Help, Shells sticking in Ithaca 37

[cindynles]

I have 2 M-37s (1 feather light from the 1950's) and a M&P from 2000 with a plain 20" barrel. I have been having problems with shells sticking in the chamber when the gun gets hot (after 10-15 shots). First time it happened I sent it back to the factory and they replaced the extractor springs. It still does it but not as often. I have now noticed the same thing is occurring on the one I have from the 50's. (I sometimes take it out to the desert and shoot alot of trap).

Has anyone else had this problem? Do you think polising the chamber with a Flex-Hone will help? Or should I send this one back to the factory too.

Any suggestions would be helpful

 

[gezzer]

Clean the chambers, You have plastic build up. Use a good plastic solvent and then polish with 4/0 steel wool.

 

[mattw]

This happens some times with my 870Express. If you are using cheapo bulk 8 or 7.5 shot trap/skeet ammo it is more common. This happens with my 870 every once in a while when the shotgun gets hot. I think the cheap shells are expanding because of the heat and sticking in the very dirty chamber (hasnt been cleaned in probably 1000 rounds or more). I never have this problem with higher quality loads.

What ammo are you shooting?

 

[cindynles]

It seems to happen most often when I use the Winchester universal load. The one they sell at Walmart in the 100 round value pack. I noticed these rounds are not brass, some type of steel.

I have cleaned the crap out of the gun with a bore snake (no noticeable difference). I friend of mine suggested polishing the chamber with a Flex-Hone 800 grit. Do you think its worth the $65 to buy the Flex-Hone? Or should I just take it to a gunsmith and pay to have the gun gone through.

 

[Black_Talon]

It seems to happen most often when I use the Winchester universal load.

That's your problem right there, I guarantee it.

Those WW Universal promo loads are the worst SG ammo I've ever used. They turn every perfectly functioning gun into one that you have to tug on the pump handle with both hands to open the action. Their bases are made from steel instead of brass, and apparently, the steel doesn't "spring back" after firing as much as normal brass-based shells.

The Federal promo loads are the ones to go with, if you're buying them at Walmart. Please avoid the WW Universals!

 

[Oldnamvet]

+2 on that. I used some of the WW and had to literally break my double over my knee to get it open. I gave most of the case away by putting it at the range with a "Free " sign on the box. Then I hoped I didn't run into those who benefited from my largess on the skeet range so they could "thank" me.
To clean the chamber, put a cleaning brush (10 ga for a 12 ga) on a short section of rod, then chuck it into a portable drill and give the chamber a good cleaning. That will take out any garbage. You don't need to spend a lot of money for anything special.
Decent ammo should then give you no problems.

 

[cindynles]

I think you are right about the winchester universal loads. I took my shotgun out today and did a comparison. The winchester universal loads stuck in the chamber 4 out of 30 times. I brought some high brass federal 00 buck and it extracted 20 out of 20 times (even when the gun was smoking hot). I looked at one of the winchester shells that stuck and noticed the steel case had expanded. I took the barrel off and an unfired winchester would drop right out of the chamber, the fired one that stuck would not even go into the chamber.

I guess now I know what not to use. That is kind of disappointing, I have always considered winchester a "good" brand of ammo. I always buy the value packs of 9mm and .223 and have always had good results.

Thanks for the advice, I was right on the verge of spending a couple of hundred dollars to have a gunsmith go through the gun.

 

[axeman_g]

Cheap brass expanding in chamber. Does it take a second or two to jack the shell out or do you need to use a tool? If it takes a few pulls on the forearm (taking about 2 to 4 seconds) it is the brass.

I had same exact problem with my 37 and the following shells
Winchester Super X
Fiochi cheap stuff
Rem Field Loads

Any bargain priced shell.

Never had it with my favorite loads of Fiochi Golden Pheasant 16g

 

[Robert Hairless]

Those WW Universal promo loads are the worst SG ammo I've ever used. They turn every perfectly functioning gun into one that you have to tug on the pump handle with both hands to open the action. Their bases are made from steel instead of brass, and apparently, the steel doesn't "spring back" after firing as much as normal brass-based shells.

That's my experience too. When I tried them in an Ithaca 37 they jammed it so badly I had to slam it open. With that experience in mind, I did it again. With the same result. I used to say that my mother didn't have any stupid children but she evidently had one.

 

[cindynles]

So Axeman, what type of ammo to recomend for an Ithaca 37? The Federal high brass 00 buck is a little expensive (and it hurts after 4 or 5 shots).

 

[Black_Talon]

what type of ammo to recomend for an Ithaca 37? The Federal high brass 00 buck is a little expensive (and it hurts after 4 or 5 shots).

The Federal Value Packs from Walmart work great in all my M37s and 870s. The Remington Value Packs work fine too, but I haven't used too many of them. I've fired thousands of trouble-free Federals though.

 

[Badger Arms]

Here's one you might not have thought of. Try it.

Tighten your barrel nut all the way down and then back it off to the next notch. Your barrel should still not wiggle, but it will relieve some of the stress. It clears up malfunctions in many cases. Did so with my Remington Model 17 and my finicky Ithaca 37's. The gun's not meant to have the barrel nut torqued forward.

 

[cindynles]

Tighten your barrel nut all the way down and then back it off to the next notch

I'll give it a try the next time I go out. Thanks for the tip, I never would have though of that.