Ruger 77/50 Instruction Manual

							Percussion caps are designed
to fire as the result of a blow
(“percussion”).
A capped rifle loaded with
powder and ball is fully
loaded and will fire if the cap
is struck.
Never clean, lubricate,
disassemble, or work on a
rifle while it is capped or
loaded. Never install, remove,
or carry a capped nipple or
breech plug.
Always remove the
percussion cap before
unloading the barrel or
disassembling the rifle.
NEVER STRIKE A
PERCUSSION CAP
11
!WARNING– PERCUSSION CAPS
DONT
STRIKE
CAP!
EYE AND EAR PROTECTION
Safety glasses must be used when loading and firing the RUGER®MODEL
77/50, or any percussion firearm.In percussion muzzleloaders, unlike cartridge
firearms, the thin percussion cap is the only seal against the hot gasses of main
powder charge, which can escape out of the nipple with great force when the
rifle is fired. Small pieces of the percussion cap are frequently blown away to the
side or rear when a percussion arm fires. Always wear hearing protection when
firing any firearm, in order to avoid permanent hearing damage.
TO LOAD AND FIRE
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 loading the rifle, please read completely through this manual, and be
certain the muzzle is pointing in a safe direction. Do not load the rifle until you
are ready to use it!
(The following procedure assumes a new rifle with the bolt out.) 
						

							12
INSERTING THE BOLT
1.Be certain the barrel is empty by pointing the muzzle upward towards a
light source and glancing through the rear of the action at the rear end of
the nipple. You should see light through the hole in the nipple, indicating
that the barrel is empty. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, and
keep your fingers off the trigger throughout the assembly and loading
process until you are actually ready to fire. (See Rule 2, p. 43).
2.Position the safety selector in the “Load-Unload” position(see Figure 3,
p. 6).
3. Make certain the bolt is correctly assembled and ready to be inserted in the
receiver. If there is any doubt, see numbered paragraph 6, p. 33 (To
Assemble the Bolt) in the “Reassembly” section of this manual.
4. Note that if the breech plug is not screwed all the way into the receiver, the
bolt cannot be fully closed. Whenever you install the breech plug, be sure
that you coat its threads with grease in order to be able to remove it for
cleaning. (See p. 31).
5. Depress the bolt-stop and insert the bolt into the receiver.
LOADING
WARNING:Please re-read carefully the paragraph entitled
“Warning - Black Powder”, p. 9.!
In the interests of both performance and safety, it is important that steps which
follow be performed in sequence and with attention to detail:
1. BEFORE LOADING: 
Lift the bolt handle and place the safety in the “load-unload” position. Remove
the bolt by pressing down on the bolt stop and withdrawing the bolt to the rear.
Look through the hole in the nipple with the barrel pointed toward a light
source to make sure the barrel is empty of powder or ball. Reinsert the bolt.
Check rifle to ensure that:
A. Nipple is uncapped.
B. Barrel is empty.
C. Bore and nipples are free of grease, oil or other obstruction.
2. CLEARING THE NIPPLES:
Without loading the barrel, place a percussion cap on the nipple. Point the
rifle in a safe direction, a few inches from some grass, leaves, or snow. Move
the safety to the full forward “fire” position, and pull the trigger to fire the
cap. You should see the grass, leaves, or snow move from the force of the
percussion cap. Repeat this process with a second cap. This is done to ensure
that the nipple passage is clear and dry.
Open the bolt, place the safety in the “load-unload” position and remove the
percussion cap and cap fragments. 
						

							Know the bore diameter of your rifle you are loading and
load projectiles of only correct diameter into it! Either a
too tight or too loose projectile can cause a burst barrel,
resulting in serious injury to the shooter or bystanders.
This rifle is designed to use a .500” projectile (or a .490”
projectile with a .010 - .015” thick patch), a #11
percussion cap, and up to a maximum of 120 grains of
FFg black powder (or equivalent volume of Pyrodex RS)
only. Never use smokeless powder of any kind.
Before firing, be certain the percussion cap is seated
completely on the nipple. A rifle discharged by the
closing of the bolt on an incorrectly seated cap can
result in possible serious injury to the shooter and those
nearby.
If a projectile does not fully seat readily, do not force it.
Check to be certain that each projectile is the proper
caliber and of correct dimensions. If you cannot
determine why the projectile will not fit, carefully
remove the projectile, empty the rifle of all powder (see
pp. 20 - 22) and write or call the factory. 
The wrong components or an excessive powder charge
can destroy your gun and result in serious injury to you
or bystanders. 
BE SURE WHAT YOU LOAD
IS CORRECT
13
!WARNING–LOADING
?
?
3. CHARGING THE BARREL:
A. Starting with the bolt open in its
full rearward position, place safety
in the “load-unload” position. (See
Fig. 5) Do not touch the trigger
while loading! Be sure that no cap
is on the nipple!
B. With one hand, hold the rifle
securely with the barrel pointing
straight upwards and the recoil
pad or butt plate on the ground.
Keep your face and other body
parts away from the muzzle!
Safety
MUZZLE UP
ACTION OPEN
SAFETY IN
LOAD/UNLOAD
POSITION
NIPPLE UNCAPPED
5
LOADING POSITION  
						

