Ruger 96 Instruction Manual

INSTRUCTION
MANUAL
FOR
RUGER
®
MODEL NINETY-SIX
LEVER ACTION RIFLES
For Product Service on This Model Please Call:
(603) 865-2442 (See p. 29)
STURM, RUGER & Company, Inc.
Southport, Connecticut 06890 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.
L 10/02 R3
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND
WARNINGS IN THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY
BEFORE USING THIS FIREARM
!
BLUED
STEELCALIBERS
.17HMR,...

3
WARNING!
“Children are attracted to and
can operate firearms that can
cause severe injuries or death.
Prevent child access by always
keeping guns locked away and
unloaded when not in use. If you
keep a loaded firearm where a
child obtains and improperly uses
it, you can be fined or sent to
prison.”
ADVERTENCIA!
State-By-State Warnings
Certain states require by law that their own specified warning
notices in larger-than-normal type be conspicuously included by
the manufacturer, distributor, or retail...

Maine:
“ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A CHILD IS A
CRIME. IF YOU LEAVE A FIREARM AND AMMUNITION
WITHIN EASY ACCESS OF A CHILD, YOU MAY BE
SUBJECT TO FINE, IMPRISONMENT OR BOTH. KEEP
FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION  SEPARATE.  KEEP
FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION LOCKED UP. USE
TRIGGER LOCKS.”
Maryland:
“WARNING: Children can operate firearms which may cause
death or serious injury. It is a cr
imeto store or leave a loaded
firearm in any location where an individual knew or should
have known that an unsupervised minor would...

New Jersey:
“IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO LEAVE A LOADED
FIREARM WITHIN EASY ACCESS OF A MINOR.”
New York City:
“THE USE OF A LOCKING DEVICE OR SAFETY LOCK IS
ONLY ONE ASPECT OF RESPONSIBLE WEAPONS
STORAGE. ALL WEAPONS SHOULD BE STORED
UNLOADED AND LOCKED IN A LOCATION THAT IS
BOTH SEPARATE FROM THEIR AMMUNITION AND
INACCESSIBLE TO  CHILDREN AND ANY  OTHER
UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS.”
North Carolina:
“IT IS UNLAWFUL TO STORE OR LEAVE A FIREARM
THAT CAN BE DISCHARGED IN A MANNER THAT A
REASONABLE PERSON SHOULD...

6
This firearm was originally sold
with a key-operated locking
device. While it can help provide
secure storage for your unloaded
firearm, 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...

7
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 yourRUGER®MODEL NINETY-SIXproperly. 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...

WARNING–ALTERATIONS
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. Inc.
DO NOT ALTER ANY GUN
8
!
!
FIREARMS ARE DANGEROUS WEAPONS–
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS
IN THIS MANUAL THOROUGHLY AND
CAREFULLY BEFORE USING.
GENERAL INFORMATION
AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The RUGER®MODEL NINETY-SIXis a manually operated lever action
rifle available in...

9
Because the bullet offers the least resistance, it moves out of the cartridge case
and exits the muzzle. When the lever is operated by lowering it fully, the bolt
moves rearward, extracting and ejecting the fired cartridge case, and cocking the
internal hammer as described above. Once the lever is closed, the rifle is ready to
fire again.
Each time the lever is opened and closed, the same cycle is repeated until there
are no more cartridges in the magazine or in the chamber.
The rifle will fire if...

10
OPERATION OF SAFETY
TheRUGER®MODEL NINETY-SIX has a cross-button safety which is
located in the forward portion of the trigger guard (Figure 1, p. 9). The safety can
be operated only when the hammer is cocked.
The safety is “on” when it protrudes fully from the right side (the bolt side) of
the lever housing assembly, as shown in Figure 1, p. 9. In this position the sear is
blocked, and the gun cannot be fired by a normal pull on the trigger.
The safety should always be in the “on” (safe) position...

11
The safety is held in its “on” or “off” position by a plunger that is under spring
tension. When the safety is moved to either the “on” or “off” position, a distinct
“click” should be heard. Frequently check the position of the safety to be certain
the safety has not been inadvertently moved. If the safety seems to move too
easily, or if the click is not heard when the safety is moved, stop using the rifle
and return it to the Newport Service Department for repair (See p. 29).
OPERATION OF LEVER
TO...