Ruger 77/50 - Manual (Page 11)

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
DON'T
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.)