The Ruger Red Label is Back!—SHOT Show 2014

Authors Paul Helinski SHOT Show 2014 Shotguns

Ruger002Sturm Ruger
https://www.ruger.com/

Ruger001Ruger stopped making the venerable Red Label over-and-under (OU) shotgun two years ago. It has seemed like a long time to all the Red Label fans out there. This gun is beloved by birders and clays competitors alike, known for its ruggedness, quick handling and accurate shooting — the quintessential American OU. Rejoice my friends; the Red Label is back! So what took so long? What took so long was a complete re-engineering of the gun to make the best use of new materials and modern manufacturing methods. I’m here to tell you that it was well worth the wait. Pick one up and you’ll know instantly how true that is. The New Red Label has been re-balanced, making it livelier in the hand. The inner workings are improved and the recoil reduced. This is all around a new and improved Red Label. But I’m saving the best part for last – by using modern manufacturing methods, they’ve not only made it a more refined shotgun, they’ve also reduced the price. MSRP of the new Ruger Red Label is $1,395. Take a look for yourself in the attached video.

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  • Dexter November 7, 2016, 7:53 am

    I’ve owned numerous shotguns over my lifetime, and my Red Label has always been my favorite. At the Annual Mens’ Outing, the guys give me a hard time the way I’m able to bust clays so well. The truth is that I only get to shoot shotgun once a year. I tell them that the gun is so sweet that I could bust ’em with my eyes closed~!

  • Dexter November 7, 2016, 7:48 am

    What ever happened to options? These firearms are not made by robots so fitting either a straight grip or pistol grip should be no big deal. Assembling with a silver receiver or one that has been blued should be no big deal. The availability of laser engraving should present no big problem should that option be offered. They sound like Henry Ford and his Model T, “any color as long as it’s black~!” Options man, options~!

  • Noel Mellen January 22, 2014, 6:04 pm

    I bought an early Red Label 20ga. with a blued receiver for my son. He still uses it in spite of owning other more expensive O/U’s. I was once interested in an English stocked 12ga. RL (I couldn’t miss with it) but I did not care for the silver receiver. Maybe they will offer it in both manners. As to the Ruger policy of send the gun back to us for repairs it has never bothered me. I still have several Ruger’s including an early flattop SA .357 and I’ve never had to have anyone look at any of them.

  • Bob January 21, 2014, 10:16 pm

    I like the Red Label but I wish it had some scrolling on the reciever but I guess it could be a blank canvas. I’m not crazy about the barrel switching but I guess it works.
    I really haven’t looked into it but I’d bet it’s made in the USA.
    Oh, and Scott… There’s a bunch of places that will be glad to make you a very nice shotgun stock for less than and prettier than OEM…

  • Lilburn January 21, 2014, 9:47 pm

    A pig with a diamond in it’s butt is still a pig. Not interested in this pig.

  • Rick Cash January 21, 2014, 2:23 pm

    What happens to the value of my 2010 model Red Label 12G 26″?

  • Larry Rigdon January 21, 2014, 11:37 am

    I have enjoyed the ruger red lables for over 20 years. This gun fits me, out of the box, better than browning, beretta, remington, etc. I started with the 12 ga 30″. A few years later got the 20 ga 30″. Then finally got the 28 ga 28″ longest. Last i got the briley 410 tubes for the 28. After tens of thousands of rounds on the skeet field and sporting clays range i had 1 malfunction. The 20 doubled one time. During this time i’ve seen $15,000 K-80’s, EELL’s mis fire, no fire and double fire, even after being returned to mfg several times. I’ll never give up my Red Labels. However, i would like a ‘real’ .410.

  • Chad Alan January 21, 2014, 11:25 am

    What, no plastic internals or trigger housing? Anytime Ruger says they’re cutting back cost I tend to see more plastic in our future and cringe.

  • fast johnny January 21, 2014, 10:41 am

    Hoping for the All Weather SS version

  • Scott Patterson January 21, 2014, 10:25 am

    I totally agree with Fletch. I bought a Red Label 20ga for my son when when he was quite young. I had my gunsmith fit the shotgun to him and, of course, that precluded that the stock had to be shortened. Well, kids grow up. I had my Smith contact Ruger for a new stock and they refused to sell him one. We were forced to either succumb to Ruger’s ridiculous and totally inflexible policy or make a stock from scratch. We chose the latter (probably more out of principle than any other reason).

  • David January 21, 2014, 10:20 am

    I have a full set,just missing the 16 ga ! Do it please.

  • Fletch January 21, 2014, 9:55 am

    The question is, will they make parts available to your local gunsmith or will they continue the policy requiring you to ship the gun back to them for repairs? Ruger is an excellent company, great CS, but losing my gun for 2-4 weeks to replace a hammer spring (or something minor) definitely gives me cause for hesitation.

  • Tom January 21, 2014, 9:53 am

    Great! I hope they bring back the straight grip 28 ga. also. Time will tell if the price point obsessed American shooters will creat enough demand to keep it in production. I’m so sick of people not giving a damn where their equipment’s made. Now to get the Gold Label back!

    • GRIFHUNTER January 21, 2014, 11:57 am

      Where does it say its made in USA? I hope its not a rebranded import.
      And I agree totally about American shooters and their obsession about price. Buy American firearms: foreign gun workers don’t vote in US elections.

  • Richard January 21, 2014, 9:44 am

    Beautiful shotgun, go find something else jimmy

  • C B Bruton January 21, 2014, 6:14 am

    The Silver (White) Reciever thay’s what sets it apart. Sort of like the old Browning Over and Unders of the 1980’s

  • jim January 21, 2014, 4:31 am

    … and that butt ugly white receiver! BLUE IT!!! dammit.

    • Jerry Porter January 22, 2014, 3:17 pm

      It’s sweet looking jimbob, stick with a mossberg 500 as it’s probably more your speed.

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