[snooperman]

Does anyone have any experience with the Ithaca home defense shotgun? I am thinking about buying one as I like the design. A little steep in price though. Thanks

[mgkdrgn]

To paraphrase an old IBM commercial ... "Nobody ever got fired for buying Ithica."

That said, a good used Rem 870 or Mossy 500 will go BANG just as loud and leave a pile of money still in your pocket.

[Grunt]

If I was buying an Ithaca 37, I would go with an older one like mine:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q236/USMCGruntUSAFCATM/Firearms/Shotguns/DCP_1856.jpg

The newer ones like the Ithaca Defense gun I have my doubts about because of the fixed barrel and no support on the front of the magazine tube.:uhoh:

http://www.ithacagun.com/images/defense_gun/dFence-950.jpg

[Youngster]

The newer ones like the Ithaca Defense gun I have my doubts about because of the fixed barrel and no support on the front of the magazine tube.

For an extra $20 there's an 8 shot model that does have support for the mag tube.

http://www.ithacagun.com/images/defense_gun/DefenseWood8ShotWeb-900.jpg

[DaleCooper51]

That's a nice looking gun grunt.

[66912]

I second the motion of finding an older one. If you can find a nice DSPS then your golden. Very light, very accurate and very reliable. Also if you like this sort of thing, the older models are void of the trigger disconnect so if you keep the trigger depressed, then everytime you move a new shell into battery with the forward grip, your shotgun will discharge. Not terribly practical but incredibly fun.

[Jack2427]

I have an Ithaca, just like the one they gave me in VN. I have always liked them. I also have the longer mag 8 shot model, both guns are older used models.
The new guns are pricy, but they seem to well built. They have the advantage of downward ejection so if you are a lefty it makes sense.
A thought, do NOT view the "slam fire" function as an advantage, you have to be a real expert to use it effectively. Pick and shoot each shot individually, not slowly, just one pull for each shot, you get much better accuracy, and much less possibility of a wayward shot.
Ithaca, Remington, Winchester (except the 1200), Browning, FN, Mossberg, Beretta, Benelli, any of them will meet your needs. I would try them all for fit, buy the cheapest one that fits, and use the money saved for practice ammo. You do need to practice/train, you CAN miss with a shotgun, particularly under stress at close range. It has been the better part of 5 decades since Uncle sam let me borrow his Ithaca, and I have been using shotguns professionally ever since, gun fit, and ease of use are more important than being brand specific.

[tactikel]

The Ithaca is a fine shotgun, for home defense an 870 or a Mossberg would serve you as well and be $$ cheaper. If you are left handed it is a no brainer, buy the 37, if not....an 870 and a case of buckshot would still less $$.

[Youngster]

The Ithaca is a fine shotgun, for home defense an 870 or a Mossberg would serve you as well and be $$ cheaper. If you are left handed it is a no brainer, buy the 37, if not....an 870 and a case of buckshot would still less $$.

IMO these are better made guns for less money than a new 870P or Wingmaster, and cost about the same as an Express Tactical. It's just too bad about the fixed barrels.

[snooperman]

That is what I want. I like the Ithaca action ,etc better than the Mossberg or Remington. Did you have yours cut down or was it made that way? Thanks to all for your input as I definitely will not buy a new one since there is no barrel support , and don't need an 8 rounder. I have a very old featherweight that I have hunted with for many years but it is a beauty. I presently have an old double barrel that is not too good for home defense .While serving in the Army in Germany in 1960-1963 I carried the Ithaca pump while on guard duty at night around our Tank perimeter. All the G.I.s liked it.

[snooperman]

That is what I want. I like the Ithaca action ,etc better than the Mossberg or Remington. Did you have yours cut down or was it made that way? Thanks to all for your input as I definitely will not buy a new one since there is no barrel support , and don't need an 8 rounder. I have a very old featherweight that I have hunted with for many years but it is a beauty. I presently have an old double barrel that is not too good for home defense .While serving in the Army in Germany in 1960-1963 I carried the Ithaca pump while on guard duty at night around our Tank perimeter. All the G.I.s liked it.

[swampboy]

Had a model 37 bird gun when I was a kid. Always worked fine for me, but I always felt like the single action bar design was inferior to the dual bars. Probably not a big deal though. I mean the 37 is a proven design and all.

[Youngster]

Had a model 37 bird gun when I was a kid. Always worked fine for me, but I always felt like the single action bar design was inferior to the dual bars. Probably not a big deal though. I mean the 37 is a proven design and all.

The 37's bar seems like its close enough to the gun's centerline to make sideloading a nonissue and is beefier than a single bar on any of the dual bar guns. All in all the setup seems to handle business well enough that you never hear of a problem with it.

[Grunt]

Nope, mine was made that way. I am guessing it was originally a police gun judging by the butt number on the bottom of the pistol grip. I also own Mossberg and Remington shotguns including a Wingmaster that is supposed to be the slickest action out there but my Ithaca will blow that reputation away in a moment! Back when I was farming, we used to have barn swallows that would move in during the summer. Now while I have no problem with a barn swallow in general, when they build a nest above my workbench in the shop, they got to go! My Ithaca was the only gun that was light enough to to keep up with their darting flight path to bring them down. Hate to shoot down anything that will eat a mosquito but a pest is a pest!

[Erik M]

I had an older gent offer to sell me a Franchi shotgun for home defense. i thought it was a bit to extravagant for a HD gun, plus he wanted 1k for it.

[Badger Arms]

For those saying that the magazine tube has no suppot, I'll have to state what I said earlier: The magazine tube supports the barrel on a standard Ithaca, not the other way around. The barrel WITHOUT the magazine flops up and down alot, therefore WITH the magazine support it flops no more... meaning that the magazine will STILL move, bend, warp, crease, or whatever else on the old guns. In fact, it will do it more because it's got the weight and length of the barrel to pry it around. If anything, the new design is STRONGER.

Just my 2 cents. Me? I'd buy the new one. Factory support is better than no support or, "Jimbo the Gunsmith" support.

[Maxw]

I have an older (1949) w/2 barrels and would not trade it off. I also have a Wingmaster 870 and would not trade it either. It also has 2 barrels, one for birds and one for social activities and both are suitable to the task. Reload advantage does go to the 870 though. Choose what fits you best.