Anyone use a 12 ga. Ithaca 37 for pheasants? If so, how do you like it? I have one made in 1959 with a 28" mod. barrel I am taking to S.D. this year along with a 16 ga. made in 1949 with a 28" mod. barrel. Just wondering what the recoil of the 12 ga. is like with 1&1/4 oz. 3&3/4 dram loads of #5 & #6 shot? The 12 ga. is fairly light, I would guess 6&1/2-6&3/4 pounds.
12 GA. Ithaca 37
- Thread starter 870-Lefty
- Start date
dustin mudd
Active member
wished i had found 37's 40 years ago. what a gun for the money, and design. Started with 870, no slouch, but for all day carry, nothing for the money beats a 37!
I have 20,16,12 in the older checkered forend style. Use them mostly for back up guns, and to loan for kids etc. But wouldnt sell any. good shooting!
I have 20,16,12 in the older checkered forend style. Use them mostly for back up guns, and to loan for kids etc. But wouldnt sell any. good shooting!
Ithaca 37
I agree wholeheartidly! I also have a 1967 20 ga. with 28" mod. barrel that is my late season rabbit gun. These guns carry lite and point fast. Since I am a lefty I have had them all converted to left-hand safties. I love my L.H. 870 Wingmaster for waterfowl, but for upland hunting the Ithaca 37's get the nod!:cheers:
I agree wholeheartidly! I also have a 1967 20 ga. with 28" mod. barrel that is my late season rabbit gun. These guns carry lite and point fast. Since I am a lefty I have had them all converted to left-hand safties. I love my L.H. 870 Wingmaster for waterfowl, but for upland hunting the Ithaca 37's get the nod!:cheers:
koja48
New member
I used one years ago for everything . . . Uplands, waterfowl, & pass-shooting geese (pre-lead shot ban). Paid $125.00 for it & 2 barrels. Converted it to a left-hand safety, refinished the butt-stock & added a ring-tail slide forend. Sweet shooter & I still own it. No recoil problems with 2-3/4" loads, which is how it's chambered.
I have a 12 made in the 70's with a rib and mod choke. Smooth, reliable gun. One can argue all day but the 37 is fine for pheasants. Recoil is no different than on any 12 that fits. If you have one use it. Good, better, best is all relative. You can shoot your 37's for the rest of your life and not feel cheated.
Recoil is most often offset by cackling birds and floating feathers...fret not.
Consider the old 1 1/4 ounce live pigeon load if you do find the recoil objectionable...hard to tell another how recoil will be....a poor mount can make a kicker out of any scattergun.
Shuck away.
cheesy
Well-known member
I never notice recoil when a bird is in front of me. Maybe an all day shoot at the clays range would be different.
I've got a 20 guage from 1949 and jus picked up a 16 guage from the same era, not sure the year, late 40's I'd guess without looking the serial number up. Both have the checkered buttstock, corn-cob fore-end, and the little slide bar in the mag cap that gives you more leverage to tighten it up. Have the 16 guage stripped down right now and getting ready to refinish the buttstock. Gotta find a 12 guage of same era to make the threesome complete.
I've got a 20 guage from 1949 and jus picked up a 16 guage from the same era, not sure the year, late 40's I'd guess without looking the serial number up. Both have the checkered buttstock, corn-cob fore-end, and the little slide bar in the mag cap that gives you more leverage to tighten it up. Have the 16 guage stripped down right now and getting ready to refinish the buttstock. Gotta find a 12 guage of same era to make the threesome complete.
Michigan Gunner
Member
Good But.....
I really like them in 20 ga. But in 12 ga they just recoil too much with heavy loads. Why put up with heavy recoil when there are so many other great guns that won't beat you up. My 2 cents.
Lock and Load!
I really like them in 20 ga. But in 12 ga they just recoil too much with heavy loads. Why put up with heavy recoil when there are so many other great guns that won't beat you up. My 2 cents.
Lock and Load!
m-37
I have 5 M-37 Ithaca-s.
They do run light which is exactly why I like them.
A 3 3/4 oz eq. load will kick like hell in them.
That said, hunting live targets (birds) you should not even notice it.
You could even purchase a decent slide over rubber recoli pad (Limbsaver?)
When I get out the old guns like this for late season trap (after the shoot off)
I use one. Normally when hunting live targets I don't even feel the recoil from
higher energy loads. Even the regular target loads become noticeable when burning up several boxes in an evening at the target range.
I have 5 M-37 Ithaca-s.
They do run light which is exactly why I like them.
A 3 3/4 oz eq. load will kick like hell in them.
That said, hunting live targets (birds) you should not even notice it.
You could even purchase a decent slide over rubber recoli pad (Limbsaver?)
When I get out the old guns like this for late season trap (after the shoot off)
I use one. Normally when hunting live targets I don't even feel the recoil from
higher energy loads. Even the regular target loads become noticeable when burning up several boxes in an evening at the target range.
Reilly Auld
Member
My father had a M-37 and I decided a few years ago that I needed one as well. I purchased a 12 ga. 1953 edition with a corn cob fore end and 28'' modified barrel. I also found a guy in upstate NY that added an Ithaca sun burst recoil pad. A neat looking pump gun.
I shoot it on occasion. Sometimes well, sometimes not so well.
It stands in the corner of my bedroom as a go to defense gun.
I shoot it on occasion. Sometimes well, sometimes not so well.
It stands in the corner of my bedroom as a go to defense gun.
Toad
Active member
My uncle shot a 12 ga 37 featherlight exculsively as long as I've known him, probably his whole life. He always used fairly light loads compared to the rest of us. A few years ago he didn't have shells and borrowed some of ours, 1 1/4, high brass #5s, pretty standard pheasant loads... He said it was quite a beating, and dusted off my grandfather's old 1100 the following day.
The Ithaca handled the heavier loads just fine and the birds fell great, but I think the recoil was uncomfortable. I don't think he had any kind of a recoil pad though.
He only hunts a few times a year and doesn't shoot trap or anything the rest of the year so odds are your shoulder and cheekbone are probably a bit more "conditioned" than his.
The Ithaca handled the heavier loads just fine and the birds fell great, but I think the recoil was uncomfortable. I don't think he had any kind of a recoil pad though.
He only hunts a few times a year and doesn't shoot trap or anything the rest of the year so odds are your shoulder and cheekbone are probably a bit more "conditioned" than his.