16" .308/ 7.62x51

[God Guns American Cars]

With the help of the good people of this forum, I am currently piecing together a nice AR-15. This gun has gotten the dice rolling for me so to speak, and I really really want a .308 (M1A?) to go with it. There are many excellent choices out there, truly. I don't want an AR-10, though, I don't want a .308 AR at all. And there is a catch... It has to be short, like 16" short. The SA M1A Socom fits the bill perfectly, but I've read about the over use of cast parts on this rifle, that it will only last a fraction of the lifespan of a USGI M14. I've also read the gas system is reworked to accommodate a shorter barrel, the bolts in them are under a lot of pressure from the short gas system and break... etc. How many rounds would the typical SOCOM last? What would a guy have to do to significantly increase that number? More importantly, is there a better option out there for a high-cap .308 semi auto rifle with a ~16 inch barrel?

 

[Uhlan]

By compromising 2" and getting a scout, you now have the ability to use the GI gas system parts AND you gain velocity and loose noise, flash and all the other issues of GI ball in a shorter bbl. IF you could afford crates of TAP 110 VMAX(what the socomwas designed for inititialy) then by all means the SOCOM is your toy. Shoot a standard, scout and socom side by side and besides the CDIF(chixcks dig it factor) and you'll probably end up w/ the Scout. 2c.

 

[TheGewehrGuy]

If you have enough money to invest in an M1A, you probably have enough for a KELTEC- RFB, they are .308 bullpups that take 20 round FAL mags.

They have a 18" barrel, but they are also a bullpup so they are much shorter.

Honestly I would go with the M1A, but this is an option.

 

[Roughneck08]

SAI Scout

The scout has been very handy and light for me so far. By far my favorite gun. I am going to purchase and Leupold Scout scope for it in June.

 

[God Guns American Cars]

I really like the Socom. But the Scout might be my choice I suppose. Does anyone know what I'd do to make a Socom dead nuts reliable? USGI/forged op rod? What about the bolt? Trigger? The gas system is different, but is there any upgrade for that?

 

[Roughneck08]

I don't have any experience with the SOCOM but the main thing I would install is a USGI extractor.

 

[ny32182]

The 16" FAL works with the standard gas system.

 

[God Guns American Cars]

Thanks for the info/advice