Southport, Connecticut 06490 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. 77/50 - 3/98 R1 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® MODEL 77/50TM muzzleloading rifle properly. 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 with a gun in their possession 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 General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Operation of Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Ammunition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Eye and Ear Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 To Load and Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 To Unload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Basic Disassembly and Reassembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Care and Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Regarding Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 To Clear a Malfunction (“Jam”) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Maintenance of Stainless Steel Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Attaching Scope Rings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Sight Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Service and Parts Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Parts Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 The Basic Rules of Safe Firearms Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 “Ruger®” is a registered U.S. trademark. “77/50TM” is a trademark of Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. 2 ! WARNINGS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE ARE FOUND ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES: WARNINGS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE ARE FOUND ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES: Alterations 3 Firing 17 Manual Safety 7 Reloading 18 Lead Exposure 7 Mishandling 19 Ammunition 8 Disassembly 22 Black Powder 9 Lubrication 29 Percussion Caps 11 Storage 30 Loading 13 Malfunctions 35 Handling 17 Parts Purchasers 39 OTHER CAUTIONS AND WARNINGS APPEAR THROUGHOUT THE MANUAL. FIREARMS ARE DANGEROUS WEAPONS – MUZZLELOADING BLACK POWDER FIREARMS REQUIRE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS. 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 rifle you have chosen, the RUGER® MODEL 77/50 muzzleloading rifle, is an original Ruger design. It is manufactured to our regular standards of strength and reliability entirely in modern Ruger factories in the U.S.A. High quality steels and coil springs are used throughout, the same as in our centerfire rifles. It is a bolt-action, single shot, muzzleloading black powder rifle of modern design. It gives the black powder shooter many of the convenience and safety features of modern Ruger centerfire rifles, combined with traditional muzzleloading rifle characteristics. It is particularly useful for black powder hunting and target shooting. 3 The RUGER® MODEL 77/50 is a muzzleloading, percussion rifle intended for use with black powder, percussion caps, soft lead and jacketed “saboted” projectiles. It has a precision rifled barrel with a 1-in...