We analyze the free‐running and tunability characteristics of the Cr3+:Gd(Sc,Ga) garnet laser under laser pumping at different wavelengths. Slope efficiencies up to 28%, tunable cw output powers of 200 mW, and a tuning range from 742 to 842 nm were achieved. Excited state absorption of the pump light leads to pumping efficiencies smaller than one, depending on the pump light wavelength and the threshold inversion density. First results of laser experiments with Cr3+:GdGa garnet and Cr3+:(La,Lu)(Lu,Ga) garnet are reported.