M1A Socom II. talk me out of it.

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TylerS

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Im thinking about pulling the trigger on a new m1a socom 2. This not by any means my first gun but I have never really played with one. Is the $2k price tag really worth it? I want it for the history, to pass down to kids when im dead, and I might shoot a deer with it just to say that I did. Plus they just look cool. Im not rich by any means but I have saved my pennies and want to make sure im not going to regret it.
 
You're on the wrong forum to be dissuaded against buying a nice gun. Just letting you know :). The price is a tad high IMHO but in these uncertain times it may be the market price.
 
Like stated above, you'll be hard pressed to be talked out of a gun, especially a M1A. Although I don't have a Socom, I do have a standard, run of the mill M1A, that I really enjoy shooting...Sorry, can't talk you out of it, other than that is a little high on money...$1500-$1700 is pretty common...pre craze...but I guess by the time tax is figured in 2K ain't to far off.
 
Now might not be the time. A good one will cost close to $2k. Almost nobody has magazines or ammo for it. Good ammo may run $1.50 a pop, and the mags are often at least $80. Wait... I'm thinking of AR-15s, never mind. :neener:
 
Talk you out of it?

- IT's UGLY

-Too short (more muzzle blast, decreased sight radius, decreased velocity)

-IT'S UGLY

-ill-balanced

-IT's UGLY

I've handled and fired the SOCOM, and a far better alternative (if you MUST have something shorter) is the Scout/Squad M1A , with 18" barrel. Personally I prefer the standard-length rifle.

Magazines for all semi-auto rifles are pricey right now. www.44mag.com still has Checkmate Industries' 10-rounders in stock at $35 each. However, that SOCOM is UGLY (life's too short to mess with UGLY rifles!).


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Do I recall that version of the rifle not being as reliable as the standard version due to the shorter barrel or gas system?
 
I have a SOCOM. Love it. Took a nice 8-point whitetail 2 yrs ago with it.

I can't help you decide NOT to go for it.
 
Obnoxiously loud. If you actually need to use it for what the M14 was designed, it will quickly become painfull both in noise and recoil.
 
Love my SOCOM. I think you should send me the $2,000 as a birthday gift, and we'll call it good. I'll buy a short, ugly, ill-balanced SOCOM II for myself and save you having to suffer the fate that others have detailed, because I'm a good friend. :D

Geno
 
i don't think they're ugly. i think the M1A series is actually really cool looking. especially with dark stained wood.

but ime, the controls suck (ergonomically), they are heavy, slow, and still have a lot of recoil, and the 16" barreled ones are quite loud. the funky gas system means you can't swap out muzzle devices without some additional futzing. the sights are irritating. and worst of all, they are not particularly accurate unless you do a lot of work to them.
 
I like the SOCOM. I dislike the SOCOM II. The tri-rail front makes the SOCOM II really heavy. If you want a short and handy M1A, I would personally go with the SOCOM over the SOCOM II. Of course any M1A can be hard to find these days so you could get the SOCOM II and just swap out the front stock and heatshield on it.
 
The Socom 16 in a wood stock or a LRB tanker would be my choices for a short M14. I question the usefulness of a short M14 (you're not going to use .308 for CQB) but they are really cool.

dsc_3761.jpg

831_M14SA_Boyds_Walnut.JPG
 
The $2000 was after tax, after taking a look and taking in your suggestions, I realize that I'm going to have to wait until I can get one at a reasonable price. What were the Socom 16 going for before all the madness?
 
I have a standard M1A and a SOCOM 16. I like both of them a lot, don't plan on ever selling either of them. The SOCOM goes to work with me every shift. The 16 inch barrel makes it a great fit in my vehicle rack w/ the 870. It is fine out to 200 yards for my purposes, and the 7.62x51 turns cover into concealment. I'd say go for it :D.
 
The problem with the currently available M-14 pattern rifles is that the USGI parts have all but dried up. And some parts, like extractors, just don't hold up when made from MIM instead of being forged.

For my money, in a .308 rifle, the only option is the SCAR17. Modern fully ambidextrous design, designed to mount optics, and fully free floated barrel. Plus the stock is full adjustable for length and comb, besides folding for compact storage.

BSW
 
Nothing wrong with the SOCOM, though I don't care for the IIs rails. I'd put the Smith gas plug in. The M14 series and it's clones have excellent irons, but were designed at a time when optics were not found on military rifles. Mounting optics can be problematic, but since the SOCOM is really a short range rifle, irons or a forward mounted dot sight are all you need.

There are plenty of good parts available from SEI if you want to replace the factory stuff. I have several SA M1a that are years old with nary a problem. You can used modified GI Garand extractors, or BM59 extractors if you are worried about the SA ones. They can be had for less than $20. Original GI are going for about double that.

http://www.treelinem14.com/
 
I just looked at the scar17, yeah, not even CLOSE to my budget. For that kind of money I could get a pre ban M16. Okay not really but jeez those are expensive.
 
Equivalent to a dump truck in weight with that monstrosity of a rail.

About as loud as one too.

Not my preferred M1A variant, but there's no BAD M1A variant.
 
I just looked at the scar17, yeah, not even CLOSE to my budget. For that kind of money I could get a pre ban M16. Okay not really but jeez those are expensive.

I hope you've priced .308 ammo. 1 case will be more than the difference between $2000 and the pre-panic price of a SCAR.

BSW
 
I was looking for a SOCOM or a Scout, and ended up finding a used LRB M14SA priced a bit higher. Wanted to mount a scope over the receiver too, so it worked out well.
 

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