I have an opportunity to purchase a RRL 20ga straight stock with a manufacture dated around 1999 to 2000. The reintroduction of the RRL fell short of expectations and was discontinued. How did the older ones fair in quality, reliability, specific problems, value etc.? Thanks!

Read the prior threads in the forum. Short answer is that the 12 and 20 ga examples were plagued with problems and the 28ga guns were pretty good.

Well, except MY 28 from that era.
They were discontinued (twice) for very good reasons.

Must be a crap shoot on quality.

My 12ga has had a butt-ton of shells through it, from skeet to geese without a hiccup.

My 20G with blued receiver has been flawless for years. Wonderful shotgun. Built like a tank!

My 20 gauge Red Label was made late 1999. Thousands of shells, so far its been flawless. My 28 gauge Ruger is from 2000. I bought it used and have also put several thousand thru it. I sent it in to Ruger only because the top lever had drifted toward center and I wanted it checked while they still had parts. My opinion is that they are great guns as they have never let me down.

Key statement - "while they still had parts"..................which is no longer the case.