S&W 53-2

Classic12 · January 19, 2021, 12:02 PM

Until recently I did not know anything about this revolver and especially this caliber (.22 Remington Jet). Back in March a thread was started by a member asking if he should buy one (which he did). I commented that I should be safe, never having seen one in Switzerland.

How wrong I was, again. While I roamed the grounds at the LGS, I spotted this 53-2, 1973 made. But I went home and refrained … for three days. Then I reserved it.

I brought it home yesterday, cost me $550. Oh and it came with two boxes of Remington ammo.

shurshot · January 19, 2021, 02:18 PM

Wow! Nice find. That's a beautiful S&W.

9ballbilly · January 19, 2021, 04:17 PM

Beautiful! Congrats.

shurshot · January 19, 2021, 04:39 PM

I read once, years ago... to avoid having any oil in the chambers of those .22 Jets, apparently it causes the cases to stick during ejection attempts, much more so than contemporary rounds due to the sharp angle of the necked down cartridge. Not sure if it's true as I never shot or owned one.
It may not matter if you don't plan to shoot it (I sure would!

).

CajunBass · January 19, 2021, 06:27 PM

That's nice. I'm a sucker for a 4" barrel revolver, especially a S&W. I probably would have jumped on that one at that price. Actually I don't think I've ever even seen a 4" one. I have seen at least one with a 6" barrel.

I believe the problem with the 22 Jet was cartridge setback jamming the revolver when fired. The tapered case slips backwards under recoil, so keep the chambers dry when firing.

I see you have the 22 LR inserts with the gun. They're nice to have and somewhat hard to find I believe.

I just noticed. It appears it had a spare 22 Magnum cylinder at one time.

**Mike Irwin** · January 20, 2021, 06:53 AM

You had to think about it for 3 days?

I'd have thought about it for less than 3 seconds... You got an absolute steal.

Classic12 · January 20, 2021, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Irwin

You had to think about it for 3 days?

I'd have thought about it for less than 3 seconds... You got an absolute steal.

I thought I didn’t need another S&W in an exotic hard to find caliber. But then since it was cheap, and pretty, and came with two boxes of ammo ...

Carmady · January 20, 2021, 08:30 AM

Congrats. That's an incredible deal (for you) and a beautiful pistol.

shurshot · January 20, 2021, 08:52 AM

Are you going to shoot it???

**Mike Irwin** · January 20, 2021, 09:06 AM

Just having all 6 chamber inserts makes it something of a unicorn.

4", box, paperwork, and chamber inserts AND 2 boxes of factory ammo?

Yeah, as I said, you got a freaking steal.

Tell you what... since you were unsure about it, and appear to still be on the fence, I'll give you $560 for it.

That way you make $10 profit immediately!

**Mike Irwin** · January 20, 2021, 09:12 AM

As CajunBass said, keep the chambers and cartridges completely oil free. You need every bit of chamber grip you can get to help keep the cartridge from backing out during firing and locking up against the recoil shield. Even a fingerprint on the case body can make it more prone to doing so.

But, even that sometimes isn't enough to keep it from locking up.

S&W and Remington pooped the bed with this one. The long, shallow shoulder is the biggest problem -- it's a fulcrum that allows the case to push back during high pressure. Combine that with the relatively short neck and the short straight wall section of the body and you simply don't have enough case to grip the chamber walls effectively.

rwagliardo · January 20, 2021, 01:17 PM

I have one never had promblem although finding ammo can be a promblem. You got a great price.

natman · January 21, 2021, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shurshot

I read once, years ago... to avoid having any oil in the chambers of those .22 Jets, apparently it causes the cases to stick during ejection attempts, much more so than contemporary rounds due to the sharp angle of the necked down cartridge. Not sure if it's true as I never shot or owned one.
It may not matter if you don't plan to shoot it (I sure would!

).

It's true that it's important to keep the chamber walls clean. The way I heard it was that the sloped neck tries to push the cartridge backwards upon firing. It's important that the cases can cling to the chamber walls under pressure to prevent this. Any trace of oil with allow the cases to push backwards against the recoil shield, which can prevent the cylinder from turning.