							14
C. Using a dipper or other single-charge
measure, pour the desired amount of
powder into the front opening (muzzle) of
the barrel. (See Fig. 6) Never exceed the
powder charge recommended for the
projectile you have selected from  a
reputable black powder loading manual. Do
not pour powder directly from the flask or
other powder container (See “Black
Powder Warning”,  p. 9)
D.   Place the bullet in the muzzle of the charged barrel, with the flat spot
(“sprue”) of the round ball or the point of a lubricated conical projectile
facing upward, out of the muzzle. (See Fig. 7) If you lubricate your
projectile, be sure to use a lubricant designed specifically for black
powder. Ordinary petroleum-based lubricants can cause fouling to build
up and make it difficult to fully seat the projectile on the powder charge,
with the resulting danger of a burst barrel and injury to the shooter and
bystanders.
E. If you wish to use a patch on your round ball for tighter fit or improved
sealing of the ball in the barrel, place a 1 1/2” diameter patch lubricated
with a commercial black powder gun grease centered over the muzzle
befor
eyou place a ball into the muzzle. (See Fig. 8) Again, align the sprue
of the bullet in the center of the bore facing upward, out of the muzzle.
(See Fig. 9, p.15) Some shooters now push the ball slightly into the
muzzle with a “short starter” rod of about 1” in length and then trim
away any excess patch material protruding from the muzzle, but this is
optional.
CENTER BALL
ON PATCH
78
BLACK POWDER
OR PYRODEX
ONLY!
6
LOADING POWDER
INSERTING CONICAL
PROJECTILEINSERTING
PATCHED BALLOR 
						

							F. Remove the ramrod from under the barrel by pulling it downward out of
its recess in the barrel and then forward (upward) out of the stock and
ramrod thimble. Grasp the ramrod around its side and, with a firm even
stroke, seat the bullet firmly on the powder charge. Do not
push down on
the ramrod tip with the palm of your hand, in the event that the powder
charge ignites while you are loading!(See Fig. 10) For maximum
accuracy, the powder charge should be very lightly compressed by the
bullet. Be sure that the bullet is seated deeply enough so that it rests
firmly against the powder charge. Do not leave an air space between the
powder and the bullet.This can cause the barrel to burst when firing!
G. You should not “pound” on the ramrod to fully seat the projectile, since
this can deform the bullet, cause accuracy problems, or even set off the
powder charge and fire the rifle! Once you determine that you have fully
seated the projectile of your choice onto the correct powder charge, note
and mark how much of the ramrod protrudes from the muzzle. You
should always be sure that no more of the ramrod protrudes after loading
the rifle -- otherwise, you may have loaded too much powder, multiple
projectiles, or failed to have fully seated the ball onto the powder charge.
Firing a rifle with any of these conditions can result in a wrecked rifle
and injury to the shooter and bystanders. Be safe -- unload your rifle and
start over again if your ramrod protrudes excessively from the muzzle
after loading (See “To Unload”, p. 20)
H.REMOVE THE RAMROD FROM THE BARREL. If you replace it in the
thimble under the barrel, you will not leave it behind.
IF YOU FORGET TO LOAD POWDER
If you have inadvertently loaded a ball without first loading a powder
charge, you must remove the breech plug with the breech plug wrench
and push the ball from the barrel (See “To Unload”, p. 20) before starting
all over again.
15
9
KEEP HAND OFF END
NOTE RAMROD
PROTRUSION WHEN
PROJECTILE IS FULLY
SEATED ON POWDER
10
STARTING PROJECTILEFULLY SEAT PROJECTILE 
						

