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 FIREARM
Red Label Model
Woodside Model  
						

							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 about your ability to handle or
use a particular type of gun safely, then you should seek supervised
instruction. Such personalized instruction is often available from gun
dealers, gun clubs or police departments. If none of these sources can
help you, write to the National Rifle Association, 11250 Waples Mill Rd.,
Fairfax, VA 22030-7400. They will assist you.
The person possessing a gun has a full-time job. You cannot guess; you
cannot forget. You must know how to use your firearm safely.Do not use
any firearm without having a complete understanding of its particular
characteristics and safe use. Remember: There is no such thing as a
foolproof gun.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Mechanical Characteristics  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 
Nomenclature  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Operation of Safety  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Safety/Barrel Selector Positions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Ammunition  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Steel Shot  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Assembling the Shotgun  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Installation of Screw-In Choke Inserts  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Operation of the Shotgun  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
To Load and Fire  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
To Unload  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Disassembly Procedure  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Care and Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Maintenance of Stainless Steel Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Service and Parts Policy  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Parts Drawing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
The Basic Rules of Safe Firearms Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Warranty Information  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
“RUGER®”and the Ruger Logo are registered U.S. trademarks. 
						

							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 individual
circumstances. Guns should be
securely stored unloaded, in a
secure location, separate from
their ammunition.
See “Storage Warning”, page 21.
NEVER INSTALL
LOCKING DEVICE
INSIDE TRIGGER GUARD
4
!WARNING – LOCKING DEVICES
NOTE:The following warning applies to
RUGER®OVER & UNDER SHOTGUNSonly:
DO NOT INSTALL
INSIDE TRIGGER GUARD
INSTALL LOCK
AS SHOWN HERE 
						

							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 LABEL OVER & UNDER SHOTGUNis a two-
shot, double barreled shotgun that comes in a variety of gauges, stock
configurations and barrel lengths. All current models come with “screw-in” choke
tubes of various degrees of choke.
The SPORTING CLAYSmodel has 30” barrels, no barrel spacer and a two-
bead sighting system.
The WOODSIDEmodel comes in a variety of barrel lengths and features
graceful wooden side panels precision inlet into specially designed cutouts in the
side of the receiver.
The ALL-WEATHERmodel comes in three barrel lengths. It features a
stainless-steel mechanism, action, and barrels. The stock and forend are a
synthetic polymer.
THE SAFETY MECHANISMS
The trigger mechanism includes a hammer interrupterwhich directly blocks the
hammers if either or both are cocked and the safety is engaged. With the safety off,
the hammer interrupter can be lifted clear of the hammers only by a 
WARNING–ALTERATIONS
This product was designed to
function properly in its original
condition. Alterations can make it
unsafe. Do not alter any part or add
or substitute parts or accessories
not made by Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc.
DO NOT ALTER ANY GUN 
						

							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 function of barrel selectorin
association with the single trigger mechanism. In its rear, or “safe” position, the
safety mechanism locks the hammer interrupter – a unique characteristic of this
gun. In this position, it is impossible for the hammers to reach the firing pins.
The hammer interrupter, in turn, locks the trigger against being pulled. The
sequence of firing is set with the safety in its rearmost “safe” position. If the
thumbpiece is swung to its left side position and pushed forward, the selector
allows the top barrel to be fired first. If the thumbpiece is swung to the right side
and pushed forward, the selector allows the bottom barrel to be fired first.
Under recoil, an inertia weight swings to the rear and pulls the sear selector out
of engagement with the sears. The sear selector is inoperative until the inertia
weight returns to its forward position, so the gun is thus made safe from
“doubling” (firing both barrels with a single pull of the trigger). This mechanism
has the desirable feature of permitting the second barrel to be discharged even if
the first pull of the trigger results in a misfire. The second shot can be fired
whether the gun has recoiled or not.
The hammersare of the rebounding type. After firing, they move back from the
firing pins enough to clear then and are held in this position by the mainspring.
The rebound position of the hammers means that their cocking motion is not
started until after the barrels are partially opened, and this contributes materially
to the easy opening of the gun. The hammers cannot fall completely forward to
reach the firing pins unless the locking bolt, which lies directly ahead of them, is
in its forward position when the barrels are locked shut in the frame.
THE BARREL ASSEMBLY
The barrelsare silver brazed to the monobloc at the chamber portion of the
barrel. The ventilated rib is securely silver brazed to the top barrel and machine-
cut cross serrations in the top surface of the rib provide a matte, glare-free
sighting plane. The front sight is a standard gold bead. Patented barrel side fillers
can be removed if desired. (Sporting clays models do not have these fillers and
also feature a two gold bead sighting system).
The trunnions(on which the barrels pivot) are mounted high, close to the
centerline of the lower barrel, and are integral with the receiver. This is the only
gun in the world of which this is true.
In addition to trunnions, a massive square lugat the bottom rear of the
monobloc locks into the thick bottom wall of the receiver to provide extra
security for the barrel-to-frame lock-up.
Projecting from the rear end of the barrel assembly, one on either side, are two
heavy, integral heat-treated lugswhich are engaged by the locking bolt as it
slides forward when the gun is closed. The locking bolt is, in effect, a wedge, due
to the angle of the locking faces. These faces have more than adequate area and
are hardened and precision-ground. 
						

