I am totally unfamiliar with the M-37. A friend of mine has one with a 2 3/4 inch chamber and would like to know if he can simply swap on a 3" chamber barrel. Is this possible or are there other issues (action length, ejector etc.) that will present a problem?
Ithaca 37 Barrel Swap?
- Thread starter ckid
- Start date
the age of the m-37 can be a problem because ithaca changed the locking threads in or around early to mid 60's where the barrel locks into the reciever. in other words there's an old style barrel and a new style. the guns serial number can identify which it is. your local gunsmith or gunsmith shop can tell you or just google "ithaca". the bottom ejector and loading port could be a problem in ejecting spent shells. there's a lot of 37's around but not many of them in 3" chamber.
Greenhorse six
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Search on here ,there's some good info,IIRC serial # have to be 855,000 and over to use inter changeable barrels,if yours is you can use a barrel chambered for 3" on your gun,"BUT"you can't use 3" shells in it unless you take the barrel off and load it one at a time,the actions only sized for 2 3/4 ones.
I had to get a replacement barrel for mine,all I could find was one with a 3" chamber,it works great,"BUT" only with 2 3/4"shells.
I had to get a replacement barrel for mine,all I could find was one with a 3" chamber,it works great,"BUT" only with 2 3/4"shells.
The pre-855,000 guns CAN get replacement barrels fitted, but you need to find a pre-855,000 barrel to fit to it, and it needs some gunsmithing to align the barrel so it secures properly. I know this is 1005 true b/c I've done it personally.
Once upon a time (When Ithatca was at King Ferry, NY), Ithaca would machine your receiver and lengthen your chamber to 3". These conversion never worked very good. The purpose-built 3" receivers are build a bit longer to improve the geometry of the internals and work great.
If you really need a 3" model, buy a 3" gun to begin with. For most intents and purposes, any conversion isn't really workable.
In honesty though, I've sold all my 3" shottys and just run a pair of 2,3/4" guns with some extra fitted barrels. When I had 3" guns, I never used 3" shells! Guess I'm cheap!
Once upon a time (When Ithatca was at King Ferry, NY), Ithaca would machine your receiver and lengthen your chamber to 3". These conversion never worked very good. The purpose-built 3" receivers are build a bit longer to improve the geometry of the internals and work great.
If you really need a 3" model, buy a 3" gun to begin with. For most intents and purposes, any conversion isn't really workable.
In honesty though, I've sold all my 3" shottys and just run a pair of 2,3/4" guns with some extra fitted barrels. When I had 3" guns, I never used 3" shells! Guess I'm cheap!
