Thinking about selling my Socom II

[ratt_finkel]

On a complete impulse buy I picked up a black Socom II just shy of two years ago. I've always loved the looks of the M1A pattern rifles. In standard or "tactical" trim. Just plain good looking firearms.

Anyway, I always thought the Socom II would be the one I would get. So that's the one I went for. In that time, I've put less than 300 rounds through the tube. Though my overall range time has gone down a lot since then anyway. It's just not all that fun at my local 25 yard indoor range. Like driving a Ferrari around a parking garage. Just enough to get teased.

After further research, it looks like I got about the worst model for accuracy. The rails are heavy. And the whole weapon is just plain cumbersome to me. I was really looking forward to putting an ACOG or Holo sight on it. But that requires a new stock. Something I wasn't prepared for. Though that does help improve some of the ergo's I dislike.

Don't get me wrong, it's a ton of fun to shoot. But I hate the stock sights, the weight,the useless rails. And the fact that I can't really shoot at any other ranges with the irons. (have to have a scope for 100 yard plus shots)

So as I'm perusing eotech and aftermarket stock reviews today, I wonder if I might just be better off starting with a new platform.

 

[Geno]

Check into the A.R.M.S. #18 receiver mount. That is what I have on my SOCOM. I have an EoTech mounted on that.

By the way, mine is quite accurate with 46 grains of Varget and a 165 grain, Sierra Game King HP. It is 100% reliable too. I purchased mine for hunting hogs out to 200ish yards.

Geno

 

[goon]

If you've lost interest in it, sell it and buy something you'll like better.
If you think your interest may return, oil it up and stick in storage and forget about it. Then when you discover it again in a few years, it'll be like a new gun.

 

[MachIVshooter]

If you're bored with it, sell it and buy something else. You can probably get most of your investment back if it's still in really good condition.

The M1A is a nice rifle, but for me, in comes in 3rd among .308 autoloaders, after the AR-10 and the FAL. Since I already have the other two, eventually I will pick up an M1A variant, but I made my decisions having played with all of them, and I don't regret the order of purchasing.

 

[ratt_finkel]

Mach IV. I actually considered all 3 before making the purchase. But I couldn't find any decent Fal or Cetme copies at the time. And I thought I wanted to get something different from the AR platform, since I have an AR 15 already.

I've been looking long and hard at both of those other options again.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I couldn't find any decent Fal or Cetme copies at the time.

If you like the G3/CETME, hard to beat the PTR-91 series. As for FAL, I really only consider one make for new rifles: DSA.

I would have a real tough time choosing between my FAL Para and AR-10 Carbine.

Accuracy and ergonomics favor the AR, but damn is the FAL a sexy rifle! Lol.

Together, just after buying the FAL:



And the FAL as it is today (I have added a cheek pad since)



Not cheap toys, though. I have well over $2k in each.

One nice thing about the FAL is inexpensive, high quality mags of 20, 25 or 30 round flavors. The Armalite AR-10 gen II 25 round mags are $50 apiece!

 

[goon]

I think the problem with the M1A is that it's pretty damn good as a rifle, but doesn't benefit that much from being made into a carbine. It's heavy and the ergonomics are what they are and cutting a few inches of barrel off doesn't appreciably change that. Then putting rails at the front of the SOCOM II puts all that weight out there instead of it balancing out. Doesn't really surprise me that it ends up being cumbersome. I'm not a huge fan of any more rails than I absolutely need to get what I need done. A light and maybe some optics is about all I want or need to mount on a rifle.

I've owned a few FAL's and found that one that's had the bipod removed isn't that heavy at all, so I could see it being a great carbine. If I were looking for a .308 carbine, it would probably be a FAL. I don't think the loaded weight would be much more than a gov't profile 20" AR.

 

[Redlg155]

Sell it for a fair price and save up a little more. My FN Scar 17 is the best of both worlds, short enoigh for carbine use and accurate enough to use as a designated marksman rifle.

 

[MachIVshooter]

If I were looking for a .308 carbine, it would probably be a FAL. I don't think the loaded weight would be much more than a gov't profile 20" AR.

They're not that light. Mine curbs at 11.9 lbs with a loaded 30 rounder.

 

[Jackal]

Kinda too bad you didnt decide to sell about 8 months ago when a Socom II was fetching $3000.:banghead:

 

[tubeshooter]

Kinda too bad you didnt decide to sell about 8 months ago when a Socom II was fetching $3000.

This is kind of what I thought when I first read the OP.

If not in a rush... may want to consider waiting for another upward price fluctuation...

 

[BigBore44]

I'm gonna have to say don't sell it...yet. IMO the M1-A is one of the "sexiest" (borrowing from MachIV) rifles ever made. The history and overall design just whisper "You know you want to take me out to the range and show me off". The limited distance of your range would not persuade me into selling it. You'll have the same limitations with your next rifle also. Accuracy is something to play around with if you reload. Or simply change factory ammo if your rifle doesn't like what it's being fed. It's no bench rifle. Was never intended to be. But 1.5 MOA shouldn't be that hard to achieve with the right food.

