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Ithaca 10 GA - Good shotgun for Home Defense?

9K views 34 replies 19 participants last post by  dfariswheel 
#1 ·
I have a chance to buy an Ithaca 10 GA semi auto. Are they reliable shotguns? Do they have a good reputation?

I had planned use it for hunting and to keep it in the bedroom for self defense. Good idea? I live in a wood structure home with my nearest neighbor about 10 yards away. Will it go through a sheetrock/wooden stud wall?

I have no experience with these.
 
#2 ·
10 Gauge is pretty ferocious. Penetration will be a function of the ammo you choose to use slugs, buck or bird
Have you shot it? Do you have a spouse? Will she be able to handle it?
I think there are better choices
Good luck, though, with whatever you choose
 
#3 ·
It was once nicknamed "the Roadblocker" because of its reputation at stopping vehicles that tried running them.

Expensive to feed. No fun to blast cans with. It would be handy for knocking down a Velociraptor if one ever attacks you. :lol:

It is a fairly specialized piece of hardware, you probably don't need one unless you already have too many guns, and just want something for braggin' rights. 12 gauge slugs kick more than a lot of guys can handle. I cringe at what a 10 might do, and if practice hurts, you won't train, and then what's the point of having it, if you can't enjoy using it enough to get good with it, or afford enough boxes of shells to stay good with it.

I'd advise buying one ONLY if the price was very right, just to have. But if it was going to be your only hunting/self defense firearm, it would be a very poor choice regardless of price.

Paladin
 
#4 ·
in the house a 10ga is alot to much. for most home type sit a 2 3/4 12ga shell is plenty. also the 10g is not the easiest of guns to find the shells for. a 12 ga is much easier to find a greater verity of shells that will do almost anything you will want a shotgun to do.
that said i have 2 10ga and there is no better goose or turkey shotgun made. i also have a 3 1/2 inch chambered 12ga that is a good all around shot gun but like all jack of all trades it is not master of none.
if the price is rite buy it try it you like it :wink:
 
G
#6 ·
I have only seen 1 10 gauge and that has bought by the only guy I knew that had to have the biggest of everything.

He was proud and showed it to everyone......I watched him pulls the trigger twice and I never saw or heard about it again :eek:

For an HD shot gun and the wifey might need things I would tone it back to a Winchester Defender of Mossy 500 in 20 gauge and practice.

There is an old saying that if the Clackity Clack, don't come back no more, no more, no more don't turn them away maybe you need to get out :eek:

Call up the 1st Air Cav or some Arty unit and forgo the 10 gau with neighbors so close.........they know where the BG is.

HD interior you want small, short barrel and compact not a 28 inch tube to let the BG know just where you are 3 feet before you get there.

Just my opinion but then my M1A, Garand and all other long guns are locked in the safe......Out and about are a Cetme in .308, M1 Carbine and a few 1911's.

Karsten
 
#7 ·
I have shot a 10 a few time duck hinting with my friends. I will not own a 10 for anything. I would hate to know I had to try a follow up shot on a moving bad guy. A 12 ga in the house with a load of 7 1/2 bird shot is hard to beat. I have a 20 ga o/u that I used to bird hunt with and it's got the screw in choke system, with the cyl choke it will up up at about 10 yards. Any shotgun at close range say under 10 yards will not open up any pattern at all. It's like a big rifle :eek: I think a double barrel 12 or 20 with a cyl choke and a load of Rem Exp bird shot #7 1/2 would be bad news on BG's. The up side of a double barrel fouling piece is that it is a hunting gun. Right? I mean what DA could give you a fit about using a sporting arm to save a man's castle? Jeff Copper like them. Enuff said!
 
#8 ·
I have a 10 ga. bolt action shotgun with a 38 inch barrel. It's recoil firing 3.5 inch magnum loads is quite a bit LESS than my Mossberg 12 ga. pump firing 3 inch magnum loads.

This is another example showing that recoil is dramatically reduced by the weight of the weapon. To say that a 10 gauge kicks harder than a 12 gauge is a generalization and not a hard and fast rule. Another example: a .38 Spl derringer kicks harder than a .44 Magnum Ruger Blackhawk.

But to get back to the subject: My 10 ga. is a very poor home defense weapon. A baseball bat or shovel handle is dramatically faster and more effective than trying to swing that long heavy anti-aircraft gun up to the shoulder or around a corner. 10 gauge ammo is getting hard to find too, just like 16 gauge, and if you do find it, expect to pay $2 per round and not get the load you want.

