Instruction/ maintenance manual of the product 77/50 Ruger
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INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR RUGER ® MODEL 77/50 TM INLINE MUZZLELOADING BLACK POWDER PERCUSSION RIFLE For Product Service on This Model Please Call: (603) 863-3300 (See p.
FIREARMS SAFETY -YOUR RESPONSIBILITY SAFETY MUST BE THE FIRST AND CONST ANT CONSIDERA TION OF EVER Y PERSON WHO HANDLES FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION. This Instruction Manual is designed to assist you in learning how to use and care for your RUGER ® MODEL 77/50 TM muzzleloading rifle properly .
W ARNING–AL TERA TIONS This product was designed to function properly in its original condition. Alterations can make it unsafe. Do not alter any part or add or substitute parts or accessories not made by Sturm, Ruger & Co.
The RUGER ® MODEL 77/50 is a muzzleloading, percussion rifle intended for use with black powder , percussion caps, soft lead and jacketed “saboted” projectiles. It has a precision rifled barrel with a 1-in-28” rifling twist. It does not fire conventional cartridges, but is instead loaded from the muzzle of the barrel.
Figure 1. Components frequently referred to are identified. In these photographs the cocking piece is shown cocked (protruding from the rear of the bolt sleeve) revealing the disassembly hole in the lower portion of the cocked piece.
6 OPERA TION OF SAFETY The RUGER ® MODEL 77/50 rifle has a three position safety . The safety selector is located at the right of the bolt sleeve. The safety selector can be moved from the “Fire” position to its two other positions (“Load-Unload” and “Safe”) only when the striker is cocked.
Keep the safety on unless actually firing. Always move the safety fully to its intended position and check it. The safety has three positions –“SAFE,” “LOAD-UNLOAD,” and “FIRE.” Never depend on a safety mechanism or any other mechanical device to justify careless handling or permitting the rifle to point in an unsafe direction.
Death, serious injury , and damage can result from the use of wrong ammunition, bore obstructions, powder overloads, or incorrect components. Always wear shooting glasses and hearing protectors. Never use smokeless powder in any muzzleloader! Never fire an unknown powder charge.
Black Powder is an extremely sensitive propellant and is readily ignited by heat, spark, static electricity , friction, pressure, impact, etc. Unlike smokeless powder , Black Powder will ignite with great violence and rapidity even when unconfined. Black Powder should be handled only in very small quantities.
10 responsibility to select the proper lead ball/patch combination of a lubricated conical lead bullet that fits securely in the bore, yet is not excessively difficult to load, particularly after a shot or two of black powder fouling has built up in the bore.
Percussion caps are designed to fire as the result of a blow (“percussion”). A capped rifle loaded with powder and ball is fully loaded and will fire if the cap is struck. Never clean, lubricate, disassemble, or work on a rifle while it is capped or loaded.
12 INSERTING THE BOL T 1. Be certain the barrel is empty by pointing the muzzle upward towards a light source and glancing through the rear of the action at the rear end of the nipple. Y ou should see light through the hole in the nipple, indicating that the barrel is empty .
Know the bore diameter of your rifle you are loading and load projectiles of only correct diameter into it! Either a too tight or too loose projectile can cause a burst barrel, resulting in serious injury to the shooter or bystanders. This rifle is designed to use a .
14 C. Using a dipper or other single-charge measure, pour the desired amount of powder into the front opening (muzzle) of the barrel. (See Fig. 6) Never exceed the powder charge recommended for the projectile you have selected from a reputable black powder loading manual.
F . Remove the ramrod from under the barrel by pulling it downward out of its recess in the barrel and then forward (upward) out of the stock and ramrod thimble. Grasp the ramrod around its side and, with a firm even stroke, seat the bullet firmly on the powder charge.
4. CAPPING THE NIPPLE: Remember that the safest way to carry any loaded muzzleloading rifle is uncapped. Cap it only just before you are immediately ready to fire. See “Handling Warning”, p. 17. Be sure you use only #11 percussion caps of good quality and correct size.
If this rifle is to be carried loaded, certain precautions must be observed in the interest of safety . It is safest to carry any muzzleloader with no percussion cap on the nipple. The gun should never be carried with the striker resting on a percussion cap.
Black powder is extremely sensitive and a powder charge poured down the barrel after firing a shot can readily be ignited by an ember of partially burned powder or glowing patch fragment in the bore. Pushing a projectile down onto a powder charge can “fan” an ember into igniting the powder charge and firing the rifle.
