Sneak peak of the Red Label III, from Ruger's webcast of 11/6/2025
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GasGuzzler
Hawkeye
Looks nice. I figured it would be and it'll be super expensive like it was before.
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It was expensive compared to an 870, but it was cheap for a quality O/U.
I bought mine because it was the only American Made O/U available at the time.
I also am curious what changed, and why they thought it needed changing.
Obvious answer is to be cheaper to manufacture, they streamlined some process, but I don’t want to assume anything.
Still I wish it was just another production run of the old design.
Maybe it is the same, they just don’t want to service the old ones.
Nice to see it come back, I hope it is wildly successful for them.
Some folks just don't get that and seemingly, never will.
Hoping Ruger will have a sporting Red Label. If so, and it doesn't take forever to come out I will take a serious look at it vs the Browning CXS I'm currently considering.
GasGuzzler
Hawkeye
What needed changing was it was over-priced. That's why it was a sales failure. Not sure what else there was to "get". If it's too much this time, all the fanboys will buy one and then sales will plummet. Just like the last time...just like the 336.
Xrayist
Single-Sixer
Well, I don't want to disappoint you, so I will be the first...I think the fore end release button could probably be a half a millimeter longer......:ROFLMAO:
Oh I am excited to see this release!
And all you Debbie Downers, sorry you're hating it already.:rolleyes:
And all you Debbie Downers, sorry you're hating it already.:rolleyes:
NIB previous design are around on gunbroker
I specifically want a sporting clays model not a field model. Plus I like the blued receiver of the new Red Label.
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My question about what changes were made is from a mechanical perspective. Mostly curious about parts interchangeability.
In my post I mentioned they probably streamlined and cut costs.
I didn’t say I didn’t “get” anything.
I have a couple of sporting clays NIB in both 12, 20 and even a Woodside Clays
As usual, the downers are just chronic complainers who were never gonna buy one anyway. In the real world of twice-barrel shotguns, the Red Label was ALWAYS the affordable option.
gewehrfreund
Buckeye
Good, bad or indifferent, at this point, I probably won't be looking to acquire one. I'm pretty good with my very early 20ga Red Label and my CT-equipped 12ga.
I hope they can keep it on the market a little longer than the last time (Red Label II?)
I hope they can keep it on the market a little longer than the last time (Red Label II?)
GasGuzzler
Hawkeye
I threw the "get" part in after I read someone else's comment. Not meant to point at you. I agree about the part interchangeability as well but had to mention the reason Ruger stopped making it before. Ruger stops producing what doesn't sell because they're smart.
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I mentioned this before.
When I bought mine, my friends who had pumps and single shots thought I was nuts for spending so much money.
When I took it to the trap or skeet ranges, they all looked down their noses at my Ruger.
The Red Label doesn’t have a target audience. Too much money for a red necks field gun, not prestigious enough for the snobs.
Just my personal experience, your mileage may vary.
I think I’ve hit 95% of what I shot at with mine including an 8 point 240lb Buck. No complaints from me.
When I bought mine, my friends who had pumps and single shots thought I was nuts for spending so much money.
When I took it to the trap or skeet ranges, they all looked down their noses at my Ruger.
The Red Label doesn’t have a target audience. Too much money for a red necks field gun, not prestigious enough for the snobs.
Just my personal experience, your mileage may vary.
I think I’ve hit 95% of what I shot at with mine including an 8 point 240lb Buck. No complaints from me.
Opposite for me when I was big into sporting clays. Can't speak about trap or skeet as it wasn't my thing. There were a lot of Red Labels on the course back in the day. Usually customized to the game prior to Ruger introducing the sporting model. The Red Label was the best intro gun you could buy if you didn't want to spend more money on Beretta or Browning intro guns. You could buy the Ruger, do the mods needed and still be under the cost of the B guns.
I shot a Fausti Sporting....from a distance it resembled a modified Red Label. Folks would ask where I got it worked on and I would show them the faint scrolling and they would be like "oh" thought it was a Ruger. I still have the Fausti, but if I get back into the game when I retire shortly I'm looking at a Browning CXS or if Ruger spits out the Red Label III in a sporting clays model I may pick that up if it handles well......so hurry up Ruger......retirement is coming fast!
That didn’t take very long, see post #3
Exactly! The most accurate assessment possible.
"Good" doubles aren't cheap or easy to make. A good one will never be cheap. If you make them cheap enough to appeal to the unwashed masses who never stepped foot on a trap/skeet range or sporting clays course, they're going to be very utilitarian and not exactly considered "good" by shotgun snobs. If you make them good enough to be considered "good" by those who participate in trap/skeet/sporting clays games, the folks who want something cheap are going to be disappointed. Ruger tried to hit somewhere in the middle. Since Ruger has never endeavored to appeal to snobs of any kind, what they ended up with was really just a nice shotgun for sportsmen and an entry level gun for clays. To me they're very much like the 77MKII Express rifles. Really nicely made guns with upgraded wood but still affordable for the average person who was so-inclined. A bargain with all things considered but still considered too expensive by some. You can't please everybody.
I came really, really close to getting one of their svelte 28ga guns. I did appreciate that Ruger made an action appropriately sized. In the end, I went with something that was closer to what I really wanted, a fine English side by side, in the form of a gently used Merkel. It was worth it after the cancer scare I had in 2005 and I've never regretted it.
I didn't say there was anything wrong with it... I said I was concerned with the V3 modifier and hoping it hadn't changed too much.That didn’t take very long, see post #3
Specifically, I am looking for a complete set of Ruger Marked chokes for the 411 and later prefix guns (the longer ones). If the V3 chokes are different, then I am still trying to piece them together.
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It looks like blue to me too.
I am always amazed how hard it is to tell in pictures sometimes.
GasGuzzler
Hawkeye
Yep, people list a Blackhawk for sale and we can't tell sometimes due to glare.
The more things change the more they stay the same. Amazing how many Middle ( substitute mediocre) Managers mistake motion for progress.
Well I really like my 20 ga. My favorite shotgun to shoot, well over a 1,000 clays and my share of doves.
RugerForMe
Blackhawk
I ordered a Ruger SXS back in the day. I never did get it. The dealer was a family "friend", It took me a year and a half to get my money back from him.
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