Winchester 37-A question(s)
I bought this one today and would appreciate any information on it or its value. Winchester Model 37-A. 3" chamber. 12 guage, Serial number C756,7xx, made in Canada, barrel is 35 1/4 inch long with full choke and steel bead. Condition is 85-90% overall. Thanks for any replies.
"Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away." Thoreau
"Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away." Thoreau
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I paid $70 for a new one in 1974 or so, 28" full choke.
The Winchester single shot evolved from the model 37, to the 370, to the 37A. The 12 gauge is not particularly collectible but you may have a relatively rare version in that barrel length. The .410 brings a premium.
I would guess $130 to maybe as much as $200 in that barrel length.
Semper Fi
Remember Ruby Ridge.
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
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Are you sure about the 35 1/4 in barrel. The "Goose" gun model calls for a 36 inch barrel. If it's 35 1/4 inch, then I would think that the barrel had been cut for some reason. 0 -
Yes, it's exactly 35 1/4 inches. I measured it twice. I, too, thought it might have been cut but there are no signs of a cut barrel. The bead looks right as well. If it were cut, someone did a really good job of re-choking. I thought maybe it was re-choked to tighten the pattern as a shooting match gun. That's possible I guess. I'll pattern it this weekend and see how it shoots. It's a mystery to me. 0 -
The 28ga. brings the premium! 0 -
I have the exact gun but it is clearly 36" full. Someone cut your barrel, probably open up the choke. Mine is 98%+ and shoots very tight patterns. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by TWalker
Yes, it's exactly 35 1/4 inches. I measured it twice. I, too, thought it might have been cut but there are no signs of a cut barrel. The bead looks right as well. If it were cut, someone did a really good job of re-choking. I thought maybe it was re-choked to tighten the pattern as a shooting match gun. That's possible I guess. I'll pattern it this weekend and see how it shoots. It's a mystery to me.
Are you measuring the section of the barrel that is screwed into the frame? It appears like you are measuring just the portion of the barrel that is exposed (from the front edge of the frame to the muzzle).
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
I took a magnifying glass to the muzzle and I can barely tell that it has been cut. There are slight tool marks and the inside of the muzzle has been lightly chamfered. There is still a lot of choke left. A dime will not go through and when I cleaned the bore the patch was hard to push through when it reached the end of the barrel. I'll have to pattern it to see how tight it shoots. I hope I don't have a 35 inch Imp. Cyl. barrel now. Could it possibly have been cut to use with steel shot? Just an idea as it has a 3" chamber.
"Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away." Thoreau0 -
I checked mine with calipers and it is .685 A dime is .705 . Full choke in a 12 gauge is .690. I am thinking yours is between I/C and Mod. Don't laugh I used a 36" Hasting Wadlock barrel with screw choke of I/C for dove hunting last year and slaughted them. Someone wanted the choke opened up and cut her down a little. It is still a good gun. I might add though, I have a Winchester Defender that I had the 18" barrel threaded for winchokes. The .660 and .640 turkey chokes in this gun will shoot a tighter pattern than the 36" Winchester at 35 yd. ( stillboard shooting ) It is all in the choke. 0 -
I shot the M37A today. The choke is full. I believe that when the barrel was cut, someone made the choke tighter to use at shooting matches. At 25 yards the pattern is not much larger than a paper plate I was using as a target, and the wad hits the plate a lot of the time. At 35 yards it shoots tighter than my Browning A-5 Magnum with an extended turkey choke tube. I'm going to keep this gun. It should be good for turkey hunting and I think I'll try it at a few shooting matches as well.
"Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away." Thoreau0 -
Your gun could possibly be made by Crowder. I had one of his Winchester 37's in a 30 full. He used to advertise on the back of Shotgun news on his tightness of shotgun patterns. ( Does you gun shoot this tight ) on a full page ad..He passed away a few years back. If I had the chance to examine it I could tell you in a minute. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by TWalker
I shot the M37A today. The choke is full. I believe that when the barrel was cut, someone made the choke tighter to use at shooting matches. At 25 yards the pattern is not much larger than a paper plate I was using as a target, and the wad hits the plate a lot of the time. At 35 yards it shoots tighter than my Browning A-5 Magnum with an extended turkey choke tube. I'm going to keep this gun. It should be good for turkey hunting and I think I'll try it at a few shooting matches as well.
"Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away." Thoreau
I love the 37A. If this one might be for sale, or if you would like to trade for a different barrel, or buy a different barrel, drop me a line.
Semper Fi
Remember Ruby Ridge.
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
Check out what I've got on the block!0
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