The Gun Vault Vol. 1 | Ruger Red Label

When Joseph first pitched the idea of “The Gun Vault”, I gotta be honest, I thought it was pretty stupid. People want to read reviews about brand new guns, not older models. Then I realized that most of my internet search history that didn’t involve Sydney Sweeney, involved articles about iconic guns from the past. Who’s the jackass now? This guy.

So I spent about three days scouring Guns.com Certified Used Guns section, narrowing down some guns we could pick up to start this monthly series. Which wasn’t easy, because they have endless amounts of badass guns on there. Nevertheless, I felt Vol. 1 of “TGV” needed to be something iconic. Something with rich history, but also fit the kind of gun that we at Bushman love. Which is basically just something we can beat the hell out of, spill whiskey on, throw in the back of Dylan’s Land Cruiser and not worry about missing birds the next day.

After weighing my options, there was really only one gun that I felt deserved the spotlight for Volume 1. A gun that was built to directly challenge European manufacturers, and show that America has the chops to build a durable and comfortable gun with exceptional craftsmanship at a fraction of the price of its European competitors. Thus, the “Red Label” from Sturm, Ruger & Co. was born. Circa 1977.

I have long been a fan of the Red Labels, or as my father calls them, “America’s bird gun”. This particular model is a 12 gauge, with a 30in barrel, 14.50” LOP, and a total weight of 7.9lbs. Like all RRL models, this gun features the iconic cut-checkered walnut, forged barrels, and the dovetailed, free-floating, ventilated rib. What I love about this model, which Ruger released nearly a decade after the original, is its stainless steel receiver, which in my opinion, makes it all the more stunning.

My model came with five screw-in chokes, however, up until 1988, fixed chokes were the only option available for this gun. By 1991, screw-in chokes became the standard for all models. While the original fixed chokes cut down on manufacturing costs, it has made navigating the second-hand market interesting for new buyers. Thankfully, even if the gun you buy does feature fixed chokes not suitable for your hunt of choice, any competent gunsmith can open the barrels up fairly easily, and for not very much dinero. 

You’ll hear whispers from the whores at the gun club that the Red Labels lack a certain visual charm, due to the simplicity of its appearance. But that alone makes it all the more iconic to me. Ruger didn’t set out to make a fancy display piece. Instead, what they made was a gun with flawless mechanics and infinite rugged durability.

Is this a light gun? Absolutely not. Can it be a pain in the ass when you’re hiking through the desert plains out west searching every corner for Chukar? Absolutely. But you feel something when you carry this gun. You feel it even more as you follow through your swing on a fresh flush. You’re holding an American legend. I don’t get that same feeling from the guns made today. Are there some shortcomings? Yes. Are those shortcomings worth it? Every damn one.

In 2011, Ruger discontinued the Red Label, and for admirable reasons. The purpose of the mission was to create one of the most reliable guns the world has ever seen and at an affordable price. With manufacturing costs consistently climbing, instead of settling for cheaper operations and materials, Ruger ended the model altogether. There was hope two years later, when Ruger announced they would be relaunching the model after successful changes in streamlining the manufacturing process, however, that was short lived, with the model officially ending not long after.

The Red Label will always be one of my favorite Over/Unders ever created. Each time I shoulder mine, I feel that spirit of American ingenuity and unceasing pursuit of what the standard should be in a shotgun. While hunters will have to settle for the second-hand market if they want to get their hands on one, the legend of the Red Label lives on forever.

Guns.com receives a steady flow of these workhorses, and you can typically find them in pretty great condition for under $2,000. If you are fortunate enough to purchase one of these guns, my only message would be to honor it. And the way you honor this gun is by putting it to work. This gun demands to be tested in even the worst conditions. Let it display its American grit and toughness to you. You won’t be disappointed.