							4. CAPPING THE
NIPPLE:
Remember that the
safest way to carry
any loaded
muzzleloading rifle
is uncapped. Cap it
only just before you
are immediately
ready to fire. See
“Handling Warning”,
p. 17. 
Be sure you use only #11 percussion caps of good quality and correct size.
With the bolt open, carefully place a #11 cap on to the nipple. An inline
capper, sold commercially, is preferred by some shooters. It is not required,
but is especially helpful if a scope is mounted on the rifle. Do not put oil,
grease, or dirt into the open end of the cap while loading -- misfires could
result. The caps should be completely seated on the nipple without undue
pressure.  Caps should only be tight enough so that they do not fall off the
nipple when the barrel is elevated with the bolt open. (See Fig. 11)
Safety
CAPNIPPLE SAFETY IN
LOAD/UNLOAD
POSITION
11
WARNING:It is dangerous to attempt to use caps which are
too small. Never force a cap on to the nipple. Since caps fire by
percussion, excess force or a blow in seating them can cause the caps to
discharge, firing the gun and forcing hot gas out of the nipple, which can
cause injury.!
16
5. PREPARING TO FIRE:
To normally fire the rifle, the bolt must first be closed after the nipple is
capped. This is done by pushing the bolt handle fully forward, and lowering it.
DO NOT TOUCH THE TRIGGER WHILE OPERATING THE BOLT. KEEP THE
SAFETY IN THE “LOAD-UNLOAD” POSITION WHILE OPERATING THE
BOLT, AND MOVE IT FULLY REARWARD TO THE “SAFE” POSITION AS
SOON AS THE BOLT IS CLOSED. TOUCH THE TRIGGER ONLY WHEN YOU
ARE READY TO FIRE AND HAVE DISENGAGED THE SAFETY WHILE
AIMING AT A TARGET.
6. FIRING:
Once the safety is pushed fully forward to the “fire” position, the RUGER
MODEL 77/50 is now ready to fire. Light pressure on the trigger will cause
the striker to fall forward, striking the percussion cap, and the rifle will fire.
Always be certain that you know where the bullet will strike when you fire the
rifle.
WARNING:  DO NOT TOUCH THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOU ARE
ACTUALLY READY TO FIRE THE RIFLE.
!
Never allow the thumb to touch the cocking piece as it can be pinched when
the striker moves forward during firing.
CAPPING THE NIPPLE 
						

							If this rifle is to be carried loaded, certain
precautions must be observed in the interest of
safety. It is safest to carry any muzzleloader
with no percussion cap on the nipple. The gun
should never be carried with the striker resting
on a percussion cap. Under such
circumstances, a light accidental blow to the
striker can readily cause the gun to discharge.
Never cap the nipple until you are ready to
shoot the rifle. When capping, be sure that the
safety is in the “load-unload” position. After
capping, immediately place the safety in the
full-rearward “safe” position and keep it there
until you are actually aiming at a target or
game. Only when you are immediately going to
shoot should you move the safety fully forward
to the “fire” position.
However, the safety is a mechanical device and
any mechanical device can fail. Never depend
upon this or any other mechanical device to
justify careless handling of any firearm. Keep
the firearm pointed in a safe direction at all
times.
NEVER PUT THE STRIKER
DOWN ON A CAPPED
NIPPLE
When firing any rifle, be sure all persons are a
safe distance to the rear of the shooter. When
fired, all muzzle loaders discharge gas and
particles through the clearance gap between
the striker and the rear of the nipple. These
particles of powder grains and percussion cap
fragments are projected broadly sideways at
high speed and can injure a person who is
standing too close to the rifle. When firing any
muzzle loader, always be certain that nothing
– including either of your hands – is in the
path of the hot gas and particles which are
discharged from the top, front and sides of the
rifle. Small pieces of the percussion cap are
frequently blown away when a percussion arm
fires. Safety glasses mustbe used by shooters
and bystanders when loading and firing any
percussion firearm. Always wear hearing
protection when firing any firearm, in order to
avoid permanent hearing damage.
HOT GASES EXIT
NIPPLE AREA
17
!WARNING–FIRING
!WARNING–HANDLING
SAFETY OFFCAP NOT
VISIBLE
STRIKER
UNCOCKED
CAP IS VISIBLE
SAFETY
ON
STRIKER
COCKED  
						

