Ithaca Model 37 16 Guage

[1sourdough]

 A guy gave me this 16 ga Ithaca, 1958 vintage. The barrel is right at 18". I think I'll leave it be as sorta a 'home defense' gun. 1st I need some 16 ga ammo though. For it's age the condition is pretty good, modest bluing wear & the rest looks fine.

[Doublebass73]

I like it. I've been looking for one of these and they seem to be tough to find these days.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Nice gun, you might put chokes in it to hunt with..that is what my pal did..my first shotgun after a single barrel was a 37 in 20 ga..never owned another 20 in that model, but several 12's....my cousins used the 37 in 16 ga. a great deal..my best buy in the gun market came a few weeks ago..I saw a model 37 12 ga. 30 in. full choke with a solid rib...ask the guy for his best price..when he said $200. I couldn't throw the money down fast enough..it shoots perfectly..although I prefered a mod. choke, I think there are some plastic spreader wads on the market that I can make special close range loads with...great gun, and your price was far better than mine....

[popplecop]

I'd tube it as it now is cylinder bore.  To fit a new barrel might get pricy.  My 16 is from 57 with a 28" plain modified choke, sure like it.

[1sourdough]

 I was at the camp & I shot the gun a few times. All I had was 'high brass' Federal #6 shot, they kicked a fair amount in the light gun. The pattern seemed centered pretty well. After my 2nd shot the front bead fell off, never to be found. Like I may of said, I think the 'chop job' was done after the gun left the factory.

   Since there is no rib I am thinking about a sight that slides over the barrel. One at Midway seems to get O.K. reviews. It's a 'tru-glow' type with the light gathering tube.  The barrel has a non-threaded hole where the bead was sitting, so I can't just put another bead in anyway. Yes, there is a hole there into the barrel.

  I think a light gathering tube would be enough, I don't want to sink $$ for a new barrel or specialty sight. I also plan on getting some very low brass #6 shot, that's enough. I have read where one really doesn't need a sight on a shotgun, but this may be used more for aimed fire rather than moving game.

[jager]

The 16ga "Featherweight" Ithaca was the first new shotgun I was able to purchase in 1968.  I still have it and it is still the one I usually grab for any "upland" game hunts.  I recently attended the NRA Convention in St. Louis where I saw the new 16ga model made on the "original" sized (not 12ga) receiver, only it had choke tubes installed.  One of the "Reps" said the barrels on the new guns are interchangeable with the "old" guns like mine!  ("Plus one" on a good deal and a great gun!)

[spruce]

Some shotgun beads are screw-in and some are pressed-in.  Sounds like whoever bobbed the barrel used a press-in replacement bead - and didn't do a very good job.
 
Replacement beads are available from Brownell's and others and are cheap.  Depending on the size of the hole you might just be able to run a tap in it and screw in a new bead.
 
You've got a nice camp gun there.  Always thought the model 37 didn't get the recognition it deserves.

[hillbill]

ive found a lot of partial boxes and full boxes of 16 ga fairly cheap at gunshows and yard sales.mostly high brass stuff. i dont load for 16 so i get them whenever i can.get some slugs and buckshot and high brass pheasant loads and you will be fixed up! once in ahwile you can snag some at wal mart fairly cheap but those days may be over?

[1sourdough]

 I see Midway got the sight I was watching back in stock. I ordered it & some 'low brass' Win ammo, #6 shot. I'll just use the higher power stuff for more serious use. This gun is light & very easy to carry. I don't have any special use planned, but wanted a little ammo on hand.