ruger MINI THIRTY RIFLE User Guide

INSTRUCTION
MANUAL
FOR
BLUED &
STAINLESS
STEEL
®
CALIBER
7.62 x 39mm
RUGER
MINI THIRTY RIFLE
AUTOLOADING RIFLE
NOT FOR USE WITH MINI-14 RIFLES (cal. .223)
Use of corrosively primed imported ammunition can damage or ruin this rifle. Use only U.S. commercially manufactured ammunition.
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS IN THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS FIREARM
(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
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 with firearms sold in that state. Sturm, Ruger sells its products in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Because our products may be sold in these states, we include the following:
California:
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
“A los niños los atraen las armas de fuego y las pueden hacer fun­cionar. Ellos pueden causarses lesions graves y la muerte. Evite que los niños tengan accesso a las armas de fuego guardándolas siempre con llave y descargadas cuando no las esté utilizando. Si usted tiene un arma de fuego car­gada en un lugar en que un niño tiene acceso a ella y la usa inde­bidamente, le pueden dar una multa o enviarlo a la carcel.”
Connecticut:
“UNLAWFUL STORAGE OF A LOADED FIREARM MAY RESULT IN IMPRISONMENT OR FINE.”
Florida:
“IT IS UNLAWFUL, AND PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISON­MENT AND FINE, FOR ANY ADULT TO STORE OR LEAVE A FIREARM IN ANY PLACE WITHIN THE REACH OR EASY ACCESS OF A MINOR UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE OR TO KNOWINGLY SELL OR OTHER­WISE TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OR POSSESSION OF A FIREARM TO A MINOR OR A PERSON OF UNSOUND MIND.”
3
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 firearm in any location where an individual knew or should have known that an unsupervised minor would gain access to the firearm. Store your firearm responsibly!”
ime to store or leave a loaded
Massachusetts:
“WARNING FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS ATTORNEY GENERAL: This handgun is not equipped with a device that fully blocks use by unauthorized users. More than 200,000 firearms like this one are stolen from their owners every year in the United States. In addition, there are more than a thou­sand suicides each year by younger children and teenagers who get access to firearms. Hundreds more die from acciden­tal discharge. It is likely that many more children sustain seri­ous wounds, or inflict such wounds accidentally on others. In order to limit the chance of such misuse, it is imperative that you keep this weapon locked in a secure place and take other steps necessary to limit the possibility of theft or accident. Failure to take reasonable preventive steps may result in inno­cent lives being lost, and in some circumstances may result in your liability for these deaths.”
“IT IS UNLAWFUL TO STORE OR KEEP A FIREARM, RIFLE, SHOTGUN OR MACHINE GUN IN ANY PLACE UNLESS THAT WEAPON IS EQUIPPED WITH A TAM­PER-RESISTANT SAFETY DEVICE OR IS STORED OR KEPT IN A SECURELY LOCKED CONTAINER.”
4
w Jersey:
Ne
“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 KNOW IS ACCESSIBLE TO A MINOR.”
Texas:
“IT IS UNLAWFUL TO STORE, TRANSPORT, OR ABAN­DON AN UNSECURED FIREARM IN A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN ARE LIKELY TO BE AND CAN OBTAIN ACCESS TO THE FIREARM.”
Wisconsin:
“IF YOU LEAVE A LOADED FIREARM WITHIN THE REACH OR EASY ACCESS OF A CHILD YOU MAY BE FINED OR IMPRISONED OR BOTH IF THE CHILD IMPROPERLY DISCHARGES, POSSESSES, OR EXHIBITS THE FIREARM.”
***************** *****
Please check with your licensed retailer or state police for addi­tional warnings which may be required by local law or regula­tion. Such regulations change constantly, and local authorities are in the best position to advise you on such legal matters.
5
WARNING – LOCKING DEVICES
DO NOT INSTALL
INSIDE TRIGGER GUARD
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 individual circum­stances. Guns should be securely
stored unloaded, in a secure location, separate from their ammunition.
