Parts Origin of the Springfiled M1A Socom 16? Made in USA?

[Click Click Boom]

Im just curious as to the parts oragin of the new manufac. Springfield Armory Socom 16 and varyiants. Do they import them like the XDs or import frames and fit/ assemble them like there higher end 1911's? Who makes the reciever, barrel stock ect...?

Last, How is the quaility of the M1a. The one I am looking at was made in the middle of 2006.

A did a search but didnt find anything. Thanks for anwsering my newbie Q's.

 

[swingset]

Made here....unfortunately. I'd like to blame them on a foreign country.

Opinions vary, but the 3 that I've seen and handled in person (all belong to friends or fellow shooters) were less than impressive. Not 1 of them runs right.

 

[Click Click Boom]

I have read mixed reviews on them but I have the chance to buy a new one at a silly price. It will cost me less than a grand OTD on a new M1A Socom 16. I love my one other Springfield product, a Loaded TRP Operator with thwe FLDC/rail. It is good to hear that they are made in the US. So they havnt gotten any better over the past few years?

 

[Nightcrawler]

I dunno, I've read a few positive reviews of the SOCOM 16, myself. If you can get it at a really good price I'd say go for it.

 

[enkindler]

Yes they are made in the USA

I'm not sure if the bad reports are actually true for the most part, I know of three valid problems; the first version of the front sight would fall off, the extractor can be an issue in some cases and it's loud.

The first problem has been fixed by a different sight, the second hasn't been a problem with mine (more then 500 rounds so far) and the third is an issue with any rifle with a compensator on it, especially with a short barrel in a full bore rifle cartridge.

I know there is the complaint on how the receivers are not forged but I think people have forgotten that metallurgy has not sat still in four plus decades, I'm sure if your OCD or maybe a serious bench rest shooter you can tell the difference but I am very happy with my purchase.

Of course reality is that people are more likely to complain vs. praise, especially in the Internet but I'm going to give this rifle two thumbs up. I like my late 70's mostly GI SAI M1A too but for a handy fun to shoot offhand rifle I'll pick up my SOCOM 16 M1A whenever I have enough ammo reloaded to make a trip to the range worth while.

 

[swingset]

I'm not sure if the bad reports are actually true for the most part

Thanks for intimating I'm a liar.

There are 3 that come and shoot at my range, 1 of them is back at SA right now because it won't cycle anything - and we're using good South African and Aussie ammo. It just doesn't run, never has.

The other 1 that's in a friend's hands works but it's VERY picky, and if it gets about 300 rounds down the pipe you better clean the crap out of it, or it starts sticking cases and short-stroking.

The last one was a buddy's too, but he sold it in disgust. IIRC, he broke an extractor, and I think when it was disassembled to put a new one in he noticed hairline stress fractures in the bolt, so it went back to SA. That one came back ok, I think he sold it before running 50 rounds through it tho.

I'm not making it up, I have no bone to pick with SA, I love the concept but as I said, I'm not impressed. I'm even telling the truth.

 

[enkindler]

Wait buddy, I wasn't calling you out, I have just noted that most bad reports are from some buddies, brother"s, sister's dead great aunt's husbands rifle that had a problem.

It's the Internet and sometimes things are overblown, out of the half dozen I've played with before plopping down the cash only one had a problem, FTE, when they guy went directly from the gun store to the range. He replaced the extractor but he did that before he had taken it home and cleaned it, so it may have been the part, it may have been the massive amount of grease the use, we will never know.

I think the other guys were running surplus ammo but I have only run a few boxes of factory stuff through mine, everything else has been my own loads. I don't think that should matter but I did try a ton of different loads and they all seemed to work.

Maybe Springfield sends the good ones to the PNW and the lemons to Ohio, still doesn't change the fact that people report problems more often the satisfaction.

Yes I am guilt of the same behavior.

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

Well, here is my conjecture since this is 2nd hand info so I'll just share it anyway

I heard that Springfield is farming out the manufacture of many of their rifle parts and possibly receivers to Taurus or some Brazilian manufacturer. Also, they are starting to do the MIM thing


Now, as far as metallurgy is concerned. Modern stuff is most often not made anywhere near as well as the old stuff. I've read on the CMP site that M1 Garand receivers from WW2 are 2-3x harder to drill than modern Springfield M1's. That's because they did SERIOUS forging and heat treating back then. Not the corner cutting like today. This makes a difference. The rifle needs to be made right. Pot metal is bad. Problem is, using a lot of high quality steel, heat treating, and clean machining costs a lot of money. Modern tech is better and metallurgy is better, but that doesn't mean our modern improvements are going into your Ruger!

 

[Click Click Boom]

So, thats a most likly its made in the USA?

 

[Eat Beef]

I'll put it this way, if you don't want it, tell me where it is, and then go back tomorrow and check if it is still there.

My Socom came with forged USGI trigger assy and gas system. I'm no fan of the cast parts, but if they go tango uniform, Springfield has an ironclad warranty.

 

[exar]

I love my M1A loaded. Never had one single problem with it and super accurate. Disassembly can be a pain though, you pretty much have to twist 'n pray to get that op-rod off.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Dang this is the first negative thing I've read on those. I've been seriously thinking about getting a Socom16 lately. I figured for a $1500 rifle they'd be forged and strong as an ox.
I've gotta decide between a Socom 16 or a FAL from DSA. I figure as long as I can't have a real M14 I might as well get the next best thing.

 

[enkindler]

The 90's and newer SAI bolts are forged, I'm still not convinced that the reciever needs to be

 

[BruceB]

My apologies in advance, if I've already posted here about my M1A.

It was bought new in September 2005, and is the standard "loaded" Model 9222, as I recall.

Being an ardent handloader and bulletcaster, this rifle has NEVER SEEN A FACTORY-LOADED CARTRIDGE, and it functions flawlessly. The break-in period saw the firing of about 500 handloaded 168-grain Matchkings, and from the first round the rifle worked perfectly. Following the break-in regime, I have now fired the rifle in excess of three thousand rounds, mostly with cast bullets of wildly varying shape and weight, and as long as the powder charge creates something approaching useable pressure at the gasport, it works 100% with cast bullets, too. How about ten cast bullets in 0.60" from fifty yards, iron sights???

The serial number is 170xxx, which places it around early 2005, and it has a few military parts.

Without reservation, I will say that this is one of the best rifles I've ever owned, and at this late date that amounts to several hundred rifles.