I took my Ruger Mini-30 out of storage and I can't pull the bolt to the rear - it's frozen in battery.

Is there a recommended way of "un-freezing" it?
I was thinking of spraying WD-40 in and around the bolt, then pounding the charging handle with a rubber mallet.

Hunter308

I have heard of this many times. It is probably not the bolt, but the gas pipe is corroded to the opt. rod. Set the butt end on the floor and smack the bolt handle with a wooden or rubber mallet. Should knock it loose.

Hello,
Pretty much common practice with the M1Garand, M14 w/ frozen bolt is to put your no. 10 or 11 boot on the op rod handle and kick it open. Very wet, cold, nasty weather will cause them to freeze up at times and normal way of unfreezing. Won't hurt it and as mentioned the reason is probably what some call cold welding of the op rod cavity to the gas nozzle on the gas block. You may well be able to knock it open with a rubber/leather mallet, but if you don't have mallet, kick the crap out of it!! It will give up and start working for you!!

Kicking it would be easier since you'll have better leverage. Just make sure it's unloaded.

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I traded my mini 30 in on a winchester 25-35 about 2.5 years ago. don't miss the mini one bit.