Forgive me if this has been asked before, I'm new to the shot gunning world and have a question. What do you prefer, the remington 870 self defense/field combo or the Ithaca 37. I would use it primarly for self defense, but if bad things were to come down, I would need to be able to hunt with it also. Thank you very much in advance for your help!
Remington 870 vs Ithaca 37
- Thread starter chaco
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Virginian
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Well, the Ithaca 37 is built on the same design as the one Remington used two steps before the 870. Originally it was going to be the Model 35 but they had to wait two years for the patent rights to expire. It is a solid well proven design, but requires more machining and handwork to complete than the 870. Some people prefer the feel and/or bottom ejection of the 37, and it is a lighter gun. The 870 is simpler and more robust in my opinion, and is the most popular shotgun model in the history of the world. I do not like bottom loading through the magazine on the 37, but that is a purely personal preference issue.
If I was going to do a lot of carrying and didn't prefer the Remington's ergonomics, I'd look at the 37. If I was looking to shoot a lot of heavy loads I'd go Wingmaster. I am not into the whole tactical thing, content to rely on one of my duck guns for home defense if the dogs and the 357 aren't enough, but there is probably 50 times more "stuff" available for 870s than 37s. The older 37s required factory fitting to swap barrels, whereas even Mossberg makes some extra barrels to fit 870s.
Either gun will work.
If I was going to do a lot of carrying and didn't prefer the Remington's ergonomics, I'd look at the 37. If I was looking to shoot a lot of heavy loads I'd go Wingmaster. I am not into the whole tactical thing, content to rely on one of my duck guns for home defense if the dogs and the 357 aren't enough, but there is probably 50 times more "stuff" available for 870s than 37s. The older 37s required factory fitting to swap barrels, whereas even Mossberg makes some extra barrels to fit 870s.
Either gun will work.
Youngster
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I prefer the Ithaca as it runs smoother, is a lot lighter, handles better and with the Ohio guns at least is being built a lot better right now. Unless I was doing a lot of high volume shooting or wanted a tacticool zombie gun I'd go with the '37.
MCgunner
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I'd trade 10 870s for one M37 featherweight. It's one of the finest handling pump shotguns ever built. The 870 is a bit of a pig by comparison. I'd prefer a tang safety, but that's just me. The Browning BPS is a 37 with a tang safety, but it's heavy and doesn't balance as well as the Ithaca IMHO.
It may be an old design, but then so is the box lock side by side.
Don't mean it ain't a good design. Good designs endure. I don't know how all 37s work, but I recall a certain 16 gauge with reverence from my youth. It was so slick it just seemed to shuck itself. It was my uncles gun and I'd borrow it from time to time. I had a 20 gauge 870 wingmaster at the time, but preferred to shoot that Ithaca.
I should qualify this by saying I'm a hunter and think pretty much like Virginian on the defense thing. I just keep one of my hunting guns, a 20 gauge side by side, in the bed room along with a couple of handguns within easy reach. I don't worry much about home defense, probably never, ever have to worry about it. If I do, I can handle it with what I've got. I tend to treasure handling and ergos of a shotgun more than tacticool aftermarket whiz bang assault conversion add ons. My guns ain't for show. I kill supper with 'em.
It may be an old design, but then so is the box lock side by side.
Don't mean it ain't a good design. Good designs endure. I don't know how all 37s work, but I recall a certain 16 gauge with reverence from my youth. It was so slick it just seemed to shuck itself. It was my uncles gun and I'd borrow it from time to time. I had a 20 gauge 870 wingmaster at the time, but preferred to shoot that Ithaca.I should qualify this by saying I'm a hunter and think pretty much like Virginian on the defense thing. I just keep one of my hunting guns, a 20 gauge side by side, in the bed room along with a couple of handguns within easy reach. I don't worry much about home defense, probably never, ever have to worry about it. If I do, I can handle it with what I've got. I tend to treasure handling and ergos of a shotgun more than tacticool aftermarket whiz bang assault conversion add ons. My guns ain't for show. I kill supper with 'em.
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For upland birds, definitely yes (with the caveat that the Wingmaster LC is not the slug that some 870s have been).
For HD, I'm not sure it's so critical.
