Outside the PRK, I'd say AR. You can get a very high quality, fully outfitted AR in the configuration you want for that kind of money. Also, the ballistics of the SOCOM are not that great unless you use lighter bullets like the 110 Hornady or want to stick to shorter range action. .308 out of a 16" barrel isn't the greatest, but will certainly still blow a hole through whatever short-range threat you have. I'm not suggesting in the slightest that you're under gunned vs. an AR. It's just that .308 loves 20-24" barrels ideally.
If it were between that and an PRK-compliant AR, I'd take the SOCOM any day of the week. Having to break open an AR to load it as if it were an SKS is totally absurd. At least you can use 10rd mags that change out quickly with the M1A.
Also, the SOCOM, loaded with proper bullets is an excellent threat to body armor and JBT's and the PRK is in no shortage of those. In fact, they exported them to New Orleans to carry out Nagin confiscations, which is their field of expertise. Needless to say, the vermin in the PRK are hostile critters.
Just being in the PRK is automatically being under a higher threat condition from either natural disaster (earthquake), a racially inspired riot, a widespread draconian "Mr and Mrs America, turn them all in" style sweep and clear (more like search and destroy) confiscation, and finally the threat of a neo-Bolshevik revolution (see San Fransicko).
Given those circumstances, the firepower of an M1A SOCOM is a NEED, not a want. Being in a place where the vast majority of the people hate the fact that you can be armed makes being effectively armed a necessity.
Godspeed my friend trapped behind the lines.
? If so, definately the M1A. Not even a contest.
