Shotgun help Benelli or Ruger Red Label

[anothernewb]

I know little about shotguns, and I'm a lefty. Been considering something a little better than my rem 870 for shooting at the occasional pheasant, and mostly clay pigeons.

Over the holidays 2 have showed up at my LGS that interest me.

One is a benelli auto in left hand, and the other is a ruger red label over/under. They're used, and the price is nearly the same on them 785 on the benelli and 800 on the ruger. Neither appears beat to my eyes, they have some honest handling marks but nothing severe. Both guns are missing some of the chokes. The ruger has 3 (missing the skeet chokes from rugers website) and the benelli has 2. but I don't know which ones they are.

All factors being equal - what would people here go with? Like I said, the use will be a pheasant from time to time, and the rest will be shooting at clays for occasional fun

 

[Virginian]

I do not like inertia actions as with the Benelli, but they do work. If it feels good to you ask to shoot it. If you like it, buy it.
Being as how Ruger has seen fit to discontinue the Red Label for the second time, and now is also no longer providing any factory service on them, I would not get one on a bet. It may be one of those that have been and will forever be trouble free, but maybe not, and in as much as you would be a relative newcomer to O/Us, I would advise against the purchase.

 

[oneounceload]

Of those two, the Benelli mainly because the Ruger is gone for good and is not supported by Ruger.

Neither will be ideal clays, as clay shooting and pheasant hunting are opposites from an ideal gun perspective. Clays are better with a heavy gun, pheasants with a light gun (more walking than shooting). IF the Benelli fits, it is certainly an option, but I would strongly suggest you shoot one before buying as the recoil can get intense, especially with heavy hunting loads

 

[WestKentucky]

I would go Ruger in a heartbeat, simply because they are well built guns that are sure to be collectable at some point. Yes some are problematic, but they are simple enough that any competent smith should be able to work on it should there be issues, I doubt that there would be issues though.

 

[oneounceload]

Sorry to disagree, and I realize I am up against a lot of Ruger fans, but their O/Us sucked (and I owned one). They were clunky, loose-fitting and poorly regulated - which is why they failed the first time. The second iteration wasn't any better and they ceased production quickly.

 

[Virginian]

I am with oneounce on this all the way. So any 'smith can fix one, eh? There are numerous cases of guns that Ruger could not fix, even after repeated attempts, and refunded the purchase price. If you have a good one, I'm glad for you, but you cannot change history.

 

[rcmodel]

Of the two??

I would buy neither one.

The Ruger Red Label for the reasons stated.

And the Benelli because they kick like a stud mule on crack!!
It was a fine shotgun, but they kill on both ends!!

I bought a brand new Super Black Eagle for turkey hunting several ears ago to retire my nice old Browning A5.

By the time i finished pattern testing the new Benelli, my joints hurt, and my tooth fillings were rattling!!

I sold it soon after and went back to the old Browning.

Save your money until you can find a decent gas operated Beretta 390 or something!!!
Your shoulder will thank you.

Rc

 

[rbernie]

I have shot between 2000- 5000 rounds of standard field loads (not turkey loads) every year at the range through one Benelli M2 or another for a handful of years now, and frankly they still kick far less than any of my fixed breech guns (pump or double). They also have the advantage of adjustable LOP, cast, drop, and comb - it's well neigh impossible to NOT be able to get one to fit you such that it shoots where you look. They are slim and their relatively light weight makes them easy to carry afield - far easier and more satisfying than my (now sold) Beretta 390/391/3901s (which were reliable as hell, but clunky in the hand). About the only real negative for the Benelli is that, like most auto chuckers, policing up your hulls in the field is a little more of a chore than it would be with a double gun.

Sorry, rc - I'm a real Benelli fan (even though I do agree that I prefer Auto5's in general). It also bears mentioning that the SBEII and M2 kick a lot less with heavy loads than the SBE/M1....

 

[Virginian]

The inertia action does nothing to attenuate recoil. The innovative two piece stocks do. I cannot abide those stocks.

 

[Sav .250]

I`d save my money and keep letting the 870.... do the job.

 

[X-Rap]

I'd pick the Benelli, I don't shoot as much shotgun as I used to but my SBE and M1 are both reliable and I've found neither has an objectionable recoil.
IMO, the SBE, when introduced, was probably the ultimate all around hunting shotgun.
Shoots most any ammo, ergonomics, light weight, simple reliable design.
I feel the replacement barrel costs are prohibitive but aside from that the SBE is truly a one gun does it all shotgun.

