Choke tubes for old model Ithaca 37

[ratltrap]

Has anyone had choke tubes installed in an old model Ithaca 37 barrel?

I have a 37 with the old hand fitted 30" full fixed choke barrel. I used it quite a bit for waterfowl before steel was mandated, but now find it pretty useless for that and for upland hunts as well. I've heard that it may be possible to fit those barrels for choke tubes. If anyone here has done that for one of these I'd like to hear about where they had it done and how it worked out.

[gd357]

probably the best advice I can give you is to talk with a reputable gunsmith, and get his opinion on what can be done. Within the last year, I had my shotgun cut and rethreaded because of a factory defect, and patterns have improved immensely. I doubt it would be too much trouble for a good 'smith to fix you up.

gd

[Lilred]

Not meanin to be a log in yer wagon wheel...but if it dont have a good pattern...maybe you could try a different brand load er somethin? Use high brass insteada low brass maybe?
I got an Ithaca...and he is right as rain with high brass 6's.
Just a couple of ideas fore ya try to put choke tubes in that gun.
And welcome to the board!

[Jack]

Putting screw in choke tubes in older, fixed choke shotguns is a pretty standard operation in most gun shops.
Find the local gunsmith that does some shotgun work and it should be no problem for him to do.

[gold40]

We had tubes put into a nice old 870 Wingmaster for similar reasons. It has worked out bery well. Now the "goos gun" is also a "quail gun."

I think you will be very pleased.

[skeet]

It isn't the cheapest thing to do but send it to Briley in Houston Tx. They do the best work and really do have the best patterning chokes by far. Should cost under 150 bucks or so. I have 5 guns with Briley chokes and they are all used..quite frequently.

[M.T. Pockets]

Ratltrap, welcome to Hunt Chat and thank you for asking this question. I've also got a model 37 16 guage that I would like to use more than I do, it also has a full choke and I don't use it much for the same reason as you.

I'm going to dust it off and visit with my local gunsmith, buy myself a 16 guage reloader and start using it. There's some history behind this shotgun (like most model 37's I would guess) so it will be fun to use it again.

Let us know how you turn out, and I'll do likewise.

[tjwatty]

I agree with skeet 100%, I've seen a couple choke jobs done by "reputable" gunsmiths and If I had a nice gun it would be done by Briley. I believe they are even capable of "thin wall" barrel installations.

[fabsroman]

TJ,

I think Briley uses a thin wall choke tube for the barrels that it installs them in. That is how they get it to work so well in almost any gun. Don't know if the thin wall reference transfers to the barrel thickness, but I would think it could.

[skeet]

I have had at least 50 guns done by Briley and never anyone unhappy. For some reason their chokes are so good you just can't believe it. I had some chokes put in a barrel for an 1100. I had cut the bbl to 26 1/2 inches and sent it to them for chokes. I have used that bbl on at least 6 1100's and a couple of 11-87's for skeet and have to say it shoots the best skeet patterns I have ever seen. I even broke a few 100's with it...from time to time. I have seen quite a few Colonial Arms chokes put in by some"local" gunsmiths.. For the most part...never mind!! Not my gun. I even considered doing the work myself at one time when I was working on guns a lot. Decided it really wasn't the easiest job to do for anyone...without the right setup. Try Briley for certain. Thinwall is a term that means they can put the chokes in even older thinner barrelled guns..like M-12's etc

[gold40]

Briley does first class work, but they are PRICEY. You can find others that are much less expensive to modify your Ithaca. It is a simple gunsmithing task.

[deermeister]

I'd got with Briley. They did a Remington 11-48 in 16 ga for me a couple of years ago, and I got it back with four choke tubes (and a wrench) for about $150. It quickly became my go to gun, and I've used it on skeet, doves, turkeys, partridge and squirrels and never regretted the expense.

[Nulle]

I have two of the old 37's and they used to come with a Poly Choke screw in.
They are a great gun and too bad the steel has put them on the shelf.

[gold40]

My hunting partner sent his refurbished Remington Model 11 (an oldie) to a gunsmith named Mike Orlen in Massachusetts. He was very pleased with the job.

Orlen does excellent choke work at about half the cost of Briley.