Never carry the rifle loaded with the safety selector in the “FIRE” position. If dropped or struck with the safety off, the rifle may fire. Such a discharge can occur with or without the trigger being directly struck or touched. Never rest a loaded rifle against any object (wall, fence, vehicle, tree, etc.
20 TO UNLOAD (Keep rifle pointed in a safe direction) Completely unload the rifle immediately when you are finished shooting (by removing cap, powder and ball), or fire it into a safe backstop. It is much easier and safer to fir e any muzzleloading fir ear m rather than attempt to unload it.
5. Using the breech plug wrench supplied, carefully unscrew the breech plug from the chamber . Keep it in the breech plug wrench and remove it out the rear of the receiver . (See Figs. 15a & 15b) 6. Carefully elevate the muzzle and dump the powder out of the rear of the barrel into a container .
Never clean, lubricate, disassemble or work on a rifle while it is loaded or capped. Never install or remove a capped nipple. A capped nipple can discharge the rifle if struck. Always unload any firearm before cleaning, lubrication, disassembly , or assembly .
23 Before taking the gun apart, set up to do it properly . Cover the work surface with a soft cloth so that the gun finish (and sights) will not be damaged, and provide a tray into which the parts can be put as they are removed from the gun . It is preferable to carry out these procedures on a workbench or table which has a covered top.
c. Unscrew the bolt sleeve counterclockwise (Figure 20). d. Remove the bolt sleeve assembly . (Figure 21). 24 b. Insert the small end of breech plug wrench handle (or suitable nail) into the “disassembly hole” in the striker/cocking piece assembly to hold it in the rear position (Figure 19).
25 5. TO REMOVE THE BREECH PLUG: a. Using the supplied breech plug wrench and handle, carefully unscrew (counter -clockwise) and remove the breech plug/nipple assembly from the rear end of the barrel. (See Figures 22a & 22b) It is easier to remove the breech plug from the receiver if you keep it in the breech plug wrench as shown.
6. TO REMOVE THE STOCK: (Be certain the bolt has been removed from the rifle.) a. Remove ramrod from stock. Unscrew barrel band screw and remove barrel band forward off the stock and barrel. (See Fig. 23) b. Unscrew and remove the two screws in the trigger guard counterclockwise and carefully remove trigger guard.
27 CARE AND CLEANING BLACK POWDER FOULING The chemical compounds formed by Black Powder and Pyrodex residue and certain percussion caps are extremely corrosive; rusting will begin within a very few hours after firing, if the rifle is left uncleaned under some conditions of humidity .
Firing deposits particles of bullet lubricant and powder in the bore, chamber , bolt, receiver , and other parts of the rifle. There is no fixed rule as to how frequently the cleaning should be carrie.
Firing a rifle with oil, grease, a bullet, or any other material even partially obstructing the bore may result in damage to the rifle and serious injury to the shooter and those nearby .
30 Never place or store any firearm in such a manner that it may be dislodged. Firearms should always be stored securely and unloaded, away from children and careless adults. STORE SECUREL Y & UNLOADED ! W ARNING – STORAGE The rifle’ s internal mechanism can be lubricated without disassembly .
31 3. T o replace the trigger: a. Rotate safety to “fire” position. b. Place the trigger/sear spring over the dimple in the trigger . c. Assemble the trigger while aligning the spring with the dimple on the sear . d. While holding the trigger in position, replace the trigger pivot pin.
5. T o replace the barrel/receiver assembly into the stock: (Caution: Be certain that the pivot pins are not protruding from either side of the receiver .) a. Carefully install the barrel/receiver assembly into the stock, making sure the barrel/receiver assembly is in the most rearward position.
c. Slide barrel band over barrel and rearward onto the stock forend. T ighten band screw when in place. Replace ramrod in stock through thimble under barrel. (See Figures 31a, 31b, & 31c) Ramrod head should rest in barrel cut beneath muzzle. Ramrod will not enter stock easily if band screw is tightened excessively .
34 c. Carefully rotate counterclockwise until cocking piece snaps into small notch and no fur ther! Only when the bolt is correctly assembled should it be inserted into the receiver . (See Fig. 34) d. With safety in “load/unload” (middle) position, insert the bolt into the receiver .
TO CLEAR A MALFUNCTION ( “ JAM ” ) If the rifle becomes difficult to operate, this can usually be traced to three basic causes (followed by the appropriate corrective action): 1. Accumulated black powder fouling (cease firing & clean gun). 2. Percussion cap fragments inside receiver (carefully remove).
