Choke tubes on a '51 Model 37?

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Copper BB
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Jan 03, 2014 12:17 pm
PostPosted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 12:40 pm
Hello to all, and best wishes for the New Year! This is my first posting here, so be gentle... :D

I've always been a big fan of the '37, and my home defense gun is a 20" M&P 5-shot with a plain parkerized receiver, non-checkered walnut stock, and plain bead sight. I understand they're pretty rare these days, but mine's staying just where it is!

Last summer, I found a minty '51 model 37 on a gun show table. It was, like so many of its brethren, a 32" full choke 12 ga. Due to the fact that the barrel had a noticeable bulge six inches or so behind the muzzle, I was able to pick it up for a pretty reasonable price...I think $160 was the price finally settled on.
After getting it home, I used a tubing cutter to trim the barrel down, then drilled and tapped for a plain bead sight. So, what I now have a shotgun with a 24" cylinder barrel, which makes for a delightful handling package.

The cylinder barrel, however, limits its usefulness just a bit. I see choked- and vent ribbed barrels on eBay, but since my s/n is in the 349,000's, FAR under the 855,000 cutoff for barrel interchangeability, that's not really an option. My question is this: Is there enough "meat" on the M37 barrel to install choke tubes? If so, can anybody recommend a person who would do this ?
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.270 WIN
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Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2012 8:44 am
PostPosted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 4:41 pm
yep

Mike Orlen
79 Salem Street
Amherst, MA 01002
(413) 256-1630
fax (413) 253-5665
michael.orlen@verizon.net

below are the measurements you would need to check to see if there is enough metal there

SCREW IN CHOKE SPECS (Minimum O.D.) (Maximum Bore)
10 Ga • True Tube .900 .781
10 Ga • Thin Wall .880 .781
12 Ga • Rem/Inv .845 .736
12 Ga • True Tube .825 .736
12 Ga • Thin Wall .805 .730
12 Ga • Soldered Sleeve .820 .740

16 Ga • True Tube .750 .668
20 Ga • True Tube .700 .626
20 Ga • Invector/Winchoke .725 .626
28 Ga • True Tube .645 .560
410 Bore • True Tube .510 .416

Copper BB
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Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2012 2:04 pm
PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 12:34 pm
Avg. price for having that done ???

.270 WIN
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Location: S.E. Va. CSA
PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 2:51 pm
Here is another link for Mike Orlen. http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtop ... 12&t=36237
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.270 WIN
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 6:13 pm
additionally Briley would provide tubes matched to the gun. a little over 200 for the work and 3 tubes

.270 WIN
Posts: 146
Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:10 pm
Location: S.E. Va. CSA
PostPosted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 12:45 pm
I forgot to add,he offers a discount for SGW members.
PostPosted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 5:09 pm
Welcome to the Ithaca Owners Forum jonnyo55!!

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