Ruger 77/50 - Manual (Page 9)

Black Powder is an extremely sensitive
propellant and is readily ignited by heat,
spark, static electricity, friction, pressure,
impact, etc. Unlike smokeless powder,
Black Powder will ignite with great
violence and rapidity even when
unconfined.
Black Powder should be handled only in
very small quantities.
Never pour powder
directly from a flask or powder horn into
any muzzleloading firearm! Never smoke
while handling Black Powder!
Many shooters pre-weigh single charges
into small containers for use on the
range or in the field. Never fire the rifle
near an open powder container, or an
explosion may result.
If you are not familiar with safe handling
procedures for Black Powder and for
muzzleloading firearms in general, you
should obtain one of the authoritative
muzzle loaders’ Manuals and study it
carefully before beginning to shoot.
BLACK POWDER IS
EXPLOSIVE
9
!
WARNING–BLACK POWDER
Never Pour
Powder Directly
From Flask!
PROJECTILES
The RUGER
®
MODEL 77/50 is designed to use a .500” diameter pure lead
round ball or lubricated conical bullet of pure lead, a .490” round ball with a
lubricated .010 - .015” thick cloth patch, or a smaller diameter projectile encased
in a .500” diameter sabot. Bullets of either type can be purchased from your
dealer, ready to use, or can easily be cast at home with a small investment in
equipment. Information on bullet casting is available from the manufacturers of
moulds and casting equipment and from various authoritative handbooks. Your
dealer should be able to provide you with any equipment which you may require.
(See “Lead Exposure” Warning, p. 7)
The Ruger Model 77/50’s rifling twist (1 turn in 28”) is designed for best results
with pre-lubricated soft lead conical projectiles, or jacketed or soft lead bullets
encased in “sabots” (See p. 10). Patched round balls generally do not deliver as
high a level of accuracy with this rifling twist, but may be safely used if correctly
loaded (See p. 14).
The use of non-saboted jacketed or alloy bullets is not recommended as accuracy
is generally not as satisfactory as with the pure lead bullets. They may be difficult
to load and may raise pressures to dangerous levels.
Whatever projectile you select, you must remember that if it is not a tight fit in
the barrel when loaded, it could shift forward off the powder charge and act as a
bore obstruction, causing the barrel to bulge or burst when fired!
It is your