For home defense, a short barrel 20 gauge semi-auto loaded with BB or 1/4 buck is my preference... FWIW
 
#9 ·
For a defensive deal, a 10guage double barrel should surely make 'em start backing up, but so should any other shotgun. Especially when they see that big hole in the front end. I'm thinking for this purpose anything that 10guage will do, the 12s will do better for you.
 
#10 ·
I would advise against it as well as every one else you wont meet a man in your life that wont be stoped by 00 buck shot. If there is a rare case you miss or he doesnt go down you will be able to confidently give a second shot. Where i think with a 10 you might be not confident enough i know 99.99 percent people wouldnt be because of the extremely large calber. thats my take
 
#15 ·
REVIVING this 16 year old THREAD:

Its April 2020 and we have COVID19 spreading rapidly in the United States. Thousands dead.

I do in fact own an Ithaca Mag-10 that has been professionally shortened to a 24in barrel. I have ALL carlson chokes available for the gun. I want to change to home defense with this gun, as my 20ga is elsewhere at the moment.

CAN THE MAG-10 BE MODIFIED TO HOLD MORE THAN 2 SHELLS IN THE MAGAZINE?
 
#16 ·
To All,

This is definitely a case of THREAD RESURRECTION from 2004.

THAT SAID: The MAG TEN or its cousin, the ROADBLOCKER, is a specialist firearm that is UNSURPASSED for long-range duck/goose hunting.
(THE mighty ROADBLOCKER would be MY CHOICE for STOPPING DANGEROUS GAME "in the thick stuff".)


Should you run upon a T-REX, you will NOT be "UNDER-GUNNED" with either ITHACA.

FWIW, HARRY SELBY, the justly famous PROFESSIONAL HUNTER, often said that, "I would trust nothing less than a 10-bore double-barrel, loaded with heavy shot, to turn a wounded Cape Buffalo at close range."
(Selby's PET was a SxS 10-GAUGE MATADOR, loaded with 000 buckshot.)

yours, sw
 
#17 ·
To All,

This is definitely a case of THREAD RESURRECTION from 2004.

THAT SAID: The MAG TEN or its cousin, the ROADBLOCKER, is a specialist firearm that is UNSURPASSED for long-range duck/goose hunting.
(THE mighty ROADBLOCKER would be MY CHOICE for STOPPING DANGEROUS GAME "in the thick stuff".)

Should you run upon a T-REX, you will NOT be "UNDER-GUNNED" with either ITHACA.

FWIW, HARRY SELBY, the justly famous PROFESSIONAL HUNTER, often said that, "I would trust nothing less than a 10-bore double-barrel, loaded with heavy shot, to turn a wounded Cape Buffalo at close range."
(Selby's PET was a SxS 10-GAUGE MATADOR, loaded with 000 buckshot.)

yours, sw
But,

CAN THE MAG-10 BE MODIFIED TO HOLD MORE THAN 2 SHELLS IN THE MAGAZINE?

:confused:
 
#19 · (Edited)
IIRC, Shelly had problems with black mombas and got chewed on one night by a leopard. Oh, wait a minute, it was Raurk that had the leopard in his face.

If we're talking about stateside and a 2 legged do-bad, then a 20 works with 000 and a 12 works even better. A 10 gauge for a soft skinned critter of that sort a 10 is excessive. Don't forget you don't want over penetration in the house and it not recommended outside because of who/what may be down range.

FWI, here's my preferred cure for night-crawlers:




You'd need to replace the mag tube on the Mac 10 and Nurmich doesn't seem to have one.
 
#20 · (Edited)
csmkersh,

IF we did NOT have POLAR BEARS, GRIZZLY BEARS & FERAL BULLS in the USA, I would agree with you 100%.
(IF I'm hunting in an area of FAR South TX,where feral bulls are COMMON & in the "thick stuff", I routinely carry my Model 760 in 9.3x62mm.)

Personally,since I do NOT "pass shoot" ducks/geese OR go to Alaska to hunt/fish in bear country, I likely will NOT buy either 10 gauge. UNTIL/UNLESS we head off to Africa next year.

