Ithaca Model 66

[bigmoose]

On the way to work today I stopped at my local gun shop to check on current inventory. I saw this crazy 'lever action' single shot Ithaca with slug sights. Very respectable condition.
"How much?" I says.
Owner says "Hundred bucks."
"I'll take it." Says I.
I love those Ithaca slug sights.
I scrounged up a velcro 5 shot buttstock bandoleer from his used parts bin..perfect.
12 gauge at around 5 pounds, give or take. Ouch, my shoulder hurts just thinking about it. Gonna make a great camp gun.

Anyone have any experience with these 1960s curiosities?

I snapped a quick pic after I put it in the trunk.

 

[Ruger 13]

Very nice! I see them once in awhile on used racks!

 

[damienph]

I've never seen one but for $100? It would be in my shotgun rack as well.

 

[ralph7]

Why was the rear sight mounted too far forward to take advantage of a longer radius advantage if moved to the rear of the barrel?

Cool shotgun concept, though...

 

[30-30remchester]

When I was @13 I was in a Gibson's variety store in Hobbs, New Mexico. In the gun department they had a brand new model 66 in 12 gauge for sale at the price of $24.99. I pulled out my wallet and produced the money. The salesman just then saw my dad. The two made eye contact and my dad just shrugged. So, I took it out that very day to hunt rabbits. When I touched it off for the first time, my 110 pound self was impressed with the amount of recoil. After a box I wanted to go home. Not my first gun but the first I bought myself.

 

[sceva]

Nice singles.

I remember one my Father in law had though. Thought it was rifles but I looked and it was spiral tool feed lined; never finish reamed

 

[30-30remchester]

Attending a gun show a few years ago, I saw an Ithica 66 receiver that had broken in half. Not knowing how the break happened I would just keep an eye out for any cracks.

 

[browningcollector]

Grandpa bought two of these in 1971 for my brother and me. They were in 410. We were 7 year twins and I was in high heaven as I wanted a gun to hunt with. It was my first gun and I killed a lot of squirrels with it

Good memories

Kelly

 

[tops]

Why was the rear sight mounted too far forward to take advantage of a longer radius advantage if moved to the rear of the barrel?

Cool shotgun concept, though...

My thinking is because of the barrel taper if the rear sight was at the rear of the barrel the front sight would have too be very high. Larry

 

[CajunBass]

Many years ago, about 1966 or so, I was "prowling" around in the house looking for "stuff" Santa had hidden. Under my parents bed I saw a long slender box that I pulled out. The tape seals were broken, so looking about quickly, I opened it.

There inside, was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I wasn't sure what it was, but I knew it was a shotgun of some kind. I was pretty sure it wasn't for one of my four sisters, and my Dad didn't hunt, or shoot, so that left only ME. I was going to get a gun for Christmas!

Every day I guess for a month, I'd sneak in, pull that box out and just stare at the beautiful piece of wood and blue steel. I didn't dare take it out, I was sure to disturb something and everyone would know I had found it (I suspect they knew anyway.).

Finally Christmas morning arrived after a long sleepless night, and there it was across the arms of the chair that held "my stuff." I learned then it was an Ithaca M-66, "youth model" in 20 gauge, 3" chamber, with a 26" modified choke barrel. With it there were two boxes of Sears 20 gauge shells, both 2 3/4", number 6 shot. I'm pretty sure I got some other stuff, but I couldn't tell you what it was.

My safety lecture was "Don't shoot yourself, or anyone else." and the best advice my mother ever gave me..."Don't ever shoot anything you can't brag about." I don't know how many times that advice came back to me when I was hunting and was tempted to break some law or other.

"I'll be careful." I promised, as I ran out onto the back porch, and loaded the gun. (We lived WAY out in the country) and fired a shot off the porch into the woods. Then I broke the gun and removed the spent shell, and for the first time in my life, breathed in that most delightful smell of burnt powder, on a cold December morning. I still do that most of the time for that first shot. The smell never gets old.

