Ruger Red Label - here we go again...

ninepointer

ninepointer

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This was just posted on another forum:

Per Ruger:" . . . the Red Label has been removed from the web site and will not be present in the 2015 catalog. Our plan is to ramp down the production of the O/U in the first third of the year. Our current backlog is larger than our capacity so we removed it from the marketing material. We are releasing about 250 20ga models this week but have no plans to make more. While we are all pretty upset having to cease production (again), the numbers don’t lie. The current design is just not able to be manufactured for the retail price we need to hit. I’m hoping that in the next few years we can swing back to the product and develop a new o/u shotgun using our current new product development process."
 
Sounds like sugar coating Ruger has had a lot of problems with the new o/u the warranty depot is swamped with guns I think they are revaluating the design
 
struff55 said:
Sounds like sugar coating Ruger has had a lot of problems with the new o/u the warranty depot is swamped with guns I think they are revaluating the design
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That's probably more to the true cause. Many other gun manufacturers are making over/unders to whatever price point (low or high) and managing to come out on top so why can't Ruger.
 
Many are also made in Turkey. Some good, some poor. But my point is that Walnut would be easier to source and cheaper, and labor much cheaper. These guns would be driving the price down, making it impossible to have any margin..

Pretty sure that the Rugers are all still made in USA. If Ruger is unable to produce them for a profit in this gun crazy US market, i would doubt they will revisit O/U or even any shotgun production. A entry O/U that loses money like the Winchester SX1, but without the quality, or collectability.
 
There is probably some "opportunity cost" factored into Ruger's decision. The have only so many designers, &tc. to apply to all of their product lines, and the reward for getting this line in shape just doesn't match up with what it would take away from other programs.
 
I would bet that most of the Gun Crazy US market is geared toward semi auto long arms with synthetic stocks. The stack barrel is a niche gun and once the target shooters are out of the mix hunting o/u's just don't command a huge part of the market. When Winchester dropped the good old model 88 and 100 rifles they made all kinds of explanations including manufacturing cost etc. Simply the truth was the guns just were not selling in adequate volume to continue production.

Darryl
 
I've never met a RRL that I've liked and although I've never handled the "new" RRL, it sure looks like it won't be missed much. From what I've heard, the old RRL in 28 ga. holds a special place in some hearts.
 
Interestingly, I just bought a 90's vintage RRL 12g. , 28" bbls today. Was looking for a gun to play around with at clays this summer and my hunting doubles are all too light. Even a 25 shot round gets uncomfortable with a 6lb gun. This Ruger feels like @ 8 lbs and I quite like the balance and feel of it. It also uses Browning Invector chokes and already own a bunch of them so that was a bonus. I never felt the Rugers were light enough to make an all day carrying hunting gun but for playing around at non competitive clays I think it will do. If I ever get the bug and get serious I might move to a sporting style gun but this Ruger will do for now.
Clearly Ruger don't seem to make the best business decisions when it comes to shotguns though. At it's price point it's impossible to make enough profit when you are positioned to compete against Hungarian stuff. I handled a CZ Woodcock the same time I handled the RRL and yes the CZ is pretty nice looking for the same money as a used RRL but the one that came out of the box new was already defective and has to be sent back to the distributor. I have owned a CZ before with no problems but still, that isn't encouraging. The Ruger seems built like a tank in comparison. I think Ruger missed an oppurtunity here. They should have gone upscale a bit to compete with Browning and Beretta. When it comes to double guns most people will not be too surprised to spend in the $2.5K area and that would have allowed them a higher level of product. The new Benelli O/U may become a game changer when it hits the shelves.
 
nowarningshot said:
Many are also made in Turkey. Some good, some poor. But my point is that Walnut would be easier to source and cheaper, and labor much cheaper. These guns would be driving the price down, making it impossible to have any margin..

Pretty sure that the Rugers are all still made in USA. If Ruger is unable to produce them for a profit in this gun crazy US market, i would doubt they will revisit O/U or even any shotgun production. A entry O/U that loses money like the Winchester SX1, but without the quality, or collectability.
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SX1 collectabilty ? I have an SX1 and I like it, but collectable is a stretch.
 
I picked up an older vintage 20ga. quite a few years ago, NIB that had been sitting virtually unnoticed in a small shop in Naniamo B.C., that is now shutdown.



The intended use was for here on the island when the 'wet coast sunshine' was coming down and leave my english SxS home where it's dry.

 
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