[Claydust]

I read on another forum about hard kicking Ithaca 37's.

I have experienced this myself testing field grade guns with butt plates and excessive (for me) stock drop dimensions for other shooters, even with trap loads.

This maybe an example of stock fit reducing felt recoil, I can shoot my 37 for 200 rounds in an afternoon on sporting clays without any discomfort.

The difference IMHO is largely in stock dimensions and partly weight.

My 37 is a "Supreme Grade" trap. It has AA grade wood which is more dense and therefore heavier than a lot of 12g 37's at 7 1/2 pounds. The stocks on these were conventional (non-montecarlo) trap stocks; 1 1/2" at comb, 1 7/8" at heel, 14 3/8" L.O.P. with the trademark Ithaca recoil pad.

At 7 1/2 pounds it is still too light for me for trap. I equipped it with a later vent rib, 26" choke tube barrel, likely one of the last out of the old, original Ithaca NY factory. I have not added any weight or recoil reducers. In this configuration, with it's very smooth action, it is deadly on sporting clays for me. I have shot some of my best sporting clays scores with it.

The weight and stock dimensions make the recoil with 1 1/8 oz. 1150 fps loads totaly comfortable for me to shoot all afternoon.

This just may be an interesting example of how stock dimension can come into play to signifigantly reduce recoil sensation.

 

[Snuffy]

A friend of mine bought a new 12 ga. Ithaca pump in 1978. He complained about the kick. I shot it a few times with some 1 1/4 oz. loads, and he was right! That thing would rattle your cage! It may have been one of the featherlight models, I can't remember. If I remember correctly, some of the featherlight models came in under 6 pounds.

Anyway, I have a 12 ga. Ithaca pump that weighs a little over 7 pounds and is about average on the back end. It doesn't kick any worse than my Winchester 1200 or the Remington 870 and Win. Model 12 that I have since sold.

 

[pumper]

The combination of the stock dimensions and extremely light weight make the Ultralight 20ga the hardest kicking pump I have ever fired. It kicks harder than my Super Mag with the big shells. It seems that the angle of the buttstock rear causes the M37 to ride up my shouler, off of the softer tissue an onto more bone, which seems to make it a more painful kick.

 

[Guest]

I have an older model 37 featherweight, 12 ga. with a 26" vent rib ic barrel, a 28" vent rib mod barrel and a 26" slug barrel, I bought it used in the early 70s so I suspect it was made in the 60s. I love it, but it does kick, I had a 20" slug barrel on it at one time but she really kicked when I used it.I love the gun, its smooth action and bottom ejection. Its definately got a home in my cabinet, even though it shows some wear and tear.

 

[Claydust]

It looks like they have "straightened out" the stocks out a bit on the new ones, produced today, see;

http://www.ithacagun.com/products/catal ... trib.shtml

2 1/4" drop at heel instead of the 2 1/2" (or more) on some of the old ones. Sometimes a slight change can make quite a difference in shooting characteristics.

This may make the new ones, produced today more comfortable to shoot for many of us than the older stock dimensions as far as recoil goes.

Too bad last year's production was quoted as approx. 7,000 guns, so many of us are not likely to run across the new production guns in local shops.

One thing, if you had an older model and could get the newer stocks on it, it might benifit from lower felt recoil for the shooter.

 

[farscott]

For me, the lighter "Featherweight" M37 seems to bother me more than the standard versions. The stock dimensions on the newer ones do seem to fit me a bit better. I tried an older 20-gauge Featherweight on Saturday and it hit pretty hard on both ends.

The new versions are readily available; I asked my dealer to get a 20-gauge New Classic for me, and he had it three days later.

 

[Claydust]

The new versions are readily available; I asked my dealer to get a 20-gauge New Classic for me, and he had it three days later.

You're fortunate, I have read many places don't have them and they don't even import them here.

7,000 is a low number, it works out to about roughly 140 guns per U.S. State per year and the distribution isn't likely even.

Hopefully they continue to grow and there are more available.

 

[farscott]

Claydust,

My dealer found my gun in Minnesota, and I live in Georgia. I am not sure if a dealer would be willing to import a gun into Canada, but they are available.

While 7,000 guns is not a large number, many people are unaware that Ithaca is building any guns. In the past year, I have purchased two with no issues. At one time, Davidson's Supply Company (the Gallery of Guns people) was distributing Ithacas. They stopped due to low sales.

 

[pumper]

Gander Mountain has a good supplier, all you have to do is ask for the gun and in about two weeks they will be able to get just about any model.

 

[Guest]

I was in Watertown, NY, Dicks Sporting Goods, this afternoon and they had a new one on there rack, there not a cheap pump, almost 500$$$$.

 

[Claydust]

I am not sure if a dealer would be willing to import a gun into Canada, but they are available.

