Ruger 10/17 Instruction Manual

							12
THE BOLT LOCK
The bolt lock is located in the forward section of the trigger guard (see Figure 1,
p. 10). The bolt lock is the manually operated means of retaining the bolt in the
rearward (open) position. When the bolt is locked open, the rifle is in an
inoperative safe condition for inspection of the chamber, cleaning, etc.
To lock the bolt open:Retract the bolt handle to its extreme rearward position
and, while holding it there, press in on the lower
section of the bolt lock. Release
pressure on the bolt handle and it will move forward a fraction of an inch, and
then be locked in its open position.
To release the bolt:Retract the bolt handle to its extreme rearward position and
then press in on the upper
section of the bolt lock. Release the bolt and it will
move fully forward.
NOTE:Simply retracting the bolt will not disengage the lock. The bolt lock must
be deliberately pressed up while the bolt is held fully to the rear. Only then will
the bolt close when released. This is designed to prevent accidental release of the
bolt from its open position.
Press Backto Lock Bolt OpenPress Upto CloseBolt
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      SAFETY IN “ON” (SAFE) POSITION   
						

							WARNING – AMMUNITION
Death, serious injury, and damage can
result from the use of wrong
ammunition, bore obstructions,
powder overloads, or incorrect
cartridge components. 22 cases are
very thin and sometimes split when
fired. Always
wear shooting glasses
and hearing protection.
IMPROPER AMMUNITION
DESTROYS GUNS
AMMUNITION
The RUGER®10/22®CARBINE and 10/22 RIFLEare chambered for,
and designed to properly function with, only the 22 caliber Long Rifle rimfire
cartridge, standard, high velocity, or hyper-velocity, manufactured to U.S. industry
standards.
Do not use 22 short, 22 long, 22 shot, or 22 cartridges loaded with blunt-nosed,
sharp-shouldered, or “explosive” bullets. They will not function reliably and may
jam the mechanism or discharge before being fully chambered. Use only
ammunition that functions correctly in your rifle. See “Warning – Malfunctions”,
p. 23.
The RUGER
®10/17TMRIFLEis chambered for the 17 Hornady Magnum
Rimfire (17 HMR) cartridge only. Do not use any other rimfire ammunition in this
rifle!
13
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
WARNING – LEAD EXPOSURE
The RUGER®MODEL 10/22®MAGNUM is chambered for, and designed
to properly function with, onlythe 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (22 WMR)
cartridge, both jacketed and hollow point, manufactured to U.S. industry
standards. Do not use any other 22 caliber ammunition in this rifle as burst cases
and the release of hot powder gas can result. See “Warning – 22 Magnum
Ammunition”, p. 14.           
						

							Use only standard Winchester
Magnum Rimfire (22 WMR)
ammunition loaded to U.S.
Industry specifications. Do no
t
fire 22 short, long, or long rifle
cartridges in this rifle or load
them into the magazine - they
are of smaller case diameter and
otherwise vary in size from the
larger 22 WMR cartridge. They
can split or burst when fired in
the larger magnum chamber,
releasing hot powder gasses and
particle fragments out of the
action at high speed, possibly
resulting in injury to the shooter
or bystanders.
USE ONLY
22 WMR AMMUNITION
IN 22 MAGNUM FIREARMS
WARNING – 22 MAGNUM AMMUNITION
However, your choice of ammunition may affect the functioning of this firearm.
Ammunition manufacturers use different powders, bullets and case
specifications. If you find that you are experiencing feeding and extraction
problems, switching to another type or brand of 22 WMR ammunition may
improve the situation.
AMMUNITION (CARTRIDGES) NOTICE
WE SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE
OR INJURY WHATSOEVER OCCURRING IN CONNECTION WITH, OR
AS A RESULT OF, THE USE IN ANY RUGER FIREARMS OF FAULTY,
OR NON-STANDARD, OR “REMANUFACTURED” OR HAND-LOADED
(RELOADED) AMMUNITION, OR OF CARTRIDGES OTHER THAN THOSE FOR
WHICH THE FIREARM WAS ORIGINALLY CHAMBERED.
WARNING:SOME TYPES OF 22 MAGNUM CARTRIDGES HAVE 
BLUNT-NOSE OR SHARP-SHOULDER BULLETS WHICH CAN 
INTERFERE WITH SMOOTH AND RELIABLE FEEDING FROM
MAGAZINE TO CHAMBER. SUCH CARTRIDGES SHOULD NOTBE USED
BECAUSE THEY MAY DISCHARGE BEFORE BEING FULLY CHAMBERED AND
THEREBY POSSIBLY INJURE THE SHOOTER AND THOSE NEARBY. THE
SHOOTER MUST BE ALERT TO THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION
AND SHOULD AT ONCE DISCONTINUE THE USE OF ANY CARTRIDGE WHICH
APPEARS TO BE THE CAUSE OF FEEDING PROBLEMS OR JAMMING. KEEP
THE CHAMBER AND MAGAZINE CLEAN (SEE “CARE AND CLEANING”, P. 26).
14   22 WMR     22
Long Rifle  22
Long  22
Short     
						

