How did I do-Ithaca M66 Super Single 20 GA

[politicalgeek]

Went to the Pro-Gun Show in Columbus today, found this while I was there:



Ithaca M-66 Super Single 20 Gauge 3" Chamber with the lever action to open it up. Pretty decent looking, the wood is hardly scratched, action works well and the shell comes out pretty easy. The bluing on the left is worn a bit and it looks someone bobbed the hammer, but I like the old work horses. It matches the S&W Model 10 that has seen some use. It was on the table for 125, told the dealer it was what I was looking for, but more than I wanted to spend. Walked away with it for 105 and change (had been looking for a 20 gauge H&R or NEF around 75-90, so this wasn't far off and I know Ithaca made some great guns). Took it back to a friends shop after and set up the clay thrower. It shoots well, points easy. Can anyone offer some background/insight on this shotgun. I'm doing the search now as I type to find some info.

I plan on adding a butt cuff to the stock to hold shells, a sling and a recoil pad. It will serve as a utility gun. Guard duty with the .38 and one of these a nice game gun.

 

[politicalgeek]

Few more photos...

Got a great one to show the scratched side. The others are OK... The serial starts with 6609

 

[Dave McCracken]

Old hunting bud treasured his, took a truckload of venison with his.

I think you did well...

 

[MCgunner]

Had a friend in highschool that had one. That brings back some memories.

 

[Otony]

A good friend I've known since grade school had one of those when we were growing up. I always thought it was pretty neat.

That aluminum reciever and lever seem like the perfect candidates for a DuraCoat type of finish. Browse the Brownells catalog and they likely have three or four products to refinish with that will be light years ahead of the original finish.

 

[politicalgeek]

otony,

The duracoat sounds like a great idea, but at the cost listed in the Brownell's website it nearly equals what I paid for the shotgun. Maybe when I have a few more in the closet I might look to it. For now I'll enjoy it as is.

 

[MCgunner]

Yeah, I'd keep the battle scars. Not a gun I'd wanna spend tons of money on. It has, as they say, "character".

I love the straight stock. Looks good and points quick.

 

[Average Joe]

I got one in mint condition, but in 12 not 20. It was my first shotgun, and I still shoot it today, its over 40 years old. My son loves to shoot trap with it.

 

[politicalgeek]

I picked up a 5 shot shell elastic holder for the butt stock today and a limb saver. The shell holder fits pretty well. I'll take the gun and the limb saver down to a friend's wood shop to trim a bit off the back so the length of pull stays pretty stock. Then use one of his sanders to get it fit. After that I'll put a sling on it and have a nice little utility gun.

 

[CajunBass]

Santa Clause bought me one about '65 or '66 IIRC. And a box of Federal high brass No 6's. Mine is a youth model, with a short stock and a rubber recoil pad 26" barrel, mod. choke. I killed my first rabbit and squirrel with that gun. Santa ordered it from the Sears Roebuck catalog I heard years later. That was in those long ago days before 1968 when just anybody could have a gun shipped to them.

Santa hid that gun under my parents bed for a month or so before Christmas. Somehow or other I managed to just stumble on it while looking for who knows what. I of course would have NEVER gone around looking for Christmas presents. I would sneak back in there a couple of times a day and just stare at it. I was afraid to take it out of the box. It HAD to me for me. I was the only boy. My dad didn't hunt or shoot. I was pretty sure my sisters weren't going to get it.

OH that was a LONG night that Christmas Eve.

My son has it in his gunsafe right now, but it's still MINE.

He can really have it when I'm gone.

 

[MCgunner]

That butt cuff/shell holder might have a tendency to move forward on recoil being the stock s straight. I've used one on my 12 gauge double and have one on my 20 gauge coach gun now when I'm not hunting with it and the curved pistol grip part of the stock where it extends down keeps the butt cuff from moving forward. If that's a problem, I'm not too sure what the cure would be. However, the lever might keep it in place. Just something to watch for.

 

[Hobie]

I've killed quail with owned by a buddy, that was in 1974 near San Angelo, TX. Good single shots go for about that around here so I think you did fine on the price.

 

[ACP230]

There's one of those in 20 gauge around here too.

Friends introduced us to them when I started small game hunting years ago.
When my brother was old enough I talked my folks into buying him one.
He got his first grouse with it. He hunted with it for years till a friend gave him the same gun in 12 gauge. He hunted with that one until I found him a side by side 16 gauge Savage 311.

My youngest brother hunted with the Ithaca 20 a bit. So has my youngest son. We also take it out and shoot hand-thrown clays with it sometimes. Last time we put a .410 adaptor in it and shot up all the .410 shells I had on hand.

Fun guns.

 

[niteowl1]

Hey MCgunner, I have a Remy 700 with a Monte Carlo stock. When I installed a butt cuff, I unhitched my sling, positioned my cuff about an inch over the stud. Marked the spot, punched a hole with a leather punch and burned the edges of the hole to prevent Unraveling. When the sling is installed, this prevents crawling. Other than a handy ammo holder the cuff serves another purpose. The Deet in most insect repellents will take the clear coat off of wood stocks. It is advisable to spray it on a paper towel or hanky, and apply it to the face, in order to keep it off the hands. The cuff helps to protect the stock. Just my two cents. David

 

[artee]

I remember them for sale in the hardware stores in the 60's. My best friend got one new in 12 ga (28in full) about '73. About the same time, when I started deer hunting, dad brought one home for himself--a deerslayer model. It had the same "day glow" orange "raybar" front sight and rear sight as what was put on the Model 37 Deerslayer. It was made with a 22 in barrel and had the same full length "tight" boring as the pumps that made the Deerslayer famous for its 5rds in 2 inches at 40 yards. Bore is still slick as a whistle and can still put 5 Winchester Slugs on a playing card at 50 yards. Dad shot it with slugs and buckshot for the first time in years this fall.

 

[birddog2]

don't know how this old thread came to life, but I have a mod 66 in .410 I could part with if someone was looking for one.

 

[Bill in GA]

nice gun

My dad brought home one of these for me in the late 70's. A fellow at work had it for his sons and they had grown up so he sold it to my dad. Mine is a 20 gauge, 3" chamber, 28" barrel, full choke, and has the same scratches yours has. I have a cheap little rubber slip-on recoil pad on it. It's a great little gun !

 

[W4REB]

I picked up a 5 shot shell elastic holder for the butt stock today and a limb saver. The shell holder fits pretty well. I'll take the gun and the limb saver down to a friend's wood shop to trim a bit off the back so the length of pull stays pretty stock. Then use one of his sanders to get it fit. After that I'll put a sling on it and have a nice little utility gun.

Reply to "politicalgeek" from November 2007, or to any poster with info.

I also have an Ithaca Super Single 20 ga (probably circa 1975) that I paid $35 for in the early 90's. It is a full choke version, and basically now a home-invasion-resistance weapon.

I found your comments interesting regarding the 5 x ammo holder integrated into the butt stock cushion. Where have you found this type item? Internet? Tnx - newbie to the site

Oh, and P.S., who makes a 20ga/.410 adapter for this Ithaca 20 ga single shot??

 

[jedepo]

Since someone reactivated the thread... In 1968, a man bought a 20 gauge, M-66 in response to the riots in New York; not much of a choice for a riot. In 1987, he was my neighbor in Virginia Beach, VA and he offered to sell it to me, along with the zip-up case he bought for it, the original box of shells, and the original receipt, all for $50. It had never been fired. Twenty-fours later (2011) I still have those items, and the gun has still never been fired. Talk about mint condition.