Ithaca M37 20 ga

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3leggedturtle
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Ithaca M37 20 ga

Post by 3leggedturtle »

How wood you guys rate the overall overall quality of a Featherweight Model 37 in 20 gauge made in 1975? Nice gun that was barely used. Spent a few days now oiling it and cleaning old varnished lube out of it. Only thing that strikes me odd, is the pressed checkering and wood stocks that look alot like what you see on Mossberg 500's. It also weighs 6lbs 3oz... not my idea of featherweight but it is balanced nice. Todd/3leg
30/30 Winchester: Not accurate enough fer varmints, barely adequate for small deer; BUT In a 10" to 14" barrelled pistol; is good for moose/elk to 200 yards; ground squirrels to 300 metres

250 Savage... its what the 223 wishes it could be...!
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Old Savage
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Re: Ithaca M37 20 ga

Post by Old Savage »

I have a 12 ga new in 75. It is excellent with thousands of rounds through it. A find I would say for you.
In the High Desert of Southern Calif. ..."on the cutting edge of going back in time"...

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piller
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Re: Ithaca M37 20 ga

Post by piller »

If it is in good shape, it sounds like a find to me. 20 gauge in them is not one I have ever seen. Doubt it is a high priced item, but it should be fun. I sure wouldn't turn it down. I always heard that Ithaca made for accurate slug use.
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.45colt
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Re: Ithaca M37 20 ga

Post by .45colt »

For small game hunting it is one of the best pump guns ever made.
fatboy
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Re: Ithaca M37 20 ga

Post by fatboy »

Had one, was stupid to let it go!
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Re: Ithaca M37 20 ga

Post by Ray Newman »

"For small game hunting it is one of the best pump guns ever made.'
--.45Colt

BINGO! Back-In-The-Day when I was lad in the 1950's, small game hunters had an Ithaca or a SxS. Ithaca had the name and reputation,longevity, and quality to go with it! I always lusted after a 16 gauge Featherweight.
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3leggedturtle
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Re: Ithaca M37 20 ga

Post by 3leggedturtle »

piller wrote: Fri Aug 06, 2021 10:53 am I sure wouldn't turn it down.
I didnt, I took it in on trade. Dont think I wanna sell now. I also got 24V in 357 over 20 gauge a few days b4. Getting too attached to things again. Have a shiw to do in Aransas Pass mid-december. So can wait til then to decide....!
30/30 Winchester: Not accurate enough fer varmints, barely adequate for small deer; BUT In a 10" to 14" barrelled pistol; is good for moose/elk to 200 yards; ground squirrels to 300 metres

250 Savage... its what the 223 wishes it could be...!
kaschi
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Re: Ithaca M37 20 ga

Post by kaschi »

I also have a 20 gauge from the 70s, great little pump(!) but I've always wanted to replace the stock with an English style straight one and the pump handle with a thinner (smaller in diameter) style. The one that's on it now looks like something you could sell to an Eskimo to club seals with.
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Old Savage
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Re: Ithaca M37 20 ga

Post by Old Savage »

It is a matter of taste.
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JOG
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Re: Ithaca M37 20 ga

Post by JOG »

My local gun shop takes in one or two a month. Mostly 50 years old +
Generally speaking they don't last very long!
Most are gone within 48 hrs.!
Great old school shotgun!
Good luck with yours!
Johnny
3leggedturtle
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Re: Ithaca M37 20 ga

Post by 3leggedturtle »

JOG,what kind of price do they put on them. Right now I would like to find an extra barrel for it. It is really beginning to grow on me.
30/30 Winchester: Not accurate enough fer varmints, barely adequate for small deer; BUT In a 10" to 14" barrelled pistol; is good for moose/elk to 200 yards; ground squirrels to 300 metres

250 Savage... its what the 223 wishes it could be...!
Bill in Oregon
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Re: Ithaca M37 20 ga

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Todd, if it is chambered for three-inch shells, shoot a few and then decide. I shot one many years ago and found the recoil surprisingly unpleasant.
3leggedturtle
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Re: Ithaca M37 20 ga

Post by 3leggedturtle »

Bill, itsa 2 3/4" chamber. I wouldnt shoot 3" unless it was an emergency. I shot some 3" R-P goose loads with 1 7/8oz 12 gauge shells in a Mossberg , felt like getting hit in the palm of my hands with a baseball bat!
30/30 Winchester: Not accurate enough fer varmints, barely adequate for small deer; BUT In a 10" to 14" barrelled pistol; is good for moose/elk to 200 yards; ground squirrels to 300 metres

250 Savage... its what the 223 wishes it could be...!
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Blaine
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Re: Ithaca M37 20 ga

Post by Blaine »

I got a deal on a 20 ga Deerslayer....beautiful, but it threw slugs down a couple feet, and to the right....The gunsmith at the shop I bought it at couldn't fix it.
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3leggedturtle
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Re: Ithaca M37 20 ga

Post by 3leggedturtle »

Blaine wrote: Wed Aug 11, 2021 11:19 am I got a deal on a 20 ga Deerslayer....beautiful, but it threw slugs down a couple feet, and to the right....The gunsmith at the shop I bought it at couldn't fix it.
Still have it or the barrel?
30/30 Winchester: Not accurate enough fer varmints, barely adequate for small deer; BUT In a 10" to 14" barrelled pistol; is good for moose/elk to 200 yards; ground squirrels to 300 metres

250 Savage... its what the 223 wishes it could be...!
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Blaine
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Re: Ithaca M37 20 ga

Post by Blaine »

3leggedturtle wrote: Wed Aug 11, 2021 11:34 am
Blaine wrote: Wed Aug 11, 2021 11:19 am I got a deal on a 20 ga Deerslayer....beautiful, but it threw slugs down a couple feet, and to the right....The gunsmith at the shop I bought it at couldn't fix it.
Still have it or the barrel?
This was about 40 years ago.....IIRC, I traded it in on a T/C .54 Cal Renegade Kit....
The Rotten Fruit Always Hits The Ground First

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MS 9x56
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Re: Ithaca M37 20 ga

Post by MS 9x56 »

My 37 deerslayer in 20 gauge made in 1959 iirc had the ring tail forearm and no checks ring and weighed 6lb even. I prefer the looks of the earlier 37's as I believe the fit and finish were better then. I also have a carbine 12 gauge deerslayer made in 1960 that shoots pumpkin ball slugs into 2 1/2" at 100 yards. Won a lot of bets with that one. Used to hunt woodchucks with it in the summer for practice.signed 6 1/2 lbs and kicked like the proverbial mule. Was pure poison on partridge and woodcock.
Life is too short to hunt with ugly guns
Rusty
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Re: Ithaca M37 20 ga

Post by Rusty »

The really nice thing about the M37 is that each receiver is different for a different gauge. The smaller the gauge the smaller the frame is.
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JOG
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Re: Ithaca M37 20 ga

Post by JOG »

I see the 37's in the $4 to $7 hundred range depending on age and condition.
If there in very good shape there gone quickly!
If there well used they will still sell.
It might take a few days.
Johnny
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