ruger SIDE-BY-SIDE User Guide

INSTRUCTION

MANUAL

FOR

RUGER

SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUNS

12 GAUGE

For Product Service on This Model Please Call:

(603) 865-2442 (See p. 27)

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.

KSXS/9-02

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS IN THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS FIREARM

Gold Label

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 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:

“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.”

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 crime to store or leave a loaded 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!”

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.”

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 KNOW IS ACCESSIBLE TO A MINOR.”

exas:

“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.

• Always keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction, including when you are installing or removing your locking device.

• Always verify that your firearm is completely unloaded before installing your locking device.

• Do not

install locking devices in the trigger guard; always keep your fingers, clamp and locking device outside the trigger guard during device installation and removal.

• Store firearms, ammunition and keys separately and securely, away from children and careless adults; do not store your firearm with the keys in the locking device.

• Do not attempt to work the action of your firearm with the locking device in place; this may damage your firearm.

• While locking devices are an important aid to security measures, they are not a substitute for safe firearm handling and proper storage. Remember that any mechanical device can be bypassed with enough time, knowledge, determination and equipment.

LOCKING DEVICES MUST BE USED

SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY

LOCKING DEVICE

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING – USE OF LOCKING DEVICES

Use the Correct Lock: While the basic locking device is substantially similar for all Ruger®firearms, due to the different shapes of the many Ruger

firearms, different firearms utilize different locking devices. The

locking device for your SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUN includes a 2 1/2” lock and a clamp (black metal bracket to which the lock is applied.)

To Install the Factory-Supplied Locking Device:

1. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and your fingers outside the

trigger guard at all times!

2. Be sure the firearm is completely unloaded and contains no cartridges or

cartridge cases!

3. Disassemble the shotgun into the stock-receiver assembly and barrelforend assembly. (This procedure is described on page 23 of this manual.)

4. Apply the clamp to the stock-receiver assembly as show in Figure 1.

5. Apply the lock to the clamp by inserting the shackle of the lock into the holes in the clamp as shown in Figure 2.

6. Close the lock by pressing the shackle into the body of the lock (the part that receives the key) as tightly together as possible. The lock has bumpers and the shackle is coated with a non-marring material that will not harm the metal finish of your firearm; be careful not to dent or scratch the wooden stock.

7. Once the lock is securely closed, turn the key to its locked position and r

emove it. Pull firmly on the shackle and lock to test connection and be sure it is locked. Do not leave or store your firearm with the key in the

lock! Store your locked unloaded firearm and the key in secure, separate

locations, away from ammunition, children, or unauthorized adults.

Correct Installation of Lock through Clamp

For Ruger Side By Side Shotgun Onl

Correct Installation of Clamp

Figure 1

Figure 2

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®SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUN 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 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 Rd., 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.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

State by State Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Locking Device Installation Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Mechanical Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Nomenclature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Operation of Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Safety/Barrel Selector Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Ammunition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Steel Shot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Assembling the Shotgun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Installation of Screw-In Choke Inserts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Operation of the Shotgun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

To Load and Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

To Unload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Disassembly Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Care and Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Maintenance of Stainless Steel Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Service and Parts Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Parts Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

The Basic Rules of Safe Firearms Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

“RUGER®”and the Ruger Logo are registered U.S. trademarks.

WARNINGS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE ARE FOUND ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES:

Locking Devices 6 Unloading 21 Alterations 9 Handling 22 Safety Selector 14 Disassembly 23 Ammunition 15 Lubrication 24 Lead Exposure 15 Storage 25 Screw-In Chokes 19 Parts Purchasers 28 Firing 21

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.

GENERAL INFORMATION

AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The RUGER®GOLD LABEL SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUN is a two-shot, double barreled, lightweight shotgun. It comes with “screw-in” choke tubes of various degrees of choke, a single selective trigger, and selective ejectors.

THE SAFETY MECHANISMS

The trigger mechanism includes a hammer interrupter which directly blocks the hammers if either or both are cocked and the safety is engaged. With the safety off, the hammer interrupter can be lifted clear of the hammers only by a deliberate pull of the trigger. A complete release of the trigger is necessary to set the gun for firing the second shot. The automatic safety mounted on top of the receiver also serves as the barrel selector that determines which of the two barrels is to be fired first. The conical pointed firing pins are strongly proportioned and will not be damaged by dry-firing.

