I actually own two, one which was my grandfathers (circa 1921 or 1923 - I forgot which year - and has 26 inch barrels) and the other is around the same age with 28 inch barrels which I bought 8 years ago from a dealer for $300 - both are field grade. I have always shot modern ammo out of them, even 3 inch Nitro shells on a few occasions (if they fit in the chamber, I shoot them). I have a couple of videos on UA-cam of a turkey and a woodcock that I shot with the 28" gun. My 12 gauge Ithaca Flues shotguns can and do handle "modern" ammo. My grandfather's gun always has ever since the time modern ammo came out, I guess, because my family has been consistently shooting it for 3 generations (and the 4th generation is starting to use it now), but you are probably right in advising others not to do it, especially if they have just picked one of these up and know little about its history and shooting characteristics. I did once overheat the solder on my grandfather's flues during a dove hunt from too much continual shooting and the barrels began to separate, which required a costly repair from a former Ithaca Gun Co. gunsmith in NY, but under normal shooting and hunting conditions I have never encountered a problem or ever even given a thought to what I was shooting down the barrels. (Don't want to discourage you, though. People should definitely not take chances with any gun they are not familiar with).
awhitva .... Why in the world would you ever fire 3-inch loads out of 2-5/8" chambers? You are raising the pressure to dangerous levels. Please, either have the chambers lengthened to 2-3/4" or buy some RST 2-1/2" shells.
I completely disagree with the idea that modern ammo shouldn't be used in Ithaca Flues guns. About half way through the Flues production, they were beefed up with much thicker, higher quality steel. I've fired about 280 1 ounce, 1,600fps Federal Slugs out of my 1924 Ithaca Flues, and it has never had problems.
I have the mate to your gun in 16 gauge, a nice basic side by side. A local shop just got one in 20 gauge, a higher grade with nice engraving. He hasn't priced it yet but has given my right of first refusal for when he does price it. I'm hoping it comes in at $1,500 or so. It appears to be tight, I haven't had the forend off it to give it the shake test, haven't tested the barrels for the ring tone. It is an ejector gun, that will raise the price.
I have had my Flues since 1968 and have shot Federal game loads 12 gauge 1 oz 8 shot which are as light as I can find. It kicks hard but otherwise is fun. The top of the barrels on mine say "smokeless steel "
You need to have your flues chambers measured some are 2 1/2 inches not 2 3/4. Polywad or RST sell shells that are designed to shoot through old doubles and are great. Will they fire modern ones yes but why beat the old girl up?
I just picked up a 20 Gage Ithica that looks just like your 12 but weathered with character, lol Can't wait to blast a couple boxes of shells through it
I've had my 1915 12gs field grade since 1999. Bores are O/2, cylinder and mod. I hunt grouse and woodcock normally with light skeet or target loads. Have taken plenty of birds with mine. Later in the season when I need to get out further, I'll usually have another gun and switch to more powerful shells or high brass. I think any low brass bird shit would be fine (lead shot). I believe Sami takes into account the high number of older guns in circulation until you get into specialty loads. That's is if the gun is still tight, of course. I'm not a gunsmith, just letting you know I haven't blown my gun up.
+awhitva That's pretty interesting that you've been able to shoot your Flues with modern ammo for so long. If it's bagging birds then no need to worry but I'd still say try the RST shells because they are sweet
+ALittleBitofEverything Yes, I have looked at the website, and I am interested in giving the RST shells a try - I am always looking for something that will shoot well/ pattern well through my two Ithacas.
Whoever wrote what you "read" doesn't know what they're talking about. Unless a gun is marked 2-3/4" on the barrel flats it must have its chambers measured or just assume they're short and shoot only 2-1/2" shells out of it.
@@ronbloomberg no need for parentheses on read , as I actually read it… but if you are implying I’m lying about it that’s your problem , not mine. Can’t remember where I read it , that’s why I mentioned it to get feedback , it’s not like I’m saying it’s true , I’m saying I don’t know.