See “Storage Warning”, page 30.
INSTALL LOCK
AS SHOWN HERE
NEVER INSTALL
LOCKING DEVICE
INSIDE TRIGGER GUARD
6
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 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 your ability to handle or use a particular type of gun safely, then you should seek supervised instruction. Such personalized instruction is often available from gun dealers, gun clubs or police departments. If none of these sources can help you, write to the National Rifle Association, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-7400. They will assist you.
The person possessing a gun has a full-time job. You cannot guess; you cannot forget. You must know how to use your firearm safely. Do not use any firearm
without having a complete understanding of its particular characteristics and safe use.
Remember: There is no such thing as a foolproof gun.
®
MINI THIRTY RIFLE properly. Please contact us if
TABLE OF CONTENTS
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Operation of Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
The Bolt Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Ammunition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Magazines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
To Load and Fire (With Magazine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
To Load and Fire (Without Magazine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
To Unload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
To Reload the Rifle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
To Extract and Eject a Chambered Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
To Remove a Bore Obstruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
To Clear a Malfunction (“Jam”) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
To Minimize Malfunctions (“Jams”) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Disassembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Reassembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Removal and Replacement of Fiberglass Handguard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Magazine Inspection and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Care and Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Maintenance of Stainless Steel Rifles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Attaching Ruger Scope Rings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Sight Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Service and Parts Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Parts Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
The Basic Rules of Safe Firearms Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Page
“RUGER” is a registered U.S. trademark.
7
WARNINGS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE ARE FOUND ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES:
Locking Devices 6 Unloading 16 Alterations 8 Bore Obstructions 19 Manual Safety 9 Malfunctions 22 Ammunition 11 Disassembly 23 Lead Exposure 12 Lubrication 29 Firing 14 Storage 30 Handling 15 Parts Purchasers 35 Sustained Firing 16
OTHER CAUTIONS AND WARNINGS APPEAR
THROUGHOUT THE MANUAL.
FIREARMS ARE DANGEROUS WEAPONS–
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS
IN THIS MANUAL THOROUGHLY AND
CAREFULLY BEFORE USING.
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
GENERAL INFORMATION
AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The RUGER®MINI THIRTY RIFLE is a gas operated, box 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 Garand-type rotating bolt. The Mini Thirty Rifle can be field stripped for cleaning to its basic subassemblies in seconds without the use of tools. The Ruger Mini Thirty is similar, but not identi­cal, to the Ruger Mini-14 series of rifles, and is adapted to an excellent deer hunting cartridge, the 7.62 x 39mm.
Music wire coil springs are used throughout the mechanism. The safety, located in front of the trigger guard, blocks both the hammer and sear and permits the slide to be cycled with the safety “ON”. A bolt lock mechanism is provided for convenience in holding the bolt open for loading and inspection. The firing pin is retracted mechanically as the bolt starts to unlock and the rifle will fire only when the bolt is locked. The one-piece American hardwood stock is reinforced with steel liners in stressed and high temperature areas. The handguard and fore­arm are separated from the barrel by an air space to promote cooling.
8
The Mini Thirty Rifle incorporates a unique patented buffer system which re-
Safety in "ON" Position
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 straight out to the side in order to clear the lowest mounted scope.
The patented Ruger integral scope mounts take all standard Ruger scope rings of various heights. A blade front sight is used, with a tip-up type folding rear peep sight, adjustable for windage and elevation.
NOMENCLATURE
SCOPE MOUNT BASES
REAR SIGHT
RECEIVER
TRIGGER
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.
