Ruger 12 Gaude Gold Label Instruction Manual

							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
!   
						

							3
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 cr
imeto 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.”
4 
						

							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.”
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 
						

							• 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
6
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 SHOTGUNincludes 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 barrel-
forend assembly. (This procedure is described on page 23 of this
manual.)  
						

							7
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
y
Correct Installation of Clamp Figure 1
Figure 2   
						

							8
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 SHOTGUNproperly.
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.
!
9
!
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 SHOTGUNis 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 interrupterwhich 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 selectorin
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 
						

							10
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 hammersare 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 barrelsare 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 lugat 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 ejectorsassemble to the monobloc simply, with a retaining screw.
The ejector strikersare “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-boltsystem 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.
11
The BUTTSTOCKis 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 LEVERand its pivot directly
engage the locking bolt on both opening
and closing motions.
The MONOBLOCjoins 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