Ithaca Deerslayer III

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pabuckslayer08

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Does anyone know where about you can get one of these. Are they still even made? I found their site and seen them and would like some input on them. Im looking to find one new and would like to know just how good these guns really are. I hear they are about the best of the best in pump slug guns. I have some mossberg and remington slug guns but want a new one and its between the Deerslayer and a T/C pro hunter slug gun
 
Ithacas are fine guns, I own several and yes they still make the Deerslayer III. Google “Ithaca Guns” they have a dealer locater on their site. I've hunted with them for over 50 years with never a problem. I think they're the best pump gun made. I have only owned 1 Deerslayer and didn't use it much (rifle hunt for deer here) but found it to be of the same quality as their others, top notch.
 
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Thanks, thats a plus. I have a 37 for upland and I know they do have good quality. I like the fact it comes pinned and floated and basically needs no mods. to make it great
 
DS II 24 inch fixed rifled barrel.
Open sights

DS III 26 inch fluted fixed barrel
Weaver scope base w/ Nikon scope option

The fluted barrels are heaver than the DS II barrels.
 
Do both the guns come pinned directly to the receiver. I seen the III is but didnt check the II. Is the III worth the extra cash. Weight is no issue for me. I just want the best accurate gun possible
 
I do not beleive the barrel is "pinned" in place, but screwed into the reciever just like a rifle barrel. The pictures on the Ithaca web site do not show any "pins" in the reciever.

Give Ithaca a call and ask them. 877-648-4222 or 419-294-4113
 
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Ok thank you, I will have to give them a call and get some details as I never really knew much about these DS guns. I have narrowed my choices down to the Ithacas or a T/C pro hunter with a slug barrel.
 
I can’t answer your questions on the newer ones. All of mine are date back to the 50’s and 60’s. Their barrels are all interchangeable, per gauge, including the Deerslayer. However I think the new ones have fixed barrels.
 
The break-off serial number is 855,000, anything after that number is interchangable. Anything before is not interchangable and any extra barrels either came from the factory or were fitted by a smith that specializes in Ithaca work.

The new Deerslayer III has a heavy fluted barrel and is free floated much like target barrels. In fact it is much like a large bore rifle.
 
I was looking at getting the III in a 20 gauge and from I see in my Federal Barnes Expander Bullets from this gun with a Nikon Slug Hunter I should be pretty accurate to 250 yards with it.
 
While I’m sure that you’ll have guys on here claiming to have killed butterflies at 500 yards offhand with slugs, I think 250 might be a bit of a stretch for any slug gun. Accuracy seems to drop off from 125 t0 175 yards with them. I’m not saying that they won’t kill at 250, but you might have problems hitting at that range under hunting conditions. 4 to 6 inch groups from a rest quickly become feet when blazing away while leaning on a tree in the woods.
 
You are very right on that. Right now my 500C if comfortable to the 150 mark. The slug guns do seem to really die after that though. Ive tried 200 yards at the range with mine and it really drops in that 50 yards from 150-200
 
The Ithaca catalog say's 4" groups at 200 yards. It would all depend on the make and type of slug loads used in each gun. Some barrels will favor certain brands over others. The owner will have to find out which brand of slug the shotgun likes.
 
Yes thats true as well, I wonder how I could find out what ammo they used to get the 4" guarentee for them. I would be starting with Federal Barnes Sabots as I have yet to find a gun that wont shoot them then go on to the Lightfield 3" sabot then to the Remington Sabot. One of them should provide me well enough
 
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