Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns What's the best American pump shotgun ever made?

I've had an Ithaca M37 12ga. for 47 years and it's never missed a beat. Bought a new one a few years ago and had nothing but trouble with it; wouldn't feed, wouldn't eject, etc. Very accurate with the fixed rifled barrel. Killed a lot of deer with it, but never did like it. The old ones would fire if you held the trigger down and pumped it. The newer ones would let the hammer follow the bolt forward, leaving you with a round in the chamber and the hammer not cocked. Next time you try to shoot nothing happens. I'd rather it go ahead and fire, at least then you know what happened. I say the old M37 is the best American pump ever made. You can keep the Win. M12, Rem. 870, and Moss. 500. Now that should start an argument.

I've had my 37 for over 20 years,never a hitch in the giddy up.

I had Winchester 1200 and hated it.

so I vote for the 37 based on my experiance,but I would love to get an old 870,or mod 12

I'm sure the Remington 870 has sold more pumps than any other. Myself, I like the Browning BPS although I've had both the Ithaca and the 870.

wingmaster

I'll go with the Wingmaster version of the Remington 870. Especially so the older guns chambered for the 2 3/4" shell and have the ringed skinny corn cob forearm. They handle and balance better than the 3" guns with "beavertail" forearms.

The 870 Wingmaster speaks for itself with its success. I'd say that the Models 12, 31, 37,and 97 are even better, and the BPS is great too.

Remington Model 31

Of the Pumps I have owned, I would put them in this order:
Win Mod 12
Browning BPS ( forgot this one some how)
Rem 870
Ithaca 37 ( The two I had were both problme prone but my Dad used one for many years with out any issues at all)
Mosberg 500- A distant 4th place
Marlin ( I forget the modle number) I bought at 10 yrs old for Doves.

Model 37
Browning BPS
Winchester Model 12

I'm talking about the OLD M37; the one chambered for the 2 3/4 in shell. The newer ones aren't worth a hoot. I won't even put them in the running. The 37 was a Browning design. Actually the Rem. 31, and the Browning BPS are both very similar operating systems; almost the same guns. The highly acclaimed Win. M12 was very stiff compared to the 37. I never did like them. The Moss. 500 is actually a good gun for the money. The 870 is a very good gun. I'd say the OLD M37, the BPS, the 31, the 870, then the M12 and the 500.

Out of the shotguns I've owned I like the 870 the best. However if I ever get around to replacing the butt stock on my M37 16ga it should make a great gun, based on the others that I've shot.

Remington Model 31 and Winchester Model 12. I like the 31 a little better but not much.

Have a couple pre 64 model 12's, a few 870's, and 2 older m37's. The gun I cherish is the ultrafeatherweight 20 gauge M37 with improved cylinder. There ya go....

Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 hands down! I prefer the Mossy though. Had it since I was 12 and has never had a single problem.

I have had many 870s (still have 3) BPS Nice gun but heavy and Ithaca I like my 870 lw 20 wingmaster the best.

Personally, I like the older Model 37 best of all. The Browning BPS is a "fancier" version of the M37, but it just doesn't feel or look as good as the lightweight 37 with the "corncob" forearm.

I never liked the Winchester Model 12 at all. It always seemed to be stiff and poorly put together to me, even though very popular to most of the public.

That said, the "best" American pump ever has to be the Remington 870. For reliability, under any and all conditions, no other pump gun can compare. It also looks good and feels right. The sales figures since it's introduction say it best....the 870 is Number 1.

Have you had a close look at the new ones? I'd be interested in more details about their quality.

Winchester Model 12.

I have a 60 year old 37 20ga. It's the slickest pump that I've ever shot. It is my foul weather,mud,snow go to gun. Having said that, I would rank them in this order: 870, 12, 37, 31, 500. It is interesting that so many of us prefer the older models with 2 3/4" chambers. I wonder how many of us have used a 31? Also, I have to mention
Winchester's little 42. I have one in skeet grade with very pretty wood. It is a joy to shoot!

looks like the 37 is winning here,anything Mossberg is Kmart Krap,the 870 is what I would have expected to win,but Rem has lessened thier quality for quantitiy as of late.

870 express is a very expensive canoe paddle,just like anyting Mossberg ever made.

long live the Ithaca!

