Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle Instruction Manual

							INSTRUCTION
MANUAL
FOR
RUGER®
MINI-14®RANCH RIFLE
AUTOLOADING RIFLE
This manual applies only to Mini-14 “Ranch Rifles”
so marked on the receiver.
NOT FOR USE WITH MINI THIRTY RIFLES (cal. 7.62 x 39mm)
For Product Service on This Model Please Call:
(603) 865-2442 (See p. 34)
STURM, RUGER & Company, Inc.
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.
KMS3 & MS1/4-02 R9
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND
WARNINGS IN THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY
BEFORE USING THIS FIREARM
!
BLUED &
STAINLESS
STEELCALIBER
.223 Rem (5.56mm)  
						

							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 
						

							6
This firearm was originally sold
with a key-operated locking
device. While it can help provide
secure storage for your unloaded
firearm, any locking device can
fail. All guns are designed to fire
if they are loaded and the trigger
is pulled. Therefore, never install
the locking device inside the
trigger guard or in any way that it
can possibly pull the trigger!Do
not leave the keys in the lock.
The ultimate responsibility for
secure storage of any firearm
must depend upon its owner and
his or her individual
circumstances. Guns should be
securely stored unloaded, in a
secure location, separate from
their ammunition.
See “Storage Warning”, page 30.
NEVER INSTALL
LOCKING DEVICE
INSIDE TRIGGER GUARD
!WARNING – LOCKING DEVICES
DO NOT INSTALL
INSIDE TRIGGER GUARD
INSTALL LOCK
AS SHOWN HERE 
						

							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®MINI-14®RANCH RIFLEproperly. 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 Road, 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
General Information  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Operation of Safety  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
The Bolt Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Ammunition  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Magazines  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
To Load and Fire (With Magazine)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
To Load and Fire (Without Magazine)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
To Unload  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
To Reload the Rifle  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
To Extract and Eject a Chambered Cartridge  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
To Remove a Bore Obstruction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
To Clear a Malfunction (“Jam”)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
To Minimize Malfunctions (“Jams”)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Disassembly  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Reassembly  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Removal and Replacement of Fiberglass Handguard  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Magazine Inspection and Care  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Care and Cleaning  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Storage  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Maintenance of Stainless Steel Rifles  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Attaching Ruger Scope Rings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Sight Adjustment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Service and Parts Policy  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Parts Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
The Basic Rules of Safe Firearms Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
“RUGER” and “Mini-14”, are registered U.S. trademarks.
7 
						

							!
8
!
FIREARMS ARE DANGEROUS WEAPONS –
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS
IN THIS MANUAL THOROUGHLY AND
CAREFULLY BEFORE USING.
GENERAL INFORMATION
AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The RUGER®MINI-14®RANCH RIFLEis a gas operated, box magazine
fed, autoloading rifle. It is simple, reliable, and consists of a relatively few rugged
components. The mechanism employs the Ruger fixed piston/moving cylinder
gas system in conjunction with a simplified Garand-type rotating bolt. The
Mini-14 Ranch Rifle can be field stripped for cleaning to its basic subassemblies
in seconds without the use of tools.
Music wire coil springs are used throughout the mechanism. The safety, located
in front of the trigger guard, blocks both the hammer and sear and permits the
slide to be cycled with the safety “ON”. A bolt lock mechanism is provided for
convenience in holding the bolt open for loading and inspection. The firing pin is
retracted mechanically as the bolt starts to unlock and the rifle will fire only
when the bolt is locked. The one-piece American hardwood stock is reinforced
with steel liners in stressed and high temperature areas. The “All-Weather”
model features a synthetic stock and stainless steel construction.
The Mini-14 Ranch Rifle incorporates a unique patented buffer system which re-
directs and effectively absorbs the shock of the slide block striking the 
WARNINGS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE ARE
FOUND ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES:
Locking Devices 6 Unloading 16
Alterations 8 Bore Obstructions 19
Manual Safety 10 Malfunctions 22
Ammunition 11 Disassembly 23
Lead Exposure 12 Lubrication 29
Firing 14 Storage 30
Handling 15 Parts Purchasers 35
Sustained Firing 16
OTHER CAUTIONS AND WARNINGS APPEAR
THROUGHOUT THE MANUAL.
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 
						

