Instruction manual

WARNING –HANDLING

ANY GUN MAY FIRE IF DROPPED

10. When the last cartridge loaded into the pistol has been fired, the magazine

follower presses the slide stop upward to engage the slide automatically

holding the action open. If the slide is shut, the shooter should always

assume that there is a cartridge in the chamber!

Don’t rely on your memory to know if a gun or magazine is loaded. Visually

inspect the magazine and the chamber.

If dropped or struck with the safety

“off,” the pistol may fire. Keep

chamber empty unless actually

firing! Keep safety “on” unless

actually firing!

OPERATION OF MAGAZINE DISCONNECT

Your RUGER

MARK III pistol is equipped with a magazine disconnect. This

device prevents the trigger from being pulled if the magazine is removed from the

pistol. You will not be able to use your pistol as a single loader or to fire the pistol

with the magazine removed.

Remember that a r

ound may still be in the chamber and that the pistol may still be

loaded even if the magazine is removed. As always, you should not rely upon the

magazine disconnect or any other mechanical device or safety to justify careless or

unsafe handling of any firearm.

Don’t rely on your memory to know if a gun or magazine is loaded. Visually inspect

the magazine and the chamber.

OPERATION OF

LOADED CHAMBER INDICATOR

You should always treat every gun as though it is loaded and always keep the

muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Never rely upon any safety or mechanical device

to justify unsafe or careless gun handling. In order to assist you in determining

the presence of a cartridge in the chamber of your RUGER

MARK III pistol,

it is equipped with a loaded chamber indicator, the first such device on a .22 caliber

pistol. The indicator appears on the left side of the receiver. (See “Nomenclature,”

p. 10.)

When the chamber is empty, the loaded chamber indicator should be flush with the

left side of the receiver. (See Figure 5A, p. 18.)