Samson Manufacturing Gives New Life to Ruger’s Mini-14

There is a famous quote from the popular 1980s television series The A-Team that goes: “I love it when a plan comes together.” That quote could be added to the mission statement for Samson Manufacturing. During SHOT Show 2020, Samson announced production of the A-TM stock, which duplicates the design of the factory folding stock Ruger used on the Mini-14. The stock is also compatible with Ruger’s Mini Thirty rifles. The plan was to get Ruger on board, produce duplicate stocks, and sell them. The plan was simple, if a bit random. Sure, the folding Ruger stock was cool, but who would buy one? Who still shoots a Mini-14? Was there really a market for such a product?

Turns out Samson was on the money. Chris Sullivan, marketing manager at Samson, says the stocks have been “wildly popular.” Demand for the A-TM folding stock for the Ruger Mini-14 has been especially high. “Many of our customers like that retro look of the 1980s Mini-14,” he says.

And while the A-TM stock provides that nostalgia, the release of the Hannibal Rail helped push the Mini-14 platform into current times. (By the way, Hannibal was the A-Team’s leader.) “The combination of A-TM stock and Hannibal Rail has made the rifle relevant again,” he says.

The plan started to unfold when Samson and Ruger signed a licensing agreement. Ruger provides Samson with the raw metal castings, Samson machines the finished parts. Initially, Ruger provided the wood stocks, but with Ruger acquiring Marlin, Ruger needed to focus on in-house wood stock production. Samson tapped Benelli for the current wood stocks. The result was customers clamoring for folding Mini-14 stocks and satisfying their thirst for nostalgia and a pseudo AC-556 clone. (The now discontinued AC-556 was Ruger’s select fire Mini-14.) Backorders weren’t part of the plan, but did show Samson was onto something.

The B-TM stock for the Ruger 10/22 was also announced in 2020. Although not as popular as the A-TM stock, the B-TM stock, along with Samson’s additional accessories, have spiked in popularity with shooters. This makes sense, since truckloads of 10/22s are sold each year.

“A lot of other companies are producing 10/22 aftermarket parts because of its popularity,” says Sullivan. “Plus, the 10/22 is a folding-stock rimfire that doesn’t fall under laws that restrict the folding-stock centerfire Mini-14.” A bull barrel version of the 10/22 B-TM stock, announced last year at SHOT, has also been released.

Dealers can tap into their customers who own Mini-14s and 10/22s by stocking Samson folding stocks. It should also give their customers peace of mind that the stock is licensed by Ruger. Distributors include RSR and Sports South. (Samson-mfg.com)