Sturm, Ruger & Co. has a knack for building modern firearms based on classic lines from decades ago, from the No. 1’s rendering of a modern Farquharson, to the Bearcat’s Remington New Model Pocket-esque profile. So it was no surprise that when the company decided to introduce its first shotgun in 1977, the gun took the form of the continental over-under shotgun. Called the “Red Label,” the shotgun has disappeared from the market two times, with Ruger recently announcing a third generation with its Red Label III.
The original Red Label used the high-tech manufacturing processes that Ruger was famous for to make a high-quality gun at an affordable price, undercutting expensive imports. Thirty-four years later, the reality of modern domestic manufacturing and competition from cheaper Turkish imports caused Ruger to discontinue the Red Label. It was re-designed and re-introduced in 2013, but survived for less than two years before again disappearing.
The new Red Label III is built around a CNC-machined steel receiver with a hand-fitted locking mechanism. The action uses a single inertia-operated trigger that resets on recoil and has an automatic tang safety with an integral first-shot barrel selector. Barrels have a plated bore rated for steel shot and are brazed together with a matte vent rib on top. They are threaded for Tru-Choke tubes and five are provided with each gun. All metal parts are given a blued finish. Stocks are made of walnut, with 24 lines-per-inch checkering and a hand-rubbed oil finish.
The Red Label III will initially be offered in 20 gauge (with 3-inch chambers) and the choice of 28- or 30-inch barrels. Unlike the original everyman’s Red Label, the Red Label III is a premium product with a price that places it in the league of guns like the Browning Citori and Beretta Silver Pigeon. The shotguns will be built by Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company (CSMC), a company that has been in business producing shotgun parts since 1975 and making complete guns since 1991 for many well-known brands.
The Ruger Red Label III will ship in a premium case and has an MSRP of $3,299. For more information, see the company’s website.
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