First Look: Ruger Red Label III Shotgun

Ruger brings back a classic over/under shotgun in a new line.

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posted on December 24, 2025
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Ruger Red Label shotgun

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. announced the return of a legendary American break-action, over/under shotguns with the Ruger Red Label III, renewing Ruger’s dedication to being a full-line manufacturer of firearms.

Ruger's original Red Label was launched in 1977, and had a well-earned reputation for reliability, good looks and American-made quality. Ruger maintains that legacy with the Red Label III, while upgrading it with premium materials and world-class fit and finish.

This new Red Label shotgun is constructed by skilled craftsmen at one of the world's premier makers of fine firearms, Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company (CSMC). It marks a new era in Ruger shotgun excellence.

Offered in 20-gauge with both 28- and 30-inch-barrel configurations, the new Red Label III features a beautiful walnut stock with a classic checkered pattern and a hand-rubbed oil finish. The single trigger is inertia operated and resets on recoil. An automatic, tang-mounted safety has an integral first-shot barrel selector. Designed for 2¾- and 3-inch shells, the Red Label III’s barrels have a precise internal geometry engineered to produce consistent patterns and superior shot performance.

The Red Label III is designed as a sporting shotgun for upland game hunting, waterfowling and skeet and sporting clays. Each shotgun ships in a premium case and includes five Tru-Choke-style choke tubes: Skeet, Improved Cylinder, Modified, Improved Modified and Full.

“Bringing back the Red Label has been a standing request from our loyal customers,” said Ruger President and CEO, Todd Seyfert. “By teaming up with Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company, we’re able to deliver a firearm that meets Ruger’s standards for durability and reliability while elevating the craftsmanship to a level that honors the legacy of the original. Its return also marks an important milestone for Ruger as we reestablish ourselves as a full-line manufacturer of firearms, reaffirming our commitment to providing a complete lineup of firearms to our customers.”

For more information on the new Ruger Red Label III Shotgun, or to learn more about any other firearms offered by Ruger, visit ruger.com.

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