Made my decision today!
I hit the local fun show (Crossroads of the West, Phoenix AZ) and quickly found four different 10/22 folding stocks. (Url is there for a pic if anyone is unfamiliar with the brand.)
1. Butler Creek
www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=229710292. Ram-Line
www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/0200/265.htm3. Choate
www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=227631184. Odd underfolder of an unknown manufacture (Note: It looks sort of like this Universal M1 folder except smaller for the 10/22 and it had a front wood vertical foregrip.)
www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/2400/2454.htmDidn't find the stock I really wanted to see-- an original Feather Industries Falcon Folder. Oh, well-- considering they went out of business in 1987...
First I checked the underfolder-- when folded, you touch the metal buttplate. I'm in AZ- this can be an "unique environment" for firearms. Metal left in the sun for 15-20 min heats up dramatically in the summer when it's 105+ out-- enough that you'll hear the hiss of water boiling away if you squirt the metal with a squirt bottle! Thus, underfolders HURT. In addition, the wire folding part was FLIMSY. I continued walking.
I didn't like the Ramline- it was solid, but just wasn't comfortable for me. Back to the aisles.
The Butler Creek was a good looking stock. It was light, had checkering, and didn't look like it'd break easily. Price wasn't all that bad either. Made a mental note of the least expensive NIW one ($65) and continued onward.
...then I handled the Choate. I found the only Choate 10/22 folder at the entire show (this was a four room show- relatively big) and it was STAINLESS AND NEW. The arm locked SOLIDLY open and SOLIDLY closed-- no wobbling whatsoever. Now, the Butler Creek doesn't wobble much at all-- but I found Butler Creek to Choate was like going from a standard CAR stock to a Magpul collapsable. The cheek weld area was solid polymer versus metal tubing-- see above for a discussion of why this is important down here. I also liked the buttpad better. On the negative side, the Choate is heavier than the other three stocks (maybe only a few ounces more than the Butler Creek) and was the most expensive of the lot at $110.00.
In the end, the Choate came home with me. Your advice was on target-- the Butler Creek is definitely a fine stock and would have done fine for me. Saving $45.00 wouldn't have hurt either.
But in the end, I preferred the Choate for the reasons listed above.
If you're ever in AZ or I'll be in your neck of the woods, let's compare folders!
Mike