The sliding safety thumbpiece, in addition to its fore and aft motion, pivots to swing from side to side and thus incorporates the function of barrel selector in association with the single trigger mechanism. In its rear, or “safe” position, the

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

safety mechanism locks the hammer interrupter – a unique characteristic of this gun. In this position, it is impossible for the hammers to reach the firing pins. The hammer interrupter, in turn, locks the trigger against being pulled. The sequence of firing is set with the safety in its rearmost “safe” position. If the thumbpiece is swung to its left side position and pushed forward, an “R” is visible and the selector allows the right barrel to be fired first. If the thumbpiece is swung to the right side and pushed forward, an “L” is visible and the selector allows the left barrel to be fired first.

Under recoil, an inertia weight swings to the rear and pulls the sear selector out of engagement with the sears. The sear selector is inoperative until the inertia weight returns to its forward position, so the gun is thus made safe from “doubling” (firing both barrels with a single pull of the trigger). This mechanism has the desirable feature of permitting the second barrel to be discharged even if the first pull of the trigger results in a misfire. The second shot can be fired whether the gun has recoiled or not.

The hammers are of the rebounding type. After firing, they move back from the firing pins enough to clear then and are held in this position by the mainspring. The rebound position of the hammers means that their cocking motion is not started until after the barrels are partially opened, and this contributes materially to the easy opening of the gun. The hammers cannot fall completely forward to reach the firing pins unless the locking bolt, which lies directly ahead of them, is in its forward position when the barrels are locked shut in the frame.

THE BARREL ASSEMBLY

The lightweight barrels are silver brazed to the monobloc at the chamber portion of the barrel. The rib is securely soldered to the barrels and machine-cut cross serrations in the top surface of the rib provide a matte, glare-free sighting plane. The front sight is a standard gold bead.

A massive square lug at the bottom rear of the monobloc locks into the thick bottom wall of the receiver to provide extra security for the barrel-to-frame lock-up.

Projecting from the rear end of the monobloc is a heavy, integral heat-treated lug which is engaged by the locking bolt as it slides forward when the gun is closed. The locking bolt is, in effect, a wedge, due to the angle of the locking face. The face has more than adequate area and is hardened and precision-ground.

The automatic ejectors assemble to the monobloc simply, with a retaining screw. The ejector strikers are “selective” in that only fired shells are ejected when the barrels are fully opened. (See “Unloading Warning”, p. 21)

THE WOOD

The stock and forearm are made from high grade American walnut, fully seasoned, with deep-cut checkering of 22 lines to the inch. A straight grip and synthetic buttplate are standard on all models. All wood surfaces are sealed with a satin weather-resistant finish.

Provision is made in the stock for the through-bolt system of attachment which is strong and simple. The rear ends of the tangs interlock with the wood and the forward end of the stock is tenoned into recesses in the receiver to provide maximum strength and resistance to splitting or loosening.

The SAFETY, in addition to its fore and aft

motion, pivots to swing from side to side

when on “safe” (S) and incorporates the

function of barrel selector. If the selector is

swung to its left side position the right barrel

fires first. If the selector is to the right, the

left barrel fires first. In its rearmost “safe”

position, the safety locks the hammer

interrupter. In this position it is impossible for

the hammer to reach the firing pin and the

trigger cannot be pulled.

The BUTTSTOCK is held

on the gun by a long

through-bolt, which is

accessible only after the

butt plate on the end of the

buttstock is removed.

The TOP LEVER and its pivot directly

engage the locking bolt on both opening

and closing motions.

The MONOBLOC joins the barrels at the

rear and supports the 3” chambers.

The solid RIB is securely fastened to the

barrels for quick target alignment.

NOMENCLATURE

The single-selective TRIGGER

fires the selected barrel when

pulled with the safety in the

forward “Fire” position.

The steel TRIGGER GUARD protects the

trigger from inadvertent blows. Fingers

should always be kept outside the trigger

guard except when actually firing.

The FOREND LATCH PLUNGER

allows the forend to be swung away

from the gun when depressed, as for

disassembly.

The stainless steel RECEIVER is

of shallow profile and comfortable

“round action” styling.

The FOREND, like the buttstock,

is of finely checkered high-grade

walnut.

