Thinking of an Ithaca M37 Defense, opinions?

natesfitness

natesfitness

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I have an older Ithaca M37 featherlight and its a great old shotgun. Just wondering what the opinions are on the new Ithaca Defense shot guns. I'm looking to add a new 12 gauge and my considering this over a Remmy 870.
 
I ordered a new M37 Defense with 20" barrel and rifle sights... hoping to get it soon....

I was talking to the head armourer at Huntfest and they use a great method of Parkerizing the guns... should be a great gun...... will have to do a write up with pictures when it comes... The ones they had on display seemed nice and good fit and finish.... Ithaca always made good guns... would like to see the 1911's they are building... suppose to be top notch... for the $2000-$3000 price tag they should be :eek:
 
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I'd get one right now IF they had a proper removable barrel, even as is they seem to be good guns, if reviews are any indication, probably a lot better than anything coming out of Remington these days.
 
Missing Something said:
I ordered a new M37 Defense with 20" barrel and rifle sights... hoping to get it soon....

I was talking to the head armourer at Huntfest and they use a great method of Parkerizing the guns... should be a great gun...... will have to do a write up with pictures when it comes... The ones they had on display seemed nice and good fit and finish.... Ithaca always made good guns... would like to see the 1911's they are building... suppose to be top notch... for the $2000-$3000 price tag they should be :eek:
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I heard Perma Guard was actually Melonite or similar. Some type of nitrocarburizing would be a lot better than Parkerizing for a hard use finish provided the gun's interfacing parts are fit and finished properly, since they would basically never "wear in" like regular steel. Good fit and finish doesn't sound like a problem on these guns though.

Again I just wish they'd make a version with a removable barrel, not only would it make cleaning a lot easier but the barrel lug is a big part of the classic look.
 
M37 Defense

I bought one from Clay. Mine is the short mag version. It shoots buckshot and slugs very well. Fist size groups of Remington slugs at 25 yards. 00 buckshot groups well at that distance.

My M37 works well, is handy to carry too. I like mine.
 
natesfitness said:
I have an older Ithaca M37 featherlight and its a great old shotgun. Just wondering what the opinions are on the new Ithaca Defense shot guns. I'm looking to add a new 12 gauge and my considering this over a Remmy 870.
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Oh man! those original M37's were great, a lot of the Unconventional Units in VietNam carried those [cut way down] they were the lightest 12ga. pumps and the empties ejected down. ''But the BEST feature of the olde-ITHACA's is the 'trigger disconnect' this allowed you to ''keep the trigger depressed, as you keep working the action'' you fired a round with each stroke of the action. Troops liked the fact of having that half-second or more of speed firing, I'm not sure if the new ITHACA's have this feature, LE 'stake-out teams' carried these just for that feature. I always drew my 12ga. whenever I went 'outside the wire' during the war, my squad felt secure knowing I was carrying an M37 on patrol at their 6-O'clock [I almost always carried a 12ga. over anything else for my weapons issue].
 
Max Owner said:
The disconnect issue is illegal nowdays in Canada.
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I guess I'm in deep trouble with my Winchester 62A pump .22, then. If that were true, most pump action firearms made prior to the Remington 870 would be prohibited.

If you get an Ithaca Defense model, get the one with the extended magazine; it at least has the magazine tube supported by the barrel.
 
diemaco said:
??? There are 1000s of older Ithaca shotguns without a disconnector in Canada. Why would it be illegal? Its a pump action...
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I'd have to agree with you on that issue...illegal? I'm thinking not so, but feel free to correct me.
I've never had much trouble removing the barrel on mine. No tools required.
I read somewhere there are two seperate types. One has an easily changed barrel and one doesn't( the older version I think ).
I think it is as easy to remove as my Moss 500; but not as easy as the 97 winchester take-down...:)
 
tokguy said:
I'd have to agree with you on that issue...illegal? I'm thinking not so, but feel free to correct me.
I've never had much trouble removing the barrel on mine. No tools required.
I read somewhere there are two seperate types. One has an easily changed barrel and one doesn't( the older version I think ).
I think it is as easy to remove as my Moss 500; but not as easy as the 97 winchester take-down...:)
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Some of the much older ones have easily removable, but not interchangeable barrels IIRC. The new defense guns have permanently mounted barrels.
 
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