Ithaca model 37

[NRAGOAL]

Greetings,

I have a Ithaca model 37 featherlight that was made in 1969. It is in great condition and has a 28" bbl with a modified choke built in and 2-3/4" engraved on the bbl. I recently acquired a spare bbl that says model 37 featherlight and 3" on it. It is a 30" bbl with a full choke. Am I able to just swap bbls and shoot 3" magnum loads for waterfowl? Does the reciever for a 2-3/4 differ from a 3" or does swapping the bbl make it a 3"? Will this gun handle heavy loads? The barrel swaps out easily and fits correctly.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[NautiBuoys]

The Ithaca 37 ejection port on the bottom of 2 3/4" receivers is shorter than the 3" receivers. If you want to use 3" shells, you need a 3" receiver. As in if you were to fire a 3" shell (in the 3" barrel) on that receiver, the barrel will handle it but it will jam while trying to eject the shell (the shell (2 3/4" or 3") is measured after the shell is fired).

 

[aeromarine]

In addition there was a period when Model 37 barrels were not interchangeable between different guns since they were custom fitted individually to each receiver. I believe that includes those made in 1969 at the New York plant. I have also heard that guns made later (but not sure of the exact year) and after production was moved to Japan do have barrels that can be interchanged. Anyway, that and the fact of differences between 2 3/4 and 3 inch receivers and ejector locations suggest the two barrels you inquired about cannot be swapped.

 

[NRAGOAL]

Thanks for the info glad I asked

 

[NautiBuoys]

Ithaca 37s made before serial # 855,000 were fitted to the receiver. Both barrel and receiver #s should match if you have one of those. Extra barrels were stamped with the same serial #, if one had that done.

If you have a barrel with no serial # stamped (underneath near the breech end), it should fit any receiver made after 855,000.

One can still use the 3" barrel with 2 3/4" loads and it will fire and cycle fine. Patterns may be a different story. It is also not recommended to use steel waterfowl loads through a fixed full choke, if that is what you are planning to do.

No production of the Ithaca 37 or 87 was ever done in Japan.

 

[NRAGOAL]

I appreciate the info I think I am going to invest in a mossberg 930 waterfowl shotgun as a beater the Ithaca is to nice to abuse anyways.

 

[Machete]

In addition there was a period when Model 37 barrels were not interchangeable between different guns since they were custom fitted individually to each receiver. I believe that includes those made in 1969 at the New York plant. I have also heard that guns made later (but not sure of the exact year) and after production was moved to Japan do have barrels that can be interchanged. Anyway, that and the fact of differences between 2 3/4 and 3 inch receivers and ejector locations suggest the two barrels you inquired about cannot be swapped.

The only thing I have to add here is you might be confusing Ithaca with Browning. There are a bunch of A5s that were later made in Japan. Just my 2-cents!

 

[45collector]

Late to the discussion but I will add another thing to consider: If you're recoil sensitive, you may not want to shoot full power 3" waterfowl rounds through any Ithaca 37 featherweight even if you found one with a 3" chamber/ barrel. The gun is, as it's name suggests, pretty damn light for a pump shotgun. I don't think I'd want to shoot one in 3" all day, and I'm not that sensitive to recoil.

I have a 1958 model 37 with 2 3/4" chamber and I've used it for partridge, pheasant, etc...