Steel shot in my Ithaca 37?

[another okie]

Steel shot in my Ithaca 37?

I briefly duck hunted with my Ithaca 37, but that was back before the no-lead rules. Since then (1991 is when the new rules came in, I think) I've been using a Remington 1100, mostly because the recoil was a little easier to bear. I bought a short barrel for the Ithaca and use it for home defense.


But I got the old barrel out the other day and noticed that it was marked for 3" loads, so I was thinking of trying it out on ducks or turkeys this year, and then I remembered the problems with steel shot being too hard for older barrels. Well, the serial number is nine digits, 371 XXX XXX and it was purchased in about 1984.

Where can I find information about this? Google doesn't seem much help - it gave me about 50,000 sites where people are trying to sell shotguns.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Ordinarily I'd just call Ithaca, but they're not answering the phone right now. Ithaca is undergoing a major move and is out of touch for a few months at best.

1984 is well into the steel shot era. Even if this is choked FULL, you should be OK. Less constriction, definitely OK.

 

[Noah Zark]

Since the shot is carried in the wings of the polyethylene plastic wad, it's the plastic that's mostly in contact with the barrel, not the shot column. IMO, no problem.

Noah

 

[Wags]

Play it safe and use only Bismuth or Tungsten Matrix when you go waterfowl hunting. I use Kent Tungsten Matrix loads in one of my older Ithaca Mod 37's when I have the urge to take it in the marsh.

 

[Gary A]

I queried Remington about using steel shot in a particular barrel and was told that all Remington barrels since 1950 are rated for steel shot. I know that's not Ithaca but I'd bet a 1984 barrel is OK. 'Course, if it were mine, I'd play it safe, too, until I knew for sure.