- Location
- Saskatchewan
I just picked up a mint 20 ga. Ithaca 37 with the aluminum reciever, 25" barrel (mod. choke) and straight grip stock, my lightest and handiest bird gun ever (5 lbs even)!
I plan to use it as a "just in case" gun to take along on fall camping & canoe trips, hikes, etc. when I'm poking around, not seriously hunting. I would like to be able to shoot the odd duck as well as grouse, rabbit, etc. that will end up in my cooking pot on those trips. I know the 20 ga. is a marginal gun for ducks with steel, but figure that jump shooting from beaver ponds I could probably scratch down enough for supper if I keep shots to under 35 yds or so. My question - does anyone know for sure if those Ithaca barrels ( 1980's) were made steel shot compatible? I had an old one that was in poor shape that I shot some steel out of in the past with no trouble, but this gun is special and I don't want to damage it. I will probably shoot bismuth handloads in it if I'm serious about using it with non-toxic shot, I'd just like to know if I can also buy the odd box of steel factory loads for ducks. Your thoughts?
I plan to use it as a "just in case" gun to take along on fall camping & canoe trips, hikes, etc. when I'm poking around, not seriously hunting. I would like to be able to shoot the odd duck as well as grouse, rabbit, etc. that will end up in my cooking pot on those trips. I know the 20 ga. is a marginal gun for ducks with steel, but figure that jump shooting from beaver ponds I could probably scratch down enough for supper if I keep shots to under 35 yds or so. My question - does anyone know for sure if those Ithaca barrels ( 1980's) were made steel shot compatible? I had an old one that was in poor shape that I shot some steel out of in the past with no trouble, but this gun is special and I don't want to damage it. I will probably shoot bismuth handloads in it if I'm serious about using it with non-toxic shot, I'd just like to know if I can also buy the odd box of steel factory loads for ducks. Your thoughts?
