Looking for a do anything pump. Have considered 870s, 500s and the BPS, just recently the Model 37 has popped up on the radar. You guys that are shotgun gurus what are your experience with this gun?

Have a 1949 version of an Ithaca 37 in 20 guage. Bought it for cheap, refinished the stock, cleaned it down to component level with brake parts cleaner, don't think it had ever been cleaned in the previous 50 years. It points like a dream, nice, light, and trim.

Have killed several limits of doves with it as well as carrying year before last on Kansas opening day of pheasant season and shot the ones that got up in range.

Just last night used it on some pigeons that have been messing in my barn. It is a full choke, if it were a light modified I'd use it even more.



Last year bought its twin sister in 16 guage. It acts like it cycles fine, but after a shot the hull is hanging up and not wanting to eject. Haven't spent much time digging into what is the problem, but will before bird season starts.

I've used 870's in the past and still have one, but if I want a pump or nostalgia type of gun, I grab the Ithaca.

There isn't any better pump than a 37 in good shape, IMO. Lightest per guage of the all-steel pumps, easiest takedown.

I'm very familiar with the Winchester model 12, 1200, Remington model 870, and Mossberg 500. I recently got my son an Ithaca 37 Featherlight and was immediately impressed with how well it handled. It handles better than the other pump guns I've used. It doesn't have any "boat oar" feel to it at all.

Likin what I'm hearin guys keep it up an thanks.

The ones that you mentioned are good serviceable guns.

After trying them all I like the Ithaca 37 in 20 gauge and a Winchester model 12 or Remington 31 TC in 12 gauge.

For long walks the 37 20 gauge carries like a broom stick and handles like a skeet gun at the shot.

I really like them. They resist freezing weather, handle well [for me], have lots of variety in barrels, stocks etc., have been super reliable and are easy to take down for cleaning and maintenance.

They are a bit of a nuisance for trap as they must be fed through the magazine.

With a few extra barrels they will do most any shotgun job.

I have 87's in magnum chambering's in both 12 & 20 gauge.

I have Deerslayer and vent rib barrels for both. With screw in chokes.

In 12ga there are also a rifled Deerslayer, a Turkeyslayer
and a smoothbore Deerslayer barrel.

There are two 20ga 37's around. One is a 23/4" with scope base, a 24" barrel and screw in chokes.

The last one is a 20 gauge Ultra featherweight 2 3/4". One VR MOD barrel and a smoothbore Deerslayer barrel that is choked IC.

When growing up most of my family had Browning A5s while my brother and I had pump guns (all we could afford). I found out my Ithaca 37 was way more reliable in bad weather. Not to mention it was much lighter than even the Light 20s. I shoot the 37s better than any other shotgun I have tried.

As the others have said the 37 is a fine shotgun.. I have owned several, and a 20 ga. was my first pump gun.. At present, I have several 870's in a variety of gauges, a Moss. 835, a Rem.31, a model 12,a 97,and a BPS in 10 ga. the others are 12's. The little 37 is one of my very favorites.. For upland shooting, maybe my very favorite.. As mentioned it is a pain for trap shooting, and if you ever have a jam, it is a bugger to clear.. But so far this 37 has given me no problems.. I don't shoot heavy loads in it.. 3 1/4 1 1/4 loads are about the heaviest I use.. Because it is full choke, I bought maybe half a case of spreader loads to try this fall.. To me all the pumps are neat, I enjoy each one.. With a requirements of nontoxic shot, and different hunting conditions if I make a long fall hunt, I usually take the old 870's with the choke system.. But for hunting near home, the old 37 is a real gem..

They are wonderful. (You are to be commended for spelling "Ithaca" correctly.)

I have a steel frame Deerslayer with 20" smooth bore. Shoots Brenneke slugs real well and is a very fast handling gun. I still use in bad weather even though the state now allows rifled shotgun barrels. The slug barrels are bored full length to min slug specs and noted for top performance with slugs.

