Favorite Shotgun For Rabbits
- Thread starter redrick
- Start date
I use an Ithaca 37 20 gauge with a 26 in. barrel and a fixed modified choke. This particular gun is a 1970 model, handles and carries like a dream. The Ithaca 37 featherweights are by far the best run and gun shotgun in the woods and briar patches. Extremely light and well made, not to mention smoooooooooth! 
bamaranger
New member
.410's
My Dad was an avid bunny hunter,and my best times with him were with his two good beagles, Jack and Jake on a cold fall morning! My Dad and I killed a bunch of rabbits back in the day, and we both hunted with .410's of various makes and actions depending on the year. We found that the various econ bolt .410's did not hold up to all the shooting we were doing, and basically wore out/broke a Mossberg bolt and a Savage as well.
We ended up with a High Standard pump, and a Savage/Springfield 67 pump. Not top shelf guns, blue collar all the way, but they worked and held up well.
What stayed the same was the shell and the choke. Three inch, #7-1/2 shot, and all those field guns were full choke. Most shots were close enough that the other loads posted, with #4 and #5 shot would have worked just as well. but past 15-20 yds, the pattern from the big pellet loads were pretty thin if you took a shot at a running bunny. We thought so anyhow.
Dad was a 16ga fan too, and his "heavy" rabbit gun was Savage double in 16ga, then later another blue collar Springfield pump in 16. Seems like the 16 ga got #6 shot.
My Dad was an avid bunny hunter,and my best times with him were with his two good beagles, Jack and Jake on a cold fall morning! My Dad and I killed a bunch of rabbits back in the day, and we both hunted with .410's of various makes and actions depending on the year. We found that the various econ bolt .410's did not hold up to all the shooting we were doing, and basically wore out/broke a Mossberg bolt and a Savage as well.
We ended up with a High Standard pump, and a Savage/Springfield 67 pump. Not top shelf guns, blue collar all the way, but they worked and held up well.
What stayed the same was the shell and the choke. Three inch, #7-1/2 shot, and all those field guns were full choke. Most shots were close enough that the other loads posted, with #4 and #5 shot would have worked just as well. but past 15-20 yds, the pattern from the big pellet loads were pretty thin if you took a shot at a running bunny. We thought so anyhow.
Dad was a 16ga fan too, and his "heavy" rabbit gun was Savage double in 16ga, then later another blue collar Springfield pump in 16. Seems like the 16 ga got #6 shot.
It seems like a 100 years ago since I shot my last rabbit. I was a kid then and rabbit hunting with beagles was huge around here but not anymore and you rarely see the little buggers since the coyote have moved in.
The last one I shot was with a Winchester 190 22LR, but I also hunted them with my 870 Wingmaster 20ga and all I had was a mod barrel and used mostly whatever shells I had laying around(remember I was a kid then
)
I wasn't much help but thanks for dragging some old fond memories out of the "memory bank"
The last one I shot was with a Winchester 190 22LR, but I also hunted them with my 870 Wingmaster 20ga and all I had was a mod barrel and used mostly whatever shells I had laying around(remember I was a kid then
)I wasn't much help but thanks for dragging some old fond memories out of the "memory bank"
Dufus,
Did you convert yours to a left hand safety ? They are really easy to do.
For me, either a 16ga Ithaca 37 or, this year, one of the 20ga Ithaca 37's I acquired.
Upstate81,
What exactly are you looking for ? Detail it out. I keep an eye on what is for sale online and might be able to point you to it.
Did you convert yours to a left hand safety ? They are really easy to do.
For me, either a 16ga Ithaca 37 or, this year, one of the 20ga Ithaca 37's I acquired.
Upstate81,
What exactly are you looking for ? Detail it out. I keep an eye on what is for sale online and might be able to point you to it.
Dave, ive been searching high and low for a similar vintage 37 to match my 20. I have a 1970 model with a 26 inch barrel with a modified choke. I want the same in 12 but with a factory IC. I realize the option of adding tubes but i kinda want a factory example. I actually was going to make a post over on SGW because of the Ithaca following over there. Sad to say i want to see before i buy but that may not be an option.
