Quoted:

Sure, the repro of the original Ruger folder has an attraction/cool factor for some.  I get it.  And I wish the Samson people all success.

That said, I long ago gave up the childish desire to impress people (including myself, which was harder) with "cool" gear.  Doing so is/was a never-ending chase after the un-attainable, and a pointless goal.

I have become far more concerned with gear that is fully functional as my (possibly flawed) experiences inform me.  I have become far less concerned with gear that somehow impresses others with no concomitant performance increase.

My dislike of the Ruger folder is based on a number of verifiable points, as attested-to by other posters familiar with the OEM folders.  I've tried out a number of them; some virtually brand-new, and others clapped-out.  The degeneration is easy to see, and predictable.

Perhaps the Samson item will be so-made as to address the flaws in the original item.  I certainly hope the wooden stock is cut so as to be tighter-fitting than the OEM Ruger wooden stock.  Their choosing a Walnut stock vice the OEM Birch stock is not encouraging.  Birch wood is about 10% denser than walnut, and less likely to splitting.  I would have preferred a tight-fitting syn stock; Perhaps that will be available later.

Nevertheless, the basic design of the Ruger folder is overly complicated, with too many joints, all of which will wear during use, and such wear will induce noise (rattle) and inaccuracy.   None of which are desirable.

There were many folding stocks for the Mini, in the past.  Most of which are very scarce nowadays.  Probably for very good reason; Many of them were very flawed designs.  Most of them were junk, period.  

At this point, if one wants a side folder Mini stock, and what with the demise of the Butler Creek version, perhaps the Choate side-folder is, IMHO, the optimal choice.  Very much a second-best to the BC version, but at least it is still offered, to Choate's credit.

I am sorry to have ruffled some feathers, but I think it possibly useful to others to speak my mind, having some experience in these things, over the decades.

My fear is that such modern folders will provide yet another generation of users to complain about their Mini's "inaccuracy", once the folders become worn.

How you spend your money is your business.  That said, I think it perhaps useful for some people, perhaps experienced people, to state their experiences.

As for me, sliding the Mini into a tight-fitting syn stock is certainly a positive advancement.

YMMV.



 

Originally Posted By greyeyezz:
I must have inadvertently bumped the buttplate down thats why the stock flew open.

For those who have refinished does the poly have to be stripped off? Would just sanding down with 000 SW work?

Quoted:


I like the idea of a 10/22 SBR with a side folder - Tell us more about your plans - Anything retro-ish in mind for iron sights? or just using a short threaded barrel

Quoted:

That "Barrel Extension" is a Choate "M-14-style" Flash suppressor.  It is doubly evil, because not only does it suppress flash, but also has the dreaded bayonet lug.  It should accept an M-16 bayonet.  The Accu-Strut prohibits attachment of a bayonet lug attachment point on my pencil barrel, so I used the Choate Mini-14 flash hider, which does the same flash suppression, but is shorter.  Both have the same, much-improved front sight.

The M-14-style (with bayo lug) is no longer produced.  There being some who find it desirable, they will pay a premium for it.

Originally Posted By FightingHellfish:


It comes from the factory with hex-head screws.  Some guys replace the hex heads with slotted screws to match the original stock hardware.

Replacing hex head screws with phillips head for your described reason would be ridiculous.

Quoted:

I am sure you are right, and replacing the OEM-supplied screws with slotted-head screws, as some have done, is an improvement.  Notice that the supplied hex-head screws would also serve to prevent damage to the wooden stock, much like Phillips head screws.  Please forgive my previous, ill-informed comments.

Quoted:
How are you guys modifying the rear sight on the newer guns (580 series) to resemble the older style receivers?  Also, is there a good way to make the barrel thinner too? I'm just using sand paper to thin mine out right now, but it will get there. A benefit of using sand paper on the barrel is that it converts the blued barrel to stainless so it will match the stock. I just need to figure out a way to make the rear sight look more original. Once I'm done with that, I'll address the screw slots.

Quoted:

Perhaps a fair-minded person could have interpreted some of my previous comments in this thread as being caused by my having negative opinions concerning this new repro Samson stock.  That would be understandable, but also mistaken.  I wish the buyers and the mfr all possible success.

As for changing-out the screws, I've done some things like that myself, so I have no reason to criticize another person for doing so.   I would not change the screws on a genuine collector's item. However, in this instance, I would have used Phillips head screws, instead of the more "appropriate" slot-headed screws.  The reason for this is that one's screwdriver is far less likely to slip out of a Phillips-headed screw, and so mar the wood.  Usually easy to replace a buggered screw, but a little more difficult to fix the wood.   I suggest using Stainless Steel Phillips head screws, using Loc-tite, and painting the heads of the screws black, if necessary.

So, all the above said, I suggest replacing the provided, slot-head screws with the appropriate Phillips head screws.  If selling-off the item, include the OEM screws, and explain to the purchaser why they were changed.  Since the wood will likely not be damaged around the inletted screw holes, they will probably thank you for your style of screwing.

YMMV.