Jim Watson · January 21, 2021, 12:04 PM

Quote:

It appears it had a spare 22 Magnum cylinder at one time.

Doesn't look like the cardboard was punched out, all the boxes had a place for a .22 LR cylinder.
Not .22 Win Magnum. The Jet is a .222", not the .224" of most .22 centerfires and the WMR.

I bet the 4" barrel will be the loudest thing you have heard that day.

shurshot · January 21, 2021, 01:51 PM

Natman, yes, you and the other posters are correct, it was in the 80's I read that, I had forgotten the details. Makes sense the hull would recoil backwards in the chamber and lock up, given the angle. Thank you for clarifying.
I would still love to shoot one.

Classic12 · January 21, 2021, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shurshot

Are you going to shoot it???

Absolutely

Classic12 · January 21, 2021, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Irwin

Just having all 6 chamber inserts makes it something of a unicorn.

4", box, paperwork, and chamber inserts AND 2 boxes of factory ammo?

Yeah, as I said, you got a freaking steal.

Tell you what... since you were unsure about it, and appear to still be on the fence, I'll give you $560 for it.

That way you make $10 profit immediately!

Thanks for your generous offer to enrich me, but I’ll have to pass, it’ll be too much trouble to spend it from Switzerland to the US.

Classic12 · January 21, 2021, 05:53 PM

It is loud, louder than the Ruger in .30 Carbine, but hardly any recoil.

Great fun though

jglsprings · January 21, 2021, 06:35 PM

any case setback?

we shot one all day - once upon a time in a prairie far, far away... it only happened once or twice

Classic12 · January 21, 2021, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jglsprings

any case setback?

we shot one all day - once upon a time in a prairie far, far away... it only happened once or twice

Yes some, but it didn’t seize the cylinder, just made it a bit harder to cock the hammer for the next shot. I didn’t clean and dry the chambers though, will have to do that.

Some evidence of high pressure and setback : flattened primers

shurshot · January 21, 2021, 07:27 PM

Nice!!!!

jglsprings · January 22, 2021, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Classic12

Yes some, but it didn’t seize the cylinder, just made it a bit harder to cock the hammer for the next shot. I didn’t clean and dry the chambers though, will have to do that.

Some evidence of high pressure and setback : flattened primers

Nice fireball!

No point in shooting the "mild" ones. Not what it was made for!

As I recall they are hell on prairie dogs. Very nice gun tho...

walnut1704 · January 22, 2021, 11:22 AM

I've seen three or four of those, but never a 4". That's quite a find in any country.

jrothWA · January 22, 2021, 12:57 PM

Do keep the chamber oil-free, I recall seeing some inserts for firing .22 rimfire [LR or WMR] but can't recall if S&W made them or other supplier.

Enjoy.

RC20 · January 22, 2021, 02:54 PM

I still regret selling my S&W (Model 25?) in 44 ACP

January 19, 2021, 12:02 PM	#1
Classic12 Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2020 Posts: 696	S&W 53-2 Until recently I did not know anything about this revolver and especially this caliber (.22 Remington Jet). Back in March a thread was started by a member asking if he should buy one (which he did). I commented that I should be safe, never having seen one in Switzerland. How wrong I was, again. While I roamed the grounds at the LGS, I spotted this 53-2, 1973 made. But I went home and refrained … for three days. Then I reserved it. I brought it home yesterday, cost me $550. Oh and it came with two boxes of Remington ammo.

January 19, 2021, 04:17 PM	#3
9ballbilly Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2008 Location: northeast Florida Posts: 611	Beautiful! Congrats. __________________ may God eternally bless the American Rifleman--- as long as one stands, resolute, liberty shall not perish.

January 19, 2021, 04:39 PM	#4
shurshot Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2006 Posts: 1,819	I read once, years ago... to avoid having any oil in the chambers of those .22 Jets, apparently it causes the cases to stick during ejection attempts, much more so than contemporary rounds due to the sharp angle of the necked down cartridge. Not sure if it's true as I never shot or owned one. It may not matter if you don't plan to shoot it (I sure would!).

