I have a question for you long time model 37 lovers, I have a used one in good condition that I have been using for a few years now, and it has started to be a bit quirky, won't eject a fired shell, and sometimes won't feed a new one even after it has ejected the empty. And sometimes feeds the live one behind the dead one cause it didn't eject.
This only seems to happen when I cycle the action in the field after a shot at game, maybe I rack it with more force, but when test fired and racked lightly eveything works ok. Other than that I love the gun. I'm shoot lefty, and love the light weight. I havn't taken it apart cause I havn't commited to that yet, how hard are they to put back together, it might just be a weak extractor, or a rough chamber(?)
It gets cleaned with solvent sprayed into the action and lightly oiled once in a while.
It has always done this, but it is happening with greater frequency as time goes buy, I got it a pawn shop, and shoot it more than any of my other shotguns because I like the way it points,

what do you suggest?

anybody else knows what it feels like to drop the hammer on an empty chamber when mister rooster cackles and flies away?

this is also posted over in bird hunting forum, but I thought this was the correct place to post this question.

Sounds like your getting a little excited working that pump action. I have a Model 37 Slug Gun that I use as Camping and Boat Gun with Brennek Slugs, I have noticed it has prefered cycle rethym. The main thing about pumps is have you have to learn to stoke them, everyone stokes a little different like Rem Win Ithaca's.

what do you suggest?

Strip/disassemble and clean the chamber with plastic solvent and clean under and behind the extractor and get the gunk out. Or let a gunsmith do it. It is probably just dirt and fouling accumulated from not getting rigorously cleaned.

low tech,
On not ejecting hulls -
Check to see if the extractor is chipped or worn. Also check to see if the extractor spring is weak. To check this its easiest to take the bolt out of the gun. Changing the extractor and spring isn't too difficult. Also make sure the chamber is clean. Last, try a different shell. I have an Ithaca that just hates older federal hulls, won't extract them. Other brands work fine.
On not loading a shell. Sounds like cleaning is the culprit. Chean the mag tube. Disassemble the gun and clean all the parts. Take off out the shell retainer bar, clean it and the slot it sits in. NOTE: THERE IS A VERY SMALL SPRING THAT SITS BEHIND THE SHELL RETAINER BAR, DON"T LOSE IT.
Reassemble and see how it works.
You have to take take the stock off to deassemble. You will need a long extention on a 7/16 socket if I recall recorrectly. After that its pretty simple to figure out how things go. If you get into any problems email me and I can probably walk you through it. My family has been shooting Ithacas for years, simple design, easy to strip, easy to fix if you ever manage to get something to break.