A Few SOCOM II Questions

[RangerGreen]

Greetings Everyone. This is my first time posting on this forum, although I have been lurking around for a while just reading and learning. It looks like THR is a a great place to come for information.

I picked up a Springfield SOCOM II today and I had a few questions:

1) Does anyone know how much of an impact the shorter barrel on this rifle has on muzzle velocity?

2) Does anyone know what the maximum effective range for this rifle?

I've done a little searching but all of the information I've found is for the M1A with the full length barrel.

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[Mot45acp]

Ive pushed mine to the 300 yard mark. Not really grouping but blowin paper out the back of the target.

 

[def4pos8]

I own/use both a National Match M1A and a SOCOM 16 (original style). The greatest factor in defining effective range of eany weapon is -- YOU! I've not bothered to chronograph my loads through the SOCOM, but six inches less barrel can't help muzzle velocities. Eventually, I'll shift to s slightly faster powder than W748 to help in that regard but, mostly, I'll just practice more often with the SOCOM. Right now, my personal limit is 200m. Face it, the SOCOM is a really neat CARBINE, not a battle rifle. It's for close work, although, just an opinion, I feel it's better than the M-4 when pressed into a longer shot. Any shooter can make spectacular long shots -- if the shooter works on technique and burns enough practice rounds. It's a neat system --enjoy it!!

 

[MassMark]

Good points so far. With irons, you're looking at target shooting out to 200, (wide blade tends to cover smaller targets). On larger targets, (ie: full-sized silhouettes) - you're GTG at longer ranges. Add optics and things improve nicely. I have a Trijicon Tripower on my front rail and am minute of center mass out to 400-yards, (if I can squint good enough)... Keep her clean and greased and enjoy what you've got - no match gun for sure, but it will surprise you...Congrats!

 

[Mot45acp]

I must ad it was with an EO Tech

 

[Lone_Gunman]

You will lose around 200fps of muzzle velocity compared to the regular M1A barrel.

It will still be faster than 7.62x39, but not all that much.

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

It will still be faster than 7.62x39, but not all that much.

That is why I passed up on one. Better to get the AK and have similar ballistics in a cheaper, lighter, more ergonomic package with higher capacity lower cost magazines.


A huge part of the whole SOCOM thing is the 110gr VMAX. 3,000fps, heavier than a .223 ...However, ballistics tests show that it isn't all that it's cracked up to be. I think the 125 Nosler BT is superior. Better performance than a 5.56 was the idea without too much of a increase in recoil.


I think 16" is too much of a ballistic penalty to pay for the .308 generally speaking. Now, from a purely practical standpoint - it might not matter, since it was designed to engage at close range. And hits count, not wonder bullets or FPS. Badguy won't care either way if it's doing 2,600fps or 2,300fps.


I found the recoil to be too much for a carbine, and I found it to be too heavy and bulky (especially since it is not a pistol grip). I can hit better and faster with an AR (and hits count). Also with an AK. It doesn't do anything better at close range than other choices in my world view. However, if you could prove to me that a particular task/mission required hitting the target with .308, that would be different. The benefit is, the hit or hits you do make are most likely to be one-shot-stoppers. Like the 155 AMAX; it's a serious meat-mangler. No one can deny that a 155 AMAX is going to do more destruction than a 75gr 5.56.


Sorry, didn't mean to threadjack. It's a good tool, just not my flavor.

 

[geekWithA.45]

The rule of thumb that holds for .308, .223, .45acp, and perhaps others is that you lose about 50 fps per inch.

 

[aspade]

It may not be much faster than 7.62x39 at the muzzle, but proper 155-165 grain bullets have only a little over half as much drag as the stubby little 123 grainers.

Take a 123 grain JSP (BC ~0.28) at 2350 and a 165 grain ballistic tip (BC ~0.48) at 2450 at the muzzle. At 300 yards, the 308 is running 400fps faster with more than twice the energy.

 

[glockman19]

RangerGreen, Welcome to THR.

1) Does anyone know how much of an impact the shorter barrel on this rifle has on muzzle velocity? Not Much

2) Does anyone know what the maximum effective range for this rifle? About 300 yards

 

[Click Click Boom]

LOL... It will be moving a lot faster than 7.62x39.....

 

[MassMark]

It's still in the planning stages, but I'm working on some long range ballistic gelatin tests with the 7.62x51, 7.62x39 and the 5.56 - all at 300-yards. The guns that we'll be using are: SOCOM-16, Colt M4-gery and an Arsenal SA-M7s.
I know I can make center mass hits with the SOCOM at that distance, but have yet to try it with the AK and AR. We're not doing it to prove/disprove any theories out there - it's just for fun, but it should be interesting....

 

[iamkris]

That is why I passed up on one. Better to get the AK and have similar ballistics... i

I don't think that is a true statement. See other posts in this thread.