doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Anything wrong with Ruger Gold Labels?

I would appreciate your opinion about the design and quality of fit and finish, handling, etc.
They seem to sell in the same range as a RBL.

The design is consistent with well proven highly automated, interchangable parts manufacturing processes. Out-of-the-box functionality seems to be satisfactory. Finish sems to be consistant with the price being charged. Handling is gamegunish. IMO, it is perfectly fine for the price range.

I looked at possibly buying one as a backup duck gun for steel shot. They've got three inch chambers but they're so light I think they might kill on one end and maim on the other when using heavy loads.

Destry

I like the Ruger Gold Labels but I don't like the single trigger. I talked to the Ruger rep at the Northbrook Vintagers show a few years ago, he said there were no plans to make a double trigger. I wonder if it would be really tough to convert them to double triggers.
Steve

Single trigger is what most folks want because most folks didn't start life shooting a side by side. They never got used to two triggers like us lucky ones who did.

Destry

I guess my answer to Silvers original question is, yah the damn fools forgot one of the triggers! A shame too, I'm not recoil sensitive at all, I really like light weight round-framed game guns... with two triggers!
Steve

I agree that the DT would make it more attractive. I also don't like the skinny profile of the single trigger. But I love the round body! I also argue against the Ruger safety button with it's oblique position...
How about fit and finish? I have seen new Red Labels with very poor wood to metal finish. They must have used unseasoned wood because one can slip a finger between action and stock head...

Gold Label has a history of point of impact problems.

Caveat Emptor

Silver,
I bought a Gold Label with a straight stock last year. There is nothing wrong with the gun. A $5,000 gun it isn't, but then it didn't cost that. I collect classic American made SxS's and I feel the Gold Label fits the definition. It's a shooter, points well, & fun for skeet & sporting clays.

I had to add a Pachmeyer leather slip on pad to lengthen the stock & I like the look. I also added a middle bead, but I have not yet deactivated the automatic safety. A few times the safety/selector has slipped into the middle, so that the gun wouldn't fire. It is a light gun and I prefer 7/8 oz loads to reduce recoil. Heavy goose loads would be no fun in the Gold Label.

What would I change? Double triggers, extractors, longer stock, put matting on the rib, darker black walnut stocks.
Regards, Ron

When they were in production an article in SSM described their new method of barrel joining. I don't recall details, but at least sometimes they were unable to correct barrels that didn't shoot where they should -- and many were simply were scrapped. Unfortunately, a very costly problem.

A good hunting buddy bought one with pretty good wood to metal fit from Cabela's in Rogers, MN when they were still shipping some. It's his first SxS, shoots exactly where it should, and he shoots it the best of his several guns.