Ithaca Model 37 Ultra-Featherlight 20-gauge

by
posted on July 19, 2010
201071916638-ithaca_f.jpg

September, 1978

The first Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight pump-action shotgun left the factory in late 1936. It has been the company’s mainstay production gun ever since.

A number of reasons account for the Model 37’s continued popularity. Its light weight is a primary one. Nominal weight of the standard plain barrel 12-ga. gun is 6 ½ lbs.; the 20-ga. only 5 ¾ lbs.

There is now an even lighter version called the Ultra-Featherlight. In 20-ga. with a 25” ventilated rib barrel, its nominal weight is only 5 lbs. Ithaca bills it as the lightest pump shotgun in the world.

The weight reduction results primarily from the use of aluminum for the receiver and trigger plate. Opportunities to reduce weight in the stock are also taken. The butt of the brown rubber recoil pad is only 1 ½” wide and 4 5/16” long. The Side-Bell designed grip cap is a distinguishing feature. A gold color towering grouse against a red background is seen through the clear plastic center of the cap.

The barrel of the sample Ultra-Featherlight supplied to the American Rifleman Technical Staff was marked Mod. choke. The bore measured .617”’ the 1.56” long conical choke .599”. The resulting constriction of .018” reduces the bore area by about 6%.

Such a lightweight gun has little “follow through.” This made it somewhat difficult to hit skeet targets consistently. Performance at skeet was also handicapped by the 8 ¼ lb. trigger pull and the gun’s tendency to shoot low. Felt recoil, while appreciably greater than 20-ga. guns weighing 1 lb. more, was not oppressive even with 2 ¾” magnum loads. The large diameter fore-end enables much of the recoil to be taken up by the forward hand. This helps substantially reduce recoil taken by the shoulder. In more than 300 rounds only one malfunction was experienced. A shell dropped from the magazine to the ground instead of being fed into the chamber when the action was worked.

A certain number of shotgunners consider light weight to be an especially desirable attribute of a gun. For them, the Ultra-Featherlight will have particular appeal. It is currently available only in the specifications listed. The Deerslayer version of the Ultra-Featherlight has a 20” barrel with rifle-type open sights.

Latest

Walther Pdp F Series Gotw Lede 1920X1080
Walther Pdp F Series Gotw Lede 1920X1080

Gun Of The Week: Walther PDP F-Series

Watch American Rifleman staff on the range in this week's feature video with the Walther PDP F-Series, a unique, duty-grade handgun designed specifically to fit a woman's hand. It turns out, though, that it fits some men's hands well, too.

Vietnam War Group To Host ‘Welcome Home’ Ceremony For Vets

Established under the secretary of defense in 2012, the U.S. Vietnam War Commemoration group has spent years recognizing and honoring the service of Vietnam veterans.

The Armed Citizen® March 31, 2023

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Evolution Of The BM-59

John C. Garand's gas-operated M1 rifle changed very little from its start as the T1 in 1927 until the end of its official production run in 1957, but then something unexpected happened. As a result of the confrontational politics of the Cold War and the subsequent divisions it created, the M1 rifle continued to evolve on another continent.

Ruger Named Friends Of NRA Guardian Sponsor For 2023

Ruger is the exclusive 2023 Guardian Level Corporate Sponsor of the Friends of NRA program, a sponsorship that will help support firearm training and educational programs, ensuring the continuation of America’s proud shooting and hunting heritage for generations to come.

Making Modern Colt Revolvers

Colt re-entered the modern double-action revolver market in a big way, bringing back legacy designs like the Cobra, Python and Anaconda. These guns aren't made the old way, though. They're produced using the latest in cutting-edge manufacturing technology.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.