How interchangable are Ithaca M37 barrels?

ninepointer

ninepointer

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It's my understanding that not all Ithaca 37 barrels are interchangable. I have an early 1970's Model 37 12 ga. Featherlight. What do I need to know before I get a used barrel for it?
 
Barrels are only available (from the factory) for 1963 models and up (serial # 853000 and up). If the barrel was made after that you should be OK. Barrels made before then (1963) apparently are different and wont fit.
 
If you are looking for a used barrel it might be just as cheap( and easier to find) to buy the whole gun....I've bought 37's in good shape for around $250

I wonder what Ithaca charges for a new barrel?
 
Thanks all. Here's an answer from Shotgunworld that I think sums it up well:

Receivers serial numbered post 855,000 accept the interchangeable barrels. If you find a barrel with a serial number on it, it will not fit into the post 855,000 serial numbered receivers. Also, a receiver serial numbered pre 855,000 will not accept an interchangeable barrel. When you buy a pre 855,000 gun, be sure that the serial numbers on the receiver and barrel match.

The Ithaca Gun Company on their website recommends the head space be checked on every barrel installed on a receiver. You should read their website in regards to this. In today's litigous society, I suspect that is somewhat for legal defense purposes. However, you might come across an interchangeable barrel that should fit into a post 855,000 receiver but won't. I've had this happen to me once. Also, I tried to put one older interchangeable barrel, made in Ithaca, NY, onto an Ohio made receiver, and it was a no go. Perhaps because of the extremely tight tolerances the new Ohio made 37s have due to their CNC machining, I may have to restrict my Ohio made barrels to my Ohio made receivers.
 
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