scarce, but cases can easily be formed from 357 Mag brass. Both RCBS through Huntington's and & Redding offer the needed dies. Hornady offers bullets having the correct diameter (0.222").
Bob
If you thoroughly degrease the chambers prior to shooting and if you have touroughly degreased the brass after (re)sizing you'll not have a problem with setback.
Ammunition is scarce, but cases can easily be formed from 357 Mag brass. Both RCBS through Huntington's and & Redding offer the needed dies. Hornady offers bullets having the correct diameter (0.222").
Bob
Chuck McDonald
New member
.22 Jet Brass
Huntington's has new Remington .22 Jet brass in stock as of about two weeks ago.
Hornady makes a bullet designed for .22 Jet as well....
This is a good opportunity for those of us with M53s to stock up... I'm going to buy another 500 cases... which will give me a bit over 1K... should be good for a lifetime.
FWIW
Chuck
Huntington's has new Remington .22 Jet brass in stock as of about two weeks ago.
Hornady makes a bullet designed for .22 Jet as well....
This is a good opportunity for those of us with M53s to stock up... I'm going to buy another 500 cases... which will give me a bit over 1K... should be good for a lifetime.
FWIW
Chuck
Clint Tickler
New member
Thanks to all for the replies. This gun is described as a Model 53,22mag/22jet. I was kinda assuming the inserts were for firing the 22 jet but maybe I'm wrong. Is the 22 jet a center fire cartridge? The 22 mag is a rim fire isn't it? Thanks again
Affirmative, the 22Jet is center fire. Never heard of inserts for 22 WMR (magnum) but maybe possible(?). Inserts I've seen were for the 22LongRifle.
Some 30 years ago while shooting at the Hollywood(FL) gun range, the fellow shooting next to me was firing a S&W M53 and cussing every shot. I had never seen a revolver "jam" and from my position I could not observe if he had oily/greasy chambers. When the thing did fire, it was very annoying even with my ear protectors. Sometime after that I read about these things and, yes I do remember hearing about necessity of having dry chambers. However, my requirement of any handgun is 100% reliability under practically any condition. The M53 22Jet does not meet that criteria.
No doubt every firearm and caliber has its fan club. Some folks can see the utility of such calibers. In all due respect, it probably wouldn't take more than one shot to kill a monster size rat. In such cases the inability to take a second shot would not matter.
So be it: Everyone to their own ...
Some 30 years ago while shooting at the Hollywood(FL) gun range, the fellow shooting next to me was firing a S&W M53 and cussing every shot. I had never seen a revolver "jam" and from my position I could not observe if he had oily/greasy chambers. When the thing did fire, it was very annoying even with my ear protectors. Sometime after that I read about these things and, yes I do remember hearing about necessity of having dry chambers. However, my requirement of any handgun is 100% reliability under practically any condition. The M53 22Jet does not meet that criteria.
No doubt every firearm and caliber has its fan club. Some folks can see the utility of such calibers. In all due respect, it probably wouldn't take more than one shot to kill a monster size rat. In such cases the inability to take a second shot would not matter.
So be it: Everyone to their own ...
F
FRF2
Guest
AUTiger 73, It may have been me or Fred G. shooting the M53's thirty years ago at the Hollywood range. Fred helped remodel the range and we both had problems with freeze-ups until we discovered the need for clean cylinders. Several people made up .22LR and .22Mag inserts (non-factory) for the M53s. I still have about 800 rounds of factory Peters and Remington .22 Jet Mag ammo. I shoot reload Jet ammo these days and it seems to be trouble free with 5% lighter than factory loads.
FRF2: Very possible. At the time I was living in Plantation, FL - and have since (ca-1984) returned to "my Sweet Home Alabama". While I was not a member, I occasionally visited the Hollywood range with my neighbor (a PanAm pilot) when he was in town. We've all since gone our separate ways.
During late '70s and early '80s I served as the first president of the Sunrise Gun Club, Sunrise, FL. Don't know if they are still in existence. Doubt the Hollywood Gun range is still there either as real estate developments were crowding it back in those golden years of my Gold Coast days.
P.S. - I was the guy with the satin nickle Colt Combat Commander probably with a "stove pipe" sticking out the ejection port. A gunsmith by the name of Al Steinmeitz (Shootin' Shed Gun Shop - Sunrise, FL) fixed it and it has be 100% reliable every since.
Didn't mean to put down the .22Jet, but my first impression of them in the M53 was not good. Early S&W revolvers do hold a special place in my collection, but mine are of the more common calibers.
Nice to hear from you.
During late '70s and early '80s I served as the first president of the Sunrise Gun Club, Sunrise, FL. Don't know if they are still in existence. Doubt the Hollywood Gun range is still there either as real estate developments were crowding it back in those golden years of my Gold Coast days.
P.S. - I was the guy with the satin nickle Colt Combat Commander probably with a "stove pipe" sticking out the ejection port. A gunsmith by the name of Al Steinmeitz (Shootin' Shed Gun Shop - Sunrise, FL) fixed it and it has be 100% reliable every since.
Didn't mean to put down the .22Jet, but my first impression of them in the M53 was not good. Early S&W revolvers do hold a special place in my collection, but mine are of the more common calibers.
Nice to hear from you.
I agree with all the above. I will note that the Model 53 is bringing some fancy prices from collectors. A NIB with papers, etc., can go $900.
As to the center-rim fire, the gun has two in-frame firing pins. Which one gets hit is controlled by a hammer nose that moves up or down; the serrated top of the hammer nose sticks out of the top of the hammer and is moved with the thumb.
As to the .22 Magnum, AFAIK the factory inserts were for standard .22 only. I suppose they could be altered or ones made for the .22 Magnum, but they would not be factory.
Jim
As to the center-rim fire, the gun has two in-frame firing pins. Which one gets hit is controlled by a hammer nose that moves up or down; the serrated top of the hammer nose sticks out of the top of the hammer and is moved with the thumb.
As to the .22 Magnum, AFAIK the factory inserts were for standard .22 only. I suppose they could be altered or ones made for the .22 Magnum, but they would not be factory.
Jim
Chuck McDonald
New member
.22 Mag/ .22 Jet
The M53 is marked ".22 Magnum"... the inserts are for .22 L/LR. The reason for this is the .22 Jet predates the .22 rim fire mag. The .22 Mag (Jet) is the forgotten revolver in the S&W magnum series.
I suppose it is possible to convert one to .22 WRM but given the cost of the .22 WRM there seems to be little reason to do so.
FWIW
Chuck
The M53 is marked ".22 Magnum"... the inserts are for .22 L/LR. The reason for this is the .22 Jet predates the .22 rim fire mag. The .22 Mag (Jet) is the forgotten revolver in the S&W magnum series.
I suppose it is possible to convert one to .22 WRM but given the cost of the .22 WRM there seems to be little reason to do so.
FWIW
Chuck