Did Ruger quit making the Red Label?

Can't find shotguns link on their site.

 

I believe it was last year when they quit making them.

From what I remember, sales had fallen off and they had considerable QC issues with them.

 

Hmm, oh, well, guess I won't be lookin' at Red Labels, then. Probably hard to compete with all the fureners in the market in that price range. I really like the Franchi Instinct, but will have to save some money. That gun fit me WELL, though, and I liked the balance, the light weight (was in 20 gauge), and feel of it. Cool little shotgun. But, I'm still looking around at other O/Us at this time.

 

It was hard to compete with anyone when the guns consistently had quality issues, the same reason their Gold Label SxS stopped as well.

For the price of a RL, you can find Browning, Beretta and SKB- ALL of which, quality-wise, are heads and tails above Ruger

 

Unfortunately the Ruger Red Labels had a poor reputation.

I had a 12ga. and it was good until the forearm latch
let go and the gun disassembled on me at station 5.
Ruger fixed it for free.

Most RRL's are serviceable hunters, just not up to target gun use.

After I got my first target gun and was pleased with the lower recoil,
I sold the RRL.

I friend of mine has a RRL 28ga., it is a model I'd like to have.

I love my Ruger rifle and pistol.

 

The Red Label earned its poor reputation. Frequent parts breakage, lousy triggers and poor handling were just some of the sins. Its delisting is no loss. Like many Ruger products it was an interesting concept that was poorly executed.

Major American gun makers have never seemed able to domestically produce a successful o/u shotgun.

 

There is one used at a local gun shop near me and the thing feels like a 2x4 compared to a used citori. which is in the same price range.

 

Last I knew, I believe Ruger was making the Red Labels in Turkey anyway...

but like others said - they were poorly made....lots of issues / but I wouldn't put the Franchi that high up on the quality list either. Its fair to say that Franchi has mixed reviews as well.

In my opinion, Browning and Beretta continue to give you the most gun for the money ....save your money until you can get into that arena at some level - and you won't be dissapointed. I have Browning Citori's ( XS Skeet models with well over 500,000 shells thru them with no issues over the last 15 yrs or so - and not a single issue on any of my primary guns ). Look for a good used Citori XS Skeet model, with the adjustable comb - but new or used they are one of the better guns on the market for the money (they list new for around $3600 now - but a buddy just bought one new in my area for about $3,150 )....its a good all around gun for Skeet, Sporting clays or for upland birds. I like it with 30" barrels. / its not much of a serious Trap gun ....I turn to the Browning XT Trap with 32" barrels for Trap ....but you could shoot Trap casually with the XS Skeet model as well with no issues.

 

Remington did - the K-32 eventually became the Kreighoff K-80

Kolar makes an exceptional O/U, as does CSMC - but you won't get one for Mossberg prices. Kolars start about $12K, and some of the CSMC guns start about $8 and go over $100K

 

With only 5-6 thousand Model 32s made Remington didn't give the gun a chance to be their success. Krieghoff picked up the rights to the gun after Remington decided to discontinue it and its success came under German manufacture.

CSMC and Kolar and make good guns but they are small boutique gunmakers with low production numbers, no real distribution system, no international presence and a very limited market unlike Beretta, Browning, Perazzi and Krieghoff.

 

Actually, Hal DuPont picked up the rights and licensed or sold them to Kreighoff

 

Had Red Label 12 ga and had to send it in to Ruger. They repaired it and returned what looked like a new gun which worked great until I sold it. I notice the Red Label 20s at guns shows, but rarely see the 12. So, if you are really attracted to the 20s you might try gun shows.

 

I had the 28 gauge - was going to be my go-to chukar and quail gun. Went back to Ruger three times, everything internal was replaced, problems still persisted - gun went bye-bye; never again - you couldn't GIVE me one

 

I bought a Franchi 48AL, worst, overpriced piece of junk shotgun I ever owned. I wouldn't even consider a Franchi now at any price. I know of at least two dealers who won't carry the line any longer, too many unhappy customers.

 

Interesting.

 

I have a 20ga RRL. No problems to date, but Im no hardcore target shooter. Its probably seen ~5000 rounds at targets and less than a box at birds.

 

This thread is disappointing for me to read. I have been planning to get a Ruger Red Label 12 gauge in the near future. i see a lot of them listed locally and have seen several in local shops (a few are new old stock even but have a high price). I generally like all things Ruger and just thought that this would be a nice addition to my safe.

