I am like you. I buy American made products. I read all the stuff trashing Ruger Red Labels - loose forends, broken extractors, failures to fire, loose ribs, poor customer service, etc., etc., etc...
I bought a 12 gauge Red Label two years ago, and after firing about 3000 rounds hunting, shooting sporting clays and occasionally trap, have experienced absolutely no problems - none, not once. It ejects positively, fires every time, and the forend is as tight as it was out of the box. It also has a beautiful piece of wood on it, straight grained but with a bit of flame on one side. I may have lucked out there since it was ordered for me so I didn't get to look at it first. Personally, spending thousands of dollars on gold inlays and ultra fancy wood is not for me, although if I had that kind of money to spend I might change my mind about that. Don't get me wrong, I watch out for the Ruger in the woods because I put money aside for a long time to get it, but it is primarily a hunting gun. I wouldn't trade it for any shotgun, at any price.
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I with you guy, I've decided after the first of the year to buy a 12 ga. Ruger Red Label. It will be primarily a hunting gun just as you stated yours is.