[Newton]

Springfield now offer the M1A with a 16 inch barrel and a muzzle brake, and have christened the result the SOCOM.

Has anyone shot this rifle, if so how did you rate it.

Thoughts, opinions anyone.



Newton

[Patent Works]

16" seems awfully short for a .308. Lost energy, disagreeable muzzle blast and flash.

[shermacman]

Good thing it comes with a muzzle brake! It is going to need it! Although as an entertainment source it is going to look great...nice long tongue of fire, terrific blast!

[AJ Dual]

Is it possible to select powder for the .308 that will maximize velocity in a 16" bbl. without breaking the pressure curve envelope?

[Zak Smith]

AJ Dual,

The only way you could reduce pressure in the 16" relative to a 20" would be for some of the combustion that would have happened between 16-20" to happen outside the barrel. Hello fireball.

It should be possible to minimize muzzle flash and blast with a minimal loss in velocity (vs. a normal 308 load) in the 16, however.

-z

[AJ Dual]

I guess TANSTAAFL applies to everything, even reloading... :)

[Obiwan]

I have a 16inch FAL Carbine ...

The muzzle blast/flash are not bad at all

Since it is a S/A...only the $ scares me!

[Richardson]

The 16" FAL and 16" CETME I've shot have good muzzle brakes, which makes for lots of blast to those nearby. But neither has too much muzzle flash...

Richardson