question about ithacas

[dzsmith]

why don't you see anyone using Ithaca turkey slayers anymore. they still have a website. they come with a short barrel, wooden laminate thumbhole stock, and fiber optic sights. optional obviously....but why don't you see anyone I mean anyone using them. are they just totally obsolete. did they not pattern well, not reliable, what?

[Gumby]

I use one and it is a tremendous gun. Cost is the main reason they aren't more popular

[dzsmith]

I agree by the time you buy the tricked out one you are paying a pretty penny. heres another question for ya? how do they shoot right out of the box? are you getting what you pay for? do they pattern better or are you paying for name with a hint more craftsmanship

[Gumby]

I haven't touched my gun out of the box. Use the factory choke. Here are some pattern pics



Hevi 13 6s at 34 yards



Hevi 13 7s at 40 yards

[Mike Honcho]

They 37 is a different breed of gun...its well machined solid steel where more modern competitors are aluminum and steel or aluminum, plastic and steel.  The way it takes down and locks up is an interrupted thread and the barrel locks into the receiver like a bank vault door.  They have nice hardwood stocks.  To me it's a gun made the way guns were made back in the 30's , 40's and 50's...great guns and now those guns are expensive to manufacture....that's why they cost more than a Walmart special.   The Ithaca 37 has a crossbolt safety but you can buy a left handed safety from the factory and change it...not too many guns offer that.

I think they are a gun for hunters that want something a little different, that appreciate the fine machine work that went into making a quality American made shotgun.  I think the 37 is a gun you can hunt with all your life and pass down to your sons or grandsons (or daughters and granddaughters).

And who doesn't appreciate the feel of an American made, John Browning designed, solid steel receiver , American hardwood stocked, turkey killing instrument?

[decoykrvr]

I've got five dedicated turkey guns from 10 gauge to 20 gauge, two of these guns are Ithaca Model 37's.  I probably hunt 90% of the time w/ a Model 37 Turkeyslayer w/ a Nikon VSD red dot sight  or a Model 37 modified by Mark Bansner in 1985 w/ a 23" barrel sleeved to .665 which has Star Dot fiber optic sights.  IMO a Model 37 is one of the lightest best handling shotguns ever made and my guns both produce great turkey patterns.  The 37 is a premium firearm w/substantial milling and hand-fitting and thus is expensive to produce and there is not a pump shotgun produced today which approaches its fit, finish, and quality.

[dzsmith]

how is recoil on an ithaca

[Gumby]

Recoil is not bad. Only chambered up to 3" shells. Very light gun but manageable recoil in my opinion. I have never been recoil sensitive so others may disagree

[dms2511]

I have to agree with everything posted about the Turkeyslayer!  At the recomendation of Gumby and other Ithaca advocates, I purchased a new Turkeyslayer this past winter. I couldnt be happier with the gun, and without question you get what you pay for when it comes to an Ithaca. From the moment you pick one up, you know that you are holding a quality shotgun. From the trigger to the smooth action, they are hard to beat.

Can you buy a less expensive pump shotgun that will get the job done just as good?  Absolutely, but if you really appreciate quality and can afford to spend some extra money take a hard look at the Turkeyslayer.

[mspaci]

Mine didnt shoot well out of the box, $64 for a trulock choke & its great. It also wont eject right now & is going back to the factory. I am not the only one who has had problems with them. I have read quite a bit about them having all sorts of trouble & needing to be returned. The service is not great either, Zac is the only one that has the authority to help you & getting him is very difficult. It took me a week. This has been my experience & I have recieved numerous pm`s from others that have had similar experiences. Mike

[dzsmith]

im not complaining about recoil from being a wimp standpoint. but my 870 with 3" load kicked like 3.5" shells out of a single shot. so i put a boyds laminate thumbhole which greatly cut down on recoil.....but it started loosening the stock, so i tightened it back down, and now its starting to hairline crack the stock. hasn't changed recoil but when i say it kicks...i mean its a mule. with the original stock, it didn't have a cutout where your thumb goes over the top, so your thumb would slide and occasionally hit my lip. ive shot many powerful weapons in my life in the military and now and it just flat out beat you to death. with the boyd stock its very very reasonable, and now im not flinching but hek after 25 rounds or so through the boyds stock its starting to crack

[decoykrvr]

I've hunted ducks and geese w/ a Model 37 for over 35 years and have put literally thousands of heavy loads through them.  I started hunting turkeys w/ a 37 in 1985, and have shot about every available 3" turkey load at some point in time.  The only really bad recoil in a 37 has been w/ the 21/4 oz Activ's, the high velocity Winchesters,  the HTL MagBlends, and several of the Nitro's.  I really havn't evaluated any of the new turkey loads since I evaluated the Winchester LongBeards.  I have had to reinforce the wood stocks of all of my 37's used for waterfowling by drilling the stock behind the trigger guard, in front of the pistol grip, and inserting a  wood screw, w/ the head removed and the screw shaft slotted, across the stock to eliminate splitting caused by recoil from magnum loads.  I put glass bedding in the hole before placing the screw and cover the hole w/ bedding flush w/ the surface of the stock.

[mudhen]

I think the answer to the OP's question  lies somewhere between the price, the availability of Ithaca products via traditional firearms distribution, the hazy history of Ithaca vs. the current ownership, and yes, the perception that Ithaca is an "old" brand...

I know that I would own more of their guns if they were readily available...

I've shot 37's most of my life...


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