Ithaca Road Blocker

[jimmyj]

Hi:
The post on the Winchester Model 1886 .45/70 crescent butt plate brought back a long ago memory of another of Jimmy's "Chicken Out" episodes.
Testing out shotguns for an employer, one of the test guns was a 10 gauge Ithaca "Road Blocker" shotgun with 3 1/2 inch chamber. I declined to test fire it. The other officers did and reported that the recoil was "Noticeable"?

 

[NYlakesider]

Hi:
The post on the Winchester Model 1886 .45/70 crescent butt plate brought back a long ago memory of another of Jimmy's "Chicken Out" episodes.
Testing out shotguns for an employer, one of the test guns was a 10 gauge Ithaca "Road Blocker" shotgun with 3 1/2 inch chamber. I declined to test fire it. The other officers did and reported that the recoil was "Noticeable"?

That was with a semi auto action, imagine if it was pump!

Our local PD checked one out why back when, I got to handle it but did not fire as they had run out of ammo just before I arrived at the range. My buddy the cop RO/instructor told me it was dangerous at both ends!

 

[colt_saa]

I always wanted a Road Blocker......still do

 

[Vulcan Bob]

As someone who has never fired a 3" 12 gauge (2 3/4" is quite enough thank you) I too would have taken a pass on that one!

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

While on family vacation in January 1974, we were in Harlingen, Texas. Some drug runners had made it across the boarder at Brownsville, and were headed north. The Boarder Patrol and Texas State PD had a road block set up just South, of Harlingen. The drug runners bull dozed right through the crossed cursers and a few officers fired their sidearms. About a thousand feet up the Farm/ Market road a Ranger stood in the center of the road with no support but an Ithaca Road Blocker. I don't know which ammo he was using but the destroyed car rolled/skidded to a stop well short of the Ranger, the grill and hood were battered beyond recognition, the windshield was shattered and in the wind, and the two occupants were never read their rights. Three shots, no reload necessary!

Ivan

 

[CATI1835]

About a thousand feet up the Farm/ Market road a Ranger stood in the center of the road with no support but an Ithaca Road Blocker. I don't know which ammo he was using but the destroyed car rolled/skidded to a stop well short of the Ranger, the grill and hood were battered beyond recognition, the windshield was shattered and in the wind, and the two occupants were never read their rights. Three shots, no reload necessary!

Ivan

One riot, one Ranger. Gotta love those Texas Rangers...

 

[tops]

Hi:
The post on the Winchester Model 1886 .45/70 crescent butt plate brought back a long ago memory of another of Jimmy's "Chicken Out" episodes.
Testing out shotguns for an employer, one of the test guns was a 10 gauge Ithaca "Road Blocker" shotgun with 3 1/2 inch chamber. I declined to test fire it. The other officers did and reported that the recoil was "Noticeable"?

Mount some lights on it and a shell holder on the receiver and stock and paint it black it would be the ultimate tackteacool home defense gun. Larry

 

[ColbyBruce]

I owned one of those, put 1/2 box of shells through it and sold it to a very large GA state trooper. It was beyond brutal. I later had a BPS Stalker 10 gauge, which produced the same results. Those 10 gauge guns will throw a pattern about the size of a refrigerator though.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

As a kid, I used to hunt with several family owned guns.
One was a hammer double 10 gauge.
Yes, recoil was significant!

 

[.455Eley]

While on family vacation in January 1974, we were in Harlingen, Texas. Some drug runners had made it across the boarder at Brownsville, and were headed north. The Boarder Patrol and Texas State PD had a road block set up just South, of Harlingen. The drug runners bull dozed right through the crossed cursers and a few officers fired their sidearms. About a thousand feet up the Farm/ Market road a Ranger stood in the center of the road with no support but an Ithaca Road Blocker. I don't know which ammo he was using but the destroyed car rolled/skidded to a stop well short of the Ranger, the grill and hood were battered beyond recognition, the windshield was shattered and in the wind, and the two occupants were never read their rights. Three shots, no reload necessary!

Ivan

I love stories like this about the Rangers. They're a different breed.

 

[g8rb8]

While on family vacation in January 1974, we were in Harlingen, Texas. Some drug runners had made it across the boarder at Brownsville, and were headed north. The Boarder Patrol and Texas State PD had a road block set up just South, of Harlingen. The drug runners bull dozed right through the crossed cursers and a few officers fired their sidearms. About a thousand feet up the Farm/ Market road a Ranger stood in the center of the road with no support but an Ithaca Road Blocker. I don't know which ammo he was using but the destroyed car rolled/skidded to a stop well short of the Ranger, the grill and hood were battered beyond recognition, the windshield was shattered and in the wind, and the two occupants were never read their rights. Three shots, no reload necessary!