 

[goon]

They're not that light. Mine curbs at 11.9 lbs with a loaded 30 rounder.

What FAL? Barrel length and receiver type?
FWIW, 20 rounds of .308 weighs about the same as 30 rounds of 55 grain 5.56 FMJ (about 1 pound). I'm figuring a "loaded magazine" weighs about the same as a loaded magazine if you go with what they were issued with. Changing it up to a 30 round FAL magazine adds half a pound, but the 20 round magazine was the standard magazine.

No doubt a 5.56 can be lighter, but I don't think a FAL carbine or even a full length rifle with the bipod removed is at all unwieldy or overly heavy.

But... it's an antiquated design next to the AR.
The FAL just hasn't updated as well (because the idea of the MBR was semi-obsolete even when 7.62x51 rifles were general issue). Sorry... but it's true.

 

[fragout]

I ran into a similar thing as you did regarding the rails. (I bought my SocomII when they first came out, and this one had a GI trigger group, stock, buttplate assembly, and rear sight assembly)

From the minute I picked it up to look it over, I knew that them rails had to go, so I took them off, and found that the original stock's front sling swivel was missing. No surprise there, as it cant be utilized with the rails installed regardless. The good news is that the stocks sling swivel mounting holes were there, and where they were supposed to be.

I sold off the rail system while it was brand new, which resulted in paying for an M14 front sling swivel and a Fulton Armory (black) handguard with clip to replace the rails, and had enough funds left to pick up a sling and a few 140rd BP's of SA 146gr R1M1 ball.

The effort turned a bulky, cumbersome rifle into what a rifle of this type should "feel" like.... in my case at least.

It made for a very decent rifle for use as a brush gun, and has plenty of dead hogs to it's credit.

Before you sell it off, you might be interested in such a route first.

I gave mine to my oldest boy, but am now giving serious thought into assembling another along the lines of an LRB arms receiver and FA 16in chrome lined bbl. ( I'm also interested in SEI's Socom "front end", as I want this rifle as a host for a can if I go this route)
Regarding this..... the design allows the use of any std or match front sight, and in addition to picking up a std rear sight aperture would give you options for having whatever iron sights suit your fancy.

Geno suggested the ARMS 18 mount, and I couldn't agree more, as it is the most compact, lightweight, low profile mount that I have run into for this type of rifle. ( I use the older split rail version on an M1A-A1 bush rifle and M14S Tanker now, and it's been a reliable way to mount optics so far.)

Options concerning the various stocks out there blow any other 7.62x51mm rifle out of the water. ( I can get into more detail, but you mentioned that you have already looked into stocks, so you already know the various designs out there.)

www.law483.com

The above is worth a look see if you haven't found out about Tony's work yet.


On a side note: One fully loaded 20rd USGI M14 magazine (147gr Q3130) weighs in at exactly 1.5 lbs.

FWIW: I used to own a DSA Para and an H&K 91. Neither holds a candle to the M14 design. ( Nothing wrong with the other two, but simply preferred it.) AR's really don't float my boat either, but in all honesty....the AR10 design has been around for close to the same amount of years as the others mentioned here.

Hope that this helps some.
Below is a pic of an ARMS18 split rail mount.

 

[ratt_finkel]

Took the rifle out today to a friend's land. Got to shoot some produce. Love has been renewed

 

[BigBore44]

Good! I was really disheartened that you had lost interest in that rifle. Glad the flame has been rekindled. Sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery.

 

[Geno]

The ARMS 18 will work wonders. Be sure to check the receiver bolt. The first bolt that came with mine was too short, and striped the bolt thread. I bought two extras just in case. It hold rock-solid! Watch the torque when you install it...verify it yourself, but I recall it calling for 95 inch pounds torque.

Geno

 

[ratt_finkel]

Yeah, now I have to just find an optic that will work. I'm also thinking of pulling the rails off. Even with a vertical grip the thing is damn heavy and hard to hold on target standing free hand. Also need another bipod, cause the one I have, the legs keep collapsing. It's quite short too.

 

[MachIVshooter]

What FAL? Barrel length and receiver type?

The DSA para carbine in my pics. 16" tube, I think their "type I" receiver. Bone stock with a loaded 20 round mag, I seem to recall it coming in at just under 10 lbs.

Pretty average, really. Most .308 carbines are roughly 8-9 lbs unloaded, with some ARs coming in a tad lighter.

I don't think a FAL carbine or even a full length rifle with the bipod removed is at all unwieldy or overly heavy.

Not saying it's overly heavy, just that it's notably heavier than a 5.56. With the same trimmings and mag capacity, 5.56 carbines come in 2-3 pounds lighter.