Probably not the perfect place for this, but I know there are a lot of prior-LE and vets on here who might have experience with this platform, so I'll go ahead and try.

I have an older (early-'70s) Ithaca 37 12ga riot gun with the 20" barrel and factory long mag tube (7+1). The gun isn't a Police Special (DSPS) since it lacks the rifle sights, and the gun was neglected prior to my purchase, so it has no front bead either. No sights whatsoever. It's my main shotgun and will be set up for "social work". I'm planning to add a sling and an attachment for a light, but that's it. However, I need sights. I know the bead isn't ideal, so I'm probably not going back to it.

I know the DSPS had rifle-style sights with a front blade and a rear notch forward on the barrel like a levergun, but I'm to understand those are slow to use, and not really meant for a shotgun. I'm inclined to go modern and install ghost rings, but apparently the 37 receiver doesn't have a lot of "meat" in the top/rear where the ring sight would be installed, and doing it wrong can destroy the receiver. So what's a guy to do?

Are the DSPS-style rifle sights really that useless? I know they have no night-sight capability, but they gotta be better than a bead. Are ghost-rings overrated, or should I try and find a smith that has the delicate touch to install them on a 37? I've heard of it being done, but no one can point me to who has the skills for it.

I don't know much about shotgun sights, and especially ones compatible with a non-870 platform.

Thanks in advance!

I've long thought that standard shotgun "rifle sights" - and Ithaca's were the best - made perfect sense for police & SD since the sight picture is effectively the same as on a handgun.

I have two each way, Remington and Ithaca. I experimented briefly with a peep sighted Remington. It was OK but not enough of an improvement to be worth changing from what I had.

Mounting either a peep or traditional rifle sight may be expensive. For cost v. benefit, I'd keep the bead.

You might also find a reasonably priced RS barrel. Post 1962 should probably, maybe drop in.

Also note Ithaca made three different trigger groups, the original with a secondary sear and trip lever that will fire with the trigger held when the action is closed, the most desirable with a disconnector, and a cheap version with no disconnect that allows the hammer to follow, but will not fire. That can leave a live round in the chamber with the hammer down. That version was intended for sporting guns but found it's way into police guns too. #1 and #2 both require an educated trigger finger, but for the opposite reason.

Attached Images

Ithaca 37 10-10.jpg (179.2 KB, 40 views)

I had a DSPS a long time ago and I liked the sights a lot. The ex Mississippi High Way Patrol M37 that I have now just has a bead and it works fine for me.

__________________
Life NRA, Life TSRA, C&R FFL

The more the merrier.


I've been a sucker for an Ithaca for many a year.

Ned

__________________
Devil's afraid I'll take over.

SEXY Ithacas! Mine looks just like the third from the top. Long tube, no sights, simple, basic. I like it. Mine is parkerized without the little "hunting scene" on the side of the receiver. Does anyone know when they stopped that engraving? I've seen guns before and after mine with it, but mine is without it, also what is the breakdown on the blued v. parked guns?

I shoot left-handed and that got me intrigued with the idea of the bottom-eject Ithaca, and once I got one, that was it. I'm madly in love!

Regarding the trigger group, I must have the cheapo version that allows the hammer to follow, but not slamfire. This REALLY pisses me off, since 70% of why I sought out an old one was to get the slamfire "feature" that all the old-timers rave about! Oh well, it still works, but hot having either slamfire or at least a proper disconnector, well...it sticks in my craw, big league.

As far as sights, my old shotguns have all had beads, and I've never had one with either rifle or ghost-ring sights, but apparently, according to experts on the internet and even real life, any defensive shotgun NEEDS improved sights. I am not very well-versed, but I figure the bead should be good out to 25 yards for sure, and 50 with practice. Much longer than that, and you should either be disengaging, or you brought the wrong tool. Still, if adding sights can extend my range to say, 75 yards, (the max that the "experts" agree on), I wouldn't think that's necessarily a bad thing. Just for reference, since price was brought up, does anyone know an average price to fit rifle or ghost-ring sights?

The Ithaca sighting system for the DSPS actually used two different rear sights. One was the fixed sight and the other was a traditional rear adjustable for elevation. Both were on the Deer Slayer Police Special. They are great shotguns. My favorite. I would find them if possible and have them installed. I don't know if the factory will do it or not....
They are not useless and are very useful in my opinion. And I do think that the "Ghost Ring" sights are overrated. I would offer that you try to find an acceptable barrel that will fit your receiver then try for a fit one if you can't find a barrel. I think that it will be worth it. They are great guns!!!

^^^ This sounds good to me

But you need to make sure that the barrel you get will fit your 7 round magazine

__________________
Buy American
Vote Responsibly

A front bead is all you need,,unless you're going to be shooting slugs accurately at extreme ranges and need to drop them into small groups.

A simple bead allows a shotgunner to hit a clay target the size of a coffee cup saucer moving at 45mph+ out at 40yrds and beyond.
It'll do just fine for accross the room ranges,,and the best technique is not to look at the front bead/sights. Look at your target.
Everything else is gadgetry. JMO of course.

As Officer Brinkman reminds us, always unload from the magazine rather than working the shells through the action.