BOLT LOCK PLUNGER
MAGAZINE LATCH
SAFETY SHOWN “ON”
EXTRACTOR
HANDGUARD
SLIDE HANDLE
WARNING – MANUAL SAFETY
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
9
OPERATION OF SAFETY
The manual safety mechanism is located forward of the trigger for convenient operation and is “ON” when in its fully rearward position intruding into the trig­ger guard. (See Fig. 2) The safety can be moved to “ON” (extreme rearward posi­tion) only when the hammer is cocked. When the safety is “ON”, it blocks both the hammer and sear. The safety should always be placed “ON” before loading or
unloading the rifle and should be kept “ON” at all times except when actually fir­ing.
SAFETY “ON”
Figure 2.
SAFETY “OFF”
(Ready to Fire)
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 not a 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 to disengage and to feed a cartridge into the chamber.
The bolt lock should be relied on only to hold the bolt in its rearward position when the chamber is empty and an empty magazine is in place. The only purpose of the bolt lock is for convenience in the rapid changing of magazines and for holding the bolt in its rearward position when the rifle is unloaded for the pur­pose of cleaning or inspection.
OPERATION OF BOLT LOCK
To manually engage the bolt lock to keep the bolt open: (See Figure 3)
1. Pull the slide handle all the way to the rear.
2. Depress the bolt lock plunger and allow the slide to move forward until it stops.
3. Put safety “ON” (push fully rear­ward).
2
Figure 3
1
3
10
To release the slide (which allows the bolt to go forward) keep safety “ON either:
1. Remove the magazine, draw the slide handle to the rear and release, or;
2. With an empty magazine in place, draw the slide handle fully to the rear and hold it there. Then, while holding the slide handle, depress the magazine follower slightly with the thumb, r then allow the slide to go forward. (See Figure 4)
CAUTION: Slide is under heavy spring tension and can injure fingers when it slams shut.
emove the thumb
” and
, and
Closing The Bolt
2
Figure 4
3
Safety "ON"
1
AMMUNITION
The RUGER®MINI THIRTY RIFLES are chambered for the 7.62 x 39mm cartridge, and can use either standard U.S. military or factory loaded sporting
7.62 x 39mm cartridges manufactured in accordance with U.S. industry practice.
Do not attempt to use any other cartridges in this rifle, even though “7.62mm” may appear in their names (i.e., 7.62 x 51mm NATO [.308 Winchester]; 7.62 Tokarev; 7.62 x 54 Rimmed Russian, etc.). The only correct ammunition for the Ruger Mini Thirty is the 7.62 x 39mm. The use of corrosively primed ammunition is not recommended, See “Ammunition Notice” & “Ammunition Warning”, below.
WARNING – AMMUNITION
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
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-STAN-
DARD, OR “REMANUFACTURED” OR HAND LOADED (RELOADED) AMMU-
NITION, OR OF CARTRIDGES OTHER THAN THOSE FOR WHICH THE
FIREARM WAS ORIGINALLY CHAMBERED.
11
USE ONLY FACTORY AMMUNITION LOADED
TO U.S. INDUSTRY STANDARDS
WARNING – LEAD EXPOSURE
Discharging firearms in poorly ventilated areas, cleaning firearms, or handling ammunition may result in exposure to lead and other substances known to the state of California to cause birth defects, reproductive harm, and other serious physical injury. Have adequate ventilation at all times. Wash hands thoroughly after exposure.
SHOOTING OR CLEANING GUNS
MAY EXPOSE YOU TO LEAD
MAGAZINES
RUGER®MINI THIRTY magazines are identified by having only one ver­tical crease in the side of the magazine versus three vertical creases in the Ruger Mini-14 magazine. The bottom of the Mini Thirty magazine is more tapered than the generally rectangular bottom of the Mini-14 magazine, and the follower, visi­ble from the top of the magazine, is distinctly more pointed on the Mini Thirty (see illustrations below). DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE MINI-14 MAGAZINES IN RUGER MINI THIRTY RIFLES.
