Samson B-TM 10/22 Review

[ECVMatt]

I will start out by just admitting that I like the A-Team when I was a kid. The action was great, the van was cool, but the Mini's are what made the show for me. As if seeing them on TV wasn't bad enough, I had a neighbor that had one (SS, factory folder) stowed on his sailboat. He would let me shoot if from time to time when were out sailing. It was great and I have always been on the lookout for one!

Well....I have tried to put this off and ignore the ads, but I finally bit on a B-TM stock and sight package from Samson. I have heard nothing but great things about their products and I am pleased to say both the stock and the sights are flawless and work great.

I pulled a neglected SS 10/22 out of the safe and installed everything in just a few minutes. Everything went together without drama and fits perfectly. The sights adjust for windage in the rear and elevation in the front. It comes with a neat little tool to make the adjustments and a set screw and wrench for installing the front sight. The stock is drop in and uses the factory barrel band.

Samson literature tells you that you can't use the factory iron sights with this stock and I found that to be true. I think Tech Sights and XS would work, but the ones from Samson proved simple and accurate.





Here are some groups from 25, 50 and 100 yards. The wind became a bit extreme and you can clearly see it in the 100 yard groups.







Overall I am extremely pleased with the stock and the sights. The stock is actually very comfortable to use. It also surprisingly light. I would not hesitate to throw this into a backpack for a hike.

They are definitely more expensive than some other stock and sighting options but the quality more than makes up for the difference.

 

[marksman13]

Pretty sweet set up. I always loved the look of a Mini-14 in a folding stock.

 

[Speedo66]

You got a nice dark wood one, good looking stock.

Some of their stocks for the Mini's come across with somewhat light colored wood.

I tried a folding Butler Creek model, very nice stock, no longer made.

It did not work well for me as a left handed shooter, and I sold it. Not sure if Samson's Mini folder would work any better for me.

 

[ECVMatt]

I am cross eye dominant, a lefty that shoots rifles from the right. The next time I get out I will use the left side and see how it goes. I get a surprisingly good cheek weld with this stock.

 

[Frulk]

Minis with the factory folder bring a substantial premium. I had one back in the mid 80s and regret selling it.

I wonder how hard it would be and if it’s even possible to take a wood non-folding mini stock (I see them come up for sale locally fairly frequently) and use the Samson as a donor to convert it.

PS: what do you know. I googled Samson out of curiosity and the good folks there already sell a mini compatible folding stock.

 

[Speedo66]

PS: what do you know. I googled Samson out of curiosity and the good folks there already sell a mini compatible folding stock.

Yes, and instead of the B-TM for the 10-22, it's the A-TM model (A-Team) for the Mini.

Ruger supplied the blueprints from the originals, they're also sold on their site. A little pricey, with a 5 month wait on Samson's site. I guess there are a lot of A-Team affectionados out there.

 

[Frulk]

I sent them a question if they thought their stock was compatible with a late model Deerfield in .44 Mag.

 

[ECVMatt]

I sent them a question if they thought their stock was compatible with a late model Deerfield in .44 Mag.

That would be an insane combo! I have always loved the .44 mag Ruger autos.

 

[ECVMatt]

I actually have both stocks. I live in a state where the Mini stock is a no/no so it is currently residing in the state where I want to retire with a good friend. Rimfires are free from some of the more ridiculous restrictions of the center-fire rifles, thus the B-TM.

I did have to wait about 3 months for my A-TM, but the B-TM shipped within a week. I think I bought the 10/22 that is currently wearing the stock for about 85 bucks, so in reality the stock cost about 3-times the price of the gun. I can see why more people might be inclined to pass on the rimfire stock.

Honestly if there wasn't a change in administrations, I probably would have been able to resist. However, it is a childhood dream realized and the quality of the stocks and sights more than substantiate the cost so I have no buyers remorse on either end.

 

[Frulk]

KW from Samson just responded. Talk about customer focused...”Really, we have no idea. We've never tried to fit that rifle into the stock.”

Even if the stock doesn’t perfectly match up I’m guessing they’re already 85-90% percent there.

Would love to have THAT folder on a Ruger semi auto .44mag with the 10 round Mag installed. That’s a lot of horsepower in a flexible package. Sort of like a Desert Eagle carbine if you will.

 

[bannockburn]

Speedo66

I still have my Butler Creek folding stock for my 10/22. I picked it up many years ago at a gun show for about $70; or just a little less than what I originally paid for the Ruger! Well made with a solid lock when it was deployed, the plastic stock section was also a nice tight fit and accuracy wasn't affected when I changed the stocks out.