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I am posting this in the interests of balanced reporting. I have read several posts here that were pretty critical about the new Ruger Red Label shotgun over the past few months, basically dismissing them as low end junk. Fair enough, except I suspect that many of the posters had never even shot a Red Label and probably had never even seen or shot the new release of the Red Label. I sensed a bit of the elitism that I have often encountered at ranges when shooting the gun that I think stem from the facts that the Red Label is an American shotgun made by a mainstream company, it's not made in Europe, it's not made by Miroku and with the new models selling for $1,100.00 to $1,200.00, "they can't be any good, can they?"
Jeff Quinn over at Gunblast wrote a nice article about his experience with the new Red Label shotguns http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-RedLabel2.htm
In the interests of disclosure, I have owned and shot my Red Label shotgun for the past fifteen years. No break downs, no repairs, no malfunctions, no problems at all and mine is obviously the older, non-improved design. The gun is very conservatively styled, yet classic looking, feels perfect when mounted, swings beautifully and has been a joy to own. My Father in law also bought one after shooting mine a few times and his has been going strong for close to fourteen years. We are not hardcore, avid shotgunners, we just go whenever we can to shoot four or five rounds of trap, but we have also used them for Sporting Clays and Five Stand and they have done very well for us. So I am not saying that the Red Label is the be all, end all shotgun or that it is "the best", but I am saying that if you are looking for a shotgun, don't be so quick to dismiss the Red Label. There are lots of great O/Us on the market now that don't cost an arm and a leg and the Red Label should be on your short list if it fits your needs for what you are looking for in a reasonably priced, great shooting, nice looking clays or hunting gun.
I have owned dozens of Ruger guns, they are almost always great guns and at the least have been decent. Not always the most beautiful or best built, but always reliable, well-designed and fun to shoot.
Jeff Quinn over at Gunblast wrote a nice article about his experience with the new Red Label shotguns http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-RedLabel2.htm
In the interests of disclosure, I have owned and shot my Red Label shotgun for the past fifteen years. No break downs, no repairs, no malfunctions, no problems at all and mine is obviously the older, non-improved design. The gun is very conservatively styled, yet classic looking, feels perfect when mounted, swings beautifully and has been a joy to own. My Father in law also bought one after shooting mine a few times and his has been going strong for close to fourteen years. We are not hardcore, avid shotgunners, we just go whenever we can to shoot four or five rounds of trap, but we have also used them for Sporting Clays and Five Stand and they have done very well for us. So I am not saying that the Red Label is the be all, end all shotgun or that it is "the best", but I am saying that if you are looking for a shotgun, don't be so quick to dismiss the Red Label. There are lots of great O/Us on the market now that don't cost an arm and a leg and the Red Label should be on your short list if it fits your needs for what you are looking for in a reasonably priced, great shooting, nice looking clays or hunting gun.
I have owned dozens of Ruger guns, they are almost always great guns and at the least have been decent. Not always the most beautiful or best built, but always reliable, well-designed and fun to shoot.
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