socom 16 the good and the bad??

[jackrabbit]

So thinking of getting the socom 16. What is the good, the bad, of it?

Is it going to handle long range 200 or 600 yard shots with that short barrel?? Or should I go with the Scout. Want to shoot short and long distance.

 

[mattw]

I don't own one but everything i've read says that they only like the non-surplus stuff.. with Factory ammo they are just as good as the M1A

 

[glockenstein]

I have shot hundreds of rounds of Aussie and British surplus through my SOCOM with no trouble. In fact I have only shot surplus, no commercial.

 

[Onmilo]

300 meters is about maximum for the short barrel rifles.
I generally limit my Bush rifle to shots at 200 meters maximum.

If you plan on shooting farther get a longer barrel and excellent optics.

 

[spacemanspiff]

from what i've heard the bullet drop out of the 16 inch socom is quite drastic past 300 yards.

with that said, i really like the socom and since i plan on letting the mutant zombies get within 200 yards before i start shooting, its on my list of 'buy at some point in the future'.

 

[Mannlicher]

Shorter barrel will mean less velocity, and more bullet drop. Different rifles, different ammo, will give different results, but overall, performace at long range suffers in comparison with a standard length barrel.
My SOCOM is just as accurate at 100 or 200 yards as my M1A Loaded SA, but I do have to hold over more at ranges past that.
Still, I have full confidence in the SOCOM as a MBR. I don't think that many shots past 200 yards are in the cards for me.
I hunt with mine, using an EOTech sight, and Federal 150 grain SP, and on hogs, it works well.

 

[Gandalf]

2500+ rounds through my SOCOM with no failures to feed or any other malfunctions. Here is a 100yd. group I shot earlier in the year using Aussie surplus and iron sights.

 

[Dienekes]

Go with a standard M1A (glass bed and do NM mods later if you find you "need" them) and put the difference in cost in to ammo and practice.

Unless you are in and out of confined spaces and clearing buildings, what do you need a shorty for?

 

[AZ Jeff]

The shorty M1A, particularly the SOCOM, has some NASTY muzzle blast. I was helping a guy zero his last weekend, and even standing directly behind it was NOT pleasant.

Unless there is some REAL compelling reason why you need the short barrel, you are better served with the standard length barrel for most applications.

 

[LooseGrouper]

I have a SOCOM. The blast has not been a problem at all for me. That being said, I am having FTE issues with some surplus ammow (read the "No surplus ammo thru M1A socom" thread in this forum for more details).

If you want to shoot 600yds, the .308 from a 16" barrel will probably still be "effective," but the POI/POA difference will be significant. The standard range finding reticle scopes won't work (not that there are any set up fro intermediate eye relief anyway).

 

[Plumber576]

Maaybe it was the cazy stock, but it was a bit heavy. i still love em though!

 

[quad 50.cal]

So whats the difrence between the Socom 16 and the Scout all I can see is about 2" in lingth. Would the Scout be better at longer range?

 

[LooseGrouper]

Somebody posted a list of balistic data from 16, 18, and 22 inch barrels about a month ago. As I recall, the loss of velocity was significant but not horrible. I was gonna guess at the #s, but thought better of it. Do a search for ".308 velocity from 16 inch barrel" or similar to find it.

Barring the velocity/bullet drop debate, the Scout squad has the advantage of using the original gas system instead of the modified short one. Also, the compensator is removable so you can replace it with a flash hider if you care to.

I was on the fence between the scout and the socom. My local shop had too many socoms at the time and cut me a deal I couldn't refuse...my delimna was solved...

 

[Carnitas]

You can shorten a scout model by about an inch it looks like by switching to the Smith Ent. brake instead of the SA brake. The Smith brake is suposed to work better as well. That gives you the 18 inch balistics with OAL only slightly longer than the SOCOM.

 

[Browns Fan]

Quote:
"The shorty M1A, particularly the SOCOM, has some NASTY muzzle blast. I was helping a guy zero his last weekend, and even standing directly behind it was NOT pleasant. "

Agreed. Someone was firing one next to me at the range this morning, but it sure is purty.

 

[MaceWindu]

You can shorten a scout model by about an inch it looks like by switching to the Smith Ent. brake instead of the SA brake. The Smith brake is suposed to work better as well. That gives you the 18 inch balistics with OAL only slightly longer than the SOCOM.

I have a Smith Enterprise CA brake....here:



I like it MUCH better than the SA break...shorter also..


MaceWindu

 

[LooseGrouper]

MaceWindu

I'm diggin' that rifle. It's a bush rifle, not a scout, correct? Have any more pictures?

LG

 

[MaceWindu]

I'm diggin' that rifle. It's a bush rifle, not a scout, correct? Have any more pictures?

Yes, it's a Bush.....and since you twisted my arm.. :






...yeah the place needs some pickin up...but it's not my house


MaceWindu

 

[LooseGrouper]

Sweet. That Smith looks like slightly stretched version of the socom brake. Way nicer looking than the scout sqaud brake, IMO. If I ever get my socom working reliably, I'm going to invest in a nice Aimpoint or similar.

 

[Too Many Choices!?]

The only thing the Socom 16 is missing IMHO,

Is another 2" of barrel!! Would that make it a Socom 18 lol?

 

[artherd]

Wouldn't a 5.56mm arm with a range of 300meters tops be laughed at?

 

[Bud Light]

I don't think I'd buy a Springfield I'd be more likely to have Fulton Armory or some other quality outfit make me one.

 

[Too Many Choices!?]

artherd,

I doubt it

 

[MaceWindu]

I don't think I'd buy a Springfield I'd be more likely to have Fulton Armory or some other quality outfit make me one.

That tricked out Bush above is a Fulton. I own (2) more M1A's that are early SA and good to go....


MaceWindu