Which Pump action 12 gauge should I get

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The Ithaca 37s are really good shotguns. Much nicer than both Remington 870s and mossbergs in terms of handling and build quality, but it is much pricier. But, realistically any big name brand pump shotgun on the shelf (Winchester, Remington, Mossbergs, Browning, etc.) Is going to be just as reliable as the others.
 
If you want another choice for an ambi shotgun, the browning BPS series of shotguns are good guns and are based off of the ithaca 37 with the bottom eject; but are significantly cheaper and easier to find than a new ithaca 37.
 
I've had a couple of Ithaca 37s over the years and they are nice guns but I think the Browning BPS is the best pump shotgun made today in terms of finish, material, workmanship and features.
 
SixteenGauge said:
If you want another choice for an ambi shotgun, the browning BPS series of shotguns are good guns and are based off of the ithaca 37 with the bottom eject
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Aside from having bottom-ejecting actions, the BPS and the Model 37 have little in common in terms of design constructs other than that they are both pump shotguns. The BPS is certainly not a derivative of the Ithaca design, which itself is based on an earlier Remington shotgun.
 
Well Im learning towards the Mossberg or the Ithaca now. Like I said, I'm going to the sporting store sooner or later to handle a few to see what seems to fit me the most.
Thanks for help
 
SwampWolf said:
Aside from having bottom-ejecting actions, the BPS and the Model 37 have little in common in terms of design constructs other than that they are both pump shotguns. The BPS is certainly not a derivative of the Ithaca design, which itself is based on an earlier Remington shotgun.
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https://www.browning.com/news/articles/celebrating-40-years-bps-pump-action-shotgun.html
The Browning website literally lists the ithaca 37 and the earlier Remington model 17 as inspirations for the BPS. By "based on" I did not mean "Direct mechanical copy"
 
Mullo98 said:
Well Im learning towards the Mossberg or the Ithaca now. Like I said, I'm going to the sporting store sooner or later to handle a few to see what seems to fit me the most.
Thanks for help
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Only trouble is, you won't find an Ithaca at most stores. I've been a gun nut and frequenting all local gun stores for about 15 years, never saw or was even really fully aware of the Ithaca until this thread. Don't get me wrong, I was aware of the old (valuable) Ithaca shotguns and have seen them and handled them a few times but didn't know they had regular new production pump shotguns until this thread. Good luck though, maybe gun stores near you have them on the shelf.

As far as getting a good working man's shotgun, you should be able to find one that suits you. Nice part about the 500 is they don't cost much, they're common and parts / accessories are common, various barrels are easily available , if treated with a little maintenance will last a lifetime. I just had to replace my magazine spring because it was weak from sitting loaded for the last decade being used only rarely (spring was only half the free length of the replacement ) $10 on Amazon got me a factory spring, easy .
 
I totally agree with Posts 19 & 29 in not using those abbreviations for "shotgun" and the various brands. If you're speaking with your friends or family, in person, then that's going to be the way you talk; but on the forums, it just seems lazy and ignorant. I've personally never heard those abbreviations when speaking to anyone.

For that "shotgun" abbreviated slang word, it only saves typing one extra keystroke.
 
I only used the term due to the fact I was tried that day and didn't feel typing out much.


Was the the typical price point of the model 37? The website says 1k but that's MSRP. Another is how's the aftermarket support? I hate to put a good chunk of money on a gun, something breaks down the road or I want something replaced and Im just out of luck.
 
I recommend the Winchester SXP because I have one and I like it. I have not shot it extensively by shotgun standards (hundreds of thousands of rounds), but at approximately 2000 rounds, it never failed. It is fast, easy to disassemble for cleaning. If budget is not a big problem, I think the Browning BPS is a solid shotgun, but I heard it is a tad more complicated to disassemble completely. I don't know if it is true. The Remington 870 is legendary, but I prefer the controls of the Winchester, especially the safety location, in front of the trigger guard. Mossberg is easier to load, some prefer it's tang safety. Mossberg and Remington have a lot of aftermarket support.
 
Was the the typical price point of the model 37? The website says 1k but that's MSRP.
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A grand for an Ithaca? Wow, I am out of touch with the current market. My own 37 was bought used, years ago, for $160. I understand that, with the passing of years and the current craziness, that prices would be higher but not four figures high.
 
It seems that you have not followed the gun prices over the years.
Check prices of other manufacture's, yes there are less expensive guns,
but they are not on the same quality level as the Ithaca's.
 
A couple of months ago I bought my grandson an Ithaca 37 made in 1959 from our LGS. Probably 85% of the finish still on the gun. Paid $299 for it. That's in Northern California where finding guns is crazy and the price is usually crazier. It is a modified 20 gauge which is what we were looking for. Butt stock fit to metal is a little off, maybe a replacement from a 12 gauge. Shoots great and he is thrilled. Finding cheap shells has become our latest quest.
 
Wood to metal fit has been less than perfect for several years on the 37, just be sure that the stock to receiver is kept tight or risk cracks in the stock.
 
I'd never been that much of a pump guy, but I like the vintage Ithaca 37s, preferably pre-1955, but up through 1966 works for me (the other years are also good guns, but I just like the older ones better). I like to set them up with barrels in the 19" range and screw-in chokes.

DCtKPRW.jpg
 
Stocks and recievers are made to gauge on the Ithaca Model 37''s. A 12 gauge stock will not fit a 20 gauge reciever!
You will have to buy a 20 gauge stock.
 
Ithaca definitely looks the best. Anyone got the defense with the 18 inch barrel? In interested in that model, it looks to fulfill my needs as both a casual backyard shooter or home defense role of the need arises
 
Mullo98 said:
With income tax fast approaching, I realized that I didn't have a good 12 gauge pump action. I notice that shotgun ammo was pretty easy to get even during all the mess these last few years, least in my part of the US.

My uses for it would recreational mainly, but still functional enough to be pressed in a HD role if needed. I've seen two that would fill my need well.
That is the Winchester SXP Trench model and the Mossberg 500 retrograde. I like the look of these shottys and while everything I read on the moss seems good. I haven't seen really anything on the Winchester.
Anyone with any experiences with these like to give me advice which I should pick up? I'm definitely hoping that I'll get a chance to look around at the local sporting stores this weekend to see if they have a model I can handle or a completely different one that catches my eye
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How much do you wish to spend? I didn`t see a budget figure in earlier posts. Maybe I missed it.
 
SixteenGauge said:
The Browning website literally lists the ithaca 37 and the earlier Remington model 17 as inspirations for the BPS. By "based on" I did not mean "Direct mechanical copy"
Click to expand...

A cursory look at the innards of the BPS when compared to the Model 37 action reveals more than "inspiration" and less than "based on" differences. The trigger group, twin-action bars, tang-mounted safety button and magazine cut-off features are more than just a bottom-ejecting inspiration. Writer/researcher Wallace Labisky reported in the 33rd edition of the Gun Digest, "...There has been some talk bandied around that the new BPS is simply a copy of the old Remington M-17 and its close kin, the Ithaca M-37. Wrong! There are similarities (solid wall receiver and bottom ejection) but, beyond this, the BPS is largely an all new gun...many of the differences will become apparent to those of you who are familiar with the M-17 and M-37 guns...".

The NRA "Data and Comment" article reported in June of 1978 that "...Unlike the Remington Model 17 and the Ithaca Model 37, which were based on Browning patents, downward movement of the BPS shell carrier is not required to eject fired shells. This makes possible the unique BPS magazine cutoff which also deactivates the shell carrier...".
 
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