Ithaca model 37 unreliable?

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obturator

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A poster on another forum claims the Ithaca model 37 is no longer used by the military or police because of a history of being unreliable. He also claims that is why one no longer sees them in duck blinds (including the mag 10).

This flies in the face of everything I have ever heard about this brand, especially the model 37.
Am I all wet?
 
Unreliable in what way?
Maybe the military & police quit using them because you couldn't get an extended magazine?

Eons ago we were deer hunting (had to use a shotgun in NY) and ran into some freezing drizzle. One guys Remy 1100 and another's 870 turned into single shots when the bolts froze in place. The Ithaca 37's were OK.
 
My Featherweight is about 50 years old and has never failed me in any way. Except those ducks that didn't cooperate and fall in the water. :rolleyes:
 
Nonsense!
The military no longer uses them because they can't be produced on screw machine lathes and punch press's out of aluminum and plastic and sold by the lowest bidder.

They don't use Model 12 Winchesters either, for the same reason.

They cost too much to make when bidding against the cheap to produce Rem 870's and Mossberg 590's.

rc
 
Ithaca uses state of the art CNC and wire EDM machines to make their guns.

Been there and seen it.

By the way what is the other forum?????
 
One negative is that it is much harder to load shells through the ejection port like you can with an 870. It can be done but you have to turn the gun upside down and pull back the forearm just the right amount so the carrier doesn't block the shell. Not something you want to do in the middle of a shootout.
 
It is a lot easier with Ithaca (and clones) to just shove a round in the magazine and pump it into the chamber, than to handload a single round in the firing chamber through the ejection port. A minor limitation in my opinion compared to its advantage of (a) ambidextrous downward ejection and (b) closure of the action to the elements -- one large hole bottom ejection-and-feed port versus two large holes right-hand ejection and bottom feed.

The only reason I have had to handload a round in the ejection port on a pump (Mossberg 500 or a S&W 916A) was when I wanted to load an Aguila minishell or a Red Meteor marine flare (short shells that won't feed through most pumps). I can do without using short 2" shells in my Ithaca clone shotgun.
 
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I think that the last Military contract for shotguns that the military let, Mossberg was the only company that submitted a bid. I don't know what anyone else was thinking, but Benelli said they were too busy to tie up the resources required to submit a bid package. Having been involved with a few of those I know what they mean. Made me remember the old saying; "An elephant is a mouse built to Mil Specs."
 
Mine has been solid and consistent since 1954. Still goes bang everytime I pull the trigger.
 
mine used to fill my grandfathers freezers now it fills mine. changed mag spring 2 years ago for the 1st time... bout it
 
obturator said:
A poster on another forum claims the Ithaca model 37 is no longer used by the military or police because of a history of being unreliable. He also claims that is why one no longer sees them in duck blinds (including the mag 10).

This flies in the face of everything I have ever heard about this brand, especially the model 37.
Am I all wet?
Click to expand...
Over last 20+ years I have owned five Ithaca 37s. The 12ga 87 would not eject spent 3" shells while the 20ga 37 would not chamber cartridges reliably the other three have worked perfectly. Quite frankly I would not choose this gun design as my duty or HD piece. My number one choice would be ole' short-barreled Winchester model 25.
 
Amidst the Ithaca worship, I will add that you heard right about the Mag 10. I fixed a many a one of those. Remington was two years figuring out how to fix it after they bought the design, and it was still mighty heavy.
 
The lawyers at Ithaca may want to talk to this guy about copyright infringement and slander.

All this talk and it is all about a knockoff a gun that was made by mfgrs who don't care about who owns the name or designs of a gun.

That also go's for the importer.

With not knowing where the metals come from or the quality of materials, your taking a high risk of any off shore gun coming apart.
 
Yep, I'm another 37 fan. Rock solid reliable. When we were getting the house cleaned out to stage it for moving, all my guns short of my 37 were put into storage. That one doesnt leave my side at home in the wilds.
 
I grew up using an old 20 gauge Model 37 that belonged to a friend of mine. Whenever we went upland bird hunting, even though their were other guns to pick from, I always chose that super reliable and slick shooting Ithaca.
 
obturator said:
A poster on another forum claims the Ithaca model 37 is no longer used by the military or police because of a history of being unreliable. He also claims that is why one no longer sees them in duck blinds (including the mag 10).

This flies in the face of everything I have ever heard about this brand, especially the model 37.
Am I all wet?
Click to expand...
No the Ithaca model 37 pump is one of the
Best made shotguns ever made. It's the
same gun as the Remington Model 17. I've owned several Model 37 Ithacas
No problems except they do kick a little hard. The receiver along with
almost all the gun is good old steel. Instead
of looking for something steel on the gun
try looking for something not steel.
I am also a fan of the Ithaca Model 51. I
wish they still made them.
Ebb62
 
Old Ithaca model 37

I must be unlucky. In the 60's & 70's had a 16ga that would drop a shell on the ground after shooting & working the action to load another. Did it many times. The 12 ga would stick a shell in the magazine tube. Reload with fat metal. Using the same loader still & no problems with Rem 870 or Mossberg 500 or O/U's with the reloads. Did you know a high primer can be set off when the shell flys out of the magazine & hits the receiver? No disconnector on the old guns - safety issue. :uhoh: :D
 
I bought my '69 Ithaca 37 DSPS at a Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission auction of THEIR retiring Model 37s around 1995. They were just then rotating them out for new shotguns!

Parkerized, and with a stock that has seen service but been cared for, it is an absolute tack driver using Federal Classic rifled slugs. I'm talking 3" cloverleafs, at point of aim at 100 yards, always (with that particular slug). Yep, it has that "pre-lawyer" barrel with very tight specs on that barrel for accuracy like this with a rifled slug!!! The downside? It kicks like a mule with that 20" barrel.;)

The action is super tight and smooth, the trigger excellent and it has never, ever given me a single problem. Best of all, this particular one came with a LEFT HANDER'S SAFETY!!! I've not seen that on an Ithaca before.

The company fell on hard times later and was revivied a couple of times but those older ones were great shotguns, IMHO. As I type I have it in an unlocked safe a mere 7 feet away. Great little shotgun indeed and I'd stake my life on it just like the Florida Game Wardens did for oh so many years!
 
Mine did not like to cycle the cheap Winchester stuff that Wally World sells. They got stuck in the chamber due to expanding necks after being fired.

I switched to Remington shells and the problem simply went away.
 
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