Any problems boring Ithaca 37 to Modified?

bootz

bootz

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I was wondering if anyone had experience boring down an older Ithaca 37 featherlight to modified choke for use with steel shot. I have heard conflicting arguments, one being the barrel thickness in those are too thin and may explode the end of the barrel, one said you are fine under BB shot, another said fine under no. 1 shot.

I was hoping there might be people out there that either knew the answer or have experience with the older Ithaca 37 featherlights and a modified choke.
 
For ducks over decoys and pass shooting, I've had better luck with improved cylinder choke. I found modified too tight.

Generally, IC(steel) = Mod(lead) & Mod(steel) = Full(lead)



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Claven2 said:
It's not much material removal, so I doubt it'd be an issue, but of you're concerned, why not ask your gunsmith?
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That is the problem, 3 different gunsmiths gave three different answers. I was hoping someone here could shed some light on the matter with some experience (not that the 3 gunsmiths don't, just practical shooting experience).
 
Yup, I've done it (well, smith did)
for exactly the same reason you are after.
It worked fine and is still a great shooter to this day.
I have the 30" barrel on mine but that doesn't make
a difference as far a reaming it to mod.
 
WithoutWarning said:
Yup, I've done it (well, smith did)
for exactly the same reason you are after.
It worked fine and is still a great shooter to this day.
I have the 30" barrel on mine but that doesn't make
a difference as far a reaming it to mod.
Click to expand...

The gunsmith I just finished talking to said the entire length of the barrel has to be reemed because of the forcing cone?

I though it was just the choke needing to be done, but obviously I don't know enough about it.

Was this done on your shotgun or just the choke portion?
 
bootz said:
The gunsmith I just finished talking to said the entire length of the barrel has to be reemed because of the forcing cone?

I though it was just the choke needing to be done, but obviously I don't know enough about it.

Was this done on your shotgun or just the choke portion?
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Ream the full Barrel??????????
I think you had better find a different smith????
Forcing cone has nothing to do with choke, thu a longer
cone is nicer and quite often done at same time
 
marshall said:
Ream the full Barrel??????????
I think you had better find a different smith????
Forcing cone has nothing to do with choke, thu a longer
cone is nicer and quite often done at same time
Click to expand...

He is a well respected gunsmith so I will take the blame for misquoting. I think he was meaning more what you are saying about doing them at the same time. I will say he wasn't very good at explaining the situation at my level, especially when I said 3 other gunsmith's had no problem doing it.

I had one gunsmith laugh at me and said they have done hundreds. That doesn't neccessarily mean they are safe however.

Going back to what this gunsmith said, it sounded like if you didn't do the forcing cone at the same time it would be just as much of an issue.
 
I bought my 20 gauge Ithaca 37 Featherlight second hand and the barrel said "Full" on it.

I brought it to my 'smith for opening up to mod. and he looked at it with a funny look in his eye, said "just a second" and disappeared into the shop with the gun.

Came back and handed it to me.

"Have fun, go shoot," he said. "I thought I recognized it. I already did that one."
 
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haha That is nice, no cost either. Most people I have talked to have had nothing but good things to say, but put one person's (who is respected) safety concern in there, and you have me running scared not knowing what to do.
 
I took the Ithaca in to Bashaw Sports and they say there is enough barrel to put in a screw in choke. They also said you do not have to do anything with the forcing cone. They have never had a problem doing them this way. I trust they know what theya re talking about, but does anyone have any opinions?
 
Screw in chokes are great. I have an 870 with them, but in reality I only ever use one choke tube ....... Improved Cylinder.

------ IC works well for steel on waterfowl as it pretty much dulpicates modifies with lead.
------ IC is the standard choke for small lead shot for upland use.

Why not just get your Ithaca bored to IC and leave it as that?


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bootz said:
I took the Ithaca in to Bashaw Sports and they say there is enough barrel to put in a screw in choke. They also said you do not have to do anything with the forcing cone. They have never had a problem doing them this way. I trust they know what theya re talking about, but does anyone have any opinions?
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I think you're just confusing yourself with more opinions. Why don't you get the screw-in choke installation completed - then pattern it with steel shot and see what it does. That should be enough to prove to yourself that it is ok or not. If there is a problem with the patterns you can then consider having the forcing cone altered.
 
Screw-in cokes are just ASKING for trouble. The barrel wasn't designed for 'em and if not perfectly executed, you could bulge the choke and need to cut back the barrel.

My advice? Leave it as-is, of ream out to either modified or IC and go shoot.
 
My advice? Leave it as-is, of ream out to either modified or IC and go shoot.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. I think I will keep as is and use it one night out of the weekend shoot using tungsten matrix. Kinda a treat night haha.

Too nice a gun to sell, and hard to find barrels for. I'd rather leave it built the way it was meant.
 
Depending on the serial numbre, replacement barrels are being made new again as Ithaca is back in business. You can get an extra barrel in any choke, or interchangeable chokes too for that matter :)

FWIW, my 1959 made M37 is still in full choke and I plan to leave it that way. It also makes the steel shot reach a bit furhter due to the tighter shot pattern if I do my part in aiming it.
 
no problem. it's probably a little easier on the barrel to not use anything larger than steel BB. to who said they still found mod. too much for steel, i completely agree. i've found that for shooting over decoys my best choke for #2 steel is skeet 2 and a lot of my customers are finding the same thing
 
Shotgun Barrel Alterations For Steel Shot

For what it's worth, this has been my experience...

Forcing Cone Alteration:

Factory shotgun barrels usually have a fairly short and abrupt forcing cone. The forcing cone is the tapered area just ahead of the chamber where the shell is contained. Altering the forcing cone, so it is one and one half or two inches in length, reduces recoil and improves the pattern density. Trap shooters and skeet shooters have been doing this for many years. It is a good benefit to the steel shot user as well.

Choke Alteration:
Choke designation from the tightest to the most open are:
Extra Full, Full, Improved Modified, Modified, Skeet II, Improved Cylinder, Skeet I, and Cylinder Bore.

Steel shot does not require the constriction that lead shot needs, to produce good patterns. In fact too much constriction, causes poor, erratic patterns, and in some cases, permanently damages the barrel. I have seen barrels bulged at the choke, I have seen barrels where the choke split right open, from using steel shot.

For steel shot, with thin barrels, chokes should be altered to at least Skeet II. Often, over & under, and side-by-side shotguns, are best altered to Skeet I and Skeet II chokes. Heavier barrels can be left at Modified choke but may see an improvement in the pattern if opened slightly.
 
Hey there 37 fans P&D has a used one that someone put a threaded Colonial choke into and this gun has a 3 inch chamber, some what rare I believe. I think they want 300,00 for it. FS
 
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