Please help newbie 51 owner!

1970-1980

.22LR
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2013 4:20 pm
PostPosted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 4:37 pm
Hello all, I just bought my first Ithaca. A model 51 Magnum. Barrel is stamped:"featherlight 12 ga. 3 in. Roto-forged" Then there is "full" stamped on it. The serial is "510114939" The other side of barrel is stamped "12 Ga. Magnum for 2 3/4 in and 3 in magnum shells" It is a 29"? barrel semi auto (my first semi auto...I have a mossberg 12 ga pump slugster). The finish is a dullish/matt finish.
Please forgive me...but could you please "hold my hand" here? What exactly would I be able to use this gun for(my "wants" were for bird/turkey??)? What rounds would I be able to put through this gun?
I assume that this is a fixed choke barrel,dont really know if its smooth/riffled(although it kinda looks like a small amount of riffling?). Also any/all info on this gun would be appreciated!!(age,etc)
It is a very nice looking gun,just dont know now if it will do what I want it to?
Thank You in advance...and please be kind ..haha :roll:
p.s. if I have not given enough info, I could post pics.
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.270 WIN
Posts: 422
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 5:21 pm
Location: phila pa
PostPosted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 6:11 pm
you have an exellent gun there
they came with 26/28/30" barrels but there is no SN# database so age isn't poss.
the gun can be used for just about anything depending on choke
with a 30"full , id think of it as a trap/duck/turkey gun
if you can find a barrel for it with a mod choke add upland birds to the list,.

but first thing is first
the m51 is a great gun , but without proper care it can break parts .
mainly ,,you need to change out the bolt buffer the reciever buffer and action spring,
they deteriorate with age.
if you do not the carrier/slide can crack
there are no carriers/slides available for replacements so you either have to prevent breakage or weld the broken one to fix it.

les at diamondgunshithing.com has the parts you need to refurbish the gun and it costs about $50

.22LR
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2013 4:20 pm
PostPosted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 7:36 pm
twistedoak...thankyou for the fast reply!
I am relieved to hear that I bought a good gun. Was worried after reading some other things online. (thought it would be better to join here to get the right info.)
As far as ammo goes....when I do the changes you reccomended, what ammo should I run through it? Being a full choke..prob wouldnt take a deer slug,correct? Would those barells have been smooth or riffled? Any info on what they called "magnum" ammo?
Again a big "Thank You"!!
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.270 WIN
Posts: 422
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 5:21 pm
Location: phila pa
PostPosted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 10:34 pm
well i can't insist strongly enough about doing the maintinance.
the reason there is any bad press, is because other people didn't bother .

unless it says on the barrel its a deerslayer ,, its a smoothbore
you can shoot any lead load ammo thru the gun.
typiclly magnum ammo is 3" shells.
you can use 2-3/4 shells , but in some cases with lite shells they won't cycle another round into the chamber

.22LR
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2013 4:20 pm
PostPosted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 6:24 am
Excellent THANK YOU!!!
I definately plan on doing the things you reccomend.
Would steel shot work with this set-up?
Again, sorry for all the questions(I'm sure I'll have more),Just trying to get past the laerning curve. :oops:
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.270 WIN
Posts: 422
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 5:21 pm
Location: phila pa
PostPosted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 10:26 am
i'd stay away from steel.
esp with full choke
some circles say that steel is ok in a mod choke with smaller then #4 shot,but i have not seen proof either way
if your in a no lead area ,go with the alloys like bithmuth or hevi-shot
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.270 WIN
Posts: 108
Joined: Fri Apr 20, 2012 1:22 am
Location: Texas
PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 3:34 am
Any pics? I am really wanting a '51 for a semi auto.

I would imagine with a full choke and a 3" chamber, some No 1 buckshot may be up your alley. :)
Insert comical quip here.

.22LR
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2013 4:20 pm
PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 4:41 pm
Hit Man X,
yes to pics, I will try to get them up soon. Sorry I have not been on in a while!(Did not mean to ignore you!)
PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 5:03 pm
Welcome to the Ithaca Owners Forum Dave !!
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.270 WIN
Posts: 108
Joined: Fri Apr 20, 2012 1:22 am
Location: Texas
PostPosted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 7:17 am
davemoe wrote:Hit Man X,
yes to pics, I will try to get them up soon. Sorry I have not been on in a while!(Did not mean to ignore you!)




