[kvnsll]

Things are getting kinda slow so who all owns or have shot a Gold Label shotgun. I have shot a friends and it is very nice. I would like to get one myself. I hope Ruger finds a way to continue to make and sell them.

 

[gunman42782]

I have not even SEEN one up close and personal. I would love to have one, but they are a bit too much for my pocketbook. I keep saying to myself I can buy 5 or 6 handguns for what this costs!

 

[Jody Johnson]

Yeah...they ARE costly....I bought one a little less than 2 years ago. First time I EVER bought a shotgun that expensive. It was three bucks shy of two grand. And no, I'm NOT a big bucks guy. I did, however, clear the "buy" with my wife.

It wasn't too painful, tho'..we've a gun dealer in the Houston area...Carter's Country...and once or twice a year they offer an interest-free finance sale...hence, I jumped, with the understanding that the Gold Label was to last "fer ever!"

I'm a SxS guy anyway, at least when there's a choice. BUT I prefer USA made, and other than a couple of older Stevens "A" models ( still affordable, but like all Savage-Stevens-Fox doubles, climbing fast!)I kinda felt that there wouldn't be another SxS in my life.

Mine is the English, or straight stock. The wood is straight-grain, rather plain, but with wood-to-metal fit quite nicely!

The thing is very light and, even with 28" bbls, handles VERY well.

However, b/c of the light weight...after a round of Sporting Clays, you tend to feel the recoil. I finally put a thin gel-tec pad on the aft-end of the thing ( w/o altering the stock ) and it made all the difference.

A fine bird gun...yes. And very probably, a worthwhile investment also, as they seem to increase in value five or ten precent a year ( tho' that may or may not continue )

I would certainly suggest gathering your trading fodder and gettin' on the waitin' list! It's worthwhile...

 

[Jody Johnson]

FYI...

Read today on a SG forum that Ruger has stopped production of the Gold Label. The reason given was that there were production and technical issues.

Don't know if this true or not...

 

[sheepdog]

Santa couldn't afford to fill his orders-we need a good American double-making company like Savage-Stevens-Fox....fit a working man's budget with the Stevens 311 and a Fox with single trigger and auto-ejectors and a better finish was still not too fancy to hunt with---the imports just aren't the same to me...guess I'm getting old...

 

[Jody Johnson]

WE'RE gettin old, Sheepdog...and nothing against quality imports..but there's just nothing quite like one made in the good ol' US of A! Some of the Stevens 311's and Fox "B" or B-SE's are still out there, but climbing in price quickly. You can still grab a Lefever Nitro Special, or the Western Arms by Ithaca...fairly reasonable. BUT they are fading away rapidly.

Any of those are worth having...given nice condition.

My sixteen ga SxS is a Stevens 311-A, 26" bbls....plain walnut, no checkering, but good wood to metal fit, nice case color and blue. I'd take her out in public anywhere!
And...she was affordable...

 

[sheepdog]

I'm hunting a 311 in 20-stood next to one in a pawn shop last week but he wouldn't sell it-just getting it out-real clean. Last Fox B I saw was $500---if I'd had it---but I didn't...another day. I'd like to find a little Ithica from the 70's or 80's-they were about $280 if I remember...sold mine to my uncle for cousin's first gun-2 months later it was all rusty-almost wringed his neck!! Almost wrung it, too....

 

[Jody Johnson]

I can easily believe that price! Missed a single trigger 12 B-SE a while back...just before huntin' season...for $400...didn't have the "xtra" then...or right now, for that matter!

GunsAmerica, Gunbroker, etc., sometimes have some good buys on these. A friend of mine has bought several Savage/Stevens/Fox...all located via those sites...and all were nicer than represented, and at good prices. BUT...for how much longer?

I understand Savage has introduced a Stevens 411, to try to provide an affordable SxS, but it is an import...

 

[sheepdog]

Yep, I saw one but thought it was Remington-about $400

 

[Dwane]

I have one and they are VERY nice. They are hard to come by and thats why I bought the first one I saw. My suggestion is if you can find one you should buy it as Ruger has raised the price $500 since I bought mine. There is the rumor that they wont make anymore will have to wait and see about that.

 

[Jody Johnson]

I've heard, or read, that production is stopped, at least temporarily.

Haven't heard exactly why, tho' a lotta opinions are "out there" right now...

 

[Hairy Clipper]

Jody,

I think we have twins. I like mine as well, but, I too, sense the recoil on the range. I have been using 1 ounce loads and they even start to add up. A great field gun though. Wonderful handling qualities.

Hairy