@@guaporeturns9472 Oh no, buddy. I'm sorry...you took me all wrong. I was only trying to be helpful to you by calling out the ignorance of the one that wrote the misinformation. And right now I'm trying to remember why I chose to put the word Read in quotes. Please disregard that. Sorry again for the misunderstanding. Take care and be well.
Mark, sorry for the very, very late response, but I usually have a gun in mind I want to buy and then look for it at a gun show. I've had pretty good luck doing this, but definitely requires a lot of research which is why I made this video to save others time. .a bernadelli is a high end sxs shotgun
The Flues is not a well designed shotgun. The sides of the frame are very thin compared to all other SXS box locks. Cracked frames are the result of this and Ithaca had to deal with this thru it's production. These thin sides also don't offer much of a recoil shoulder so cracked stocks is another problem with these. Mostly because of oil soaked wood over the past 100 yrs and the recoil from modern ammo. Ithica replaced the Flues with the model NID (new Ithica Double) and that gun is much better, stronger and more attractive.
You need to educate yourself the Flues is certainly csple of shooting modern ammo, unless it has Damascus barrels and sufficient wall thickness. Frame cracking is due to recoil not pressure.
I actually own two, one which was my grandfathers (circa 1921 or 1923 - I forgot which year - and has 26 inch barrels) and the other is around the same age with 28 inch barrels which I bought 8 years ago from a dealer for $300 - both are field grade. I have always shot modern ammo out of them, even 3 inch Nitro shells on a few occasions (if they fit in the chamber, I shoot them). I have a couple of videos on UA-cam of a turkey and a woodcock that I shot with the 28" gun. My 12 gauge Ithaca Flues shotguns can and do handle "modern" ammo. My grandfather's gun always has ever since the time modern ammo came out, I guess, because my family has been consistently shooting it for 3 generations (and the 4th generation is starting to use it now), but you are probably right in advising others not to do it, especially if they have just picked one of these up and know little about its history and shooting characteristics. I did once overheat the solder on my grandfather's flues during a dove hunt from too much continual shooting and the barrels began to separate, which required a costly repair from a former Ithaca Gun Co. gunsmith in NY, but under normal shooting and hunting conditions I have never encountered a problem or ever even given a thought to what I was shooting down the barrels. (Don't want to discourage you, though. People should definitely not take chances with any gun they are not familiar with).
awhitva .... Why in the world would you ever fire 3-inch loads out of 2-5/8" chambers?
You are raising the pressure to dangerous levels.
Please, either have the chambers lengthened to 2-3/4" or buy some RST 2-1/2" shells.
I completely disagree with the idea that modern ammo shouldn't be used in Ithaca Flues guns. About half way through the Flues production, they were beefed up with much thicker, higher quality steel. I've fired about 280 1 ounce, 1,600fps Federal Slugs out of my 1924 Ithaca Flues, and it has never had problems.
So are you saying I should fire slugs out of my 1908 flues with a fluid steel barrel lol
@@SuperBikerboy101 yep
I have the mate to your gun in 16 gauge, a nice basic side by side. A local shop just got one in 20 gauge, a higher grade with nice engraving. He hasn't priced it yet but has given my right of first refusal for when he does price it. I'm hoping it comes in at $1,500 or so. It appears to be tight, I haven't had the forend off it to give it the shake test, haven't tested the barrels for the ring tone. It is an ejector gun, that will raise the price.
I have had my Flues since 1968 and have shot Federal game loads 12 gauge 1 oz 8 shot which are as light as I can find. It kicks hard but otherwise is fun. The top of the barrels on mine say "smokeless steel "
You need to have your flues chambers measured some are 2 1/2 inches not 2 3/4. Polywad or RST sell shells that are designed to shoot through old doubles and are great. Will they fire modern ones yes but why beat the old girl up?
