Ithaca Model 37 Question

hjk_rick · November 4, 2001, 10:38 PM

I'm considering buying my friend's Ithaca pump. It's a 16 and I'm wondering which reciever Ithaca built 16's on, 12 or 20 gauge?

Also, is a sixteen more or less desirable than the other gauges?

Thanks in advance,
RICK

Coronach · November 5, 2001, 12:09 AM

Define 'desirable.'

The 12 has more oomph, the 20 has less kick. All three will probably get the job done, but the 16 will be the most expensive to feed.

All depends what you want it to do and how you plan on using it.

Mike

Bam Bam · November 5, 2001, 12:25 AM

Depends also on price and availability of ammunition.

Dave McC · November 5, 2001, 05:27 AM

I like the 16 a lot, and regard it as close to optimum for an upland gun. But, ammo can be hard to find, and the selection can be quite limited. Finding a 16 ga load that has top grade components can be a challenge unless one reloads. As for as I know, there's no 16 ga equivalent for the 3dr, 1 1/8 oz, 7 1/2s trap load that serves as a terrific upland load in 12 ga.

In your shoes,I'd probably buy that Ithaca,but I'd have a few 12s around for ammo versatility.

Gopher · November 5, 2001, 07:59 PM

http://www.ithacagun.com./

Might find the answer there.

hjk_rick · November 5, 2001, 09:32 PM

Thanks to all for your comments / Charlie's throwing in five boxes of shells so I'm going to take it.

Rick

Dave McC · November 6, 2001, 07:57 AM

It's a good shotgun, Rick, enjoy. 5 boxes is just a trip to the range. Save those empties,buy a MEC 600 and some components and shoot more for less lucre.

Briley and others will thread that bbl for tubes, but while this is a nice idea, it's not crucial. What choke do you have?

If memory serves, there's a #1 buck load for the 16 from Federal that's been quite good in some friend's 16s.

hjk_rick · November 6, 2001, 10:02 PM

The gun has a plain barrel with polychoke - 25 inches over all length. The plan is to shoot rabbit and grouse with it.

Do you have any thoughts on the polychoke?

Rick

Kingcreek · November 6, 2001, 10:36 PM

When I got my first 16g I was concerned about the lack of factory loads. So much so, that I bought 16g shells every time I found some. Armloads of 'em. I quit buying after I accumulated over 3 cases of various loads. I still see boxes on shelves of retail sporting goods stores and Kent now has new factory loads as well as the Bismuth line.
No opinion on the polychoke but I have always loved the mod 37. I only have 3 of them at this time.

Dave McC · November 7, 2001, 06:33 AM

Polychokes, if installed correctly, are fine. Sometimes they're put on non concentrically, and adversely affect POI. Patterning is, as always, crucial.

Also, the actual choke may or may not correspond to the markings. Test it, and maybe use nail polish or leftover Testor's Enamel to mark it properly....

bismark · November 9, 2001, 04:29 PM

16 ga shells are anything but rare. It's a great round, and there are plenty of sastisfied customers that will keep it arround for the next 50 years.

November 5, 2001, 12:09 AM	#2
Coronach Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 1999 Posts: 3,147	Define 'desirable.' The 12 has more oomph, the 20 has less kick. All three will probably get the job done, but the 16 will be the most expensive to feed. All depends what you want it to do and how you plan on using it. Mike __________________ The axe bites into the door, ripping a hole in one panel. The maniac puts his face into the hole, cackling gleefully, "Here's Johnny...erk." "And here's Smith and Wesson," murmurs Coronach, Mozambiquing six rounds of .357 into the critter at a range of three feet. -Lawdog "True pacifism is the finest form of manliness. But if a man comes up to you and cuts your hand off, you don't just offer him the other one. Not if you want to go on playing the piano, you don't." -Sam Peckinpah "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein

November 6, 2001, 10:36 PM	#9
Kingcreek Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: rural Illinois Posts: 590	about those rare 16g shells... When I got my first 16g I was concerned about the lack of factory loads. So much so, that I bought 16g shells every time I found some. Armloads of 'em. I quit buying after I accumulated over 3 cases of various loads. I still see boxes on shelves of retail sporting goods stores and Kent now has new factory loads as well as the Bismuth line. No opinion on the polychoke but I have always loved the mod 37. I only have 3 of them at this time.

November 4, 2001, 10:38 PM	#1
hjk_rick Member Join Date: November 4, 2001 Location: PA Posts: 21	Ithaca Model 37 Question I'm considering buying my friend's Ithaca pump. It's a 16 and I'm wondering which reciever Ithaca built 16's on, 12 or 20 gauge? Also, is a sixteen more or less desirable than the other gauges? Thanks in advance, RICK

November 5, 2001, 12:25 AM	#3
Bam Bam Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 842	Depends also on price and availability of ammunition.

November 5, 2001, 05:27 AM	#4
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	I like the 16 a lot, and regard it as close to optimum for an upland gun. But, ammo can be hard to find, and the selection can be quite limited. Finding a 16 ga load that has top grade components can be a challenge unless one reloads. As for as I know, there's no 16 ga equivalent for the 3dr, 1 1/8 oz, 7 1/2s trap load that serves as a terrific upland load in 12 ga. In your shoes,I'd probably buy that Ithaca,but I'd have a few 12s around for ammo versatility.

November 5, 2001, 07:59 PM	#5
Gopher Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 1999 Location: Texas USA Posts: 367	http://www.ithacagun.com./ Might find the answer there.

November 5, 2001, 09:32 PM	#6
hjk_rick Member Join Date: November 4, 2001 Location: PA Posts: 21	Thanks to all for your comments / Charlie's throwing in five boxes of shells so I'm going to take it. Rick

November 6, 2001, 07:57 AM	#7
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	It's a good shotgun, Rick, enjoy. 5 boxes is just a trip to the range. Save those empties,buy a MEC 600 and some components and shoot more for less lucre. Briley and others will thread that bbl for tubes, but while this is a nice idea, it's not crucial. What choke do you have? If memory serves, there's a #1 buck load for the 16 from Federal that's been quite good in some friend's 16s.

November 6, 2001, 10:02 PM	#8
hjk_rick Member Join Date: November 4, 2001 Location: PA Posts: 21	The gun has a plain barrel with polychoke - 25 inches over all length. The plan is to shoot rabbit and grouse with it. Do you have any thoughts on the polychoke? Rick

November 7, 2001, 06:33 AM	#10
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Polychokes, if installed correctly, are fine. Sometimes they're put on non concentrically, and adversely affect POI. Patterning is, as always, crucial. Also, the actual choke may or may not correspond to the markings. Test it, and maybe use nail polish or leftover Testor's Enamel to mark it properly....

November 9, 2001, 04:29 PM	#11
bismark Member Join Date: October 22, 2001 Posts: 38	16 ga shells are anything but rare. It's a great round, and there are plenty of sastisfied customers that will keep it arround for the next 50 years.