Ruger Shotguns

The Red Label III: America’s Over/Under Returns

The Ruger Red Label was produced from 1977 to 2011 and developed a devoted following among American wingshooters who wanted a domestically manufactured over/under at an accessible price. When Ruger discontinued it in 2011, no other American-made O/U filled the gap it left. The Red Label III reintroduction for 2026 brings the platform back in 20 gauge with updated internal components and refined production quality. The fundamental character of the Red Label — the balance, the handling, the Ruger reliability — is intact. What’s improved is everything underneath, reflecting Ruger’s manufacturing advancement over the 15 years since the original’s discontinuation.

20 Gauge: The Right Configuration for the Red Label III

The Red Label III’s 20-gauge configuration is well-suited to the broadest range of shotgun applications. Lighter than a 12-gauge O/U by a meaningful margin, the 20-gauge Red Label III carries comfortably on all-day upland hunts and reduces fatigue through extended clay target sessions. Standard 2¾” and 3” loads cover upland birds, small game, and sporting clays without requiring specialty ammunition. The 20 gauge over/under is also a traditional choice for youth and smaller-framed shooters moving up from single-shots — the lighter weight and manageable recoil make it an ideal first O/U for new shooters.

American Manufacturing: What It Means for Ruger

Ruger manufactures firearms at their facilities in Arizona, New Hampshire, and North Carolina — keeping production domestic across their entire product line in a way that few manufacturers match. The Red Label III benefits from Ruger’s investment-cast manufacturing expertise, which produces consistent, precise components at production scale without the per-unit cost premium of traditional machine work. For buyers who specifically want American-made firearms and are willing to support domestic manufacturing, a Ruger shotgun is a straightforward choice. The brand’s commitment to American production is not marketing — it’s an operational reality that has defined the company since 1949.

Interchangeable Choke Tubes

The Red Label III ships with interchangeable choke tubes, allowing the same gun to be optimized for close-flushing upland birds with improved cylinder, for crossing clay targets with modified, or for longer-range waterfowl and turkey applications with full or extra-full chokes. Standard Ruger-pattern choke tubes are widely available from aftermarket manufacturers, giving Red Label III owners access to specialty chokes for steel shot, porting options, and extended tubes for maximum pattern control. The choke system makes the Red Label III genuinely versatile across hunting seasons and clay disciplines rather than a single-purpose gun.

How Ruger Shotguns Compare to the Competition

The Red Label III’s primary competition comes from Italian-made over/unders — Browning Citori, Beretta A300 series, Franchi Instinct. All are excellent guns built overseas. The Red Label III’s differentiation is American manufacturing at a competitive price point, a heritage that resonates with hunters and shooters who prioritize domestic production, and Ruger’s service network and warranty support. For buyers comparing purely on features-per-dollar, the Italian guns are strong competition. For buyers who want American-made first and a quality O/U second, the Red Label III has no real competitor.

Related Pages at Impact Guns

See the full Ruger brand page for the complete Ruger lineup. The Ruger Red Label III model page covers the specific O/U in detail. Compare 20-gauge options on our 20 gauge shotguns page. For over/under comparisons see the Browning and Franchi brand pages.