Ivan

I hope the Texas Ranger's shoulder was okay.

 

[jtcarm]

I'd do it. Talk about an intimidation gun!

Forget about those 3 1/2" 12 gauges. If you want 2 oz of shot sent at a target, a 10 will do it a whole lot better.

I read once about an African guide who used a Road Blocker to follow up wounded leopards. Perfect pick, IMO.


Ed Matunas said he once fired a 10 gauge sxs that doubled. Ouch

The Mag-10 was a pretty brilliant design, enough Remington bought the rights for the Mag-10 from Ithaca during one of their many bankruptcies and produced it as the SP-10.
I never understood why waterfowlers didn't turn to the 10 when lead-shot was outlawed. Perfect turkey round, too.

 

[grover99]

A number of years ago Walmart sold H&R single shot 10 gauges for around $100. A friend of mine bought one and talked me into shooting it. I didn't speak to him for a week until the pain went away

 

[Drm50]

I bought a Road Blocker when first out. Bought it used. I was
going to use it for deer gun but it didn't shoot well enough to
suit me. Recoil wasn't near as bad as 31/2" mg 12 g pump guns.
I traded it to a buddy of mine for a 3" m-12 Win. He got a barrel
for it and uses it for Turkey, he swears by it. He didn't use it for
deer either. I still have a bunch of 10g slugs, not in market for
another Road Blocker, but wouldn't mind a SxS 10g. I would
like to cut one down and make an "Alley Flusher" A couple max
loads of 71/2 shot out of 10g double would probaly cause it to
rain, would make a virtual cloud.

 

[L Pete]

Yep, Remington liked the idea.....

They're good goose guns with the proper barrel and load.........

 

[model70hunter]

I had one, it was great for Turkeys, ducks and geese.

After the gov mandated steel I sent it off to have the long full choke lead only bbl bobbed to 26" and chokes added.

Years earlier I had traded for a Marlin long tom in 10 gauge with about 30 boxes of ammo. Sold the gun to a guy who wanted it for a wall hanger only. I had plenty of ammo when H&R came out with the single shot 10 for turkey hunting.

Where I used to zero guns some slob dumped off a washer and dryer.
I had a box of #4 buckshot in my stash. It rocked the washer/dryer so hard I could see how it would peen a grill back around a car block.

P.S. The Ithaca Mag 10 recoil was a ***** cat compared to the H&R single shot.

I had some 2 7/8" 4 and 6 shot in the stash. I rabbit hunted with the H&R in the rain one day. I never saw a rabbit hit so hard.

I traded the Mag 10 to a trucker who wanted to carry it in his 18 wheeler. He traded me a Parker A grade. Didn't want to get rid of the Ithaca but that is the only time I saw an A grade Parker for sale in the flesh.

I loved the Mag 10 and sort of miss it but would never buy another.

 

[CALREB]

Almost 40 years ago a buddy of mine answered a c-the woman , strange noises , unknown trouble call. When he yelled police and rapped on the door, granny let loose with the OL Marlin Super Goose from inside . Man that door had a big hole through it.
We both learned a couple good lessons that day, never stand in front of any door on any call, and keep a clean pair of shorts at the station.
Granny was ok, and in those days, no harm no foul.

 

[fat tom]

I never understood why waterfowlers didn't turn to the 10 when lead-shot was outlawed.

I had a buddy that showed up for a morning hunt in one of our big beaver ponds. Brought an SP10. At first light,a big flight of wood ducks came in. He shot ONCE and FIVE woodies fell! At the time,the limit was TWO! Might be one reason not to adopt is as your go-to gun. Just sayin'.
f.t.

 

[jimmyj]

Almost 40 years ago a buddy of mine answered a c-the woman , strange noises , unknown trouble call. When he yelled police and rapped on the door, granny let loose with the OL Marlin Super Goose from inside . Man that door had a big hole through it.
We both learned a couple good lessons that day, never stand in front of any door on any call, and keep a clean pair of shorts at the station.
Granny was ok, and in those days, no harm no foul.

Practical experience of not standing in front of the door: Second day on the job got myself shot by standing in front of a "Well Being Check" of a alcoholic gentleman= LESSON LEARNED !

 

[tops]

In the early 60s a friend and I would call in foxes and he had a 10 ga. magnum with 32 in. barrels choked full and full. IIRC we shot 5 drs. powder, 2 oz. of #2s. I shot a fox one night and he went up in the air and I fired the second barrel. The fox could be rolled up like a piece of cloth. I don't think there was a piece of bone in him over 1/2 in long. Larry