I also have what I believe dancing bear calls the ultra featherlight. That is an aluminum frame gun. I had the barrel cut to 21" and use an IC choke tube. In 12 ga, I believe my gun is 5.5 pounds and my friend has one in 20ga that is 5.0 pounds. Really sweet upland gun with field loads. The aluminum frame is not for magnums and not for slugs - not for heavy loads. If you feel the need for power, then stick with steel frame. Thats a nice gun too and would provide good service as a do everything gun.

One warning, both my M37 are 2 3/4 inch only. All I need, maybe not for you. Watch out if that matters.

If I had to do it over, or knew then what I know now, I would have got both in 20ga. Live and learn.

Ithaca really understood how a shotgun should handle.

Its a shame, Winchester never got a clue. With an aluminum frame and stronger rotary bolt, they could own the world, instead just built a lot of nothing. I guess a Winchester would qualify as a do anything compromise gun, just not the best at anything.

My 1950s era M37 12 ga would function slickity snick with target loads but would hang up tight as Chinese finger cuffs with short mags. Turned out to be a roughly machined chamber. Polishing the chamber solved the problem. Seems to have happened with a few other older M37s too, if some posts on ShotgunWorld.com are to be counted.

Anyone know where to find a used model 37 near northbay ontario?

They are a great shotgun. The 2 3/4" 12 gauge is a great all-around upland gun.

If you ever want a sweetheart though, get a 20 gauge. They are just perfect.

The Ultrafeatherlight in 20 gauge is awesome as well, especially for kids.

They're light. The bigger you go in gauge the more recoil. That said, I love my 20 gauge ultrafeatherlight, but I would go with something else in 12 gauge, especially if you intend to shoot a lot at one time. And Im not particularly recoil shy.

Just saw your response to me, thanks. What did you use to polish the chamber? Admittedly, I haven't spent much time trying to decipher what is going on. Might have to pull it out of the safe in the morning. Only a month away from dove season.....

Just found this over on shotgunworld-sounds about identical to my issue-

I bought this old shotgun a few years ago, but whenever i took it out, it would jamb up & not extract. I suspected the extractors, & was starting to look for parts. But before i got too far, i checked out the chamber. It was dark colored from rust. It wasn't flaking, but you could see the dark brown rust coloring, instead of shiny steel.

So i thought i'd try removing that, first.. especially since the extractors felt like they were sharp & had plenty of bite.

This is an old gun.. 1943.. & i did not want to ruin it, but i want it to work. I used a wire cleaning brush.. nothing.. still rusty. Then i took some fine sandpaper & worked it.. that would take forever. I found a brake cylinder hone in my tool box, & it would fold & fit inside the chamber, so i thought i'd try it out, slowly.

I could easily turn it by hand, but that was taking too long for a power tool kind of guy. So i sprayed some wd40 inside the chamber, onto the stones on the hone. I put it in a cordless drill chuck & slowly rotated it, moving it up & down to get the whole chamber.

I didn't get it all, but there was at least mostly shiny metal now, with a little rust showing in spots. I wiped it out, lightly covered it with oil, & took it to the range.

It works! No jambs, no extractor problems. I filled the magazine & pumped 5 shots as fast as i could, & all ejected fine. I don't think i took enough off to expand the chamber too much, & i don't have a mic to measure it, but it is working, & that is good enough for me. A full shell does not feel loose, & i can stick a spent one in, now as well.

I know that extractor problems sometimes come up, but there are times when a round is sticking in the chamber, & it might just needs some polishing.

Is your hull failing to extract, or eject?
If you're getting complete extraction and failure to eject you may have an older gun with a 2 9/16" chamber.

I got my 1939 A5 dirt cheap because the gun show peddler I bought it from thought he had a jamm-o-matic.

I'd not mind a Featherweight 37 in 20ga with a vent rib. Be great for dove!