IMO its all junk excetp the M-12, 870, older 37's and 31's

Karl Feltkamp, Kampfeild customs Karl, told me his father liked the Rem 31 the best of them all and I reall think there is something to that......

870

I've had a 31, an Ithaca 37, some 870s and some 12s. I still have two 870s and five 12s. I shoot the M12 and 870 interchangablyI have kept a fifties vintage 7 diamond forend 870 and 1915 solid rib M12 because they shoot better than anything.I don't think it gets any better though than a full dress M12 with high grade walnut and a nice blue job. You can't touch the function or the looks.

i'd say the win model 12 (i had a few and still have a model 42 410 ga.). i previously owned a couple model 37's. however, if one uses sales figures/units manufactured as the determining factor for "best", it would be the rem 870. last i read there were over twice as many 870's sold than their nearest rival. and the trend continues.

The Ithaca 37 has always been popular around here as the City of Ithaca, NY was something like 60-70 miles or so from here. Of course the Remingtons were popular also as the City of Illion, NY (where the Remington factory is) wasn't a whole lot further.

The days of "perfect workmanship" "personal pride" and "Company integrity" is a thing of the past. It is too bad, but it is fact. Quality costs money and today everyone wants the best quality for the cheapest price. That doesn't compute. Pick ONE, you can't get both cheaply.
Remingtons quality level has fallen off and it is likely it will not improve a whole lot, nevertheless, the 870 Wingmaster's I have seen,shot and own worked just fine. Personally I don't care for the Express models and again, personally, I wouldn't buy one.
Ithaca's quality took a nose dive soon after they moved to King Ferry, NY. Additionally, the King Ferry plant was using machines that were belt driven in some cases and far older than I am. They just couldn't hold the tolerances as well as newer machines can. I do have a NIB Ithaca Deerslayer II that does exhibit some quality and generally good finishes all over.
I have been to both Remington plants and Ithaca plants many times so I got to actually SEE the tooling and machines.
Now as far as the NEW Ithaca, I have only seen 1 new gun and it was a work of art damn near. Flawless machine work, smooth operating and great wood and woodwork. Of course, this kind of quality goes back to what I said. Quality just ain't cheap. The NEW Ithaca's cost much more than ther models from NY did, but then again, you are getting quality workmanship at a "reasonable" price. Not "cheap" but certainly no ripoff.

I love the winchester 1200 I got from my dad, truth be told, I rather shoot that then my winchester model 12 or my 120 or my rem 870. However I still like my browning side by side best of all.

I haven't seen the NEW Ithaca yet. That is the ones made in Ohio. It looks pretty good on their web site. I hope some of the quality of the old 37 is coming back.

I haven't seen the NEW Ithaca yet. That is the ones made in Ohio. It looks pretty good on their web site. I hope some of the quality of the old 37 is coming back.

870

Marlin 120 magnum

A pump is such a simple design that most of them just usually work.The rest is how they look. I had an 870 wingmaster for many years. Went bang every time. What more can you ask for. For that matter as we weren't a rich family my brothers all has cheap pump mossbergs and they worked too.

All the guns you mention are top notch, BUT the Remington model 31 is, for me, the best of the best! The Winchester model 12 certainly has a wonderful astetic appeal as well, but for balance and "SLICK" flawless function the Remington 31 is slickest of all.

I havent been to the new Ithaca factory in Sandusky Ohio but I know they give free tours, they are using a cnc router that my company built to cut their gun stocks. Before they accepeted the machine they ran (2) walnut stocks at our plant and its pretty impressive, only takes about 20 minutes, maybe even faster now that their in full production. But I guess the point is they are using the right equipment and the guy left behind (2) walnut blanks that were pretty nice. I wanted to get one but one of the other guys beat me to it, I am sure that they will be building a quality product unless they are using cheep steel but I cant believe they would spend that much money on equipment and buy cheep material.

Q. What's the best American pump shotgun ever made?
A. Model 12 Winchester.

After all is said and done and the melancholy fades, I think this is the bottmom line.

IMO

1. Winchester Model 12
2. Ithaca Model 37
3. Remington 870

The Mossturd need not apply IMO.

Was the Browning BPS ever made in the U.S.A.?

