Ruger Mini 30 Rifle Instruction Manual

INSTRUCTION
MANUAL
FOR
RUGER®
MINI THIRTY RIFLE
AUTOLOADING RIFLE
NOT FOR USE WITH MINI-14 RIFLES (cal. .223)
For Product Service on This Model Please Call:
(603) 865-2442 (See p. 34)
STURM, RUGER & Company, Inc.
Southport, Connecticut 06490 U.S.A.
THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL SHOULD ALWAYS ACCOMPANY THIS FIREARM AND BE TRANS-
FERRED WITH IT UPON CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP, OR WHEN THE FIREARM IS LOANED OR PRE-
SENTED TO ANOTHER PERSON.
MS3/12-01 R9
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND
WARNINGS IN THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY
BEFORE...

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 dealer...

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...

5
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 STOR-
AGE. 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  PER-
SONS.”
North Carolina:
“IT IS UNLAWFUL TO STORE OR LEAVE A FIREARM
THAT CAN BE DISCHARGED IN A MANNER THAT A
REASONABLE...

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 trig-
ger 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 your RUGER®MINI THIRTY RIFLEproperly. 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®MINI THIRTY RIFLEis a gas operated, box magazine fed,
autoloading rifle. It is...

9
Figure 1. In this illustration the frequently used operating components are identified. Note
that the safety is rearward in the trigger guard and is therefore in its “ON” (safe) position.
The Mini Thirty Rifle incorporates a unique patented buffer system which re-
directs and effectively absorbs the shock of the slide block striking the receiver
in recoil. The bolt stop fits in a slot in the side of the bolt, and it also serves as
the ejector so that the empty cartridges are ejected from the receiver...

10
THE BOLT LOCK
The Mini Thirty Rifle is designed so that the bolt remains open after the last shot
has been fired, provided there is a magazine in the rifle. When the magazine is
empty, the magazine follower actuates the bolt lock which is designed to retain
the bolt and slide in their rearward position.
WARNING: The bolt lock is nota safety device. It should not be used to hold the
bolt back when there are cartridges in the magazine. A slight jar to the butt end
of the rifle will cause the bolt lock...

Death, serious injury, and damage
can result from the use of wrong
ammunition, bore obstructions,
powder overloads, or incorrect car-
tridge 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
11
WARNING – AMMUNITION
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...