How accurate is SOCOM 16?

[kosmo]

I am thinking about buying a SOCOM 16 rifle. However, I am concerned with the accuracy, it only has a 16 inch barrel.

Does anyone on the forum own a SOCOM 16? What kind of groups do you get?

Thank you.

 

[countertop]

What do you intend to use it for - its a rather expensive rifle. I don't own one, but my brother is looking to buy one to as his HDR (homeland defense rifle). The one I shot was easily accurate enough for me - heck it was way more accurate than I am, but that's not telling you much.

I know Cowboy Blob has taken his varmiting with success and also uses it in 3 gun.

 

[kosmo]

What do you intend to use it for...

Both as a HDR and for hunting deer and maybe pigs. The hunting part is what I am having doubts about, particularly accuracy of the rifle.

 

[browningguy]

They seem to be just about as accurate as a full size M1. None of the new ones seem to get much better than 2-3" in every test I've seen. Except for the match grade models. The only M1's I've shot myself were 40's and 50's vintage which seemed to be about the same accuracy wise. I think if you have one of the M1 specialists do some trigger and bedding work you could easily get it down, the barrel length really isn't an issue, I shoot a Ruger 77RSI in .308 (18" barrel) and a Manlicher stocked Dumoulin .338 Win Mag with a 20.5" barrel. It affects velocity, but not really accuracy (in a hunting rifle).

 

[geekWithA.45]

Ahem.

A lot of folks think barrel length affects accuracy.

It does not.

It affects muzzle velocity, which in turn affects the nature of the ballistic arc, and your maximum effective range.


I believe folks get this idea from the world of handguns, where short barrelled handguns also comes with a short sight radius, which has an effect on apparent accuracy.


You can normally expect between 2.5and 3.5 MOA on these, which is plenty good enough for hunting at ethical ranges. It's sub "minute of commie/jihaddi/blue helmet".

 

[nfl1990]

While I have no problem with the Socom 16, I have looked at both with the consideration of buying, I like the Socom II better despite the extra $200.

 

[AK103K]

My SOCOM will do about 3-4" at 100 yards using the iron sights and me shooting it. I get about the same with my Aimpoint, but I dont shoot targets with an aiming point on them with it. The iron sights are meant for close(er) range fast shooting and not target shooting. With the same ammo from the same position, my NM M1A will do about 1-2". You could always change the sights back to a standard type sight if you dont like the ghost ring and fat front sight. As it comes, the SOCOM should be more than accurate for a hunting rifle if you are.

 

[kosmo]

With the same ammo from the same position, my NM M1A will do about 1-2".

With open sights?

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

Barrel length has little to do with accuracy, nor does barrel thickness.

I could design a 1" heavy barrel bolt gun that shoots worse than a hot mini-14 or a Romanian AK. Just give it terrible rifling, a nasty crown, or a sloppy big chamber. Then use ammo that has 200fps spread in velocity.

Accuracy has more to do with other factors, like the quality of the barrel. Quality handloads, quality barrel, a simple, tight, true action (like a bolt), bedding and free floating all come before having a fat barrel or longer barrel. Heavy barrel comes after those factors.

Heavy barrels are thought of as accurate because of being heavy, but in reality, their weight is one component of a "system" of features that increase accuracy. Almost all heavy barrels are also tight chambered, have quality cut rifling, and good crowns.


Thus said, any military pattern rifle aren't going to be super accurate. That's because feeding is more important than making a 1" group @ 100 yards. So the chambers are bigger due to being auto-loaders. Ammo isn't match grade. Velocity trumps accuracy for military use. Their action isn't the most ideal, they are designed to fire over and over quickly, not be accurate down to the tenth of an inch at 100 yards.


Target guns shoot MOA or less. Military pattern guns shoot MOM (minute of man) at the worst. If you get better, that is just icing on the cake. Most get better.


The SOCOM does what is was designed to do. IMO, it's too much money for what you get. Especially with Springfield being in bed with the Brazilians and their MIM processes.


A poor man's alternative to the SOCOM 16 would be a Saiga 308 16". AK actioned 308. Just as accurate, and leaves you about $1400 left over to spend $150 of which on a gunsmith to convert it to accept G3 mags. Looking at modern M1A's leaves me not impressed. I'd argue the commie rifle is more durable, more reliable and tough.

 

[AK103K]

With open sights?

Yup. And more than just once too.

 

[Onmilo]

How accurate can you shoot?
Because that is how accurate the SOCOM rifle is going to be.
I have seen some pretty remarkable shooting done with these rifles in the right hands.

 

[Onslaught]

Barrel length has little to do with accuracy, nor does barrel thickness.

I agree 100% that length has nothing to do with accuracy itself and it has been tested and proven many times.

While it is also true that thickness by itself is not the deciding factor, it is definitely cheaper and easier to make an accurate heavy barrel than it is to make an accurate skinny one.

A heavy barrel will have less barrel whip and be less affected by heat, so less expensive blanks can be used to achieve an accuracy goal. "Making" a heavy barrel also requires less (if any) contouring, so less lathe time, less man hour time, and less wear and tear on equipment.

A skinny barrel would have to be made of higher quality materials, using careful craftmanship, and possibly cryo treating to prevent warping under heat. Barrel whip may also reduce the number of accurate loads available or require handloads for that rifle, giving the impression of being less accurate.

Factories like Savage and Remington crank out heavy barrelled "match" or "varmint" rifles, but if you have a custom rifle built using all quality materials, it may cost you 3x as much money, but the rifle could be just as accurate and weigh less in the process.

 

[kosmo]

A poor man's alternative to the SOCOM 16 would be a Saiga 308 16".

Living in California, M1A is pretty much the only legal rifle that has a detachable magazine. And I would like to have a detachable magazine.