Talk me out of a used Ruger Red Label

[Chipperman]

I have been half-heartedly looking for an O/U since I don't have one. I presently don't do any skeet/trap but would like to get into it eventually.

I was browsing a local shop the other day and found a used Ruger Red Label.
It is in excellent condition, almost LNIB.
12g, 30 inch barrels, plain (not engraved) receiver, with box and set of 5 chokes.
Price is $950, but I could probably get it to $900 without any trouble.

This seems like a decent price, but not a steal.
What do you guys think? Should I grab it or keep looking?

 

[halvey]

They are $1199 here new. I don't see a lot of 30"'s around here.
I'd get it.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Neither steal nor ripoff, IMO. If it speaks to you, get it....

 

[PJR]

Coming here to be talked out of buying a gun is alike asking the guys in the corner bar to help you stop drinking. Never going to happen.

Now having said that here are my additional suggestions. Try the triggers with a set of snap caps. Rugers sometimes have pretty heavy and long pulls. Secondly, check how the safety/barrel selector works. I don't care for the Ruger system but if you can live with it then you're good to go.

As said above it's not robbery on either the store's part or yours. If the gun fits and feels good in your hands then there isn't a reason not to buy it.

 

[kudu]

Good deal for the sporting model Red Label. They have 30" barrels. The 2 that I had once upon a time shot low point of impact for me. Made good doubles guns in skeet, but you had to remember they had about a 40/60 pattern. Not nescessarily common in all of them, but something to think on when you pick it up. They were $1050 for sporting models 15 years ago new.

 

[Chipperman]

OK, thanks for the replies.
I'll think about it.
I'm glad it's not a steal, so I can wait (and won't cry if someone else buys it in the meantime).

 

[scout26]

How does it feel in your hands ??? Does it fit you well ???? Does it come up to your shoulder like it was made for you ???? Does it swing without effort ????

 

[HSMITH]

I have the gun you mention. I like it a lot. Mine is about 60/40 for me, I would like 70/30 but it shoots great as is. IIRC I paid about $1125 out the door for mine new, back in the early 90's. I really like the feel of the 30" gun over the 28" Ruger, feels more lively and swings nice also. I think it is a good value for the money spent given the quality of the gun.

 

[BozemanMT]

IMHO
Ruger is anti 2A and doesn't deserve your money.
My two Rugers are for sale and I won't be purchasing anymore, nor recommending them to anyone else.
There, talked out of it yet?

 

[Chipperman]

Well this gun is used, so Ruger won't directly get anything out of it.

As far as the feel... I'm pretty new to O/U ( I have not even fired one before).
I've held several (Ruger, Browning, Mossberg, Weatherby).

The Ruger felt "OK" but I did not hear choirs of angels when I shoudered it. Maybe I need to keep looking at other brands to see if one feels right.

 

[SShooterZ]

FWIW, I picked up a used RRL 20 Gauge in excellent condition on one of the websites for $750 shipped. I also found a RRL 12 Gauge Sporting for $750 off of Gunsamerica but it was pretty well used and I sold it shortly after. I personally LOVE my 20ga and would not sell it for the world. With a set of Trulock chokes, I've run a couple of 24/25 at the trap range and a 46/50 on doubles. It's so much fun to shoot and is so easy to carry.

I also think Ruger has some of the best service in the firearm industry. When I got my 20ga, I wanted the automatic safety disabled so I sent it to Ruger. $30 later, they had replaced the springs, firing pins and reset the action as well as disable the automatic safety. All within 2 weeks.

For the price you mentioned, I would keep looking. You can find a couple on Gunbroker.com for less money than that and they all seem to be in decent condition.