Ruger Mini Thirty Magazine
(Correct)
For Caliber 7.62 x 39mm
Ammunition Only
Bottom Top Side Bottom Top Side
Never attempt to use caliber .223 ammunition in Ruger Mini Thirty rifles, as it will not chamber correctly and will “jam” the action.These smaller cases will split upon firing in the larger Mini Thirty chamber, resulting in the release of hot powder gases into the action and possible personal injury or damage to the rifle. As with any firearm, always wear safety shooting glasses and adequate hear­ing protection.
Ruger Mini-14 Magazine
(Incorrect)
For Caliber .223
Ammunition Only
Do not use in Mini Thirty
12
LOADING THE MAGAZINE
Use only clean ammunition of the proper caliber manufactured to U. S. Industry specifications, in good condition. (See Notice and Warnings in other sections of this manual pertaining to Ammunition).
To load the magazine, align each cartridge with the bullet forward (pointing toward the hole in the front of the magazine body) and push downward until the cartridge snaps into place. Do not attempt to load more than the designated number of cartridges for which the magazine has been designed. RUGER
MINI THIRTY RIFLES are sold with 5 round Ruger magazines.
®
The RUGER Ruger Mini-14 magazines. Do not use non-Ruger magazines -- they may cause malfunctions.
MINI THIRTY magazine is not interchangeable with the
®
DAMAGED, NON-STANDARD, OR IMPROPERLY
ASSEMBLED MAGAZINES SHOULD NOT BE USED.
THEY CAN CAUSE THE RIFLE TO MALFUNCTION.
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 magazine is securely latched into place.
1
2
Figure 5
REMOVING THE MAGAZINE
To remove the magazine, simply push the magazine latch forward until the rear end of the magazine drops out of the magazine well. The magazine can then be withdrawn from the rifle. To minimize the possibility of damage and malfunc­tions, do not let the magazine drop to the ground (See Figure 6, p. 23).
13
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. This procedure begins with an empty
1. Be certain the muzzle is pointing in a safe direction. (See Rule 2, p. 42).
2. Before inserting loaded magazine, engage the bolt lock so the bolt is held open. Check the chamber to be certain it is empty. MOVE THE SAFETY TO THE “ON” POSITION. (See Figure 3, p. 10).
3. Load a magazine with the desired number of cartridges.
4. Insert the loaded magazine into the magazine well, and immediately...
5. Draw the slide handle all the way to the rear and release it, allowing the slide to snap forward under full spring force. A cartridge will be stripped from the magazine and chambered by the motion of the bolt.
WARNING: If cartridges do not feed smoothly from the magazine into the chamber then do not use the rifle until the problem is corrected. (See
“Malfunction Warning” p. 22)
6. The rifle is now cocked and a loaded cartridge is chambered. Visually check to be certain the safety is in the “ON” position.
7. When you are ready to fire the rifle, move the safety to the “OFF” position.
WARNING: DO NOT TOUCH THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOU ARE ACTUALLY READY TO FIRE. KEEP THE SAFETY “ON” UNLESS ACTUALLY FIRING.
8. The rifle will fire one shot each time the trigger is pulled until the magazine is empty. Some of the gas produced by the combustion of the powder is used to push the slide and bolt to the rear, which extracts and ejects the fired cartridge case, recocks the gun, and reloads a new cartridge from the magazine into the firing chamber.
rifle with its magazine out.
WARNING – FIRING
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
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 should be “ON” at all times except when the rifle is on target and being fired.
10. When the last cartridge in the magazine has been fired, the bolt lock will automatically engage and hold the bolt and slide in the rearward, open posi­tion. CAUTION: Autoloading firearms have reciprocating bolts and slides. Do not position your fingers or face so these components can strike you when the gun is fired.
WARNING – HANDLING
If dropped or struck with the safety “off”, the
SAFETY IN "OFF" (FIRE) POSITION
rifle may fire. Keep chamber empty unless actually firing! Keep safety “on” unless actually firing!
15
ANY GUN
MAY FIRE IF
DROPPED
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