As with many things, a lot of things may be possible. The problem would be the cost of bringing just one in, there would be more handling with damage-in-shipment potential and if there are any warranty issues, I'd pretty much be on my own.

In addition, while I appreciate the Ithaca 37 and it's lengthy history, follow the company's fortunes and wish them well; my interests have taken a different turn over the many years they were no longer available here. I have that very nice "mint" condition 37 Supreme and am presently content to leave it at that.

Here is a link from the forum "Marlin Talk", it is not a scientific availability poll (and I take many opinions on any form with some doubts), there are a number of posters who have writen about lack of stock in their part of the U.S. I conclude, perhaps incorrectly, from it that availability of guns in stock at local shops id a regional thing.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/cgi-bin/u ... 9;t=006534

 

[hikerbum]

I just got a 37 New Ithaca Classic in 16 ga. A wonderful gun with very little kick. i highly recommend it.

 

[Claydust]

I just got a 37 New Ithaca Classic in 16 ga. A wonderful gun with very little kick. i highly recommend it.

Perhaps this is proof the stock dimesions on the new 37's do reduce recoil discomfort.

 

[H2OK9S]

I have 7 mod 37's in all gauges and variations from a 1941 12ga to a 1997 12ga. I think my older sixteen kicked hard until I found a ultra featherweight in 20ga, I can't remember taking such punishment from a gun, its nicknamed the mule. I love these guns have about 20 Ithacas total, great guns and a true American Company (excluding the whole SKB/Perazzi thing). I'd say that the old 12 kicks and the newest 12 kicks but i have a 37 mag made about '74 that it a real sweetie. The stock demensions are different from the other two though, must be it. Any of you guys have ejection problems with real high brass? Sticking in the chamber?

Feels good to hunt with a classic.

 

[Snuffy]

H2OK9S, I've shot a lot of shells - high brass and low brass - through my 12 and 16 with nary a hiccup. In fact, I've never had any kind of jam or ejection failure with one of the Ithacas.

 

[farscott]

I have not had an extraction issues with my M37's; however, I would look at the chamber to see if there is any residue or pitting that is providing a surface to which the brass can adhere.

 

[Claydust]

Any of you guys have ejection problems with real high brass? Sticking in the chamber?

Is this with brand name, good quality ammunition?

I have never had this happen with my 1972 vintage M37 Supreme since I acquired it, new, in 1972.

I either shoot good quality factory ammunition or, more ofte, reloads with good quality shells/components, re-sized/loads right out of the "book".

In the "price wars" for the lower end shell market I have seen casing quaity fall off noticeably in the last 10 to 15 years in this end of the market. On some of these, the metal bases expand and sstick in the chamber. I have seen one brand that is no longer imported stick suffieiently in a Citori that ir would not extract/eject and has to be pushed out with a cleaning rod.

If you are shooting good quality ammuniton, then I think Farscott's suggestions are the next likely cause.

 

[H2OK9S]

I typically only shoot Federal Loads through it except waterfouling then I shoot Bismuth. Can't imagine these are real cheap hulls. Only 2 of my 12 ga. do it not all of my ithacas. just curious if anyone has had simmilar problems. I had a similar problem on a browning and we polished the chamber, worked ok.

 

[Claydust]

I typically only shoot Federal Loads through it except waterfouling then I shoot Bismuth. Can't imagine these are real cheap hulls. Only 2 of my 12 ga. do it not all of my ithacas. just curious if anyone has had simmilar problems. I had a similar problem on a browning and we polished the chamber, worked ok.

In my experience (others may differ) the Fed. hulls have a habit of sticking in chambers sometimes.

Not severly, they will hang up VERY slightly, it is just enough resistance to cause some folks to short shuck their pumps. Whe had a guy have this happen last week when we were "playing" with a Lincon sporting clays doubles trap at the club after everyone was done with 16 yard trap. He is an excellent pump gun shooter too and the gun is in good shape. These were reloaded Gold Medals, run through a Sizemaster.

I save my Fed. GM's for my o/u's and singles trap with one of my 870 trap guns. When I shoot my pumps for serious doubles, I use AA's or Rem. STS.

 

[Jeff23]

I think it's a trade-off of sorts. As I am fond of telling everyone--no matter how many times they have heard it--my main hunting shotgun is a 1951 37 in 16 ga, no VR and fixed mod choke. I wouldn't want it for an all-out clays gun; it isn't made for that. Not that I could shoot clays worth diddly anyway But it beats the pants off anything else I've had the experience of carrying all day.

It does kick a tad (but standard heavy field loads are really no problem). I've never noticed the kick while actually hunting on almost any shotgun. Too excited! I HAVE noticed how heavy that ol Remmy 870 used to get after lugging it around for a couple of hours.

My .02