|
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
|
1 members (Crockett),
499
guests, and
4
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Forums10
Topics39,500
Posts562,118
Members14,587
| |
Most Online9,918
Jul 28th, 2025
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,082
Sidelock
|
OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,082 |
I was invited to a duck hunt next week. My doubles are too nice for the marsh so I would like to take my old (1938) Ithaca M37. 12 ga. of course and full choke. Can I use steel shot or should I look into alternatives. The 37 is old but restored to new condition. All that said, can it handle it?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,409 Likes: 4
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,409 Likes: 4 |
Yes if it doesn't have a rib and you don't mind slight bulge near the end of the barrel.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,082
Sidelock
|
|
OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,082 |
5,104 posts and this is the advice I get? What were your other 5,103 posts?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,724 Likes: 126
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,724 Likes: 126 |
Don't shoot steel in your pre-war full choke barrel. It might not hurt it but its too easy to buy tungston matrix or the new bismuth shells to risk it...Geo
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 879
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 879 |
If it were mine, I'd ease open the choke to mod and shoot 1500 FPS #4's. IMHO a 37 is a great gun, but not collector material, so you're not going to hurt the value significantly. These days there really isn't a need for full choke, since lead is banned for waterfowl. My duck gun (which got a workout yesterday) is a M31 Remmy matt rib with a Briley Thin-Wall choke system, shooting their Steel shot tube and the load mentioned above
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 999
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 999 |
Since your going next week end you really dont have time to do much to it. If you're not a waterfowler, I'd suggest you by a box of non steel, non toxic and go enjoy your self. If you really enjoy it and decide you want to do a lot more of it, you know how to turn guns into other guns.
Cary
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,082
Sidelock
|
|
OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,082 |
Thanks guys. I think I'm going to try the bismuth. The 37 IS a great gun, and although you can buy them all day for under $300, I don't want to ruin it. Wish me luck, this is my first duck hunt.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,026
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,026 |
Good luck, dubble! At the very least enjoy the swamp and the sunrise; unlike ducks, they're hard to miss!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,205
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,205 |
5,104 posts and this is the advice I get?
That's because he is a smart A S S of the first order! Don't shoot steel in your old 37. Get Bismuth or Tungsten.
Ole Cowboy
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,350
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,350 |
Good advice above. As surely as one size doesn't fit all, I use my guns without much thought of getting them muddy or wet. They're carried in a case to the blind or boat. With a little care they're good as the day I got them, some worn a bit from carrying. I buy non-toxic because I can afford it, and I think it better for the guns and game. I pare other pleasures to pay for non-toxic.
My doubles are used as their makers and previous owners intended---to enjoy. And life is short. When I got home yesterday from a hell-to-get-to beaver pond Shangri-la, my upper thighs cramped up badly. I knew I couldn't go again today but will tomorrow. Duck hunting should be served with the best we have---good guns, good dogs and good friends.
|
|
|
|
|
