Samson Manufacturing makes parts and accessories for various firearm platforms, including the AR-15, Heckler & Koch, Kalashnikovs, and a few others. Among the products that they make are free-floating handguards, mounts for optics and magnifiers, various rifle sights, vertical grips, accessory rails, scope bases, compensators, magazine extensions, magazine wells, and more.
Most people are familiar with their A-TM Folding Stock for the Ruger Mini-14, which was made wildly popular by the television series “The A-Team.” Today, however, we will review one of their more popular items: the B-TM Folding Stock for the Ruger 10/22. Let’s dive in.
Forgive me; I’m like a kid at Christmas time, so I’m going to throw out a spoiler right here and now. This stock is cooler than the other side of the pillow! It blows my skirt up and trips my trigger all at the same time! Okay, deep breaths as I calm down. On with the review.
The 10/22: An Icon
Since it was introduced in 1964, Ruger has produced more than seven million 10/22 rifles. Seven million. And it doesn’t appear to be slowing down at all, given its massive popularity.
Why is it so popular? Well, it’s reliable, which endeared it to many people in an age where semi-auto .22LR rifles weren’t really known for their reliability. It’s light, weighing in around 4.5 or so pounds, depending upon its configuration. Another factor is the many configurations it has been offered in, including heavy barrel target models, compact models with a 16-inch barrel, stainless models, takedown models, various stock materials, and a plethora of other choices. If my memory serves me correctly, there are close to 30 different variations available.
Most standard models have an 18-inch barrel, so they’re light and handy. There’s an entire cottage industry of aftermarket add-ons that can be bought for the 10/22, including triggers, stocks, scope mounts, and just about anything else that you can fathom.
10/22 magazines are available in 10, 15, 25, and 50 rounds. If the other mags don’t do it for you, there’s also a 110-round drum available. Ruger factory magazines are inexpensive and extremely durable. Further, the price of most 10/22 rifles is normally under $300 in most gun shops, so it’s an economical rifle to top off all of the other attributes. The 10/22 is excellent for small game hunting and survival and can even fill the bill for self-defense in a pinch. And, for plinking away an afternoon on the range, it’s tough to beat.
The B-TM Stock
You likely didn’t tune in to hear about the 10/22, though. You want the intel dump on the stock and whether it’s worth your hard-earned dollars. I have an A-TM stock for my Mini-14, so I had a good idea of what to expect in terms of quality and construction. Keep in mind that Ruger has licensed Samson Manufacturing to produce the stocks for the Mini-14, and they are made to exact factory specifications.
The B-TM Folding Stock for the 10/22 is a smaller version of the A-TM stock for the Mini-14. It is made of an attractive dark-stained walnut. The steel portion of the stock is constructed from black oxide or stainless steel. For this particular 10/22 stock, I opted for the black oxide since my rifle wears a black finish. The pistol grip is made from polymer, is very sturdy and comfortable to use, and includes checkering to help prevent the hand from slipping.
The main arm of the stock is constructed from tubular steel, and the folding butt plate is also steel. Overall, it combines to give the stock a solid feel that inspires confidence. The stock weighs just under 2.25 pounds.
Installation
Installing the stock on your rifle is very quick and easy. Start by removing your rifle from the original stock by removing the barrel band and main screw from underneath the rifle’s action. Remove the rifle’s action from the old stock. Make sure to place the safety in the middle position (not on or off).
Drop the 10/22 action into the top of the Samson B-TM stock. Screw the main screw back in and attach the barrel band. Samson sent me a replacement barrel band that has an opening that allows for a quick-detachable sling swivel to be installed.
All told, this entire process took a couple of minutes and was simple enough, even with my limited mechanical abilities. In short, it was stupid simple. And that was really about it as far as the main stock installation is concerned.
Other Additions
Aside from the barrel band, Samson also sent me a few other goodies. One is a rear Swivel Stud QD Adapter to add to the rear of the stock, which will allow a QD stud to be attached to the sling. It’s a nice addition that makes putting on a sling easier and faster. They also included a heat shield that covers the exposed barrel up to the sling swivel. It resembles the one used on the Mini-14.
Sights
Samson told me, and I’ve read numerous other sources, that the standard Ruger factory sights won’t work with the B-TM stock. So Samson included their front and rear sight package. They sit higher than the factory sights, and there are claims that these sights allow shooters to obtain a better cheek weld on the rifle.
The new rear sight features an aperture, along with a section of Picatinny rail in the event you want to mount a scope or red dot sight. The rear sight is also easily adjustable for windage. The winged front sight has an adjustable post so you can raise or lower the impact of the rounds.
The original front sight has to be tapped out of the dovetail to install the Samson front sight, and the factory rear sight would also have to be drifted out of the dovetail. For now, though, I’m holding off on installing the replacement sights for fear of lousing it up. I might take the whole setup to my local gunsmith and ask him if he’ll do the deed.
To be completely honest, I can use this stock with the factory sights in place very easily. People make it out as though you can’t do it, but you really can. Yes, you have to get your head low, but the stock will comfortably allow it. Sure, if the sights were slightly higher it would make it a little easier, but I had no difficulty in using the factory sights with the B-TM stock. I may just decide to leave the factory sights in place. If it ain’t broken, I rarely fix it.
How Does The Stock Function And Feel?
Samson’s 10/22 folding stock feels solid when the rifle is shouldered. I’ve been using the A-TM stock on my Mini-14 for a couple of months now, and it’s still locking up solidly; it hasn’t loosened up. These stocks seem to hold up over the long haul.
To fold the stock, there’s a small tab on the right/rear of the stock where the receiver is. Push it up to fold the stock over. When the stock meets a tab that’s midway down the forend, the butt plate can be collapsed by pushing a lever, and when it folds, it captures the tab and holds the whole affair in place, folded.
To deploy the stock, just pull down on the butt plate until it locks, then swing the arm out until it locks, and you’re done. It takes about two seconds to deploy.
Final Thoughts
Samson really has a great stock here. It’s sturdy and resilient, as well as easy to install and operate. When folded, it makes the rifle very easy to store in an automobile, small plane, boat, or other conveyance. It seems to add to the versatility of the already useful 10/22 rifle. The pistol grip helps to make the rifle easier to control.
As far as the cool factor goes, this one is off the charts for looks. If you have a 10/22 and want it to resemble the A-Team’s Mini-14s, this is absolutely the way to go. You can even get a flash hider that slips over the end of the barrel to put the finishing touches on the look. At the time of writing, the stock retails for $284.99. Definitely check one of these out!
