doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Ok so I've got a question...

How is the Ruger Red Label received by the members of this site? There are some strong emotions about that gun on other sites and I just never seem to see it discussed here.

Any opinions?

I have used mine for about 25 years now--never a problem.

Rugers generate strong feelings on both sides. I have three Red Labels and a couple of their revolvers. All are very fine guns at their price points, and my Red Label 28 gauge is one of the nicest 28 ga O/U's at any price. The only problem I have had is a sticky safety slide on on my 20 ga Sporting. Their customer service is reputed to be among the best. I have not used the service yet (will be sending them my sticky safety gun) but I can tell you that they are a lot more responsive on a used gun than Browning was on a new gun.

The stainless w/ composite stock was a nice touch. Never know about Ruger service. One day they're sending you free parts and the next they're ripping your aftermarket trigger out of your revolver.

jack

They are very sensitive about modifications to their guns. Will not sell extra barrel sets unless fitted at the factory. Would not sell me an ugraded wood set unless I shipped the gun for fitting. Would not sell me a spare cylinder for my Blackhawk unless I shipped the gun back to them (so I bought a used cylinder). Still really good guns, for the most part.

I was pleased with the one I had. It was an early 20ga blued action gun with fixed chokes I bought at a Ducks Unlimited auction. I gave it to one of my sons and he seems hapy with it too. I never had any mechanical problems with it. The only down side was the rough feeling checkering; but at least it wasn't going to slip out of your hands...Geo

The 28 is one of my son's favorite guns. He has killed everything from quail to ducks with it. Never a problem. Many may not see the Waterfowl version with the composite stock as a great gun but they are about as low maintenance as it gets for a duck gun.

When you get right down to it most often the complaints are more a matter of style than function. Or lack of style to some. Bill Ruger made guns that worked. Function was first, ease of manufacturing was a close second. But they never wasted a lot of time or money on making their guns into a stylistic statements that others seem to think is more important than function. They are the 870/1100 mindset makers not the SX1, SX2, SX3 where the looked better than they function sometimes.

And while I am on "style" did you ever look at John Browning's guns. Most were all about function instead of style. Bill Ruger will be missed in the gun world. Few like him have come along in the last 100 years and I am afraid we will see even fewer in the next few decades.

My opinion is that they are fair value for the price. I've never owned one but friends of mine who have, have been generally happy.

solid guns but, I think the 20 and 12 exhibit more felt recoil, especially considering their weight than comparable O/U's. I believe it is somewhat due to excess headspace.

Have not noticed that on my 20's, even compared to a heavy Browning Citori and a couple of relatively light Beretta 686s. Probably more a function of gun fit than headspace.