[Kestrel]

I'm looking for information on the Ruger Gold Label SBS 12ga. I saw a picture of the Weatherby Athena SBS, which looks better, but am wondering about the quality of the Ruger. It's probably cast and I don't like the stainless receiver.

Thanks for any help,
Steve

[HSMITH]

You can bet lunch that the Ruger is cast, you can also bet lunch that it will be as solid as can be and last forever. I don't know who is making the Weatherby, that it something you should look into though. The Weatherby O/U are nothing to brag about. The Beretta SxS is fantastic, but in another price range. The SKB SxS is also very nice for the money. A used Browning BSS is possibly the best value out there in a quality SxS shotgun.

[Kestrel]

HSMITH,

Thanks. What price range are those other shotguns in?

Steve

[HSMITH]

Steve, your best bet for current market prices would be some of the auction boards like GunBroker and AuctionArms. It has been a while since I was in the market for or bought one.

[PJR]

The prototype Ruger Gold Label that was at the Grand last August seemed like not a bad gun. The polished reciever made the gun look unfinished. A touch of engraving would have helped.

How durable it is will be another question. A 6.3 lb gun that can fire 3" magnum shells will be tough on the shooter and the gun. The Red Label doesn't enjoy a particularly strong reputation among the clay shooters for longevity and reliability.

The question remains whether this gun will ever hit the shelves. There are rumors the Gold Label is having production problems and Ruger bred a great deal of cynicism with its intense promotion of its single barrel trap gun that never got into full production.

Meanwhile the Weatherby is being made by Hermanos Zabala in Spain. Zabala is a competent maker of guns although not in the class of Arrieta, AyA, Garbi or the rest of the upper tier of Basque gunmakers. The Weatherby o/u is made by SKB and IMHO it's a superior gun to anything that Ruger is currently producing.

Paul

[Grayrock]

I bought a beautiful 20 Ga SxS by Huglu last year. It is a great gun and a good value. They are worth checking out at www.h-legacy.com . Mine is fully engraved, came with 5 choke tubes and a fitted leather case, single selective trigger- all brand new for a tad over a grand. I, too, looked at the Ruger and Weatherby, but they were not available in the time frame in which I wanted to purchase. I am happy with my choice.