MAINTENANCE OF ST AINLESS STEEL COMPONENTS Firearms and components made of stainless steel are relatively more resistant to corrosion than those of blued steel. However , in the interest of proper operation and long life of a stainless steel firearm, inspect it frequently and clean, lubricate and apply an appropriate rust preventative.
7. The bottom finish of a telescopic sight mounted over the action may be damaged by hot gasses and cap fragments exiting the breech area when firing. This should not affect the scope’ s performance. Carefully clean all scope lenses of fouling when you clean your rifle.
38 SER VICE AND P ARTS POLICY If you have any question with regard to the performance of your RUGER ® MODEL 77/50 rifle please write or call (603-863-3300) our Product Service Department, 411 Sunapee Street, Newport, New Hampshire 03773, fully describing all circumstances and conditions involved.
It is the purchaser’ s responsibility to be absolutely certain that any parts ordered from the factory are correctly fitted and installed. Firearms are complicated mechanisms and IMPROPER FITTING OF P ARTS MA Y RESUL T IN A DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION, DAMAGE TO THE FIREARM, AND SERIOUS INJURY TO THE SHOOTER AND OTHER PERSONS.
40 P ARTS LIST AND SUGGESTED RET AIL PRICES Design, prices and specifications subject to change without notice. SPECIFY MODEL AND CALIBER WHEN ORDERING RUGER ® MODEL 77/50 PERCUSSION RIFLE (See Exploded View on Page 42) Caliber Part Name Part No. Model .
41 Receiver J00110 All Models • Not Offered For Sale Receiver Filler Screws, 2 Req’d, Not Illustrated C-83Black 77/50-RS, 77/50-RSO • ea. .50 – Receiver Filler Screws, 2 Req’d, Not Illustrated C-83 K77/50-RSBBZ • ea. .50 – Recoil Pad D06304 77/50-RS, K77/50-RSBBZ • 5.
42 RUGER ® 77/50 PERCUSSION RIFLE EXPLODED VIEW.
43 THE BASIC RULES OF SAFE FIREARMS HANDLING We believe that Americans have a right to purchase and use firearms for lawful purposes. The private ownership of firearms in America is traditional, but that ownership imposes the responsibility on the gun owner to use his firearms in a way which will ensure his own safety and that of others.
44 A safe direction must take into account the fact that a bullet may penetrate a wall, ceiling, floor , window , etc., and strike a person or damage property .
45 5. BE SURE OF YOUR T ARGET BEFORE YOU SHOOT . Don’t shoot unless you know exactly where your bullet is going to strike. Be sure of the bullet stop behind your target, even when dry-firing with an unloaded gun. If you are in the field hunting, do not fire at a movement or noise.
46 8. DON ’ T SHOOT A T A HARD SURF ACE, OR A T W A TER. Bullets can glance off many surfaces like rocks or the surface of water and travel in unpredictable directions with considerable velocity . 9. NEVER TRANSPORT A LOADED FIREARM. Firearms should always be unloaded before being placed in a vehicle.
A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF AN EXTRAORDINAR Y ACHIEVEMENT : RUGER FIREARMS One of the few American firearms manufacturers whose management has remained unchanged since starting in business, Sturm, Ruger & Company , Inc., had its beginning in a small machine shop occupying a rented frame building in Southport, Connecticut.
WHY NO W ARRANTY CARD HAS BEEN P ACKED WITH THIS NEW RUGER FIREARM The Magnuson-Moss Act (Public Law 93-637) does not require any seller or manufacturer of a consumer product to give a written warranty .
An important point after buying a device Ruger 77/50 (or even before the purchase) is to read its user manual. We should do this for several simple reasons:
If you have not bought Ruger 77/50 yet, this is a good time to familiarize yourself with the basic data on the product. First of all view first pages of the manual, you can find above. You should find there the most important technical data Ruger 77/50 - thus you can check whether the hardware meets your expectations. When delving into next pages of the user manual, Ruger 77/50 you will learn all the available features of the product, as well as information on its operation. The information that you get Ruger 77/50 will certainly help you make a decision on the purchase.
If you already are a holder of Ruger 77/50, but have not read the manual yet, you should do it for the reasons described above. You will learn then if you properly used the available features, and whether you have not made any mistakes, which can shorten the lifetime Ruger 77/50.
However, one of the most important roles played by the user manual is to help in solving problems with Ruger 77/50. Almost always you will find there Troubleshooting, which are the most frequently occurring failures and malfunctions of the device Ruger 77/50 along with tips on how to solve them. Even if you fail to solve the problem, the manual will show you a further procedure – contact to the customer service center or the nearest service center
