Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle Instruction Manual

Ruger Mini Thirty Magazine
(Incorrect)
For Caliber 7.62 x 39mm
Ammunition Only
Do not use in Mini-14Ruger Mini-14 Magazine
(Correct)
For Caliber .223
Ammunition Only
Bottom        Top               Side                  Bottom        Top                Side
Never attempt to use 7.62 x 39mm ammunition in Ruger Mini-14 rifles, as it will
not chamber correctly and will “jam” the action. As with any firearm, always
wear safety shooting glasses and adequate hearing protection.
12
MAGAZINES
RUGER®MINI-14®...

INSERTING THE MAGAZINE
See Figure 5. The magazine may be inserted with the bolt either in the closed or
open position (See “Bolt Lock” section p. 10).
1. Hold the magazine at an angle as
shown and insert all the way up
into the magazine well. NOTE:
There is a hole in the top-front
portion of the magazine that
mates with a stud on the inside of
the receiver.
2. Pull the bottom of the magazine
toward the trigger guard until the
magazine latch at the rear of the
magazine well engages. Check to
be sure that...

The bolt automatically opens
and shuts quickly while firing.
Keep face and hands away from
it. Hot brass and powder gas is
ejected quickly and can burn
you. The rifle should be fired
from the right shoulder.
Always wear shooting glasses
and hearing protectors.
BOLT OPENS FAST–
HOT BRASS EJECTED
14
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...

15
If dropped or
struck with the
safety “off”, the
rifle may fire.
Keep chamber
empty unless
actually firing!
Keep safety “on”
unless actually
firing!
ANY GUN
MAY FIRE IF
DROPPED
!WARNING–HANDLING
SAFETY IN OFF (FIRE) 
         POSITION
9.Immediately following the firing of a shot, and if a subsequent shot is not to
be fired at once, put the safety “ON” while the rifle is still pointing in a safe
direction down range. The safety should be moved to the “ON” position as
soon as firing is completed, and it...

So that the rifle can be used as a single loader, it
will fire whether or not a magazine is in the gun
if a cartridge is chambered. Removing magazine
does not unload rifle! To unload, first
remove
magazine, thenpull bolt to rear, eject chambered
cartridge, and visually inspect chamber. The
safety should always be in the “on” (safe) position
when loading or unloading the rifle.
GUN WILL FIRE WITH
MAGAZINE OUT
16
TO UNLOAD
WARNING:This sequence must be followed exactly as spelled out. Failure to do
so can...

17
CORRECT UNLOADING SEQUENCE
1
3a
2
Safety
 ON
3b
4
2. Remove the magazine. REMEMBERthat even though the magazine has been
removed, a cartridge remaining in the chamber can still be fired!
3. Pull the slide handle all the way to the rear, extracting and ejecting the
cartridge in the chamber. When the bolt is fully retracted, push down on the
bolt lock plunger and then allow the slide to move forward until it comes to
rest against the bolt stop.
4.Always visually double check the chamber to be certain it...

TO RELOAD THE RIFLE
1. Firing all cartridges in the magazine and the chamber will cause the bolt to
automatically lock open. Keep the rifle pointed in a safe direction.Put the
safety “ON”. Reloading can be accomplished by pressing forward on the
magazine latch with the thumb or forefinger. The magazine will fall free of the
rifle of its own weight. To avoid the possibility of damage to the magazine, do
not let it fall to the ground unless rapid reloading is absolutely necessary.
2. Insert a loaded...

Before loading or shooting the Mini-14 Ranch
rifle, be certain the bore is unobstructed. Firing
the rifle with any obstruction in the bore may
result in severe damage to the rifle and serious
injury to the shooter and other persons nearby.
A MISFIRE or unusual report (sound) upon firing
is always a signal to cease firing immediately and
after waiting for one minute, examine the
chamber and bore of the firearm. It is not
sufficient to retract the slide handle and examine
the chamber. You must remove the...

20
c) Retract the slide handle and lock it in the open position by pressing in the
bolt lock plunger in the top of the receiver. Retracting the slide handle
should remove the cartridge case. Be certain the safety is in the “ON”
position.
d) Check the chamber to be certain there is no cartridge case in it -- if there
is, extract it before proceeding with steps (e) and (f).
e)After making sure that the rifle is unloaded,inspect the bore from the
muzzle end of the barrel. If the bore is obstructed, insert a...

21
2. When attempting to free a jammed cartridge, do not use any type of tool that
is likely to act as a “firing pin” and discharge the cartridge should the tool
impact on the primer. Never use a cartridge as a “tool”.
3. After clearing a jam, inspect the gun mechanism to determine if dirt or debris
might be the cause of the problem. Excess lubricant or grease can cause
cartridges to feed sluggishly. An accumulation of grease, dirt or powder grains
in the magazine can contribute to cartridge feeding...