Ruger 44 Deerfield Carbine Instruction Manual

INSTRUCTION
MANUAL
FOR
RUGER
®
DEERFIELD
®
CARBINE
AUTOLOADING RIFLE
For Product Service on This Model Please Call:
(603) 865-2442 (See p. 28)
STURM, RUGER & Company, Inc.
Southport, Connecticut 06490 U.S.A.
THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL SHOULD ALWAYS ACCOMPANY THIS FIREARM AND BE
TRANSFERRED WITH IT UPON CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP, OR WHEN THE FIREARM IS LOANED OR
PRESENTED TO ANOTHER PERSON.
CS 99/44  3/01
R1
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND
WARNINGS IN THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY
BEFORE USING THIS FIREARM
BLUED
STEELCALIBER...

This firearm was originally sold
with a key-operated locking device.
While it can help provide secure
storage for your unloadedfirearm,
any locking device can fail. All guns
are designed to fire if they are
loaded and the trigger is pulled.
Therefore, never install the locking
device inside the trigger guard or
in any way that it can possibly pull
the trigger!Do not leave the keys
in the lock.
The ultimate responsibility for
secure storage of any firearm must
depend upon its owner and his or
her...

FIREARMS SAFETY-YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
SAFETY MUST BE THE FIRST AND CONSTANT
CONSIDERATION OF EVERY PERSON WHO
HANDLES FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION.
This Instruction Manual is designed to assist you in learning how to use and care
for your RUGER®DEERFIELD®CARBINE properly. Please contact us
if you have any questions about it.
Only when you are certain you fully understand the Manual and can properly
carry out its instructions should you practice loading, etc. with live ammunition.
If you have any doubts about...

5
FIREARMS ARE DANGEROUS WEAPONS–
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS
IN THIS MANUAL THOROUGHLY AND
CAREFULLY BEFORE USING.
GENERAL INFORMATION
AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The RUGER®DEERFIELD®CARBINEis a gas operated, rotary
magazine fed, autoloading rifle. It is simple, reliable, and consists of a relatively
few rugged components. The mechanism employs the Ruger fixed piston/moving
cylinder gas system in conjunction with a simplified rotating bolt. 
Music wire coil springs are used throughout the...

6
Figure 1. In this illustration the frequently used operating components are identified. Note
that the safety is protruding fully from the right side of the trigger guard and is therefore in
its “ON” (safe) position.
NOMENCLATURE
The RUGER®DEERFIELD®CARBINEhas an internal buffer system
that effectively absorbs the shock of the slide block striking the receiver in recoil.
The bolt lock plunger is located at the rear of the slide handle, and when
depressed, fits into a slot in the receiver holding the...

Keep the safety on unless actually firing.
Always move the safety fully to its intended
position and check
it. The safety  is not “ON”
unless it is completely “ON”. 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. The only “safe” rifle is one in which
the bolt is open, the chamber is empty, and
there is no magazine in the gun.
KNOW HOW TO USE THE SAFETY
The safety is “on” when it protrudes fully from...

THE BOLT LOCK
The bolt lock is located in the rear of the slide handle (see Figure 1, p. 6). The
bolt lock is the manually operated means of retaining the bolt in the rearward
(open) position. When the bolt is locked open, the rifle is in an inoperative safe
condition for inspection of the chamber, cleaning, etc.
WARNING: The bolt lock is nota safety device. It should not be used to hold the
bolt back when there is a loaded magazine in the rifle. A slight jar to the butt end
of the rifle will cause the...

Death, serious injury, and damage
can result from the use of wrong
ammunition, bore obstructions,
powder overloads, or incorrect
cartridge components. Even the
strongest gun can be “blown up” as
a result of excess pressure.Always
wear shooting glasses and hearing
protectors.
IMPROPER AMMUNITION
DESTROYS GUNS
9
WARNING – AMMUNITION
AMMUNITION
The RUGER®DEERFIELD®CARBINErelies upon the gases produced
from the fired cartridge to cycle the action and is chambered onlyfor the .44
Magnum cartridge. It should...

10
AMMUNITION (CARTRIDGES) NOTICE
WE SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY
DAMAGE OR INJURY WHATSOEVER OCCURRING IN
CONNECTION WITH, OR AS THE RESULT OF, THE USE IN
RUGER FIREARMS OF FAULTY, OR NON-STANDARD, OR
“REMANUFACTURED” OR HAND LOADED (RELOADED)
AMMUNITION, OR OF CARTRIDGES OTHER THAN THOSE
FOR WHICH THE FIREARM WAS ORIGINALLY CHAMBERED.
WARNING – LEAD EXPOSURE
Discharging firearms in poorly ventilated
areas, cleaning firearms, or handling
ammunition may result in exposure to
lead and...

11
TO LOAD AND FIRE (WITH MAGAZINE)
Practice this important aspect of gun handling (with an unloaded rifle) until you
can perform each of the steps – described below – with skill and confidence. But
before you do anything with the rifle, please first read completely through this
manual.
1.Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. (See Rule 2, p. 34).
2. Pull the slide handle rearward. Engage the bolt lock so that the bolt is held
open. Check the chamber to be certain it is empty. Engage the safety...