RUGER RED LABEL Shotguns Over Under
Pros & cons
What works
- Discontinued Ruger model with collector appeal
- Comes with 5 interchangeable chokes
- Includes original paperwork
- Proven boxlock O/U action for field and clays
Trade-offs
- No factory box included
- Used condition — inspect lockup before buying
- Parts support is limited since Ruger stopped production
- Chamber length (2 3/4" vs 3") not confirmed in this listing
Specs at a glance
About this product
The Ruger Red Label is a 12-gauge over/under shotgun that Ruger built at its Newport, New Hampshire plant from 1977 until production ended in 2011 (with a short-lived 20-gauge O/U run after). This listing is a used Red Label in stainless-and-black finish with a 28" barrel and five interchangeable choke tubes, sold with its original paperwork but no box. Because Ruger no longer makes them, every Red Label on the market today is a used gun, and condition and choke selection matter more than they would on a current-production shotgun.
What is the Ruger Red Label used for?
It's a field and clays gun, built for people who want a break-action double without the price tag of a European sidelock. The over/under configuration gives two shots before reloading, one from each barrel, each fired by a separate trigger pull. Owners run it for upland bird hunting, dove season, and casual trap or skeet. The 28" barrel length is the common middle ground Ruger offered — long enough for a smooth swing on birds, short enough to carry all day.
How does it compare to a Browning Citori?
The Red Label was Ruger's answer to the Citori, and mechanically the two guns solve the same problem in similar ways — steel receiver, boxlock action, screw-in chokes. The Citori is still in production with a deeper parts and gunsmith support network; the Red Label is not, so replacement parts and factory service are harder to source now that Ruger has discontinued it. Buyers who want a lifetime of easy servicing tend to lean Citori; buyers who found a clean Red Label at a fair price get a comparable shooting gun for less money.
What fits it?
This one comes with five choke tubes, which covers most upland and clays needs from a tight full choke down to skeet or improved cylinder without buying extras. Ruger used its own choke thread pattern on the Red Label, so aftermarket chokes need to be sold specifically for this gun — Browning Invector chokes will not thread into it.
Who is this not for?
Skip it if you need a gun still backed by an active factory parts program, or if you specifically want a 3" magnum-capable receiver for heavy waterfowl loads — check the chamber length before you count on steel shot magnums. It's also not the pick for someone who wants a brand-new gun with a full warranty; this is a used firearm sold as-is, no box.
Is it worth $1,979?
For a clean, functioning Red Label with five chokes and paperwork, that price is in line with what these bring on the used market — Red Labels generally hold value because Ruger stopped building them. Have the seller or a gunsmith check barrel-to-receiver lockup and choke thread condition before you commit, since that's where an older O/U shows its age.
Complete firearms like this one ship to your local FFL for pickup, with the standard California 10-day wait, DROS, and Firearm Safety Certificate handled at transfer — see our California gun laws page for the full rundown before you order.
FFL transfer required
This item is a firearm and ships only to a licensed FFL dealer, never to a home address. At checkout, enter your preferred dealer as the shipping address, or leave it blank and we will assign a licensed dealer near you at no extra cost. You complete the background check and paperwork with the dealer when you pick up.
California buyers: handguns must be on the California roster for delivery to a California FFL, a Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) and DROS are handled at the dealer, and the 10-day waiting period applies. Out-of-state buyers receive the firearm through their own local FFL under their state's rules.
Key attributes
| Transfer | Ships to your FFL dealer |
| Gauge | 12 |
| Action | Over/Under, break action |
| Barrel Length | 28 in |
| Capacity | 2 rounds |
| Finish | Stainless & black |
| Condition | Preowned |
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Ruger Red Label still in production?
- No, Ruger discontinued the Red Label in 2011 (an earlier all-American version had ended a bit before that). Every Red Label sold today, including this one, is a used gun.
- Does this shotgun need to ship to an FFL?
- Yes. As a complete firearm it can only be delivered to a licensed FFL dealer, where you complete the DROS paperwork and California's 10-day waiting period before pickup.
- What chokes come with it?
- This example includes 5 interchangeable choke tubes using Ruger's proprietary thread pattern, so keep using Ruger-pattern chokes rather than another brand's.
- Can I use 3" magnum shells in it?
- Check the chamber length stamped on the barrel before buying magnum loads — Ruger built the Red Label in both 2 3/4" and 3" chamber versions, and this listing doesn't specify which.
- Why is there no box included?
- It's a used gun sold in preowned condition; the original box wasn't retained by the prior owner, which is common on shotguns this age.