							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 held on the gun by a
long through-bolt, which is accessible only
after the recoil pad on the end of the
buttstock is removed.
The TOP LEVERand its massive pivot are
one integral component directly engaged
with the locking bolt on both opening and
closing motions.
MONOBLOCTOP BARREL VENT RIB
FOREND
Figure 1. RECEIVER
TRIGGER GUARD TRIGGER  
						

							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 models feature select Circassian walnut stocks.
Provision is made in the stock for the through-boltsystem of attachment which
is strong and simple. The rear ends of the tangs interlock with the wood and the
forward end of the stock is tenoned into recesses in the receiver to provide
maximum strength and resistance to splitting or loosening.
SPECIAL FEATURES
The RUGER®12, 20, & 28 GAUGE RED LABELover and under
shotguns are offered with stainless steel receivers correctly proportioned for each
gauge. The trigger and forend iron are made of stainless steel with an attractive
brushed finish. The trigger guard, top lever, and safety thumbpiece, as well as
barrels, are of heat-treated chrome-molybdenum steel, polished overall and
blued.
The top lever and its massive pivot are one integral component directly engaged
with the locking bolt both on opening and closing motions. The lever and the
locking bolt are driven to the closed position by the top lever spring which,
through its strut, retains the top lever in the gun. The Ruger shotgun has been
engineered to minimize the force required for cocking through a patented “easy
opening” system.
OPERATION OF SAFETY
The RUGER®OVER AND UNDER SHOTGUNhas a safety selector
combined with a barrel selector for convenient use. The safety selector is located
at the top rear of the receiver.
The safety selector can be moved from the “Fire” position to its “Safe” position
whether or not the mechanism is cocked. Fully opening the shotgun cocks the
mechanism. The action can be opened with the safety “on.”
Whenever the action is opened, the safety automatically moves rearward to its
“on,” or “Safe” position (the letter ‘S’ visible forward of the safety thumbpiece on
the top surface of the receiver). If the safety thumbpiece is moved forward to
cover the letter ‘S’, the safety is in its “off”  or “Fire” position and remains in that
position until moved back to the “Safe” position manually, or until the action is
opened again. Keep the safety “on” unless actually firing!
NON-AUTOMATIC SAFETY AVAILABLE –The automatic safety in the Ruger
shotgun is generally desired for field guns. However, the automatic safety can be
replaced by a non-automatic safety upon request if the shotgun is returned to
our factory as outlined in the “Service and Parts Policy” section of this manual,
page 21. 
						

