In 2011, Ruger halted production of the highly popular Red Label shotgun. Recently, the company announced a redesigned Red Label featuring refined inner workings, a new center of gravity and reduced recoil.
“After 32 years of production, we put the Red Label on hiatus in 2011,” said Ruger President and CEO Mike Fifer. “We knew we could employ newer technology, improve the design and deliver a better performing Red Label. We have done that and restored the Red Label as the best American-made, over-and-under shotgun on the market.”
The new 12-gauge Red Label has a redistributed center of gravity for improved instinctual swing and pointing. It also features 2-inch extended forcing cones, maximum back-bored barrels and a soft Pachmayr buttpad to reduce recoil.
The Red Label comes with an American Walnut stock with a 1.5-inch drop at comb and a 2.5-inch drop at heel. Red Label shotguns are available with 26-, 28- or 30-inch barrels and each model features a 14.5-inch length of pull. The new models retain the Red Label’s classic lines and good looks, enhanced by its new stainless steel top lever. The suggested retail price for all three models is $1,399.
Each shotgun includes a custom-molded, semi-soft case, five Briley chokes (two skeet chokes and one full, one modified and one improved cylinder choke), a premium-quality Briley choke tube wrench and a safety lock.
