I don't find the saftey difficult on mine. The only one that I had trouble with was one of my new (old) 37's when I first patterned it. I kicked the saftey off, and it wouldn't fire. I wondered what was wrong, pushed it back "on" and fired the gun. It had been switched to a left handed saftey.

For hunting with mine, I carry it with the forearm up (we are limited to two in the magazine and one in the chamber) and loaded. I also keep my trigger finger near the saftey and push it off as I am bringing the gun up. By the time I have it shouldered, the saftey is off and my finger is in the trigger guard. Practice in your living room (gun unloaded of course). Hold the gun as if you are walking in the woods, pick a point on the wall to "aim" at, and practice bringing the gun up while kicking off the saftey and moving to the trigger. Once you do it a few times it will be second nature.

Pikeslayer5 wrote:Ya mine is a left handed safety, really wish it wasn't like that! Oh well just got to practice with it I guess. Did any older ithacas have safeties for right handed people?

As a guess, I would think the right handed safety would be the standard configuration. At any rate, would you consider switching the safety? You can get the part from Ithaca. Here is a thread with a bit of discussion on switching it.

As far as I know, the saftey on most of them were right handed. Any decent gunsmith can reverse it for you and a minimal cost. From what I understand it is not hard nor expensive. If it were going to be my hunting gun I would have it done post haste!

Pike, I carry my pump gun the same as you do, loaded with one chambered and the safety on.

I missed several quail this weekend because I forgot to take the safety off first!!! Lame I know... My pointer gives me time to walk up and get ready, Ally and I even have time to look how Ivy is pointing and make a guess as to which way the bird will flush and position ourselves accordingly.

So, totally my fault there.

Now, something I do differently than most I'd wager, I use a single point sling with my gun hanging on my right side. Its super easy to transition to being ready to fire.