I haven't had even one example of even half of the American made pump shotguns, so I'm taking a big leap to make any judgement on which is, was, or will someday be best. To name a few I've never had a Win. 93, 97 or 1917, any Mossberg pump, Rem. 31 or 17, Marlin, High Standard, Savage, Stevens, H&R, or any US made Beretta or Benelli.

My favorite was an OLD Wingmaster. Tight enough to shoot well but loose enough to shoot all day in the mud. Fairly easy to fix and lots of aftermarket parts. I've heard knocks on the newer ones, but don't recall any complaints about mine and don't recall that it ever failed me. Theives got it.

The M37 (i.e., Rem. M17) was of course (partly) a John Browning design. That itself should give it a headstart on the others. I have an OLD M37 that's OK, but I'd rather have dual action bars and not have bottom ejection. It's the sloppiest action I've ever had on any gun and I can never tell when its loaded or not. I have a newer one with a 3" chamber and choke tubes that I got at a yard sale for $25. It seems to be about the same quality as the old one.

I never had a M31, but I'm told they were tough to take apart and since most parts were hand-fitted getting them repaired was a gunsmith job. Not something I think would want in a pump shotgun. Of course if no parts ever break fixing the gun isn't a problem.

Believe it or not I also like my Winchester M1300. I don't use it much anymore since I picked up my first Beretta SA. My favorite feature on the 1300 was the "pump assist" that helped open the bolt after it was fired. Unlike the 2 1200s I had the 1300 has never really failed me. Can't figure why because the parts are mostly interchangeable.

1st - Winchester Model 12
2nd- Remington 870 Wingmaster

I would also add the strongest lock up ever made(and probably went through 4 or more wars)the Winchester model 1897.

Bob

Winchester Model 97

Just can't beat the old 97.

I like those 3 but in this order:

1. Ithaca Model 37 (old style)
2. Winchester Model 12 (it's a classic)
3. Remington 870 (What can you say about this one it just works)

Remington Model 31.

Have had my 37 for 35 years without any complaints.

One more vote for the guess what, old model 37.

REMINGTON 870 WINGMASTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've owned and shot all of the guns mentioned and in my mind the Remington 31 is the hands down winner. It's only draw back is that they never built a .410 or .28 ga.

Weagle

12, no question. Never shot better with any other shotgun.

I just picked up an Ithaca model 37 16 gauge made in 1965 to compliment my 20 ga Remington model 17 (precursor to the 37) made in 1931, and my Ithaca model 37 12 gauge made in 1974.

The new Ithaca 37's look nice, but they are rather pricey. I particularly like the 28 gauge.

Winchester Model 12 for me. The rest seem cheaply built in comparison.

It hadn't occurred to me before that Remington never sold the Model 31 in Canada but you learn something new every day!

I have never used a Model 12 so I can't say.

For my hunting guns I use Model 37's. I have two, one is actually a Ducks Unlimited combo with a rifled slug barrel and a VR barrel with chokes. The Deerslayer is the best and for a goose gun they resist freezing up well.

I prefer an 870 for clay birds because I can see in the chamber and load directly into the chamber. I believe it is the greatest pump, just not my favorite.

At the moment though, I am lusting after a 16 gauge Model 97 for grouse.
For many reasons the 97 is easier to use than anything else I've shot on grouse.

The only pump guns in my safe are all Ithaca 37s, a 1954 hand-checkered 16, a 1958 solid rib 16 and a 1965 12 gauge. I think the most of these shotguns.

Though I sold an Rem. 870 20 gauge Upland Special that I would like to have back.

This is slowing down so I'll throw out a design that's got no love so far, the Stevens 520. Double humpback, the slickest takedown system ever, and a safety nobody would have the balls to use today.



Designed by some guy named John Browning.

My opinion is based on very limited experience with pumps other than the 870 Wingmaster (an Ithaca 37 and a Franchi 48 AL) but I wish I'd never gotten rid of mine, vintage early 70's. They had a better finish back then I believe and if I could take the thing apart in the field, clean the mud out after low-crawling in a wet cornfield for mallards, and then drop a triple, it had to be a very good shotgun-because I'm about as mechanically mis-inclined as a person can get and tend to lose little parts.

