Gun Tests magazine recently tested the all-American Ruger Red Label engraved model, marketed as a general-purpose model suitable for hunting and casual clays use.
In more detail, it was a 3-inch-chamber 12 gauge that would likely be the most expensive shotgun 95% of us might own. The Ruger Red Label Engraved No. KRL-1227-BRE 3-Inch 12 gauge lists at $2180. This Red Label comes with scroll-engraving and gold-inlaid pheasants adorning both sides of the stainless-steel receiver. What they quickly noticed about this model was both the engraving and the wood. Contrasted with the sleek, smooth look of the base model’s stainless receiver, the engraving dresses the gun up. Also, the well-figured wood elements in the forearm and the buttstock matched in color and tone, and the checkering was deeply and crisply cut, making the furniture functional as well as visually appealing. If this were an import, you might have to add an “E” or an “L” to describe its wood quality. You also won’t have to worry about a plated finish chipping off or flaking, nor will you ever see any receiver bluing wear. Stainless steel has its benefits.
Here’s what the team found:
The Ruger was a substantial gun, with the sample weighing 7.9 pounds. This mass, even with Ruger’s thinnish rubber buttpad, made the gun softer-shooting than many other over/unders. The Ruger barrel set is heavy, and that’s not all bad. It encouraged the test shooters to get the gun down in the shoulder pocket where it belongs. For a field gun, though, the magazine said it would like to see the Ruger in a lighter form. Losing a few ounces from the barrels would make them far more interested in a 30-inch-barrel version of the Red Label then they were at testing. For clays or on the dove field, as is is just fine. The RRL also shot to POA with good barrel regulation.
The Ruger had a wide ventilated rib, more of a sporting clays style than a thin field treatment. It fit all of the testers well, and was smooth to swing and easy to hit with. They found the overall build quality of this Ruger to be rock-solid. It required no strain to break open. Ruger included five choke tubes and a speed wrench.
They liked the Ruger mechanical triggers rather than recoil-switched triggers. In fact, the Ruger triggers broke right at 4.5 pounds, the lightest of the several guns tested. They had a small amount of creep, but were still excellent triggers in their view.
They didn’t like the Ruger’s auto safety-reset. The auto safety can be disabled by a gunsmith (or by Ruger), and that’s something they said they would do to the gun if they bought it. Also, they wished Ruger would change the pivoting barrel selector tang safety to a more conventional slide-selection.
Gun Tests Said: The Red Label proved to be the sleeper of the test, a very good stackbarrel that offers a lot of value for the dollar.