							Black powder is extremely sensitive and a
powder charge poured down the barrel after
firing a shot can readily be ignited by an
ember of partially burned powder or glowing
patch fragment in the bore. Pushing a
projectile down onto a powder charge can
“fan” an ember into igniting the powder
charge and firing the rifle.
Always wait one minute before reloading. You
should wipe the bore with a cleaning patch
soaked in solvent between shots.
If a cap fires but the powder charge does not,
the powder may be smoldering and could
ignite at any time. Wait at least one minute
before attempting to recap. Remember that
hot gasses can escape from the nipple if the
powder charge ignites when the bolt is open,
and these gasses can burn you. Keep the rifle
pointed in a safe direction at all times.
Keep your head, face, eyes and hands away
from the muzzle while reloading and always
wear eye and hearing protection. Hold the
ramrod around its sides -- never place your
hand over the end of the ramrod so that it
would injure your hand if the powder charge
goes off (propelling the ramrod out) while
reloading.
DON’T LOAD IN A HURRY
18
!WARNING–RELOADING
WARNING: REMEMBER THAT EACH TIME A SHOT IS FIRED,
THE SAFETY SELECTOR IS IN THE “FIRE” POSITION.
WHEN YOU OPEN THE BOLT, MOVE THE SAFETY SELECTOR
TO THE “LOAD-UNLOAD” POSITION BEFORE CLOSING THE ACTION.
ONCE THE ACTION IS CLOSED, MOVE THE SAFETY FULLY BACK TO
THE “SAFE” POSITION.
!
Remember - Neverlower the striker fully down onto a percussion cap or loaded
rifle! See “Handling Warning”, p 17. 
7. RELOADING:
After firing, the striker will remain down. Raise the bolt handle, put the safety
in “load/unload”, and draw the bolt to the rear in a firm, smooth stroke. This
will expose the nipple so you can remove the fired cap fragments. Fragments
clinging to the nipple may be removed with the fingers, and fragments
clinging to the bolt can be dislodged by fully pulling the bolt back smartly
against the bolt stop. To fire subsequent shots, repeat all preceding steps 3 -
6, above. It is not necessary to fire a cap in between shots to clear the nipple,
but you should be sure that the nipple is clear before reloading. A thin wire or
similar tool works well for this. 
						

							Never carry the rifle loaded with the
safety selector in the “FIRE” position.If
dropped or struck with the safety off, the
rifle may fire. Such a discharge can occur
with or without the trigger being directly
struck or touched. Never rest a loaded
rifle against any object (wall, fence,
vehicle, tree, etc.) because there is always
the possibility that the rifle will be jarred
or slide from its position and fall with
sufficient force to discharge. Keep safety
“on” unless actually firing.
Never lower (uncock) the striker onto a
percussion cap of a loaded rifle. Under
such circumstances the striker will be in
direct contact with the percussion cap
and a light accidental blow to the striker
can readily cause the gun to discharge.
If the rifle is dropped, the bullet should
be fully reseated against the powder
charge, or it might act as an obstruction
and cause the barrel to burst upon firing.
When afield, periodically check to see if
your bullet has remained fully seated on
the powder charge by inserting the
ramrod and pushing the projectile fully
downward onto the powder.
ANY GUN MAY FIRE IF
DROPPED
19
DRY-FIRING: Going through the actions of cocking, aiming, and pulling the
trigger of an unloaded
gun is known as “Dry Firing.” The Ruger Model 77/50
should not be dry-fired, as damage to the nipple may occur, which can prevent
the flame from the cap from fitting on the nipple correctly, or can prevent the
cap flame from igniting the powder charge.
!
3
2
1
SAFELOAD-
UNLOADFIRE
WARNING–MISHANDLING
Best results are obtained by cleaning the bore after each shot, before
reloading. Soak a patch in black powder solvent or bore lubricant, place it
over the front end of the ramrod, push it completely into the bore, and pull it
completely out of the muzzle. If it is difficult to remove, push the patch back
down and then up until it can be removed. This “swabbing” after each shot
makes reloading much easier. Never try to reload another projectile if it is
excessively difficult to push down the barrel -- you may not fully seat it on the
powder charge and it may act as a bore obstruction, resulting in a burst
barrel and possible serious injury to the shooter or bystanders. Instead, open
the bolt, pull the projectile out of the muzzle, empty out all powder, and
clean the barrel thoroughly before reloading. 
						

							20
TO UNLOAD
(Keep rifle pointed in a safe direction)
Completely unload the rifle immediately when you are finished shooting (by
removing cap, powder and ball), or fire it into a safe backstop.
It is much easier and safer to fir
e any muzzleloading firearm rather than attempt
to unload it. However, if this is impossible, or if you are uncertain that correct
components have been safely loaded, the rifle should be unloaded in accordance
with the following steps.
1. Be sure the rifle is
pointing in a safe
direction.
2. Carefully place the
safety in the “load-
unload” position. (See
Fig. 12) Keep fingers
away from trigger at all
times during
unloading!
3. Open action
and carefully
remove the
percussion cap
and any cap
fragments or
priming
compound
from the
nipple. (See
Fig. 13)
4. Depress bolt stop and
completely remove the
bolt rearward from the
receiver. (See Fig. 14)
PUT SAFETY IN
LOAD/UNLOAD
POSITION12
Safety
ABOPEN ACTIONREMOVE CAP
SAFETY IN
LOAD/UNLOAD
POSITION
A
B
PRESS 
BOLT  STOP
DOWN
PULL BOLT BACK
OUT OF RECEIVER
13
14
SAFETY IN “LOAD/UNLOAD”
OPEN ACTION - REMOVE CAP
REMOVE BOLT