Why M1A SOCOM/Scout?

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More silly noobness.... :)

Does Springfield do custom work?

I'm thinking the M21 with the Krieger barrel and bedded stock would be nice but with an 18" barrel instead of 22".......

???
 
Bronx said:
So, if you keep all the "Tacticool" stuff off of it and stick with the medium length barrels, =/>18", you got essentially a harder hitting all purpose rifle than an AR-15 type?

That's about the question I'm trying to answer for myself. What stuff would/do you avoid to keep the weight down?
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I'd just keep it simple: sling, light, and probably a close range optic. I really don't see the need for anything else as a personal defense or police patrol rifle unless it's something that you actually use. Just one example that I can think of is full length quad rails with covers. They only make the gun heavier and are useless when nothing is attached to them. I love the rails, but I only have the length that I need on the gun.

In my opinion, adding a bunch of tactical attachments to an AR-15 negates one of the main advantages of the .223, which is less weight. There .308's on the market that are very controlable and there are several .308 loads that are good for urban defense, so I don't think either of those are much of an issue anymore. Those factors seem to be more personal preference than anything else now.

One other reason I could add is the current gun laws of where people live. I live in California, which has some really stupid gun laws (and that's putting it nicely), so my options for a good self defense rifle are more limited than for people in other states. A light, fast handling, accurate, reliable, carbine that's powerful enough to accomplish it's intended purpose is the ideal gun rifle for self defense. A .308 carbine is just that. Also, since I'm limited to 10 round mags I want a caliber that will generally be able to stop the threat with the least shots fired, and the .308 seems to fit that better than the .223. I think it's kind of analagous to having a small capacity pistol. Everything else being equal, would you rather have 7 rounds of 9mm, or 7 rounds of .45? I'd take the .45, and same with the rifle.
 
Just want to bump this.........and ask again, is the M1a ok for a lefty, or do I need to start shooting righty again?

Thx,

Have a Happy Holiday all,

Martin
 
I can't believe I'm the first one to say it:

.308 turns cover into concealment.



Personally I would turn to my AK's if the SHTF but there is nothing wrong with a Socom M1A if that's your fancy. They are just to expensive for the gun and ammo.
I also think it's a different argument regarding the calibers when discussing them for an average citizen who does not have usually have selective fire. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe controllability during rapid fire was also a reason to switch to a smaller caliber.
 
ByAnyMeans said:
Personally I would turn to my AK's if the SHTF but there is nothing wrong with a Socom M1A if that's your fancy. They are just to expensive for the gun and ammo.

I also think it's a different argument regarding the calibers when discussing them for an average citizen who does not have usually have selective fire.


Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe controllability during rapid fire was also a reason to switch to a smaller caliber.
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Well..........I'm not really in "SHTF" frame of mind..It is a consideration that does make it to the equation however.

As a practicality I'd think .308 ammo would be more readily available here than 7.62x39. As far as quality I figure you're paying 2x as much as a decent AK, I'd think from what I've read and heard so far that the M1a is mostly twice the gun. My other rifle is .357 lever.

Your point about rapid fire makes good sense as well. I wonder if they'll come down in price. I can buy now but I think I'll hold my cards until after the holidays.
 
ByAnyMeans said:
I can't believe I'm the first one to say it:

.308 turns cover into concealment...

...Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe controllability during rapid fire was also a reason to switch to a smaller caliber.
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Dang! I forgot that!

You are correct, but the controllability factor is cured with the compensator used on the SOCOM. It actually has about the same felt recoil as the AR. Muzzle rise is in the negative numbers. In a rapid fire string the muzzle of the SOCOM depresses instead of rising. Too bad the same compensator isn't available on the Scout/Squad.

When SA first went into business they built some .243 M1A's. A SOCOM in .243 would be nice, as well as one in .358Win. As it is though, the .308 will have to (and it does) do.
 
If you want a short barreled 308 there are few good reasons to buy a Socom M1a over a Saiga 308 16.5" rifle. My friend bought a 1700 dollar Socom and I bought a 450 dollar Saiga and converted it for another 150. I am not kidding when I say that the converted Saiga will shoot circles around that Socom.
 
I dono if the saiga is THAT much better if at all. I mean its the same round, how much variance can there really be? I have converted two saigas and yes, they will shoot around my WASR10. But the socom is one hell of a platform inherently accurate and reliable. I would LOVE to see pics of side by side targets. Is it possible that you are a better shot then your buddy?

V.
 
Yes its entirely possible that I am a better shot than my friend. The saiga is so much less expensive that you can almost (but not quite) buy two CMP garands with the savings. And the accuracy is the similar.
 
Bronx,

You don't have to do anything to a M1A right out of the box. I know a lot of folks on here want you to spend a bundle on stuff "you have to do" but the gun will shoot just fine for a long time without any modifications. Now if you want to, that is a different story, you don't need to make any changes. SEI seems to be a good source if you want to play with it, but be sure to not fix it until it is broken.

I have had zero issues with my SOCOMII. I took all the extra stuff off, and it has become a great brush gun without all the extra weight. The 16.25 inch barrel gives the 7.62 round more than enough power for any pig I have come across.

Here is how mine is now set up, and it has never let me down. Only thing that is not stock on it is the surplus hand-guard that I needed to cover the barrel after taking off all the rails.

P1250002.jpg
 
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Well put. This is my reason for choosing an M14-style rifle. It's a do-it-all rifle. You can get rifles that are lighter, more accurate, have better iron sights, function more reliably, or are faster and easier to use for CQB-style shooting--but there's nothing that beats the M14 in all those categories at the same time.
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Well stated. I've never understood the collector's mentality, and in all of my hobbies I have always tried to buy the absolute minimum of "stuff" to cover all my bases. A single well-made, well-worn rifle (or fishing pole, or archery set, or traveling hat, etc) says, "I have a story to tell." A huge safe full of seldom-shot guns says, "I spent a lot of money." For this reason the M1A scout squad is the only rifle I've ever really wanted. it does everything I need a rifle to do, and looks great doing it.

Why the scout squad over the standard length rifle? It just feels perfectly balanced to me, where the longer ones are too front-heavy. That's all.
 
Perfect! You guys have educated a not so informed skeptic! M1a is officially on the list as the next purchase.
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The M1A is a great rifle. I just don't have much interest in the SOCOM. The Scout or regular length versions are on my list.:)
 
I like to have a big and better hit than the AR15 with better accuracy than the AK47 in a semi-auto battle reliability format = M1A Scout or Socom
 
Thanks again folks..........

I'm going to see what I can build up in a scout configuration. A nice lightweight Aimpoint red dot sight, and maybe a small rail for a light.

I may consider a foregrip/bipod device as well.
 
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