Ruger Red Label Instructions Manual

INSTRUCTION
MANUAL
FOR
RUGER®
OVER & UNDER SHOTGUNS
BLUED &
STAINLESS
STEEL12, 20 & 28
GAUGE
For Product Service on This Model Please Call:
(603) 865-2442 (See p. 21)
STURM, RUGER & Company, Inc.
Southport, Connecticut 06490 U.S.A.
THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL SHOULD ALWAYS ACCOMPANY THIS FIREARM AND BE
TRANSFERRED WITH IT UPON CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP, OR WHEN THE FIREARM IS LOANED OR
PRESENTED TO ANOTHER PERSON.
OU1 & OU3/5-00
R3
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND
WARNINGS IN THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY
BEFORE USING THIS...

3
FIREARMS SAFETY-YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
SAFETY MUST BE THE FIRST AND CONSTANT
CONSIDERATION OF EVERY PERSON WHO
HANDLES FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION.
This Instruction Manual is designed to assist you in learning how to use
and care for your RUGER®OVER AND UNDER SHOTGUN
properly. Please contact us if you have any questions about it.
Only when you are certain you fully understand the Manual and can
properly carry out its instructions should you practice loading, etc. with
live ammunition. If you have any doubts...

This firearm was originally sold
with a key-operated locking
device. While it can help provide
secure storage for your unloaded
firearm, any locking device can
fail. All guns are designed to fire
if they are loaded and the trigger
is pulled. Therefore, never install
the locking device inside the
trigger guard or in any way that
it can possibly pull the trigger!
Do not leave the keys in the lock.
The ultimate responsibility for
secure storage of any firearm
must depend upon its owner and
his or her...

WARNINGS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE ARE
FOUND ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES:
Locking Devices 4 Unloading 17
Alterations 5 Handling 18
Safety Selector 10 Disassembly 19
Ammunition 11 Lubrication 20
Lead Exposure 12 Storage 21
Screw-In Chokes 15 Parts Purchasers 23
Firing 17
OTHER CAUTIONS AND WARNINGS APPEAR
THROUGHOUT THE MANUAL.
5
FIREARMS ARE DANGEROUS WEAPONS–
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS
IN THIS MANUAL THOROUGHLY AND
CAREFULLY BEFORE USING.
GENERAL INFORMATION
AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The RUGER®RED...

6
deliberate pull of the trigger. A complete release of the trigger is necessary to set
the gun for firing the second shot. The automatic safety mounted on top of the
receiver also serves as the barrel selector that determines which of the two
barrels is to be fired first. The conical pointed firing pins are strongly
proportioned and will not be damaged by dry-firing.
The sliding safety thumbpiece, in addition to its fore and aft motion, pivots to
swing from side to side and thus incorporates the...

7
NOMENCLATURE
The SAFETY, in addition to its fore and aft
motion, pivots to swing from side to side
when on “safe” (S) and incorporates the
function of barrel selector. If the selector is
swung to its left side position the top barrel
fires first. If the selector is to the right, the
bottom barrel fires first. In its rearmost “safe”
position, the safety locks the hammer
interrupter. In this position it is impossible for
the hammer to reach the firing pin and the
trigger cannot be pulled.
The BUTTSTOCKis...

8
The automatic ejectorsassemble to the monobloc simply, without retaining pins
or screws. The ejector searsare pivoted on integral studs in the forend iron.
THE WOOD
The stock and forearm are made from first quality straight grain American
walnut, fully seasoned, with deep-cut checkering of 20 lines to the inch. A pistol
grip and rubber recoil pad are standard on the 12 and 20 ga. models (the 28 ga.
has a plastic butt plate). All wood surfaces are sealed with a satin weather
resistant finish. Woodside...

BARREL SELECTION
The letters ‘T’ and ‘B’ appear to the right and left of the safety thumbpiece, and
indicate which barrel is to fire first. NOTE:The safety must be “on” (letter ‘S’
visible, safety moved to rearmost position) before the barrel selector feature can
be used. You cannot change the barrel firing sequence while the safety is “off.” If
the thumbpiece is then moved to the right so that the letter ‘B’ appears, the
bottom barrel will fire first when the safety is pushed forward and the trigger is...

Keep the safety on unless actually firing.
Always move the safety fully to its intended
position and check
it. The safety has three
positions – “SAFE” (S), “FIRE (T) TOP Barrel-
FIRST” and “FIRE (B) BOTTOM Barrel -
FIRST”. Never depend on a safety mechanism
or any other mechanical device to justify
careless handling or permitting the shotgun to
point in an unsafe direction. The only “safe”
gun is one in which the action is open and the
chambers are empty.
KNOW HOW TO USE THE SAFETY
10
Figure 4.Safety...

STEEL SHOT
All steel shot loads loaded to current U.S. industry specifications can be used in
currently manufactured Ruger shotguns equipped with screw-in chokes. Some
older Ruger “Red Label” shotguns were manufactured with conventional fixed
chokes. In conventionally choked full choke barrels without screw-in choke
tubes, the use of large size (F, T, BB and larger) steel shot can result in a very
slight ring near the muzzle. It must be emphasized that this ring should have no
adverse effect on pattern...