Ruger Red Labels

[Eldon Goddard]

I do not know about fine doubles but how many of you guys have Red Labels. I have 2 of them a 12 gauge and a 28 ga. I really enjoy both of them. The 12 is some kind of engraved model I have never seen another one like it. I really like the 28ga bought it recently, first 28ga I have every owned and shot. I was wondering if any one else here owns one or will admit to it.

[Mike Franzen]

I bought a 28 ga from walmart in 1996. I never used it much and sold it to guy who wanted to trade me a 1954 win model 70, 30-06. I needed the money but still wish I had the 70. The Ruger had a good feel in my hands and I liked the scaled down dimensions. Like everything Ruger, it was stoutly built

[Dean Romig]

I bought mine new in 1984. It was a 20 ga. I/M with 26" barrels and a pistol grip and blued receiver (stainless was not yet available).
It was stocked too short and too high for me so I could never really shoot it well from a low gun position. However, in 1992 I took second place in my small club's cumulative trap shooting and in 1993 I took second place attesting that I could shoot it pretty well pre-mounted. (We had about twenty active trap shooters in a club of 250 regular members.)
I sold it in 2002 to help fund a nice Parker and I sold it for the same price I paid for it in '84..... what a fool I was! I later learned I could have sold it for more than $1200 which is twice what I paid for it. One lives and learns...

[Stephen Hodges]

I have always liked all Ruger firearms. That being said, I just purchased a "new" redesigned Red Label. I am having a thinner pad put on as the gun comes with a 14 1/2" pull which is to long for me. It mounts well and is well balanced. Brand new it was $1050 out the door, and made in Newport, NH. At that price point I think they will sell a lot of them. You will pay almost as much for a gun make in Turkey.

[Eldon Goddard]

Steve I really would like to hear more about what you think of the new ruger red label. I have not heard any one who had one yet. Let us know how it turns out.
I finally found a red label like my 12 on gunbroker. He says only 44 were made in 12 gauge.

[Stephen Hodges]

Eldon, I will. I hope to shoot it next week on some clays.

[Jay Gardner]

Never owned one but I have shot several. In fact shot a friends early 20 ga RL (Blued Frame) and did very well with it. My $.02; there is nothing wrong with them, especially the 20's and 28's. Definitely not the lightest guns available but they will get most any job done. Certainly not guns to be looked down upon.

[Fred Preston]

Here's my 28" 28ga. As can be seen, it's not heavy and the frame size is scaled to the gauge (00 equivalent?). I got it at a closeout a few years ago as there was little demand for 28" as opposed to 26" bbls. It's a good late season gun with its SST when heavy gloves might be needed.

[Jay Gardner]

That's a keeper, Fred.

[Dean Romig]

Fred - What a sweet bird gun that is!

[Jerry Harlow]

I have the same gun as Blind Dog, a 28" 28 gauge straight stock, with a 1" red pad but engraved. The stock is so small at the grip my rather large hand will wrap around it almost twice it seems but I have killed my limit of doves with it before when the birds were cooperating. I love the longer barrel for birds, and mine has screw in chokes so it doubles on rabbits from time to time. Use skeet and full for bunnies and birds as well.

I wanted the engraved version so I took the stock off and sent the receiver to the company that engraves them for Ruger. $350 plus shipping. It came back with a big nick on the opening lever, so back it went to have the lever replaced.

[Jeff Kuss]

I have two, a 12 and a 20. They are both sporting clays models.
I shot them well, but I normally only shoot Parkers now.

[Bill Murphy]

JA Early, who was this engraver who you sent the receiver to for upgrading?

[Jerry Harlow]

Bill,

In 2008 Baron Technology, Inc. (62 Spring Hill Rd, Turnbull, CT 06611) was the company that did the machine engraving on the engraved Rugers. Tom Lent at 203 452-0515 was whom I dealt with then. Of course the 28s get the gold woodcock on the side with the gold Ruger emblem underneath. I wonder how much it has gone up since then?

[Jerry Harlow]

http://baronengraving.com/

[Mike Franzen]

I would like to see some pics of the engraved Red Labels. I don't recall ever having seen any.

[Dave Noreen]

My Wife had Ruger Red Labels. The one that has gotten the most use was the original blued receiver 26-inch barrel 20-gauge choked improved cylinder and modified, which she used for Doves. My Father used it for Geese on the Eastern Shore of Maryland for two trips when he came to visit in January 1980 and 81. When they are in over the decoys you don't need a cannon!! The guy who ran our lease near Bucktown actually used a Remington 1100 20-gauge skeet gun. My Wife doesn't shoot much any more and her stainless steel versions have flowed down the river of commerce, but we still have her blued receiver 20-gauge and a rather scarce very early blued steel receiver 12-gauge NIB.

None of them ever gave us a bit of trouble, and I'd rate that 28-inch barrel 28-gauge as the one of the best handling 28-gauges I've ever shot.

[Michael Murphy]

I have an unfired Red Label "Woodside" Sporting Clays model in 12ga. Has 30" barrels and an attractive piece of wood. Seems to swing nicely, but as expected, a little heavy for field use.Bought it simply because it looks different.

[Jeff Christie]

I am pleased to see so many positive comments on Ruger products, especially shotguns. I own some Ruger stock and it has also performed pretty well over the years. I like owning a piece of sport shooting.

[Linn Matthews]

My "go to" gun for bigger birds is a Ruger 12. It was bored out by its first owner who also had it ported. I like the mechanical triggers for their reliability (after a couple of Brownings that weren't so reliable) I also bought it about 25/30 years ago for a great price!

[Eldon Goddard]

If good knowledgeable gentlemen like you appreciate them I love them even more. I have found a few faults with the red label but having that made in U.S.A. makes up for them by far. I thought you guys would like some pictures the 12 gauge is the one with the nautilus engraving, as I call it. The 28 is a ruger 50th anniversary that I probably paid to much for, but some times you just can't let a gun go.