							10/22T Models have a target trigger that has
been carefully set at the factory to a
minimum safe weight of pull for precision
target shooting. Do not alter any factory
setting! You can create an unsafe condition
and the rifle may fire unexpectedly.
You should be especially careful to keep the
safety on at all times except when actually
firing and keep your finger off the trigger
unless you are squeezing it to fire, in order
to minimize the possibility of accidental
discharge.
DO NOT TAMPER WITH TRIGGER -
KEEP SAFETY ON UNLESS FIRING
15
SPECIAL SAFETY NOTE
10/22 TARGET RIFLE ONLY
The special model you have selected is specifically designed for rapid fire precision
target shooting. As such, it demands that you take extra safety precautions.
The trigger of the Target version of the RUGER
®10/22®has a lighter, target
trigger pull than standard 10/22 rifles and carbines, for more precise placement of
shots. You should practice “dry-firing” an empty
rifle (with it pointing in a safe
direction) to learn the “feel” of the trigger before ever loading it with ammunition.
NOTE:The following warning applies to RUGER®10/22 Target rifles only:
“Stinger” cartridges have a longer case
than 22 LR cartridges loaded to U.S.
Industry specifications. They can stick
in the tighter chambers of target rifles,
including the Ruger 10/22 Target Rifle,
which can result in a hazardous
ruptured case and release of hot
powder gasses and brass when fired.
DO NOT USE
“STINGER” AMMUNITION IN
10/22 TARGET RIFLES
WARNING – “STINGER” AMMUNITION
WARNING – TARGET TRIGGER  S
T
I
N
G
E
R.2222 LR 22 Stinger22 LR      SAFETY IN “ON” (SAFE) POSITION   
						

							MAGAZINE
The 9-shot 22 WMR and 17 HMR magazine (JMX-1) for the Ruger Model 10/22
Magnum and Model 10/17 is longer than the 10-shot 22 long rifle magazine (BX-1)
for Ruger 10/22 rifles. Do not attempt to use standard 10/22 magazines in the 10/22
Magnum or 17 HMR rifles or load 22 short, long, or long rifle ammunition into the
22 magnum or 17 HMR magazine. They will not function correctly and are unsafe
to use in 22 Magnum and 17 HMR rifles.
Ruger Model 10/22 Magnum
& 17 HMR Magazine (JMX-1)Ruger Model 10/22 Long Rifle
Magazine (BX-1)
Never attempt to use 22 Long Rifle ammunition in Ruger 10/22 Magnum or
10/17 rifle magazines. The cartridges have a smaller case diameter and can split
or burst when fired in the larger magnum chamber, releasing hot powder gasses
and particle fragments out of the action at high speed, possibly resulting in
injury to the shooter or bystanders.
Do NotUse in Ruger 10/22 Magnum
or 10/17 Rifles
LOADING THE MAGAZINE
To load the magazine, press the rim of the
cartridge against the magazine rotor at the
widest section of the magazine throat until
the cartridge enters far enough to be
pushed to the rear end of the magazine.
Each succeeding cartridge is pressed
against the body of the top cartridge and
slid to the rear of the magazine until a
maximum of ten (10) 22 LR cartridges (or
nine 22 WMR or 17 HMR cartridges,
depending upon the magazine being loaded)
are in the magazine.
NOTE: The 9-shot Ruger 77/22 Magnum
magazine (JMX-1) is the same as, and is
interchangeable with, the 9-shot Ruger
10/22 Magnum and 17 HMR magazine.Loading
Magazine
16       
						