But the 37 is about the only pump shotgun that really makes me WANT one when I handle it.
hub
Member
I grew up using nothing but wingmaster's so that's what's natural to me. But my dad also has an old Ithaca model 37 D.S. Police Special Riot Shotgun that I've put hundreds of rounds though when I was a teenager. It had the extended magazine tube and a greenish parkerized finish. He bought it from his buddy who is a county cop. When they get new firearms the county let them buy there old issue ones back if they wanted them. I think he only paid about $125 for it back in 1993.
The model 37 spent most of it's life in a police car, and almost all the 870's were all well used so in my experience with just that one Ithaca 37 all the 870 wingmaster's we had were way smoother. I thought the m37 looked really cool and the bottom eject was neat too I just prefered smoothness and feel of the 870 wingmasters. I would like to try another 37 probably a featherweight sometime.
The model 37 spent most of it's life in a police car, and almost all the 870's were all well used so in my experience with just that one Ithaca 37 all the 870 wingmaster's we had were way smoother. I thought the m37 looked really cool and the bottom eject was neat too I just prefered smoothness and feel of the 870 wingmasters. I would like to try another 37 probably a featherweight sometime.
RSVP2RIP
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Break in the 37 and it's just as smooth as any other. What I really like about it is that the empties are ejected with the power you put into the action slide. This means it is not dependant on a springloader ejector. It's kinda the mauser of shotguns in that respect. It's also VERY easy to dump the shells in the tube without taking the one out of the chamber. The shell latch is very big and easy to reach/depress to unload.
snooperman
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I agree with MCgunner and Armedbear
I have 3 Ithacas and have hunted with them for more than 40 years. They are about the same price as the Rem. Wingmaster but a much better gun in my opinion. The gun is light, hence a great field gun. The action is fast and very smooth. The Remington is a good gun but the Ithaca is a notch above it for hunting. For Home defense I have an old 20 gauge pump gun with an 18" barrel and a 12 gauge Remington Spartan coach gun , which has choke tubes to hunt quail and dove.
I have 3 Ithacas and have hunted with them for more than 40 years. They are about the same price as the Rem. Wingmaster but a much better gun in my opinion. The gun is light, hence a great field gun. The action is fast and very smooth. The Remington is a good gun but the Ithaca is a notch above it for hunting. For Home defense I have an old 20 gauge pump gun with an 18" barrel and a 12 gauge Remington Spartan coach gun , which has choke tubes to hunt quail and dove.
Milkmaster
Member
Both are good pump guns and I own both....
I would choose the 870 if I was going to shoot a lot of shells in the same time period because of heavier gun and less recoil.
I would choose the 37 if I was going to carry it for a while because it is lighter.
Both will go boom when you need it and hit what they are aimed at if you hold up your end of the process.
I would choose the 870 if I was going to shoot a lot of shells in the same time period because of heavier gun and less recoil.
I would choose the 37 if I was going to carry it for a while because it is lighter.
Both will go boom when you need it and hit what they are aimed at if you hold up your end of the process.
AndyJ
Member
How about a different slant on the subject?
The 870 is easy to take down and aftermarket parts are everywhere. People tend to futz around with them unendingly.
An M37 is tough to take apart and there are few aftermarket parts.
Chances of finding a dirty but virtually untouched M37 are much better than finding an equal age 870 in the same condition.
The 870 is easy to take down and aftermarket parts are everywhere. People tend to futz around with them unendingly.
An M37 is tough to take apart and there are few aftermarket parts.
Chances of finding a dirty but virtually untouched M37 are much better than finding an equal age 870 in the same condition.
oneounceload
member
If you're LH, the 37 is a joy - it is one of two guns I regret selling for something else
kentucky_smith
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Ithaca 37. The only long gun being produced today designed by John Browning.
*unless you count the 97 Winchester clone being produced by Norinco.
*unless you count the 97 Winchester clone being produced by Norinco.
kentucky_smith
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True. I guess the Franchi 48AL could make the cut too since it's nearly identical to an A5 without a humpback.
Virginian
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Don't forget Ma Deuce. The Browning designed .50 caliber heavy machine gun. The one design no one has been able to improve on for the caliber.
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