It had a 28" barrel and a modified choke--against conventional wisdom at the time--and I dropped a ton of fowl with it, if not literally, very close.

In my day it was the Remington model 870 12 gauge! In my fathers day, it was the Winchester model 97 period.

Stevens 520 under its various guises as a Western Field or a Ranger, or a trench gun. I have a full set, 12,16,20 and trench, and use the 20 for rails to brant. My father's 12 got me started and it still takes a toll of Old Squaw and brant each year.

There were 3 safety types, the one in the trigger housing, a sliding tang safety, and a button behind the trigger housing. I prefer the latter, but the tang mounted one is good too. There is no lock on the bolt so if you hold down the trigger and pump, it will fire immediately, which I learned one day tracking a mallard.

The receiver is said to be extremely hard as well. I had the 20 parkerized to resist salt water, the 16 reblued, and nothing done to the other two. Very sexy pump gun which accounted for a dozen rails 3 days ago.

Depends on what you like and maybe what you're used to--I also like Browning's A-5 auto due to the square back, and this is its slightly later cousin designed by Browning as a less expensive version. 1905 patent I believe, produced until ca. 1932, and still a workhorse for me.

The Win 1200 and 1300 pump shotguns has a lot going for them the rotating bolt lock up,and in my mind the ejecter is just a sprung steel piece just placed in the reciever,easy to replace!

In the Rem Models it is staked into the reciever,you can replace it at home if you have good skills and can restake it and not screw up the reciever!

I like Win and Rem shot-guns!

Bob

FORD or CHEVY???......YEP, I like the mode 12 Winchester as well as the 870 Wingmaster Remington for sure. I believe they were improved or refined over the model 37 and the model 31.

A few years back, gunwriters picked the 870 Remington as the best all around pumpgun ever made but their are no doubt going to be voices heard from the other side of the fence on that pickk. I like em both!

I would have to say:
1) 870 Wingmaster
2) Model 12
but they are very close.

The 870 was designed to be cheaply mass produced - stampings and pins instead of forgings and screws. 12, 31, or 37 for me.

I'd say the Remington 870 Wingmaster.

Thing is there's not many choices. I wonder which one got the most votes.

Okay, I was thinking about scoring this anyway. I went through and counted where I thought people identified clear #1s. Some people posted more than once as well so I tried to watch out for that. So don't blame me if your count differs.

Ithaca 37 - 12
Rem 870 - 10
Win 12 - 10
Rem 31 - 6
Win 1897 - 3
Win 1200 - 2
BPS - 1
Moss 500 - 1
Marlin 120 - 1
Stevens 520 - 1

I've only had 4, still have 3. All 12's.
In order to to bottem...
the BPS upland,
the Rem 870,
Winchester 1300,
and the one I no longer have- Wards Western field (Moss 500)

870

for the money, the 870. ithica 37 is a damn good gun as well

I have owned several model 12's 12ga, an 870 12ga, and a couple of BPS a 12 and 20. All were very good and reliable. I generally used them for different purposes. The BPS's had short barrels and made excellent wood duck guns in thick cover and good turkey guns. The model 12's were great dove guns, and the 870, well it is also a classic, and I used it for quail and duck. All did the job exceptionally well. Out of all of them, the one that would be the last to go would be the 20 ga BPS, it was also a great dove/quail gun. I would like to get another longer barrel for it. The model 12's went down the road, I still have the BPSs', the 870 wingmaster went to my son. I have found it interesting that as I have gotten older, I have moved away from the 12 ga down towards the 20 and 28ga. A model 12 in 28ga would be a really nice fun gun to have. I think browning made some a few years back.

870 followed closely by a couple of others.............

For me it is the Ithaca model 37, I own 4 personnally and the only I won't use it for anymore is duck hunting because of steel shot.

Well, I figured I had to say something about my love of all the JMB-designed shotguns - and I couldn't exactly figure which one would be the "top dog".

Stevens 520 - the original "double hump" - would be my number one, followed by my Savage 720 or Remington 11 AKA Browning Auto-5.

The Stevens 520A, 620A, 620 are all great too - same break-down gun at the core. Here are a pair of my 520's.