I hunted with that gun for a couple of years, but quickly outgrew the "youth stock." Still I held onto it, until my ex and I split up and I gave it to my son, to pass along to his son someday.

 

[Truckman]

I once bought a new one in .410 sometime in the 70's I think...At some point I remember the barrel shrinking to a point just forward of the forend...Then somehow the stock cut itself off just behind the grip...I believe it was all done as a result of spontaneous amputation since such a deliberate act would have clearly violated some rule somewhere...My foggy memory somehow pictures it in a black holster marked as "S&W Mod 29" on someone's belt...

But it was probably just a dream brought on by a marathon of watching "Wanted Dead Or Alive" reruns on Saturday afternoon TV......Ben

 

[2152hq]

Those were very popular in the 60's.
I think the OP's gun was called the BuckBuster,,a Model 66RS (RifleSights).
Slug gun only around here for deer at that time and if you were a youngster just starting to hunt deer, one of these was a big deal to have.

The rear sight really isn't that far forward. It's about the same distance as if the gun were a pump or auto slug gun .
There's just no frame/recv'r there and sight looks way out onto the bbl.

The frames on these are an alloy,,I think the same Zinc casting alloy or a similar that they used on the Mod 49 .22
There's 4 or 5 different Zamak casting alloys all having different strength and casting properties.
Makes for a lightweight firearm,,and a 'you know it went off' gun especially in a 12ga slug gun.

 

[Heinz]

I was given a 20 gauge hunting model, no sights, as a gift back around 1968. Still have it, great rabbit and squirrel killer. Mine was fairly upscale Ithaca quality. A bit odd looking but a solid, light weight, hunting tool.

 

[Benton Quest]

I have a 20 gauge version with a beaded sight.

First shotgun when I was about 7 or so.

Insane recoil....

Sent from my SM-A025V using Tapatalk

 

[Drm50]

I've never owned the slug model, but sighted a 20g in for a kid. Shot very respectful groups, on par with any other smooth bore. I would jump on one at $100. They aren't the best made guns. As with other Ithaca's other than the 37 pump, the 22s and 66s have zinc alloy receivers and running gears are held on splined pins. I would guess if one broke in half it would be at the hinge pin. It's only place reasonable. Diameter of hinge pin plus Zinc alloy would make weakest point of design. I wouldn't hesitate to buy or shoot one. I've had many 12s with standard FC barrel.
I hate the Flo sights on slug guns. Ithaca started including a black blade to replace the Flo. Many didn't like the Barley Corn either. I ground several Marble beads to fit Ithaca slug gun for customers. I liked the Ray Bars for shot shooting. On dingy days in the woods they really stood out for bird hunting.

 

[hs125]

Nice score there Big Moose! My Dad worked for Ithaca and made the Mag 10 receivers. Your gun is in fact a "Buckbuster," as the previous poster mentioned. Double check the chamber length as I believe they're 2 3/4" only. Enjoy your Ithaca!

 

[ruger 22]

I had two of these in the 1960's. One in 20 and the other in 12 gauge. Both were very accurate and fine shooters. The are a bit light but most Ithaca shotguns were made to carry all day and were light weight. Very Dependable and I think you got a very good deal. My 12 kicked no more than the 20 and both accounted for several deer. You do not really feel the kick when you are hunting with it anyhhow.

 

[F224]

Due to the way Ithaca made the barrels, the M66RS, like the M37 slug guns, are extremely accurate with rifled slugs. The two I have owned would shoot three rounds into about 2" at 80 yards. It's my understanding, but I could be wrong, that the barrels have a slightly different set of bore dimensions that facilitate improved slug accuracy. A M37 I had years ago would shoot sabot Winchester slugs into an inch at 25 yards, but quickly opened up to 4-5" at 100.

In the 1960-70's they were the best thing for shooting deer in shotgun only states.