Figure 3

SPECIAL FEATURES

The RUGER®12 GAUGE SIDE-BY-SIDE shotguns are offered with stainless steel receivers. The trigger and forend iron are made of stainless steel with an attractive brushed finish. The trigger guard, top lever, and safety thumbpiece, as well as barrels, are of heat-treated chrome-molybdenum steel, polished overall and blued.

The top lever and its pivot directly engage the locking bolt both on opening and closing motions. The lever and the locking bolt are driven to the closed position by the top lever spring which, through its strut, retains the top lever in the gun. The Ruger shotgun has been engineered to minimize the force required for cocking.

OPERATION OF SAFETY

The RUGER®SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUN has a safety selector combined with a barrel selector for convenient use. The safety selector is located at the top rear of the receiver.

The safety selector can be moved from the “Fire” position to its “Safe” position whether or not the mechanism is cocked. Fully opening the shotgun cocks the mechanism. The action can be opened with the safety “on.”

Whenever the action is opened, the safety automatically moves rearward to its “on,” or “Safe” position (the letter ‘S’ visible forward of the safety thumbpiece on the top surface of the receiver). If the safety thumbpiece is moved forward to cover the letter ‘S’, the safety is in its “off” or “Fire” position and remains in that position until moved back to the “Safe” position manually, or until the action is opened again. Keep the safety “on” unless actually firing!

BARREL SELECTION

The letters “L” and “R” appear to the right and left of the safety thumbpiece, and indicate which barrel is to fire first. NOTE: The safety must be “on” (letter ‘S’ visible, safety moved to rearmost position) before the barrel selector feature can be used. Y

ou cannot change the barrel firing sequence while the safety is “off.” If the thumbpiece is then moved to the left so that the letter “R” appears, the right barrel will fire first when the safety is pushed forward and the trigger is pulled. If the thumbpiece is moved to the right when the safety is on so that the letter “L” appears, the left barrel will fire first when the safety is pushed forward and the trigger is pulled. See page 13.

Do not attempt to select bar

rels between shots! Once you have fired one barrel, the other will automatically be the next one to fire when you pull the trigger. If you only fire one shot and wish to reload, simply break open the gun, eject the fired shell, reload the chamber, and close the gun. The automatic safety will have engaged, and you can now select either barrel for your next shot. Keep the safety “ON” (S) until you are actually firing on a selected target.

Practice (with an unloaded shotgun) moving the safety/barrel selector to the three positions until you know the position of the safety selector for the three modes – Safe (S), Fire left barrel first (L), and Fire right barrel first (R). WARNING: When manipulating the safety selector, DO NOT HAVE ANY FINGER

INSIDE THE TRIGGER GUARD! Whenever the safety selector is in the “Fire”

position and the trigger is pulled, the shotgun will fire.

The safety selector should always be in the “Safe” (S) position except when the gun user is actually firing. The safety selector should unfailingly be moved to the “Safe” (S) position when the gun user ceases firing, even for a moment.

SAFETY/BARREL SELECTOR POSITIONS

The safety selector should be moved to the “Safe” (S) position and kept there unless the gun is to be fired immediately.

“Safe” (and Barrel Selecting) Position

“Fire” — Right Barrel First

Figure 6. Safety selector in forward “Fire Right Barrel (R) First” position. Pulling the trigger will fire the right barrel – a second pull will then fire the left barrel. It is not necessary to select between shots. The safety selector should be in this position only when the gun user is actually firing.

“Fire” — Left Barrel First

Figure 4. Safety selector in “Safe” (S) full

rearward position. The safety selector must be in this position to select position ‘L’ or ‘R’ described below. In this position, the trigger cannot be pulled to fire the gun. Either ‘L’ or ‘R’ may be partially visible, but the shotgun is only on “Safe” when the ‘S’ is fully exposed. If

the ‘S’ is not

visible, the shotgun is ready to

fire!

Figure 5. Safety selector is forward “Fire Left Barrel (L) First” position. Pulling the trigger will fire the left barrel – a second pull of the trigger will then fire the right barrel. It is not necessary to select between shots. The safety selector should be moved to this position only when the gun user is actually firing.

When the safety is in either fire position, it is referred to as being “off.” (When the safety is in the “Safe” (S) position, it is referred to as being “on”.)

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