 

[oneounceload]

X-Rap, then you should check out Benelli's new O/U; light and nimble are words I would use to describe. I found it (during a gun review test by a writer friend of mine) to be almost TOO light - but then I am used to 8#+ target guns.

 

[627PCFan]

My SBE2 from 2005 cycles 7/8oz loads on the SC Course all day. Recoil is not a problem.

 

[X-Rap]

X-Rap, then you should check out Benelli's new O/U; light and nimble are words I would use to describe. I found it (during a gun review test by a writer friend of mine) to be almost TOO light - but then I am used to 8#+ target guns.

Haven't seen one, does it have 3.5" chambers? if so I bet it will put a wuppen on ya. That's what I mean about the SBA being a one gun shotgun, good for anything from dove to geese and turkey without changing anything but the chokes. Others have come and done the same but back when the SBE came out the concept was quite new and revolutionary.
I traded a Browning Superlight Citori (without chokes) for my SBE. I doubt I would have if I still lived in good quail country but that light Browning was tough after a couple rounds of trap.

 

[PapaG]

As usual, I agree with RC. I'm a Ruger stockholder and own more than a few of them but the Red Label was not ever a choice for me. Shotguns were never their forte.

 

[d2wing]

I like both o/u and semi-autos. I would take the Benelli any day. They are a great field gun. As for a clays gun it depends on your game. They are popular with many clays shooters and are known to be reliable. They do kick less that a pump or U/O.

 

[kudu]

I like the Red Label, but it is possible that there will be problems. I built my first skeet gun out of a Ruger in the early 90's. I added weight, Kolar tube set, had the auto safety disconnected and I shot it well. It started with problems at about 30,000 round mark, went back to Ruger. They replaced several parts in the trigger and hammer group. Another 10,000 rounds went back with more problems, and then a third time about another 10k. They fixed it the third time and I sold it to an occasional shooter that still has it 20 years later, with full disclosure. I still have a Ruger in 28 gauge.

I never cared for the Benelli's, but I am a clay shooter 99% of the time and the ones I handled usually would not run superlite shells.

 

[Manny]

I had a Benelli M1 and liked it very much. Had I bought the 21" barrel version instead of the 26" I would likely still have it. The Benelli's are fantastic shotguns and you won't go wrong. It will kick more than a gas gun, but not bad and it has a lively feel that I like.

 

[oneounceload]

I still have a Ruger in 28 gauge.

That's the one I had; same number of trips back with a LOT less shells through it, all within the first 6 months.

 

[USAF_Vet]

If I absolutely HAD to spend my money on either one, it'd be the Benelli. I've rarely heard good things about the Red Label, and many of those even came with a heaping dose of salt, let alone a single grain.

But comparing an Over Under to an auto-loader is a difficult task in itself. A good autoloader will do everything a crappy to mediocre over under can do, and then some. Personally, I think the only thing a mediocre O/U like the Red Label has going for it over a Benelli auto is classic looks. And when it comes to function, looks should be a secondary or tertiary consideration.

Just one guys opinion, worth what you paid for it.

 

[cat_IT_guy]

I have a red label in 20ga from about eight years ago. I've not had any problems with it, so perhaps I got lucky. I also don't shoot tens of thousands of rounds a year through it.... Probably less than a thousand a year. It shoots well enough for my needs and I can't say I regret the purchase, though I suppose if I ever go to sell it I might. I also likely would not buy it again, knowing what I do now.

I'm no red label fanboy. I have one example and it's been good to me. That out of the way, if I were a lefty and in your shoes I'd lean toward the Benelli in case the specific red label was one of the less fortunate ones, or as others have said, choose option c, none of the above.

 

[clang]

I'm lefty too and like doubles for upland hunting and clay busting, but I wouldn't recommend the red lable. They are clunky and handle like a 2x4. My guess is the Benelli is a Montefeltro, did it have a walnut stock? Not a bad gun, but they do beat you up some.

since you already have a decent gun, I also recommend waiting for another gun. I prefer Berettas, but there are plenty of other great guns out there. If you go Beretta, any of the O/U 686 series are grest guns. Any of the autos from the 390 series and later are also good guns.