							9
Figure 1. In this illustration the frequently used operating components are identified. Note
that the safety is rearward in the trigger guard and is therefore in its “ON” (safe) position.
receiver in recoil. The bolt has been redesigned and the previous Mini-14 spring-
loaded ejector has been eliminated. The bolt stop has been modified to fit in a
slot in the side of the bolt, and it also serves as the ejector so that the empty
cartridges are ejected from the receiver straight out to the side in order to clear
the lowest mounted scope.
The patented Ruger integral scope mounts take all standard Ruger scope rings of
various heights. A standard Mini-14 front sight is used, with a tip-up type folding
rear peep sight, adjustable for windage and elevation.
OPERATION OF SAFETY
The manual safety mechanism is located forward of the trigger for convenient
operation and is “ON” when in its fully rearward position intruding into the
trigger guard. (See Fig. 2) The safety can be moved to “ON” (extreme rearward
position) only when the hammer is cocked. When the safety is “ON”, it blocks
both the hammer and sear. The safety should always be placed “ON” before
loading or unloading the rifle and should be kept “ON” at all times except when
actually firing.
Figure 2. 
SAFETY “ON”SAFETY “OFF”(Ready to Fire)
BOLT LOCK
PLUNGER
HANDGUARD
SLIDE HANDLE
MAGAZINE LATCH
REAR SIGHT
SAFETY SHOWN “ON”
RECEIVER
EXTRACTOR
SCOPE MOUNT  BASES
TRIGGER
NOMENCLATURE 
						

							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
!WARNING – MANUAL SAFETY
Safety in ON Position
10
THE BOLT LOCK
The Mini-14 Ranch Rifle is designed so that the bolt remains open after the last
shot has been fired, provided there is a magazine in the rifle. When the magazine
is empty, the magazine follower actuates the bolt lock which is designed to retain
the bolt and slide in their rearward position.
WARNING: The bolt lock is nota safety device. It should not be used to hold the
bolt back when there are cartridges in the magazine. A slight jar to the butt end
of the rifle will cause the bolt lock to disengage and to feed a cartridge into the
chamber.
The bolt lock should be relied on only to hold the bolt in its rearward position
when the chamber is empty and an empty magazine is in place. The only purpose
of the bolt lock is for convenience in the rapid changing of magazines and for
holding the bolt in its rearward position when the rifle is unloaded for the
purpose of cleaning or inspection.
OPERATION OF BOLT LOCK
To manually engage the bolt lock to keep
the bolt open:(See Figure 3)
1. Pull the slide handle all the way to
the rear.
2. Depress the bolt lock plunger  and
allow the slide to move forward
until it stops.
3. Put safety “ON” (push fully
rearward).
1
3
2
Figure 3 
						

							11
!WARNING–AMMUNITION
AMMUNITION (CARTRIDGES) NOTICE
WE SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE
OR INJURY WHATSOEVER OCCURRING IN CONNECTION WITH, OR
AS THE RESULT OF, THE USE IN 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.
AMMUNITION
The RUGER®MINI-14®RANCH RIFLESare chambered for the .223
Remington (5.56mm) cartridge. The Ranch Rifle is designed to use either
standardiz U.S. military or factory loaded sporting .223 (5.56mm) cartridges
manufactured in accordance with U.S. industry practice. See “Ammunition
Notice” & “Ammunition Warning”, below.
To release the slide (which allows the
bolt to go forward) keep safety “ON
” and
either: 
1. Remove the magazine, draw the
slide handle to the rear and
release, or;
2. With an empty magazine in place,
draw the slide handle fully to the
rear and hold it there. Then, while
holding the slide handle, depress
the magazine follower slightly with
the thumb, r
emove the thumb, and
then allow the slide to go forward. (See Figure 4) 
CAUTION: Slide is under heavy spring tension and can injure fingers when it
slams shut.
13
2
Safety
 ON
Figure 4
Closing The Bolt
Death, serious injury, and damage
can result from the use of wrong
ammunition, bore obstructions,
powder overloads, or incorrect
cartridge components. Even the
strongest gun can be “blown up” as
a result of excess pressure.Always
wear shooting glasses and hearing
protectors.
IMPROPER AMMUNITION
DESTROYS GUNS