Inland / Ithaca M37 Shotgun

[Gottlos]

Was there a recall on the Inland / Ithaca M37 trench model shotguns? Gunbroker was saturated with them earlier this year, now there are none. I can't believe at the usual asking price they all got purchased???

[Quiet]

Was there a recall on the Inland / Ithaca M37 trench model shotguns? Gunbroker was saturated with them earlier this year, now there are none. I can't believe at the usual asking price they all got purchased???

There were no recalls on them.

[-hanko]

There were no recalls on them.

And they're definitely worth the asking price.

[W.R.Buchanan]

What was the asking price?



I love my M37 which was made in 1940 and has been totally refurbished in and out. It is by far the slickest pump gun I own. It was my first shotgun and I paid $100 for it from a friend in 1973. He recently offered me $1500 for it. Yes it came with a Cutts Compensator and I have all the choke tubes for it.

However a good tactical gun it is not, even with a Deer Slayer Barrel.

There is only one way to load the gun,,, into the magazine. So it is just as fast to load an empty gun as top off the magazine. Also if you have a Failure to Extract you are screwed as you have to fish all the shells out of the magazine before you can get the one in the chamber out.

None of these things matter in Hunting Situations,, Unless its a big bear?

Browning designed the gun to be his Duck Gun. It dumps shells strait down into the boat, instead of out in the water.

For a Hunting Shotgun or Clay Shooting gun it is excellent.

For Tactical Purposes there are many better guns.

I know lots of Police Departments used them, and my only comment on that is they must have been cheaper than 870's or M12's.

Randy

[JagerDog]

Pretty wood.

I have a '42 20g I got from Grandma. Pretty good condition, but far from refinished. I'd shoot it more often except the stock is too short as Grandma was 5'.

Of and on, I look for a replacement stock, but far from that AAA wood.

I found when shooting overhead it launches shells just as far into the water, but in front rather than to the side. Trap is OK.

Oft considered the premier upland pump (walk much, shoot little). A bit light for stout waterfowl loads IMHO.

[Gottlos]

The asking price for the new "M37 trench" guns was around $1100. Mossberg came out with the 590a1 retrograde which is a sweet looking shotgun. I just wish they had done a simple bead sight out front instead of the ghost ring set up. I picked up a retrograde while is was on sale for around $700.

https://www.mossberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/51665_590A1-RETRO_HeatShield.png

[W.R.Buchanan]

Gottlos: Combat Shotguns that are intended to fire slugs need Rifle Sights.

I can assure you that after you shoot one of these guns extensively in a class you will understand the need for sights. They are just as fast as a bead and much more accurate. You just have to learn to pull the trigger when the Front Sight is on or near the target. Get over "Studying the Sights!!!" as fast as you can!!!

If you were to send your barrel over to Vang Comp www.vangcomp.com it would then group 00 Buckshot into 7" at 25 yards, which makes Buckshot viable out to 50 yards, but you kind of need Rifle Sights on the gun to accurately aim it.

A trip to Front Sight would get you lined out on the proper use of the gun and you would fully understand why they are set up the way they are.

Beads are NOT adjustable and so when shooting slugs you have to compensate for POI vs POA which can be problematic when time is crucial.You have to remember where the gun shoots and compensate for that difference. I have seen guns that shot 2 feet to the right or high or low with slugs and there was nothing the guy can do about it but invoke Kentucky Windage!

Just like a Rifle needs to be sighted in, a Shotgun that is used in a Combat Environment where shots maybe from 0-100+ yards needs to be sighted in so that slugs will hit the mark. Buckshot will go to the same general POI as the slugs and so will birdshot. You just don't have to aim as close with shot as with slugs.

Look at it this way. You've got a .73 Caliber Rifle that can shoot a bunch of different types ammo suited to a variety of situations. Most versatile weapon out there.

And the one you got is about the nicest looking one Mossberg makes. The guy next to me at my last class in November had one just like yours, and I got to shoot it. It is a sweet shooting gun and after he shot mine he sent his barrel to Vang Comp for the treatment which not only closes the pattern down but smooths out the recoil impulse to where the gun becomes a joy to shoot. The only other that gun needs is a sling, and a Velcro Side Saddle. It is as good as an "out of the box" shotgun gets.

Hopes this helps with understanding.

Randy

[Gottlos]

W.R.Buchanan thank you for the information. I don't typically shoot slugs. But I do shoot a lot of buckshot and birdshot. I cut my shotgun shooting teeth doing cowboy action where bead sights were the rule. Now that there is a "Wild Bunch" category I may get back into it. I will be looking at the vangcomp website for further information. I might even look into the shooting schools you listed to get better with my Benelli M4.

[JagerDog]

Pretty wood.

I have a '42 20g I got from Grandma. Pretty good condition, but far from refinished. I'd shoot it more often except the stock is too short as Grandma was 5'.

Of and on, I look for a replacement stock, but far from that AAA wood.

I found when shooting overhead it launches shells just as far into the water, but in front rather than to the side. Trap is OK.

Oft considered the premier upland pump (walk much, shoot little). A bit light for stout waterfowl loads IMHO.

This thread got me back looking for a used stock. Covid exercise? Won an Ebay bid for a 20g closet queen stock from 1947. 37 wood does fetch a premium for what it is, but I'm satisfied with the deal in the given market.

Nothing "artsy", but will maintain the vintage character while greatly enhancing the shootability which was my goal. Likely never to be one of my regular shooters, but provides some homage to Grams.

[W.R.Buchanan]

[QUOTE=JagerDog;24134025]Pretty wood.

I have a '42 20g I got from Grandma. Pretty good condition, but far from refinished. I'd shoot it more often except the stock is too short as Grandma was 5'.

Of and on, I look for a replacement stock, but far from that AAA wood./QUOTE]

That stock was purchased in 1976 because my original stock was broken as well.

It was from Fajen and I sat on it until a few years ago when I finally met someone who knew what I wanted and could make it happen. The stock originally had a very tight pistol grip and the fore end had wings that protruded back over the side of the receiver which cycled. Ordinarily I would have done this work, but I deferred to my friend who works on the wood on hi $ shotguns alot and new exactly what I wanted.

I wanted an English Style Strait Grip and a regular sized fore end and a Conventional Checkering pattern. It cost me @ $600 to finish the wood the way I wanted, and Ithaca charged me @$500 for the re-blue and a couple of new parts that went inside. They also stripped and blued all the Cutts Choke Tubes so they matched, and even did the wrench too.

The gun now lives in a Motor Case.



It looks good!

Randy