As much as I enjoy pump shotguns of all makes, I would pick the 870..Trouble free and simple to clean..All have their good points.. and draw backs.. But as much as I like my 37 for uplands, and my model 12 for turkey, and the smooth operation of the 31, or the looks of the 97, and the power of the BPS 10 ga.
and the compactness of the 835, if I sold all my pumps but one, the old 870 would remain..A bit heavy, but ultra reliable and easy to take apart.. I am not sure, but it may be the oldest pump made continually...

Marlin 120 Magnum. You asked. I've had mine for 50 years haven't had a problem!

1. Old Model 870 Wingmaster, preferably a 16ga!
2. My old Ithaca Model 37 Riot Gun w/ Factory 20" bbl & extended tube.
3.My 1960 Winchester Model 42 .410. Basically a scaled down Model 12 Winchester
4. My new Winchester SXP 12ga Pump Riot Gun. It's fuggly but has a very slick action!
Academy Sports had them on Clearence the day after Sandy Hook for $250.00 !
Was a impulse purchase, but I couldn't resist the price. So far, I'm Impressed.
It's almost as slick as my Ithaca 37 Riot Gun that I had decided was to valuable to use as my truck gun anymore. The SPX 12ga now rides in my F-250 along with my Rem. AR-15 Varmit / Coyote Critter Gitter

I have no experience with the Model 12, but I love the Ithaca 37. My vote for 2nd would be the Mossberg 500. I have been shooting mine for over 25 years without an issue. It has seen some killer duck hunts in Arkansas, and performed like a champ!

Agree with you on the Winny 1200. Right now I have old 870 Wingmaster and
a very old mod 12. Both always go bang.

The SXP is of Turkish manufacture. Just sayin'

My vote would be for the Remington 870 of older manufacture.

I've got a setup like your bottom gun. Brilliant takedown design, but getting a spare front end can be hit or miss. Sometimes they fit, sometimes they don't.

But to the original question, the only correct answer is still Remington Model 31.

Of those I have owned I would rank them as follows:

Model 12 (1939 16 ga.)
Model 870 Wingmaster (1960's 12 ga.)
Model 37 (1950's 20 ga.
Winchester Model 1300 (12 ga. 28" Winchokes)
Browning BPS (Early 12 ga. straight stocked 26" bbl)

The Ithaca jammed every so often. The Model 12,1300, and 870 never did anything but shoot. The BPS was reliable too and I liked the magazine cutoff but felt it was too heavy.

If I ranked them on just how they carried in the field then the Model 12 would still be first but the Model 37 would move to second.

Winchester Model 12. Just amazingly well made. The Ithaca 37 is a close second.

+1
Fully agree

The one I have in my hands when I need it.

I have one of the older Wingmasters/fixed mod.2 3/4inch chamber killed a lot of everthing with it .

Winchester Model 12.

Winchester '97. Love that hammer! Have owned a Mossberg 500 for 40 years and put thousands of rounds through it with no problems. It's just so ugly though!!

granted that Ithaca 37 was a smooth shotgun and a great firearm, I would still have to say that I think the Remington 870 is the best all around, most popular pump shot gun of this day.

"Most popular" Doesn't make it the best. Makes it a fairly well built shotgun that is fairly cheap to make.Which equals great sales.

Both the 37 and 12 are better built guns.

Remington 870

In my eyes the Rem. 870 Wingmaster. Skip the Express models, they suck.

I have a model 12, model 31 and a model 37 all 16 gauge with 28 inch modified barrels. The slickest shucking and best handling for passing shots is the model 31. The model 12 is a a little stiff to pump and is kind of muzzle light and does not keep the momentum for long crossing targets, the model 37 has good balance but is not as smooth as the model 31 but is smoother than the model 12 for pumping. I found that taking apart the model 31 is very easy, just have to remember the orientation for removing the slide to lift out the bolt. Tricky at first, but I have field striped the gun to get out seed and weed tassles when hunting. I like a side ejection port for clay target shooting. Bottom ejection Ithaca is fine for hunting, kind of inconvient for clays. My two cents.
300 Savage

You probably have to disassemble a Model 31 to get a complete appreciation for the brilliance of the design. It's absolutely elegant in its simplicity. Once the big pin is just a bit broken in you can empty the receiver (minus the ejector) in seconds with no tools.

870 wingmaster