[bushmaster1313]

The Winchester 1897 and the Model 12 had six round magazines.

Why did Remingtons and the Ithacas have only four round magazines?

I am looking for a source based answer please

[MCgunner]

Why more? They're primarily sporting arms. Tacticooled up, they hold more. They have to be plugged as it is for migratory bird hunting, can't hold more than 2 in the magazine by law. Guess that's not "source based", just common sense.

[ants]

First designed in 1889, Remington Model 12 always had 5 round tube from first production in 1905, all the way up to 1948.
In 1931, they also made Sportsman version that held only 3 rounds.
Go to the full history at Wisners to learn more.

[bushmaster1313]

First designed in 1889, Remington Model 12 always had 5 round tube from first production in 1905, all the way up to 1948.
In 1931, they also made Sportsman version that held only 3 rounds.
Go to the full history at Wisners to learn more.

Remington Model 12 was a .22 rifle

The Winchester pump shotguns (1897 and Model 12) had 6 round magazines

The Remington 31 and the 870 only had 4 round tubes.

Not sure what the Remington Model 10 had.

Must have been some reason to go with 4 round magazines but I have never seen it.

[ArmedBear]

I'd guess weight and balance.

Ever swing one of the old Remingtons (before the 31)? Yuck!

Since there's limited need for having more than 5 rounds on tap when hunting, and it's easy to top off a tube-fed pump gun, there's not much reason to make the gun too heavy or sluggish. The pre-31 Remingtons are not great-pointing shotguns. The Ithacas are. No doubt Remington wanted to catch up to them.

The 31 is a wonderful gun. Pity they ditched it in favor of the 870.

[ants]

Post #3 is about Remington Model 11.

I have four of them. Yes, they are long and they do get front heavy.

[Fred Fuller]

It had much to do to do with the end of market hunting, the outlawing of punt guns and battery guns, the forced move from those methods to long magazine repeating shotguns, the passage of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and subsequent legislation, and more stringent enforcement of game laws. There was little legitimate use for larger capacity magazines and manufacturers gradually reduced magazine capacity as designs evolved through the decades.

lpl
===========
Market Hunting
http://www.museum.state.il.us/RiverWeb/harvesting/harvest/waterfowl/industry/market_hunting.html

http://www.museum.state.il.us/RiverWeb/harvesting/harvest/waterfowl/tools_techniques/market_hunting.html

Punt Guns
http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/gallery/kentucky/2007/02/13-foot-long-shotgun?photo=3

http://www.museum.state.il.us/RiverWeb/harvesting/harvest/waterfowl/tools_techniques/guns/punt_gun.html

Battery guns:
http://www.chesapeakeolddecoys.com/canvasback.htm

http://www.alaskaimagedesign.com/oldbaydecoys/P5039109.jpg

Picture above from http://www.alaskaimagedesign.com/oldbaydecoys/HdG%20Museum.htm

MBTA
http://www.wildfowlmag.com/conservation/WF_foundation_0809/

http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/migtrea.html

[Southpaw 02]

I would think weight would be another issue. That is what the Model 37 was all about. They were not called the featherlight for nothing.

The Remington Model 10 & 17 had 4 shot magazines as well. You have to remember the Model 17 is the parent gun of the Ithaca 37.

[Virginian]

Because they still have 2 rounds more than most of us need? :evil:

[lobo9er]

There were ithacas with extended magazines and i am sure if you look harder you can find older remy's too. They existed so I am not sure what source anyone can offer you. If its really important to you you should call remington arms in Ilion NY. I'd say your best bet for an answer.

[Al LaVodka]

I feel its because that's the most the average Remington buyer could be trusted with.
Maybe not.
Al