Anyone buy a SOCOM 16

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Newton

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I see these rifles everywhere, and they look like a short barrel Garand with a scope mount and a detachable mag in .308.

Did anyone actually buy one, and do you like it?
 
I bought a SOCOM-16 and can't imagine trading it in ever. It has become my favorite rifle - period. If anything, the SOCOM-16 sparked a long ignored interest in this fantastic rifle and I'm already planning my purchase of another, (Scout) and another, (Standard). It really is a "riflemans rifle". I always heard that, but never realized it until I pulled the trigger for the first time. I had my SOCOM-16 in USGI birch for the first year, with a Trijicon Tripower on the front rail. Now, it's found a home in a Troy MCS and has been transformed into a powerful, accurate and reliable platform. With round count hovering around 10,000 now, this rifle just runs like a finely tuned car - everything just works.

I think this rifle may fall short for some due to a combination of unrealistic expectations, internet hype and not setting up the rifle properly. The rifle is designed for CQB and not match shooting. To that purpose, Springfield Armory added a wide rear aperture and a wide front blade which makes precision shooting difficult to master. With the much heralded M1A/M14 accuracy, the SOCOM-16 will not live up to those expectations. Add optics to the mix however and things can change markedly. With the Troy MCS, things got even better. With the Tripower on deck, center mass hits are easy as pie out to 400-yards, (as far as I have tested - and can barely see). With my Swift 4-18 mounted, groups at 200 yards, (the farthest I've used it) were stunning - and I'm no match shooter.

The SOCOM-16 is what it is - a 16" barreled battle rifle with historic roots, that has been updated to meet more modern shooting needs. It has proven to be one of the best rifles I've ever purchased....
 
I have an M1A Standard and my buddy has an Socom. He loves it and shoots it well. Out to 200 or 300 yards he does well with it. No, it's not a long distance rifle, but it is a great weapon.
 
Any body know the bullet drop/energy at 500 meters from this weapon?

I like the idea of a short 308 marksman rifle with a 20rd magazine that can engage out to 500+meters but still be able to preform well in CQB.
 
I like the idea of a short 308 marksman rifle with a 20rd magazine that can engage out to 500+meters but still be able to preform well in CQB.
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This is one reason I've put a 1x-4x optic with an illuminated dot-donut reticle...can use as a holosight at short range and dial it up to 4x for longer range.

Any body know the bullet drop/energy at 500 meters from this weapon?
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I ran this quick calculation of a standard atmospheric condition shot assuming 50 fps loss/inch of barrel length from a 2650 fps standard (assumed 2450 fps MV). If you zero at 250 yds, you can pretty much get a torso shot from 0-300 yards if you hold COM, and a pelvis shot to 350.


Trajectory Output

Input Data
Manufacturer: Barnes Description: 0.308 dia. 150 gr. XLC™ Boattail

Muzzle Velocity: 2450.0 ft/s Chronograph Distance: 0.0 ft

Sight Height: 1.50 in Sight Offset: 0.00 in
Zero Height: 0.00 in Zero Offset: 0.00 in
Azimuth: 0.00 MOA Elevation: 0.00 MOA
LOS Angle: 0.0 deg Cant Angle: 0.0 deg

Wind Speed: 0.0 mph Wind Angle: 90.0 deg
Target Speed: 0.0 mph Target Angle: 90.0 deg

Temperature: 59.0 °F Pressure: 29.92 in Hg
Relative Humidity: 0.0 % Altitude: 0 ft

Vital Zone Radius: 5.0 in Std. Atmosphere at Altitude: No
Corrected Pressure: Yes Target Relative Drops: Yes
Zero at Max. Point Blank Range: No
Calculated Parameters
Elevation: 8.58 MOA Azimuth: 0.00 MOA

Atmospheric Density: 0.07647 lbs/ft³ Speed of Sound: 1116.5 ft/s

Maximum PBR: 295 yds Maximum PBR Zero: 251 yds
Range at Max Height: 138 yds Energy at PBR: 1188.9 ft•lbs

Sectional Density: 0.226 lbs/in²

Calculated Table
Range Drop Drop Windage Windage Velocity Mach Energy Time Lead Lead
(yds) (in) (moa) (in) (moa) (ft/s) (none) (ft•lbs) (s) (in) (moa)
0 -1.5 *** 0.0 *** 2450.0 2.194 1998.9 0.000 0.0 ***
50 2.2 4.3 0.0 0.0 2349.3 2.104 1837.9 0.063 0.0 0.0
100 4.4 4.2 0.0 0.0 2250.8 2.016 1687.1 0.128 0.0 0.0
150 4.9 3.1 0.0 0.0 2154.7 1.930 1546.1 0.196 0.0 0.0
200 3.5 1.7 0.0 0.0 2060.9 1.846 1414.4 0.267 0.0 0.0
250 -0.0 -0.0 0.0 0.0 1969.6 1.764 1291.8 0.342 0.0 0.0
300 -5.7 -1.8 0.0 0.0 1880.8 1.685 1177.9 0.419 0.0 0.0
350 -13.9 -3.8 0.0 0.0 1794.6 1.607 1072.5 0.501 0.0 0.0
400 -24.7 -5.9 0.0 0.0 1711.3 1.533 975.2 0.587 0.0 0.0
450 -38.6 -8.2 0.0 0.0 1631.0 1.461 885.9 0.676 0.0 0.0
500 -55.7 -10.6 0.0 0.0 1554.1 1.392 804.3 0.771 0.0 0.0

14 Jan 2008 12:45:03, JBM [http://www.eskimo.com/~jbm]
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I have a SA Loaded. I love it.

I will get another SA .308 but it wil probably be the Scout model.

I don't like the shorter SOCOM II or SOCOM 16 to much Stuff on them.
 
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