One thing to keep in mind with ga. A 12 CAN shoot 1 1/4 oz. loads very comfortably, BUT it can also shoot 7/8oz loads or 1 ozs. loads just as easily and probably more cheaply than you can buy for the 20.. plus the gun is a tad heavier so the recoil will be even less.. The only thing is the frame on the 20 is smaller..I think folks often forget the 12 has the most to offer of all our ga.s.. 20's are neat and fun, but don't sell the 12 short..especially on the recoil issue..

I lucked up on a first year production 20 ga. M-37R for $250. The wood was in bad shape, so I refinished it, and recut the checkering. The metal is original blue. It is a solid rib model and had a Deluxe Poly Choke.

I thought about cutting the Poly Choke off and doing Briley tubes. That would have made it too short and whippy. It dawned on me that this was just part of the vintage package and it's grown on me.

37's are a lot of gun for the buck. I especially like pre-war 37's. They have more class than 870's and are lighter than M-12's.

DF

I love mine, and my southpaw son finally talked me out of it. The 37 is a good one, perhaps the best upland game shotgun I have ever used.

Ithaca 37 is my favorite pump gun, I have 3 of 'em. Though for a do-it-all shotgun I would probably choose the 870 because ...

1. 3 inch mag or 3.5" .. There were a few 3 inch Ithaca 37s but not common (the 3 inch 87s are expensive)
2. more after market parts/ add-ons(barrels, chokes, stocks etc.)
3. cheaper after market parts / add-ons

The BPS is a fine pump too although a tad heavier than 870.
The Mossberg 500 is also a workhorse just not exactly Remington/Browning/Ithaca quality.

If 2 3/4 fits your needs ... jump on the Ithaca.

Failing to extract. Kick myself for saying failing to eject when I fully know thats not what I meant.

Once I 'bump' the butt end on the ground to 'loosen' the fired round in the chamber, the empty pulls out just fine and 'flings' itself with gusto out of the gun.

I did take a 12 guage brass brush and wrapped in 0000 steel wool, some gun oil, and hit the chamber with that on a drill. Didn't spend much time on it for fear of worsening a problem, but it didn't seem to help.

Thinking I'm just going to send off to Les Hovencamp.

Dirtfarmer, that is a beautiful 37.. Just love those solid rib guns.. Have one in a 12.. but a 20 would be fine.. I need to clean my up lots of wear marks.. a little 20 was my first pump gun.. but it had no rib..

Certainly sounds like a chamber issue. Had it been failure to eject I was going to offer a handful of 2 1/2" Gamebore to check it with.

The manufacturers of Flexhone have chamber hones that should clean up your problem.
http://www.brushresearch.com/brushes.php?c2=6
Since you're only doing one gun I'd go straight to the 800 grit aluminum oxide and work at it a little longer.
If you do decide to go this route make sure to use the recommended oil.

A slotted wooden dowel and a 1/2" drill motor. Medium grit wet/dry paper backed with foam to provide pressure against the chamber wall. started with 100 with Kroil and worked down to 200.

It is essentially a home-made flex-hone.

Yep.. But I keep going through 400 grit... Some shotgun chambers, I swear, musta been done at the factory with a dull knife..

pre war 37s are great but if in original condition usually sell 4 big bucks if the seller knows what he's selling.....expect to pay 450-600 for an original 90/95% pre war 16/20ga....But if I can find one Id rather pay the 600 for a nice pre war small gauge than buy one of the new production guns for 800......

Think I'm going to buy one of the new ones, just so they have a reason to stay in business and keep making them. From what I hear the quality today matches that of any other time period.

Hint, don't ask the gun guy at Cabela's if they have any Ithaca pumps unless you have more will power than me. Especially when he pulls out a 28Ga.













Funny thing was the girl who was doing the paperwork commented, "28Ga?" and gave me a funny look. I said that's right and she said, "Not much call for those these days."

Sweet handling little shotgun and Grouse season is just around the corner.

wish they had the classic receiver engraving of old on the new ones

They do with the exception of the 28ga. I would prefer it also.

Nice shotgun. I see they come with 26 or 28 inch barrels which did you get ? Did you weigh it yet ?

Nice buy.. Fun ga. have a 870.. It has killed sage gr. dead at 40 steps..