@@dowdawg all the 12 gauge are 2 3/4
@@guaporeturns9472 not till after 1924, before then they could be shorter 2 1/2 or 2 9/16
@@dowdawg yeah I guess so. Much more common in 16 gauge it seems
Reamed chambers out to 2 3/4” 20 years ago. Shoots great
I just picked up a 20 Gage Ithica that looks just like your 12 but weathered with character, lol
Can't wait to blast a couple boxes of shells through it
I'm having an old Steven's model 235 restored and my gunsmith said I'm fine using low recoil 2 3/4.
I've had my 1915 12gs field grade since 1999. Bores are O/2, cylinder and mod. I hunt grouse and woodcock normally with light skeet or target loads. Have taken plenty of birds with mine. Later in the season when I need to get out further, I'll usually have another gun and switch to more powerful shells or high brass. I think any low brass bird shit would be fine (lead shot). I believe Sami takes into account the high number of older guns in circulation until you get into specialty loads. That's is if the gun is still tight, of course. I'm not a gunsmith, just letting you know I haven't blown my gun up.
+awhitva That's pretty interesting that you've been able to shoot your Flues with modern ammo for so long. If it's bagging birds then no need to worry but I'd still say try the RST shells because they are sweet
+ALittleBitofEverything Yes, I have looked at the website, and I am interested in giving the RST shells a try - I am always looking for something that will shoot well/ pattern well through my two Ithacas.
What about mini shells?
I read that all Ithaca 12 gauge doubles are 2 3/4 inch.. only 16 and 20 gauge had shorter chambers.. I think
Whoever wrote what you "read" doesn't know what they're talking about. Unless a gun is marked 2-3/4" on the barrel flats it must have its chambers measured or just assume they're short and shoot only 2-1/2" shells out of it.
@@ronbloomberg no need for parentheses on read , as I actually read it… but if you are implying I’m lying about it that’s your problem , not mine. Can’t remember where I read it , that’s why I mentioned it to get feedback , it’s not like I’m saying it’s true , I’m saying I don’t know.
@@guaporeturns9472
Oh no, buddy. I'm sorry...you took me all wrong. I was only trying to be helpful to you by calling out the ignorance of the one that wrote the misinformation. And right now I'm trying to remember why I chose to put the word Read in quotes. Please disregard that.
Sorry again for the misunderstanding.
Take care and be well.
@@ronbloomberg All good 🙂 .. be well
were are you buying your side by sides? Same gun is for sale at a gunship in Florence Kentucky for 179.00 and it is in very good condition!
Mark, sorry for the very, very late response, but I usually have a gun in mind I want to buy and then look for it at a gun show. I've had pretty good luck doing this, but definitely requires a lot of research which is why I made this video to save others time. .a bernadelli is a high end sxs shotgun
@@chino-ir8sy $179 in good condition? I'm watching one on GB and it is just under 600$. $179 is a no brainer.
What the hell is a Bernadelli?
The Flues is not a well designed shotgun. The sides of the frame are very thin compared to all other SXS box locks. Cracked frames are the result of this and Ithaca had to deal with this thru it's production. These thin sides also don't offer much of a recoil shoulder so cracked stocks is another problem with these. Mostly because of oil soaked wood over the past 100 yrs and the recoil from modern ammo. Ithica replaced the Flues with the model NID (new Ithica Double) and that gun is much better, stronger and more attractive.
"Burn A Deli"
BRUH Lmao
Mine says "Nitro Proof" on the barrels
Yeah I got my 20ga for $450 bought from a pawn shop
You need to educate yourself the Flues is certainly csple of shooting modern ammo, unless it has Damascus barrels and sufficient wall thickness. Frame cracking is due to recoil not pressure.
Like the other says your pronunciation of flues is incorrect, flews would be more correct.
Stop pronouncing Flues that way. I could only stand about 3 min.
Damn what if my guy has a speech impediment😂
Obviously you feel threatened by him. Get over it. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Youŕ story is very long ànd useless