SELBY's "closest call" & as he said, "- - -- the nearest that I came to having dinner with Jesus" was when he had to go "into the bush" to kill a lioness that a client had GUT-SHOT. - The lioness pounced upon his back, knocked him down & went for his spine with teeth & claws. Selby's gunbearer speared the lioness in back of the neck & ended her attack.

TO ANSWER THE ORIGINAL QUERY: For house defense, I want my old remington Model 870 RIOT-GUN with #4 buckshot.

yours, sw
 
#21 ·
TO ANSWER THE ORIGINAL QUERY: For house defense, I want my old remington Model 870 RIOT-GUN with #4 buckshot.

yours, sw
You haven't answered the original query at all. :(

The fellow normally uses a 20 ga for HD but is separated from it for some reason, and apparently only has access to the Ithaca 10 he asked about. Does anyone know the answer to his question? :confused:
 
#22 · (Edited)
Snake, doughboy did answer the question in a round about way. He wants no part of a Mac 10, stock or modified, but rather his Remy 870. I'll stick the 20 gauge I posted about or my Mossy 500 12 gauge which holds 7 2&3/4 inch shells, preferable in number 4 buck.




And I was more specific; You would need to lengthen the mag tube to load more than 2 rounds. Nurmich doesn't seem to have a longer tube for the Mac 10 so I suspect he's SOL.
 
#23 ·
And I was more specific; You would need to lengthen the mag tube to load more than 2 rounds. Nurmich doesn't seem to have a longer tube for the Mac 10 so I suspect he's SOL.
You did say that and I missed it and I apologize to you. My bad on that. :(

But the question was not and never has been about the choice of the gun in question, or what might work better. All such discussion is irrelevant.
 
#25 ·
True, but consider the audience. The question was asked by a first-time noob. What kind of impression are we making?

Just last week another first-timer showed up and checked in. The ensuing "discussion" devolved into a back-and-forth on Civil War prison camps, of all things. :( The noob hasn't posted again. And I can't say I blame him. :confused:
 
#26 ·
The question still remains, my location is Florida, so take that as you will.

I am very familiar with what this gun does to waterfowl with steel shot and improved cylinder chokes in flooded timber in the Mississippi river flyway.

I did happen upon this youtube video and he doesn't seem to show a way to remove the magainze spring. Thoughts?

 
#28 ·
Snake45,

Lest I be accused AGAIN by the CSM to answering in a roundabout way, I do NOT foresee ANY need for a TEN GAUGE of any sort for house defense, UNLESS that's ALL that the householder can acquire.

IF I was going to start "pass shooting" ducks (At 73YO, I seriously doubt if I'll suddenly start hunting ducks/geese.) & geese at LONG range OR hunting/fishing in Alaska, I MIGHT buy a 10 gauge for those SPECIALIZED purposes.
(My old Remington 870 suits my needs just FINE.)

yours, sw
 
#29 · (Edited)
Snake 45,

YES, the ITHACA MAG TEN certainly CAN be modified to hold more than 2 shells in the magazine by having a gunsmith fit it with the extended magazine tube that is available for the ROADBLOCKER.

That said, doing that modification will NOT be inexpensive. = IF a person has a need for a 5 to 7 round TEN GAUGE, they could do FAR WORSE than buying a ROADBLOCKER, with the LONG accessory magazine tube, that was made for police/military use.

yours, sw
 
#30 · (Edited)
Accused? I thought I was defending you in a round about way. :(

FWI, I agree that the 10 gauge for home defense is too much, "... UNLESS that's ALL that the householder can acquire."

I have 3 pumps and as many double barreled shotguns I consider suitable for home defense. Smallest gauge is 20 and largest is 12, no sweet 16s though. Oh, there's a .410 in the safe but I don't claim that one; Was my MiL and now my wife's.

Walt, I've found the No. 4s work well outside too. I always hated picking doves. :rolleyes:

...Just last week another first-timer showed up and checked in. The ensuing "discussion" devolved into a back-and-forth on Civil War prison camps, of all things. The noob hasn't posted again. And I can't say I blame him.
Was he a damnyankee?
 
#31 ·
csmkersh,

I have NO way of knowing if "the new guy" was a DAMNYANKEE or NOT. - Perhaps just a "snowflake'" who didn't like me posting THE TRUTH, i.e., the results of my WBTS research & commenting back & forth with our esteemed, longtime, member, CPT Gyro.
(The saying, "IF you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen", comes to mind.)

yours, sw
 
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