Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns BPS or Ithaca Model 37

Between these two bottom shuckers, which do you prefer. I have a few models of both and generally prefer the Ithaca, although the new BPS I have in 16 gauge is pretty nice.

I've never had a Browning, but it would be awfully difficult to replace my 37.

I have shot both several times and like both.
I think the Ithaca is smoother but like the screw in chokes on the Browning.
From what I can tell the Ithaca is also lighter.
I would give the nod to the Ithaca for this reason as well as it just feels better in my hands.

We have three 37s and a BPS12 here and any are good... The 37 is signifcantly lighter. The 37 can be tubed easily to make up the difference in that category, including having steel-friendly tubes installed.

The BPS flat does not fit me, but it is still a fine shotgun IMO. Either is perfect for the lefties...

ITHACA

I'll take an Ithaca.

The one Ithaca I really wish I had back was a 20 gauge Ultralight with the Sid Bell red grip cap. That was one light and sweet handling gun. Recoil was a little siff though. Traded it in on a Browning Superposed with 26" Impr/Cyl- Modified barrels.

I only have experiance with my Ithaca but when I went on a bird hunt at my BIL's megabux hunting club,they were going to say I couldn't hunt with a pump until they saw it was an Ithica.
some kind of BS tradition thang.

If you like tradition Ithaca (pre 1970) but the hard truth is a BPS will be cheaper, has tubes, rifled barrels available, always works and it a very nice shotgun. AND if it breaks you can get it fixed easily.

Of course real men shoot Model 12s.......and the best bottom shucker was a Remington 17

I have a 1949 made 20 Guage Featherlite Ithaca 37, only complaint is the ultra tight full choke, but I still hit pretty well with it, and its a joy to carry.

Bought the wife a BPS 20 guage a couple years ago due to her wrong-handed-ness. She's killed a pile of doves and a few pheasants with it.

I don't see either one being a failure, get whatever one points the best for you and go kill some stuff.

Ithaca, thanks. The BPS is too heavy for my taste.

I agree 100% with that, I don't know how Ithaca makes them so light.

I grew up killing deer with an Ithaca Deerslayer. Lightweight, even with a scope on it.

The Model 37's just FEEL right to me.

The BPS on the other hand always felt like a dead weight club in my hands. Never could warm up to one.

I have both-1958 vintage Model 37 (12 ga) and a BPS Micro (20 ga).

I use the Ithaca for turkeys, BPS for everything else (steel rated).

Ithaca-slightly better balance, light (for a 12) and buttery slick; love the gun.

BPS-heavy for a 20, but I love the top tang safety. I grew up on doubles, and to me, that's where a safety belongs.

If you can deal with cross-bolt safeties, a modern, steel-rated model 37 would be your better choice, by a hair. If you like top tang, BPS (and some Mossbergs) are your only choices in a pump.

10-4, both good guns that are a lot nicer than an 870 or Mossberg.
Now the Benelli Nova is also nice but not bottom ejection.

Have to go with the Ithaca too. I've got 2-12's and a 20 and 16.
I love the older ones with the corn cob forend.

Hard not to like the 37.

Many concern themselves way to much re: chokes. IC, LMod, and Mod really are not that much different in the long run. Each supposedly gives an extra 5yards or so, but with the vagrancy of different loads and distance that game arbitrarily shows up, they all work when pointed right. The extremes of Cyl or Full do have their special place.

For me it would be the 37. Pick what you like.

The BPS is much more versatile and it has the tang safety.. I love that safety...very visible. My first shotgun was a 37T...I still have both the 37 and the BPS

I have a Mod 37 20 guage 26inch Impr/Cyl (1954) like you said a stiff recoil,but a pleasure to carry!

Bob

Ithaca - unless you wanna learn some new swear words re-installing a BPS trigger group...