Need Help with SOCOM II problem.

[Acera]

Ok, I have had enough of the excess weight, and bulk on my Springfield SOCOM II. The rails out front are too big and bulky and add a lot of excess weight.

Does anyone know where I can find a replacement hand guard without all the stuff on it?

I have pulled the bottom half off, and that helps a little. After taking the entire top portion off, I realize that you can't easily remove just the rails leaving a "clean" upper hand guard. The rifle handles a lot better without the hand guard and all the rails. However it needs something up there to protect my hands from the gasses and heat from the barrel.

Problem is that the gun has a 16'' barrel and I don't think a regular M1A hand guard will fit.

I do not need a way to mount optics. I am planning on using the irons exclusively.

Thanks,

 

[H2O MAN]

Acera

Problem is that the gun has a 16'' barrel and I don't think a regular M1A hand guard will fit.

SOCOMs use a 16.25" barrel and the regular M14 hand guard will fit as it should without any modifications.

Check with LAW483.com concerning the SOCOM muzzle device kit from SEI and the M14 Tritium Bar Combat Sight also from SEI.
This will give you a slightly longer sight radius with a standard USGI height front sight (not that crappy sight Springfield uses)
and your choice of a DC Vortex flash eliminator or DC Vortex comp.

One last thing, I suggest that you invest in the SOCOM gas plug SEI makes.
This new plug allows for correct volume of gas required by the shorter barrel.

I hope that helps, H2O MAN

 

[lipadj46]

What he said, regular sized handguard. Sell your rails on gunbroker and buy the SEI parts mentioned above with your new found loot.

 

[Dienekes]

I suspect that you are one of the few who has pointed out the obvious on those rifles.

A lot of BAR bipods went into the ditch during WWII from guys who felt the same way and lightened their load.

If there isn't a support group for recovering SOCOM owners, there ought to be.

 

[Acera]

H2O MAN, Thanks. I tried to find the parts mentioned on Law483, but other than stocks I only found three parts, none of them you mentioned. Maybe I was not looking in the right place, but this is what I found:
http://www.law483.com/M14_762TacticalGear.html

A search of SEI turned up a lot of stuff, all not relating to the M1A. Do you have a link to their site?

SOCOMs use a 16.25

I was just using the information that Springfield does on their literature for the barrel length. I know they had to change the gas system up to make it work with a shorter barrel, and I have had zero issues with functioning. Just trying to get a cleaner look.

Thanks all,

 

[Retro]

I have a SOCOM 16, and so far the gun operated flawlessly over 300 rounds. However, the accuracy was way off (4 MOA), in comparison to the Std M1A... Hence, I ditched the 9x scope, and mounted a Aimpoint, and my piece is now intended for engagement up to 50 yards. You can get a replacement handguard from fultonarmory.com for like 20 dollars or so. I could not find the SEI gas plug system in the past. I spoke to a few people, and they told me not to mess with the factory gas plug and the muzzle brake because it was fine-tuned for SOCOM barrel for reliability, as the SOCOM gas system is slightly different from STD M1A. I am willing to try the SEI system if I could find one...

 

[lipadj46]

Call SEI and talk to ron smith and order it. If your SOCOM works with the SAI gas system I'm not sure why you would need to replace it. Unless you just want the SEI parts which I could see they make nice stuff.

 

[Acera]

A search of SEI turned up a lot of stuff, all not relating to the M1A. Do you have a link to their site?

lipadj46 Do you have a web page for them?

 

[lipadj46]

http://www.smithenterprise.com/

 

[H2O MAN]

Here is a good look at the SOCOM kit from SEI and the special gas plug.
All SOCOM owners can benefit from the new gas plug with or without the muzzle device kit.
Additional information is available on http://m14hdw.us/

 

[xx7grant7x]

where can you find the "crappy sight" that springfield uses as I have an extra stock and rail system for my standard length M1A and the factory sight isn't tall enough to see over the rail, just curious in case I ever put it on again

 

[Jason_G]

where can you find the "crappy sight" that springfield uses as I have an extra stock and rail system for my standard length M1A and the factory sight isn't tall enough to see over the rail, just curious in case I ever put it on again

They're made by XS sights (formerly Ashley sights IIRC), the same company that makes the "Big Dot" sights for pistols.

Try here

Jason

 

[H2O MAN]

Springfield will sell you a spare crappy sight.

 

[lipadj46]

That's pricey do yourself a favor and check out the Smith stuff.

 

[Acera]

Ok, got the hand guard in, did not like to color so it got a couple coats of flat black. Can't wait to get it to the range without all the heavy crap I had on the front. Should have some pigs to it's credit in the next month or so.

 

[lipadj46]

Looks good in black especially with the urban camo pattern stock.

 

[Pickles]

Acera, how does the top rail mount to the frame of the rifle? Does it use stock holes that are then covered by the replacement hand guard, or does the SOCOM II gave unique holes drilled into it?


Thanks in advance

 

[Acera]

Pickles,

The upper rail mounts to the rifle in 3 places. The lower frame hooks on to the front of the upper, and latches to the upper on both sides by spring catches.

The upper rail is bolted to the receiver with a single bolt on the left side (right bolt in the picture), picture 1.

The upper rail is also attached by a tension system to the barrel at the same spot you normally have the spring clip on a regular handguard, picture 2

Finally the third point of attachment is to a lug around the barrel in the middle, picture 3.

The rail system is solid. I have been real pleased once I got all the weight off it. Iron sights stand out a lot better once the rails are gone. Real handy, and it is the same length as my M-4 clone from DPMS.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

 

[Pickles]

Thank you for the thorough explanation!

Next question: Does the SOCOM II, below the quad rail, have the scout rail that the SOCOM 16 has?

 

[Acera]

Pickles,

I don't know about the SOCOM 16, as I have not looked at one in a while. These next two pictures show the rail, first together, and then separated. On the bottom picture, the lower rail is on the right. Sorry for the crappy pictures, can't seem to get focus correct on the camera tonight. So basically the top cover has three rails on it, and the bottom cover has one. The bottom cover is designed to be removed easily, and is not a determent to the looks if it is not in place. But, you do have to have a cover for the top. There is nothing under the rails except the regular stock. No rails under rails, if that is what you mean.