I Have This Old Gun: Ruger's Red Label

by
posted on July 20, 2022
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Bill Ruger had a good sense of what the American market was looking for in a shotgun, which his company delivered with a design he called the "Red Label." An American-made, over-under shotgun line, the Red Label's origins started with the success of a competing firm's design. Browning demonstrated the market's interest in "stacked barreled" shotguns with the success of its own over-under shoguns, which were released near the end of the Great Depression.

A Ruger Red Label over-under shotgun add from 1982.
A Ruger Red Label over-under shotgun add from 1982.

In 1977, Ruger followed suit by developing its own over-under shotgun design during the height of the company's investment casting focus. The Red Label line delivered finely machined metal components and good craftsmanship in a sporting shotgun that was priced cheaper than higher-end European competitors on the market at the time. Reviewed by American Rifleman staff in 1978, it was noted that the Red Label was likely safer than other over-under shotguns on the market, due to the lack of rebounding hammers that made the risk of a double fire virtually impossible.

A view of some of the internal components of the Red Label's action.
A view of some of the internal components of the Red Label's action.

The Red Label shotguns also had some refined features. This included the location of the safety and barrel-selector knob on the top tang, which was simplistic and easy to operate. The design lines were also noteworthy, as it closely resembled the classic lines found on British-made over-under shotguns. The first versions of the Red Label were chambered in 20 ga., with the more popular 12-ga. version being introduced later on. At first, Red Label shotguns came with a blued receiver and barrels. Later on, the company made variations of the design, with one of the most noteworthy being the Ruger Woodside, which had the wood of the stock inletted with the receiver.

Shooting a Ruger Red Label on the range.
Shooting a Ruger Red Label on the range.

While Ruger proved its point that a quality over-under shotgun could be mass produced with modern technology and less reliance on hand-fitting, the cost of producing the Red Labels, and their resulting market costs, drove the price of the shotguns out of reach for the average American looking for a double-barrel shotgun. Thus, Ruger ceased production of the Red Label for a time, but it was re-introduced in 2013, with a 12-ga. model. However, after a few years, the newer version was also discontinued and is no longer offered by Ruger.

To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.    

Latest

Taurus 817 01
Taurus 817 01

The Taurus 817 Is Back

The Taurus 817 revolver hasn't been available since the early 2000s, but now, it's back and features several notable updates.

NRA To Hold World Shooting Championship In Indiana

Registration is now open for the eighth NRA World Shooting Championship, which is sponsored by Walther Arms and will be held at Camp Atterbury, Ind., from September 30 to October 4.

Gun Of The Week: Springfield Armory Prodigy Compact 3.5” AOS

For this episode, we’re on the range with a double-stack, M1911-style handgun that’s more compact and lightweight than we’re used to seeing. This is the Springfield Armory Prodigy Compact 3.5” AOS chambered for 9 mm Luger.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 1, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Budget Pistol Rigs With AIM Surplus

It's still possible to pull together a budget-friendly, name-brand pistol rig for $300 to $400, if you play your cards right.

Nextorch Celebrating 20th Anniversary—A Timely Preparedness Reminder

Nextorch North America is celebrating the company’s 20 years of providing lighting solutions for consumers, law enforcement professionals and military forces around the world.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.