doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Ithaca Flues 16 ga ???????

I have a Flues 16 28 in barrels, imp mod and full, serial number 356012 (1921 I think), was wondering what chamber length would it be. Hoping to use it tomorrow for dove but I have 2 3/4 length shells???????

Probably 2 9/16.

If I use the polywad vintiger loads will the 2 3/4 shells cause more recoil?Thanks for the info.

My 16 gauge Poly Vintagers are 2 1/2".

Would any Flues 16's have left the Ithaca factory with 2 3/4" chambers? I know that we never want to say "never" where American classic doubles are concerned, but it was my understanding that Ithaca did not change to 2 3/4" chambers in the 16ga until the mid-30's.

I had (and sold) a 1926 16 ga. Grade 1 NID with 2-3/4" chambers. Pretty sure the gun was all original.

ITHACA CHAMBERS -- The last Flues period catalogue (1925) states -- "Unless otherwise ordered Ithaca 28 Gauge and 20 Gauge guns are chambered for the standard 2 1/2 inch shell, 16 Gauge and 12 Gauge for the standard 2 3/4 inch shell (I don't believe this is right as the next years NID catalogue puts the 16-gauge at 2 9/16 inch) and 10 Gauge for the standard 2 7/8 inch shell. Longer chambers are furnished if ordered on new guns without extra charge, but it should be remembered that shells of standard length do not give quite as good results in chambers which are longer than the shells and it should be remembered that extra long shells are more expensive and it is much harder to find a dealer who carries extra long shells in stock." I find that 2 3/4 inch pretty strange in the 16-gauge, because 2 9/16 was the standard 16-gauge shell until WW-II!?! None of my earlier Flues period catalogues mention chamber lengths.

Beginning with the first NID catalogue in 1926 they state -- "Unless otherwise ordered Ithaca .410 Cal. and 20 Gauge guns are chambered for the standard 2 1/2 inch shell, 16 Gauge for 2 9/16 inch, 12 Gauge for 2 3/4 inch and 10 Gauge for the standard 2 7/8 inch shell." The 28 gauge doesn't appear in NID period catalogues until 1932 though they did make some. Beginning with the 1927 catalogue the sentence is changed to -- "Unless otherwise ordered Ithaca .410 Cal. guns are chambered for the standard 2 1/2 inch shell, 16 Gauge for 2 9/16 inch, 20 and 12 Gauge for 2 3/4 inch and 10 Gauge for the standard 2 7/8 inch shell." Ithaca catalogues for 1926, 1927, 1927-1928, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931-1932, 1932, No. 50F, and No. 51S, all list 16-gauge as 2 9/16-inch chambers. Beginning with the 1932 catalogue the 28-gauge with 2 7/8 inch chamber is added to the list and it also introduces the 3 1/2 inch Magnum Ten Gauge. By Ithaca catalogue No. 51F the 16-gauge is finally listed with 2 3/4-inch chambers and the 410-bore with 3-inch chambers. I believe the catalogues No. 51 equate to 1934.

There can very well be differences between what was printed in the catalogues and what workers were doing on the factory floor.

Went hunting today with the Ithaca, used the polywad Spreder 7 1/2 I really think the Polywad Spreder is for closer shots but after 2 boxes I had 10 or 12 birds, finished the limit of 15 with a little 410 pump shoting 8's. The 16 was working fine and the 2 3/4 shells seemed to work fine, I still think this one is 2 3/4 chambers but I can't seem to feel any resistance in the chamber as to length of chamber. The stock checkering feels smooth from wear and the receiver is silver (clear) no case colors, the gun is very tight and functions wonderfully. Its great fun using an old gun, seems like you are hunting with all prior owners.

Murphy, I used to hunt with a buddy's brother who often fired 3" magnum shells in his dads' Flues 20 guage. He complained about the recoil, but got away with it. On the other hand, I have a 16 ga. and a 20 ga. Flues that I picked up as parts guns. Both have ruptured barrels. Both split badly in the forend area and it is hard to imagine that they didn't hurt the shooters left hand. If you saw how thin the barrel walls on a Flues are in that area, you might be hesitant to shoot anything but the correct length low pressure shells in your gun. I know for certain that my friends' brother was both foolish and very lucky. Now, I have no idea what caused these two guns to let loose. It may have been due to dents or obstructions or simply a few hundred more p.s.i. than they could handle. I hope you'll consider having your barrels checked for both chamber length and chambers reamed to 2 3/4" by a competent gunsmith.

In my youth I knew a Native American who loved to pass shoot Geese and he was stuffing 3 1/2 inch 10-gauge shells in a heavy Crass, and as far as I know it never blew.