Any thoughts on the M1A Socom 16?

[Kacerdias]

I've fancied getting one but I wanted to see if there were any current owners who had pros and cons. What do you think of this rifle and would you get something different instead?

http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?version=35

 

[ArmedBear]

Thoughts?

"I like it."
"But why is that little thing so damn heavy?"
"Why is it more expensive than the Scout Squad?"
"Well, it's lighter and cheaper than the SOCOM II."
"I could buy 4 .308 Saigas for that money!"
"If it were under a grand, even $999, I'd get one."

 

[glockman19]

I'd get the M1A loaded full size. actually a little lighter and better long range accuracy. I dressed my M1A up to look every bit as intimidating as any AR or SOCOM....and it's much more accurate.

 

[MassMark]

I love my SOCOM-16. It was my first M1A and won't be my last. I have nothing negative to say about the rifle whatsoever. 7,000 rounds downtown without a hitch. Mags are cheap, ammo is not and the gun runs like a top. After owning many rifles in various configurations through the years, my M1A SOCOM has a permanent spot in the front of my safe. Loving it came with accepting exactly what kind of rifle it is and is not. It's a weapon designed for close quarters, (0-200 yards) and the Trijicon front blade and wide rear aperature will make that very apparent. This is not a target rifle - designed for tight groups at 1,000-yards. It's a rifle designed to hit people - period. However, with a Trijicon Tripower perched on the front rail - range is effectively doubled. Add true optics and you have a weapon that is compact and effective at extended ranges.

My next rifle will be a Scout, (which I plan to sink into a Troy MCS) and after that - a Loaded. Buy the SOCOM, join the SOCOM Brotherhood - you will not be sorry...

 

[BADUNAME13]

I've shot all 3 barrel lengths.
What I did (And recommend) is to buy the scout (18" barrel) and put a Smith Flash Suppressor on there. Then you will have it less than 1" longer overall, but have 2 more inches of barrel/velocity...

 

[stiletto raggio]

I love my NM M1A, but if I were going for a compact .308 as opposed to a 14 pound tack driver, I would get one of the new Kel-Tec RFBs. Smaller than a SOCOM, lighter, and with a much longer barrel and less muzzle blast. You have to like bullpups and it is not as pretty, but mags are cheaper and more available. It is totally ambidextrous.

The M14 is a fine rifle, but ultimately, it is a spiffed up Garand, which is a 070+ year-old design. It shows, and an honest examination of practicality will show it to be far from the most practical .308 battle rifle. It is fun and quite good, but it is not the best, expecially at the prices most dealers want.

 

[Nightcrawler]

The Kel-Tec won't be out for another year.

Personally, I'd get the SOCOM 16. The 22" standard M1A is a fine and accurate rifle for the range. But if you have to do anything else while carrying the rifle, or if you operate in and out of vehicles, 44.5" of rifle can be pretty cumbersome. Scout/Squad 18" splits the difference, but even so is half an inch longer than a full-length M16A2.

I like my rifles short. My FAL carbine and my 870 shotgun are both right about 38" long overall. I could get an 18" barrel with no flashhider for the same length as my 16" with one, but...well, they didn't have any 18" barrels when I ordered, so I got the sixteen. *shrug*

 

[def4pos8]

I was looking for a Scout but "settled" for a SOCOM16. It's a fun little blaster and the muzzle brake/compensator actually works! It's tritium front sight is a useful asset and the "ghost ring" rear are the best iron sights for close/rapid targets. For longer shots, I have an M1A NM. If I had to have only one of these rifles, I'd opt for the Scout and figure out a way to install one of those tritium sights.