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Who knows it might be nice handling gun like that Ruger Hawkeye .375 'African'. When used one came in for test firing prior to offering it for sale everyone ran for the doors. Can't blame them I wouldn't want to shoot that "anorexic" asskicker either!

That's funny, Jim. Today I happened to run across an old 2007 Ruger catalog and under the Gold Label it said: Stock exhausted. Redesigned model anticipated in 2008.

Instead of trying again at marketing a 6 1/3 lbs. Gold Label, the Gold Label is getting a nasty reputation; why don't they (Ruger) try and market a 6 1/3lbs Red Label??? It would sell like hot cakes!!

Hmmm. Treblig's post raises questions. Everyone, including Ruger-lovers like myself, has always bemoaned the heavy weight of the RL (except the 28). But the light weight of the GL is held against it?

Admitting my biases--I would never have spent the money (about $1650-1700 real world at the time) for a GL. I just don't have, nor ever have had, that kind of money for a gun. But when my considerably wealthier older brother gave me one at the same time he got himself one, I was DELIGHTED. Still am. Sentimental value? You bet! (My brother actually earned his relative wealth--32 years in the USA with 3 tours in VN, "Operation Just Because," planning first Gulf, and then 18 more years in the Alphabets, including 'Stan tourism before the Wall came down...).

The gun works, every time. It hits where it is pointed. It kicks when you feed it heavy loads. I know that there are more beautiful guns out there (by far), but the GL was made, like most Rugers, for "rough duty." Over-engineered, like a GP-100 (or a C-47). A retro concept, but one dear to my heart. An old Balkans gentleman (his home country "didn't exist" at that time, but now it does again...) once showed me HIS sentimental favorite double, a JP Sauer field grade BLNE SxS 12 with "export" 2 3/4" chambers and 29+" metric barrels F and XF. A very plain boxlock, plainly well cared for since its birth in the 1920s and sold by a retailer in Salonika with an Armenian surname. I wish he could have told me all its stories, but what he told me stands for a certain class of high-quality, low finish double the world over: "Mike, you can kill a duck or a Duke with a gun like this!" And everything in between.

This ramble aside, the GL is at least a very interesting development in the history of American gunmaking. It will continue to be talked about. Probably never made again. Mine will continue to be shot, mostly with 1 oz loads. Who the hell notices hot barrels when he's shooting at game? It was meant for GAME, not GAMES! I'll leave it to my Marine son, in case he ever needs to pot a Duke.

And, treblig1958, I DO wonder what would happen if Ruger came out with a lighter-weight RL. I bet it would sell like hot cakes.

MA, that pretty much sums up my take on the GL and guns meant for the real thing.

Weight can be added for target shooting but hard to remove for the uplands.

I don't think that they are making the stainless model anymore either. At least it wasn't in the 2007 catalog.

Good point Mike!!!
I had a Gold Label and loved it and I regret selling it now to restock a now sold Spanish sidelock. The Gold Label is a thoroughbred game gun, but admittedly Ruger stopped building it because of mechanical problems with the design. I believe it was the barrels that was giving owners all of the problems, at least on some other shotgun boards that was the posters major complaint.

But as you say, how were these people using it, as a dedicated target gun for their trap and skeet outings? The Gold Label wasn't built for that as you said and I agree 100%!! Used as it was meant to be used and its a great game gun!!!

But my point is; wouldn't it have been better from a capital outlay point of view to take an existing design, the Red Label, which also has great lines, and smooth it out, reducing the weight to a point where you could call it a game gun???

Excluding the 28 gauge of course!!

But even my 28 gauge tips the scales over 6 lbs., heavier then my 16 gauge Ithaca!!!
Where that design is picking up all the weight beats the heck out of me!!!

I bought a three digit Gold Label three years ago and have used it exclusively since then. It has never failed in any way and it has given me a much undeserved reputation as a crack game shot. Some of my pheasant hunting friends have hinted strongly that I should only carry one chamber loaded so that they get a chance for the second bird. I have shot mostly 1-1/4 ounce #6 for pheasant but I have also used it with one ounce #8s for grouse and 3 inch duck loads. I shoot left handed with the left barrel IC and full in the right barrel. I shoot better with this gun that with my true left hand AYA. I can't say that I like the styling around the head of the stock, but I don't see it when I'm shooting. I paid $1600 for it and would pay twice that for a second one in case anything happens to this one.