No problem!
Insert comical quip here.

.22LR
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2013 4:20 pm
PostPosted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 7:22 pm
Finally got a coupla pics for ya Hit Man X/everyone
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.22LR
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2013 4:20 pm
PostPosted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 7:29 pm
twistedoak, I bought a coupla boxes of Winchester double x turkey load. They are 3" 5 shot copper plated lead,1 3/4 oz. with a velocity of 1300 fps. What do you think?? Would these work well in this gun? It seems most shot is coated?
Agian a big thank you to everyone for the help and the "welcome"! It is nice to have a place to go to get reliable information!!
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.270 WIN
Posts: 422
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 5:21 pm
Location: phila pa
PostPosted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:10 pm
ammo choice is all about what your shooting at ..
them turkey rounds you mention would work great for turkey.
for pheasant they'd be hot
for dove they'd leave feathers
but if you just wanna shoot they'd be a waist of money and beat your shoulder outa socket

i'd grab a couple of boxes of2-3/4 gun clubs and see what happens ,worse that could happen is you might have to manually clear the chamber.
if you need to shoot doubles and gun clubs wont clear try some 2-3/4 rem long ranges
you need to find the cheapest ammo the gun will cycle

.22LR
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2013 4:20 pm
PostPosted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 7:50 pm
Hey twisted, Yeah I almost cannot wait till spring turkey to try this gun!!! I have gotten in touch with "Les" about those parts! BTW..any onfo regarding doing the actual replacement of the parts you suggested? How bad is it to do? Is there a place to find step bystep? or is it not really that bad to do?

.270 WIN
Posts: 429
Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2012 8:50 am
PostPosted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 8:13 pm
It should take about 30 to 45 minutes for some one who has never taken a 51 apart before.
-Unload gun, take off barrel, fore end, ect.
-Drift out trigger assembly pins and remove trigger assembly.
-Pull the bolt handle straight out the side.
-The bolt and slide assembly should come straight out of the front of the receiver.
-There are "L" shaped pins that hold the firing pin inside of the bolt. You will have to remove it to get to the buffer inside of the bolt.
-You will need to remove the stock to get to the buffer in the back of the receiver.
-If I recall correctly you should find a pin at the end of the action spring tube; carefully remove it because it is under pressure from the spring.
-Of course now is a good time to do a good cleaning of the action before you put it back together.
-The Numrich Gun Parts Corp. web site has a good parts break down if you should need it.
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.270 WIN
Posts: 422
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 5:21 pm
Location: phila pa
PostPosted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 10:32 pm
cutcher laid it out step by step
they are easy guns to work on .the number of parts are far less then other semi autos.
no tools are needed for a basic break down,I've used the L pins to push the trigger assembly pins out .
but to change the receiver buffer you need a 9/16 socket and a small Phillips screwdriver.

do not disassemble the trigger group!!
a spray down with a cleaner and a light oiling is all that's needed.

while you have it all apart you might as well clean the magazine tube also .
the magazine spring cup is 2 pieces .theres a hole in the center of it .
grab hold of the cup , insert a small rod in the hole and depress the mag spring ..
you should then be able to wiggle the cup outa the mag tube .
when you release the rod holding the mag spring, the inner cup and the mag spring will come out

.22LR
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2013 4:20 pm
PostPosted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 7:10 pm
"1977" & "Twisted",
Thanks a million for the valuable information!!!!! You guys are amazing!!I'm gonna give it a try as soon as I get the parts and hope I dont mess things up too bad!! ;)

Copper BB
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2015 10:06 am
PostPosted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 11:14 am
I love my "51's" all three of them. My advice to you is keep them clean, look the slide and carrier over when you disassemble them for wear and or breakage, watch what you use for lube and cleaning, and above all enjoy them while you are young because they get heavy to lug through the woods and fields as you get older. My 12 weighs about 8.5 # my 20 about 7.8# and my 12 mag over 9#.

Remember clean, clean, clean, and light on the lube...

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