Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire New Ithaca Model 37

Why?

Other than the Browning Double Automatic, all the pump/auto shotguns in my experience load through the bottom. I've always found the 37's bottom load/bottom eject system to be simple, elegant and reliable. Also much easier to keep track of your fired hulls in the clay target sports.

The Ithaca Model 37 is, hands down, my favorite repeater. I have always felt that the 37, in 16 gauge, is the most perfectly proportioned gun for a normal-sized adult male. It's a quick, nimble shotgun and, again, just my opinion, the only repeater I consider a decent upland gun. The original 20 gauge guns were almost magical in their handling characteristics. I find the Ohio guns problematic. For years, the 37's claim to fame was that it was an all-steel gun that was a "Featherlite." When the Ohio people took it over, they seemed to be making a premium design, but aimed it at the Walmart crowd. The original 37's were all 2 3/4" guns. (Maybe later, in their death throes, the original company tried to save things with a 3" 12, I'm not sure.) Anyway, the Ohio guns now all have 3" receivers and, to add insult to injury, they figured they'd make a 16 gauge gun by simply screwing a 16 gauge barrel in to a 3" 12 gauge receiver. They fuqued up all the wonderful handling dynamics of the original guns. Wherever I go, I check out the used shotgun racks for 16 and 20 gauge "original" 37's. Unfortunately, like the Belgian Browning A-5's, the ones in the nicest shape, that I come across, seem to always have a damn Polychoke on the end of the barrel.
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10 years ago local shop had a pristine 16 from early 50s, modified choke, $300. Thought I didn’t need it, so left it. Next day went back to get it. Gone. Still kicking myself.

Prewar 16s are definitely the sweet spot for me.

Replace those pigeons with grouse (we always called them partridge) and that is a scene right out of my teenage years (although my 37 had a lot less finish on it than that one.)

Not at all.

I'm more of a double and over/under guy, but don't most pumps and semi autos load from the bottom?

Yes, with side eject, but a single shotshell can be loaded in the side ejection port as well, which I often do.

Being left handed, I can load a 37 from the bottom easier than I can load an 870 through the loading port.

It can be a bit slower shooting trap as you need to put a round in the magazine and pump the action each time.

It is such a superor system for woods hunting or foul weather hunting that I just do what is necessary to shoot a few rounds of trap.

I have never had an Ithaca freeze up in an ice storm and I have seen 870's, 500's and Browning squarebacks do so. They stay much cleaner too.

Reverse the safety and you have a true, left hand gun.

I had the dsafety reversed on my 20 gauge 37 before I even shot it. My 16 gauge 37 had a left hand safety on it when I bought it from a pawn shop. I actually got a discount because it was "wrong handed".

A 37 can also be loaded singly from the bottom without putting a shell in the magazine and pumping the action. You just have to move the bolt forward far enough that the carrier it lying down in the top of the receiver, gun does have to be upside down of course.

Bought a near pristine solid rib 12 gauge full choke a year or two ago at the lgs to go with the bi-centennial 12 modified I have. It was made in 1957. Gave $250 for it.

I have hunted 870's, 1100's, and a few others, but the 37's have my heart now.

Several disassembly/re-assembly videos of ITHACA 37:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa8qJQDoqqw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w63R-lGEegg

That they make a 28ga is reason enough to buy one.
The older ones are lighter, the 70’s-80’s are plentiful and cheap.
None of them came in a properly sized receiver for 28 ga.
That said, if not buying the 28, I see no reason to buy a new one.
Plenty of old hand fitted models cheap out there.

This all from an upland hunter that collects 37’s.

YMMV..

The new Ithaca 28 gauge is an absolute baby doll!

I have an original 20 and 12. Great guns and and I'll never get rid of them, but to this day if I need a shotgun in the field I go to it's my remington 11-48 12 gauge. My first shotgun given to me at 10 and I have more rounds through it than I can remember.

No doubt.

Have you seen prices on 28ga shells of late?

If I had a stash, I'd be on that gun.