I do very little hunting but have recently started shooting sporting clays for something different than my normal rifle / pistol routine. I hate to read opinions that the RRL is not likely to hold up to much target use. I also wonder how many parts Ruger has on hand to keep these guns running. Since production stopped I would guess that repairs are available only insofar as parts are available to make the fix.

Bummer.

 

One of my bird hunting buddies hunts with 12 ga RRL. He and I traded guns once for fun. He thought my Citori was terrible, I felt the same about his RRL.

The Ruger Red Label felt like a hammer in a drawer full of forks; it's heavy, clunky and chunky.

But, in the end, he out shoots me two to one, in the field and at trap. So there you go, to each his own.

 

>>Most RRL's are serviceable hunters, just not up to target gun use.<<

Exactly! They just never made it in the clay shooting arena.

 

Then you will appreciate the weight and durability of a Browning - IF it fits. If not, look at the Beretta and SKB and get the one that fits you the best. Target versions cost more than field versions, generally because they are heavier, have longer barrels and a different stock more conducive to target shooting (although not always)

 

Actually, once my RRL was returned from Ruger, it was terrific. It would have held up to clay target shooting, but not sure I would...it is way too heavy. If you want to shoot an O/U at clay targets, there are lots of lighter alternatives. If you want to try a semi-auto at clays like I do, my Benelli 12 and 20 are terrific. Have shot both for years without a single problem and they both look great too after a few thousand rounds. They are as close to flawless as a shotgun can get. I have Browning Superposed that is near perfect too. Alas, the RRL is not.

 

My RRL in 20 Gauge with 26 inch tubes, English stocked is fantastic. I can have pretty much any gun I want, but I'm happy with this.

 

Weight and length for an all around gun is very subjective ...for each shooter....

Personally - for Skeet, Sporting Clays and upland Birds....I like an O/U with
30" barrels and at a weight of around 8.5 lbs...( but I'm a little bigger than the average small Buffalo -at 6'5" and 290 lbs ) ....and one of my buddies favors a shorter O/U with 26" or 28" barrels and around 7.5 lbs...

but there are a couple of factors here...

a. for every pound in weight you add to a gun ...for any given shell..it reduces the recoil about 20% ...and that's a lot...
b. but you have to offset the weight / with having to carry it all day....

I will sometimes opt for a lighter gun / if I know we'll be walking in difficult terrain all day ...vs more open, over good dogs...so I may go to a gun like a Benelli Super Sport ...in a 12ga, with a 30" barrel and only 7.2 lbs...so its easier to carry ..and with the 30" barrel on a semi-auto the overall length of the gun, is about 2" longer than my O/U's in 30" barrels...so the longer barrel and longer overall length in the light semi-auto ...helps me keep my swing smooth on follow thru...

If I shoot a lighter gun ....I tend to "slap" at targets vs make a nice smooth swing...and a heavier gun helps with that....( and that's why for Trap ...I go to an even longer and heavier gun ...Browning Citori XT Trap, 32" barrels and a weight of about 10 lbs....because there is less left to right barrel movement on Trap ...than on Skeet or Sporting Clays )...and I'd sure never drag that 32" 10 lb gun out to the field for live birds...it'd be like dragging a big old anchor around all day ....

But the point is...what is right for me...may not be right for you .....

My all around O/U ....is a Brownig Citori XS Skeet model, 30" barrels..with the adj comb - right out of the box its about 8.5 lbs ...nice parallel comb ...so I have the same point of impact whether I shoot in a heavy coat or in a T shirt. I have that model in a 12ga - and a 20ga, a 28ga and a .410 ....but the 28ga and .410 are built on the 20ga receiver ...and its lighter, at about 7.5 lbs out of the box...so I add 8 oz of lead tape inside the forend ..and 8oz inside the stock ( the hole for the stock bolt )...and making sure I keep the balance the same, I weigh down all 4 of my guns to the 8.5 lbs that I like ....

but I shoot all 4 guns ...for Skeet, Sporting and for live birds...I especially like the 28ga ...(and I reload so its cheap to shoot ).

 

Sniper, you have it all backwards
When shooting a lot of targets you WANT that heavy gun for recoil absorption. That is why trap guns and similar run 8-10 pounds