Ruger MINI-14 - Manual (Page 17)

TO RELOAD THE RIFLE
1. Firing all cartridges in the magazine and the chamber will cause the bolt to
automatically lock open. Keep the rifle pointed in a safe direction. Put the
safety “ON”. Reloading can be accomplished by pressing forward on the
magazine latch with the thumb or forefinger. The magazine will fall free of the
rifle of its own weight. To avoid the possibility of damage to the magazine, do
not let it fall to the ground unless rapid reloading is absolutely necessary.
2. Insert a loaded magazine. WARNING: The bolt stop is held in place by a spring
detent. Therefore, when there is a loaded magazine in place and the rifle is
jarred, the bolt can fly forward and chamber a cartridge.
3. Release the bolt to move forward by pulling the slide handle fully to the rear
and release the slide. A cartridge will be chambered when the bolt shuts.
WARNING: The rifle is ready for instant use once the bolt moves forward. If
the rifle is not to be fired immediately, keep the safety “ON”. When you are
ready to fire immediately, take the safety “OFF” and resume firing, putting the
safety back “ON” whenever you cease firing, even for a moment.
TO EXTRACT AND
EJECT A CHAMBERED CARTRIDGE
When the rifle is fired, the same gas pressure that drives the bullet forward acts
through the gas port to push the slide and bolt to the rear. This action causes
extraction and ejection of the fired cartridge case. If a cartridge fails to fire or if
the shooter wishes to eject the chambered cartridge manually, follow the
procedure “To Unload” step 3, p. 17. When the slide handle is operated 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 slide handle
not being pulled rearward vigorously. From the foregoing, it is clear that the gun
user must:
1. Always visually check the chamber and the breech-face after opening the slide
to eject a chambered cartridge
. If the slide is not vigorously retracted, the
extracted cartridge can be “ejected” into the magazine area or remain held to
the breech-face by the extractor.
2. Thoroughly clean the chamber and the extractor as often as necessary.
If an empty magazine is in the rifle when the slide handle is being retracted to
extract a cartridge, the cartridge may drop on top of the magazine or remain
held to the breech-face by the extractor. Then, when the slide goes forward, the
cartridge will be chambered again!
REMEMBER -- always remove the magazine
before clearing the chamber, and visually check to ensure that no cartridges
remain in the gun.
TO REMOVE A BORE OBSTRUCTION
Rifles like the Mini-14 Rifle which are chambered for small caliber, high velocity
cartridges, are particularly susceptible to damage from firing when the bore is
obstructed. Excess oil, grease, water, or raindrops may form an obstruction
which could cause damage and injury. If you suspect that your rifle may have
excess oil, grease or cosmoline in the barrel, or if it may have been exposed to
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