							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
pulled. If the thumbpiece is moved to the left when the safety is on so that the
letter ‘T’ appears, the top barrel will fire first when the safety is pushed forward
and the trigger is pulled.
Practice (with an unloaded shotgun) moving the safety/barrel selector to the
three positions until you know the position of the safety selector for the three
modes – Safe (S), Fire top barrel first (T), and Fire bottom barrel first (B).
WARNING: When manipulating the safety selector, DO NOT HAVE ANY FINGER
INSIDE THE TRIGGER GUARD! Whenever the safety selector is in the “Fire”
position and the trigger is pulled, the shotgun will fire.
The safety selector should always be in the “Safe” (S) position except when the
gun user is actually firing or unloading the shotgun. The safety selector should
unfailingly by moved to the “Safe” (S) position when the gun user ceases firing,
even for a moment.
SAFETY/BARREL SELECTOR POSITIONS
Figure 2.Safety selector in “Safe” (S) full
rearward position. The safety selector must be
in this position to select position ‘T’ or ‘B’
described below. In this position, the trigger
cannot be pulled to fire the gun. Either ‘T’ or
‘B’ may be partially visible, but the shotgun is
only on “Safe” when the ‘S’ is fully exposed. If
the ‘S’ is not
visible, the shotgun is ready to
fire!
Figure 3.Safety selector is forward “Fire Top
Barrel (T) First” position. Pulling the trigger
will cause the top barrel to fire – a second
pull of the trigger fires the bottom barrel. The
safety selector should be moved to this
position only when the gun user is actually
firing. When the safety is in either fire
position, it is referred to as being “off.” (When
the safety is in the “Safe” (S) position, it is
referred to as being “on”).
S
B
T
T
“Safe” (and Barrel Selecting) Position
“Fire” — Top Barrel First
9 
						

							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 selector in forward “Fire
Bottom Barrel (B) First” position. Pulling the
trigger will fire the bottom barrel – a second
pull will then fire the top barrel. The safety
selector should be in this position only when
the gun is being fired. The safety selector
should be moved to the “Safe” (S) position and
kept there unless the gun is to be fired
immediately.
B
WARNING – SAFETY SELECTOR
This safety selector is held in each of its three positions by a plunger that is
under spring tension. Therefore, the gun user should frequently check the
position of the safety selector to be certain it has not been inadvertently moved.
If the safety selector seems to move too easily, or if the safety selector does not
seem firmly positioned in any of its three positions, the shotgun should be
discontinued from use and returned to our Newport, New Hampshire Service
Department for repair.
AMMUNITION
The Ruger 12 and 20 gauge Over and Under Shotguns of current manufacture
have 3” chambers and may be used with all standard commercially manufactured
2 3/4” and 3” shot shells. The 28 gauge shotguns have 2 3/4” chambers and
should be used with all standard commercially manufactured 2 3/4” shot shells.
This gun has been tested with special proof test ammunition which conforms to
U.S. industry practice. It is intended for use only with standard ammunition of
the proper gauge and loading. Use of incorrect ammunition can destroy any gun
and result in serious injury to the shooter or bystanders. (See “Ammunition
Warning,” p. 11)
“Fire” — Bottom Barrel First
“SAFE” “FIRE”
TOP BBL.
FIRST“FIRE”
BOTTOM BBL.
FIRST
S
B
T
TB 
						

							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 or shot velocity. As we have no control over the
manufacture of ammunition which may be introduced in the future, we cannot
be responsible for damage caused by steel shot loads.
Since steel shot generally patterns tighter than conventional lead shot loads, it
would be wise to avoid the use of steel shot altogether in conventionally choked
“full choke” barrels. Modified choke barrels generally deliver “full choke”
patterns when used with steel shot.
We do not recommend anyof our shotguns for use with reloads, steel shot or
otherwise.
WARNING – AMMUNITION
AMMUNITION (CARTRIDGES) NOTICE
WE SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE
OR INJURY WHATSOEVER OCCURING IN CONNECTION WITH, OR
AS A RESULT OF, THE USE IN ANY RUGER FIREARMS OF FAULTY, OR
NON-STANDARD, OR “REMANUFACTURED” OR HAND-LOADED
(RELOADED) AMMUNITION, OR OF CARTRIDGES OTHER THAN
THOSE FOR WHICH THE FIREARM WAS ORIGINALLY CHAMBERED.
11
Death, serious injury, and damage can
result from the use of wrong
ammunition, bore obstructions,
powder overloads, or incorrect
cartridge components.  Always
wear
shooting glasses and hearing
protectors.
IMPROPER AMMUNITION
DESTROYS GUNS