							17
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.
1.Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. (See Rule 2, p. 47.)
2. Pull the bolt handle rearward. Engage the bolt lock so that the bolt is held
open. (See p. 12.) Check the chamber to be certain it is empty. Engage the
safety. (See Figure 1, p. 10.)
Figure 3.The safety should be “on” when the
magazine is being removed or inserted.
When the forward section of the magazine
latch is pushed in (pivoted upward), the
magazine is released. Depress the latch with
the thumb and at the same time grasp the
magazine between the thumb and forefinger
and draw it out of the gun.
Removing Magazine
(Safety “On”)
3. Remove the magazine by using thumb to depress magazine latch and at the
same time grasp the magazine between thumb and forefinger of the same
hand to draw it out of the magazine well. (See Figure 3.)
4. Load the magazine with the appropriate number of cartridges (see “Loading
The Magazine” section, p. 16).
5. Insert magazine into the firearm, with bullet end of the cartridges toward the
muzzle. (Magazine cannot be seated if reversed.)
6. Load a cartridge into the chamber by fully retracting the bolt handle, releasing
the bolt lock, and then releasing the bolt handle. Don’t touch the trigger.Do
not ‘ride’ the bolt handle as it moves forward. Do not apply force to the bolt
handle to chamber a cartridge. If a cartridge does not readily chamber, eject it
from the rifle, lock the bolt open, remove the magazine and see “Warning –
Malfunctions”, p. 23.
7. The rifle is now fully loaded. If the rifle is not to be fired immediately, the
safety should remain “ON”.(See Figure 1, p. 10.) When the safety is moved to
the “off” position, the rifle will fire each time the trigger is pulled until all the
cartridges in the magazine, and the one in the chamber, have been fired.
Firing will automatically reload and recock the rifle.Note that every time the
trigger is pulled, if a cartridge is in the chamber, the rifle will fire – be careful!
8.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.    
						

							18
9. The bolt does not remain open after the last shot has been fired, nor does the
bolt automatically lock open when the magazine is empty. When firing is
completed, manually retract the bolt, lock it open, and visually check the
chamber to be sure it is empty. If the bolt is shut, the shooter should always
assume that there is a cartridge in the chamber. Don’t rely on your memory to
know if a gun or magazine is loaded. Visually inspect the magazine and the
chamber.
WARNING – FIRING
The bolt automatically opens
and shuts quickly while firing.
Keep face and hands away
from it. Hot brass and powder
gas are ejected quickly and
can burn you. The rifle should
be fired from the right
shoulder. Always wear
shooting glasses and hearing
protection.
BOLT OPENS FAST–
HOT BRASS EJECTED
NOTE: For the 10/22 Magnum rifles, to avoid possibly dangerous
malfunctions, never fire more than 50 shots without scrupulously cleaning
the chamber. See “Care and Cleaning”, pp. 26 - 27.
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   
						