I think I'm going to like it.

26in is the barrel length which is an approx 30-31in sighting plain counting the receiver. 3 factory screw in chokes and the weight came out at 5lbs 15ounces. Wood is definitely plain Jane.

Seems solid and sounds the same as the originals. I think you can slam fire it like the originals but not sure yet. Hoping to shoot it this week. However, ran some shells thru it and function seems fine.

battue, Used my 28 ga. for several years for mt. grouse.. Mostly blues. It did a fine job, also shot quite a few sage grouse with it.. Took it to Az. for desert quail, a couple were crippled and got away so I switched to a 12 with 1 1/8 loads.. I didn't have any loads heavier than 3/4's of an oz. The quail were pretty scarce and wild, so shots were longer than normal.. For the birds and area you are hunting and good close working dogs, it should be great...

Need to practice and get a little confidence going with the hitting. It definitely has a lot of move-mount-shoot built into it. Seems to fit fairly well when I mount it quickly to a spot on the wall.

Best of luck with it.. I am sure it will be excellent..

I have a late 50s made 16 ga. That is the gun that taught me to wingshoot. I've always loved upland hunting, but never could hit anything. Somehere along the way, I got it into my head that I needed a 16 ga Ithaca. Eventually I found one and suddenly I could hit things (I'd never even handled an Ithaca before that). I suspect that my sudden shooting ability has something to do with the fact that guns made in the 50s fit my build better than most guns made today. Nevertheless, I'm a fan. Now I need to find one in 20 ga.

Cheesy
Do send your 16 in to Diamond Gunsmithing. Mine had the same problem as yours when I got it. I tried polishing the chamber a couple of different ways. If anything it got worse. I sent it off to Les, and he fixed it right up. I've had it fail to extract once since then, and that was after shooting around 100 rounds quickly on a warm day.

P.S. Nice avatar.

Just got around to doing this tonight.

I think the phrase is called "slicker than greased owl crap".

Thanks guys.

A week ago I received my 37 16ga I got off of GB. The seller said it looked have been bought new and used very little. I have to agree. I am amazed how smooth the action is. The trigger pull was a bit heavy. I took the trigger assembly apart and found a burr on the inside of the trigger guard next to the bolt release slot. I removed it and all is well.

I've got a 20ga in the deerslayer model with a smooth bore and have shot several deer with it. It's my primary deer gun even tho I have a couple of others with rifled barrels. It handles well and operates so smoothly and it's lightweight in comparison to the remington auto and winchester pump.

I have 5 or 6 of them and still try to spell it "Ithica" about half the time! LOL

I've got a nice 16 gauge. Ok gun but I've often considered selling it, always felt a little butt stock heavy to me. Guess I could remedy that will some hollowing out of the butt stock, just haven't gotten around to it.

Ithaca has had some financial problems in the past and it showed in some of the guns they made. The older 1950's guns can be wonderful ( I still remember the 16ga I used to borrow from a neighbor when I was a kid, worked like a watch and I killed a pile of stuff with it) but some of the guns made in the 70's had lots of problems. I remember two guns that would eject a empty and dump the next unfired shell on the ground at the same time. The factory never could make the guns 100% reliable. The other thing is that barrels are not always interchangeable even when they are supposed to be. Not sure what the current mfg guns are like.
If I came across a older gun ( pre pressed checkering with the small grooved forearm) I would be thinking hard about bringing it home with me.
Also, the older Remington model 17 (made in 20ga only) is the older brother & clone to the model 37. I still have one with a 28" barrel & factory cyl bore that goes out on occasion for birds over a dog.

I would just take my time until I found a good OLDER pump gun. I don't think much of what is new on the market. My 20/16 pump gun list would be:

Model 12 Win (not Nickle steel 1912) short grooved flat bottom forend
Model 31 Rem preferably Lt over standard
Model 37 Ithaca (older model with ser# on front of receiver and on the barrel)
Model 17 Rem like Ken mentioned (only one extractor compared to 37 that has two)

G2