January 19, 2021, 06:27 PM	#5
CajunBass Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2005 Location: North Chesterfield, Virginia Posts: 4,767	That's nice. I'm a sucker for a 4" barrel revolver, especially a S&W. I probably would have jumped on that one at that price. Actually I don't think I've ever even seen a 4" one. I have seen at least one with a 6" barrel. I believe the problem with the 22 Jet was cartridge setback jamming the revolver when fired. The tapered case slips backwards under recoil, so keep the chambers dry when firing. I see you have the 22 LR inserts with the gun. They're nice to have and somewhat hard to find I believe. I just noticed. It appears it had a spare 22 Magnum cylinder at one time. __________________ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)

January 20, 2021, 06:53 AM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	You had to think about it for 3 days? I'd have thought about it for less than 3 seconds... You got an absolute steal. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

January 19, 2021, 02:18 PM	#2
shurshot Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2006 Posts: 1,819	Wow! Nice find. That's a beautiful S&W.

January 20, 2021, 08:30 AM	#8
Carmady Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2013 Location: on the lam Posts: 1,735	Congrats. That's an incredible deal (for you) and a beautiful pistol.

January 20, 2021, 08:52 AM	#9
shurshot Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2006 Posts: 1,819	Are you going to shoot it???

January 20, 2021, 09:06 AM	#10
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Just having all 6 chamber inserts makes it something of a unicorn. 4", box, paperwork, and chamber inserts AND 2 boxes of factory ammo? Yeah, as I said, you got a freaking steal. Tell you what... since you were unsure about it, and appear to still be on the fence, I'll give you $560 for it. That way you make $10 profit immediately! __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

January 20, 2021, 09:12 AM	#11
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	As CajunBass said, keep the chambers and cartridges completely oil free. You need every bit of chamber grip you can get to help keep the cartridge from backing out during firing and locking up against the recoil shield. Even a fingerprint on the case body can make it more prone to doing so. But, even that sometimes isn't enough to keep it from locking up. S&W and Remington pooped the bed with this one. The long, shallow shoulder is the biggest problem -- it's a fulcrum that allows the case to push back during high pressure. Combine that with the relatively short neck and the short straight wall section of the body and you simply don't have enough case to grip the chamber walls effectively. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

January 20, 2021, 01:17 PM	#12
rwagliardo Member Join Date: October 19, 2016 Location: Spring Branch, TX. Posts: 41	I have one never had promblem although finding ammo can be a promblem. You got a great price.

January 21, 2021, 01:51 PM	#15
shurshot Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2006 Posts: 1,819	Natman, yes, you and the other posters are correct, it was in the 80's I read that, I had forgotten the details. Makes sense the hull would recoil backwards in the chamber and lock up, given the angle. Thank you for clarifying. I would still love to shoot one.

January 21, 2021, 05:53 PM	#18
Classic12 Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2020 Posts: 696	It is loud, louder than the Ruger in .30 Carbine, but hardly any recoil. Great fun though

January 21, 2021, 06:35 PM	#19
jglsprings Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2009 Posts: 1,827	any case setback? we shot one all day - once upon a time in a prairie far, far away... it only happened once or twice __________________ Let's eat Grandma. Let's eat, Grandma. Commas save lives...

January 21, 2021, 07:27 PM	#21
shurshot Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2006 Posts: 1,819	Nice!!!!

January 22, 2021, 11:22 AM	#23
walnut1704 Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2009 Posts: 156	I've seen three or four of those, but never a 4". That's quite a find in any country.

January 22, 2021, 12:57 PM	#24
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	LUCKY!!!! Do keep the chamber oil-free, I recall seeing some inserts for firing .22 rimfire [LR or WMR] but can't recall if S&W made them or other supplier. Enjoy.

January 22, 2021, 02:54 PM	#25
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	I still regret selling my S&W (Model 25?) in 44 ACP __________________ Science and Facts are True whether you believe it or not