							19
TO LOAD AND FIRE (WITHOUT MAGAZINE)
The rifle can be used as a single shot rifle in the absence of a magazine or for
safety or training purposes. To do so, follow step 1, p. 17. Then load a cartridge
into the chamber, and follow steps 6 and 7, p. 17, disregarding the magazine.
Engage the safety between shots.
WARNING – UNLOADING
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, then pull 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.Keep safety “on”.
GUN WILL FIRE WITH
MAGAZINE OUT
TO UNLOAD
(Rifle Must Be Kept Pointed In A Safe Direction)
UNLOAD THE RIFLE IMMEDIATELY WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED SHOOTING!
NOTE:This sequence must be followed exactly as spelled out. Failure to do so
can result in the rifle’s chamber becoming unintentionally loaded with a
cartridge!
1. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times and keep fingers
outside the trigger guard. If the rifle is cocked, move the safety to the “on”
position.
2. Remove the magazine. Rememberthat even though the magazine has been
removed, a cartridge remaining in the chamber can still be fired!
3. Retract the bolt to its open position and lock it there. This should eject any
cartridge in the chamber, but...
4.Always visually double check the chamber to be certain it is empty.
5. The only “safe” rifle is one in which the bolt is open and the chamber and
magazine are empty.
6. Cartridges can be removed from the magazine by simply pushing them lightly
downward and forward with the thumb, forefinger, or the rubber eraser end of
a pencil against the rim of the top cartridge. Do not use a loaded cartridge as a
‘tool’ to strip cartridges from the magazine.     
						

							20
7. If desired, the bolt can be left in the open position, being held there by the bolt
lock. If it is desired to close the bolt, again look to be certain the chamber is
empty. Put the safety “on”, retract the bolt to its rearmost position, release the
bolt lock and let the bolt snap forward. Keep your fingers out of the receiver!
8.With the muzzle pointed in a safe direction,push the safety to the “off”
position and pull the trigger to decock it. The rifle can be “dry fired” for
practice as long as it is empty and pointed in a safe direction.
9. Push empty (unloaded) magazine into the rifle until the catch locks it in place.
CORRECT UNLOADING SEQUENCE1
243   
						

							21
TO EXTRACT AND EJECT
A CHAMBERED CARTRIDGE
When the rifle is fired, the same gas pressure which drives the bullet forward also
acts through the cartridge case to push the bolt to the rear. That action causes
extraction and ejection of the fired cartridge case. But, when the bolt is operated
by hand, there can be a failure to extract the cartridge from the chamber, or a
failure to eject the cartridge clear of the rifle. These failures usually are the result
of the bolt not being pulled rearward vigorously, coupled with an accumulation
of bullet lubricant in the chamber. From the foregoing it is clear that the gun
user must:
1.Always visually check the chamber after opening the bolt to eject a chambered
cartridge.If the bolt is not vigorously retracted when being operated by hand,
the extracted cartridge can be ‘ejected’ into the magazine area, instead of
outside the rifle.
2. Thor
oughly clean the chamber and the extractor as often as necessaryto
prevent the accumulation of grease and dirt.
3. If an empty magazine is in the rifle when the bolt is being hand retracted to
extract a cartridge, the cartridge may drop on top of the magazine. Then when
the bolt goes forward, the cartridge will be chambered again! Always remove
the magazine before clearing the chamber, and visually ensure that no
cartridges remain in the gun.
TO CLEAR A MALFUNCTION (“JAM”)
Any autoloading firearm may occasionally malfunction. If it does:
1.Be certain the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction and the safety is “on”.
2. If possible, first remove the magazine. It may be necessary to manually remove
a jammed cartridge which has only partially been stripped from the magazine. 
If so, use extreme care. Lock the bolt open with the bolt stop before
attempting to clear the jam. Drawing the bolt fully to the rear may bring the
jammed cartridge along. Keep your face away from the ejection port during
this operation.When attempting to clear a jam, use only wood ‘tools’ so that a
cartridge will not be ignited if you strike a primer, and so that the chamber
and magazine will not be damaged. A 3/16” wood dowel rod with a point on
one end is useful.
3. Visually check to make sure all cartridges have been removed from the rifle.
Safely dispose of any cartridges involved in a malfunction incident. Do not use
damaged ammunition in any firearm.