I always used one of those over/under .22lr - .410. Savage or Stevens, I don’t remember the brand. Running, use the .410. If the rabbit stops to check out the beagle on chase, switch it over to .22 for a head shot. I even used 2 ½ inch .410 shells, fewer pellets to clean out.
I forgot to mention that I have hunted squirrel with an old 410 SxS that my uncle used when his eyes went south. Sweet shooter. That full choke barrel would nail them where you aimed it.
Never shot a rabbit though.
upstate: you are looking for my 37s brother or sister. That is exactly what I have is a 26" IC.
Never shot a rabbit though.
upstate: you are looking for my 37s brother or sister. That is exactly what I have is a 26" IC.
Dufus, now that is a coincidence haha. That is the perfect game getter you have there.
Dave, let me know what you find out i appreciate the help. Your right i do need a 16 to round out the collection. There is a pre war 16 with a mod barrel in great condition at my nearby cabelas. Only bad thing is a recoil pad has been added, however it is a sunburst pad so atleast it looks OK. Price was 500 what do you think about that? I really prefer the pre mid 50s guns best due to stock design
Dave, let me know what you find out i appreciate the help. Your right i do need a 16 to round out the collection. There is a pre war 16 with a mod barrel in great condition at my nearby cabelas. Only bad thing is a recoil pad has been added, however it is a sunburst pad so atleast it looks OK. Price was 500 what do you think about that? I really prefer the pre mid 50s guns best due to stock design
How is the rest of the metal on the pre-war ?
Was the recoil pad fitted correctly? Is it hard from age?
How are the screw slots ?
If everything is in really good shape, that is on the higher end, 400 to 450 would be better.
But it is a pre-war. Pre-war stocks are different in drop and height of comb by a little bit than post-war, thru '53 (It was either 53 or 54 when the design changed again).
Cabelas is always a little high. Was there anything about it that you could use to negotiate with ? The dreaded Ithaca crack in the wrist ? A buggered screw head (as I mentioned above) ? Etc
I have been scavenging late 40's, early 50's stocks and converting my guns over to them. I bought a late 50's 20ga, 26" I-Cyl gun and put an early 50's stock on it.
Was the recoil pad fitted correctly? Is it hard from age?
How are the screw slots ?
If everything is in really good shape, that is on the higher end, 400 to 450 would be better.
But it is a pre-war. Pre-war stocks are different in drop and height of comb by a little bit than post-war, thru '53 (It was either 53 or 54 when the design changed again).
Cabelas is always a little high. Was there anything about it that you could use to negotiate with ? The dreaded Ithaca crack in the wrist ? A buggered screw head (as I mentioned above) ? Etc
I have been scavenging late 40's, early 50's stocks and converting my guns over to them. I bought a late 50's 20ga, 26" I-Cyl gun and put an early 50's stock on it.
only slightly off topic.
the pre-war Ithaca stock designs are superior for upland small game, rabbits, birds, squirrels (in my opinion) (that is what they were built for)
very light and quick to handle. due to the fact that the pre-war guns have the buttstocks hollowed out, the balance point is changed. they shoulder and point fast and are a dream to carry when humping through the brush after rabbits.
my wife's rabbit/bird gun is a 16ga Ithaca 37 that I built her with a 24" vent rib choke tube barrel using a buttstock off a 1952 gun
I would bet that by the time the thread is done, most every field gun will have been covered, from .22's to 12ga's as everyone has their own idea of what is their favorite at the time they posted
this could turn into one of those 100 + page posts if people choose to participate
the pre-war Ithaca stock designs are superior for upland small game, rabbits, birds, squirrels (in my opinion) (that is what they were built for)
very light and quick to handle. due to the fact that the pre-war guns have the buttstocks hollowed out, the balance point is changed. they shoulder and point fast and are a dream to carry when humping through the brush after rabbits.
my wife's rabbit/bird gun is a 16ga Ithaca 37 that I built her with a 24" vent rib choke tube barrel using a buttstock off a 1952 gun
I would bet that by the time the thread is done, most every field gun will have been covered, from .22's to 12ga's as everyone has their own idea of what is their favorite at the time they posted
this could turn into one of those 100 + page posts if people choose to participate