Looking for one, let me know if you are looking to sell.

Hope I'm not out of bounds here… I had one of the SOCOM's and had terrible luck with it. Best groups I could get were 2.5-3 inches at 100yds and sent it back twice for jamming issues. Finally got my money back.

A buddy bought one when I did and he had cycling issues, as well and got rid of it.

We might have just gotten a couple of duds but wanted you to know our experience.

JDA

I have one and put several hundred rounds of factory ball ammo downrange without a hitch. No problem knocking down bowling pins at 150 yards with the open sights. It's a battle rifle, not a target rifle. Find the ammo it likes or reload and it will shoot plenty accurate. Even a target rifle has ammo preferences.

Not out of bounds. I would consider a Squad, I'm just looking for something with a forward mounted rail for a Scout configuration. I think the Squad and Bush are identical except for the forward rail.

Are you selling it? If so, how much do you want for it?

West fork armory had one a couple months ago... Might call them, in Conroe. I didn't buy... Heavy as heck and bad reputation for accuracy.

How accurate does a battle rifle have to be? They will easily make a torso shot at 200+ yards...and a man hit in the torso with a .308 is a dead man. Ain't that what a battle rifle is for. The weight makes the short barrel stable in the hands so you can make that 200 yard torso shot...plus it helps crack skulls with that steel butt plate......so where did Springfield Armory go wrong on this rifle? Hey, it is good enough for the Special Forces to use..so that can't be all bad now can it. Besides, nobody complains about 11 pound doubles now do they...matter of fact, it's preferred. Not a damned thing wrong with SA Socom 16's....they do what they were built for very well.

I think you're right on accuracy… BUT, it should go POW every time you pull the trigger.

I think the squad rifle is much more reliable (and accurate).

Scott, a Steyr Scout might also be an option, unless you want semi-auto. I've had a couple and they're more accurate than they have a right to be. I have one in 376 as well, as a Hog and Black Bear rifle.

JDA...mine never failed to go POW. One wouldn't want to be down range to find out if it's his lucky day...it won't be. So just how can the squad rifle have better accuracy with an extra few inches of barrel length...barrel length itself has nothing to do with how accurate a rifle can be. Again...just how accurate must a battle rifle be? We ain't shooting eyeballs out...just his heart.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Scott, a Steyr Scout might also be an option, unless you want semi-auto. I've had a couple and they're more accurate than they have a right to be. I have one in 376 as well, as a Hog and Black Bear rifle.

I like the Steyrs. I had a 300 win mag what was a tack driver. I was just looking for the nostalgia of the M1A and I like the handiness of the SOCOM. I was thinking a Burris Scout 2.75 would be about perfect for it. I'm not expecting a tack driver. I want it more for a fun gun. I was just seeing if there was a deal to be had from someone on AR that might be looking to move his. I'm not in any hurry.

"Only accurate rifles are interesting"....he knew what he was talking about :-)

You're right on about the 2.75x Burris Scout scope. About as good as it gets. I have one forward mounted on a custom fiber-glass stocked 1895 45/70 and it is awesome.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodrow S:
How accurate does a battle rifle have to be? They will easily make a torso shot at 200+ yards...and a man hit in the torso with a .308 is a dead man. Ain't that what a battle rifle is for. The weight makes the short barrel stable in the hands so you can make that 200 yard torso shot...plus it helps crack skulls with that steel butt plate......so where did Springfield Armory go wrong on this rifle? Hey, it is good enough for the Special Forces to use..so that can't be all bad now can it. Besides, nobody complains about 11 pound doubles now do they...matter of fact, it's preferred. Not a damned thing wrong with SA Socom 16's....they do what they were built for very well.

Where are Special Forces using the SOCOM? They use a ton of 7.62 SCARS, and I've seen regular Army units using modified M14s as DMRs, but have yet to see a SOCOM. Not saying they aren't using them, just haven't seen it in actual use (and Springfield doesn't list an NSN for the SOCOM making it unlikely, although not impossible...)

quote:

Originally posted by bobhanson1:

quote:

Originally posted by Woodrow S:
How accurate does a battle rifle have to be? They will easily make a torso shot at 200+ yards...and a man hit in the torso with a .308 is a dead man. Ain't that what a battle rifle is for. The weight makes the short barrel stable in the hands so you can make that 200 yard torso shot...plus it helps crack skulls with that steel butt plate......so where did Springfield Armory go wrong on this rifle? Hey, it is good enough for the Special Forces to use..so that can't be all bad now can it. Besides, nobody complains about 11 pound doubles now do they...matter of fact, it's preferred. Not a damned thing wrong with SA Socom 16's....they do what they were built for very well.

Where are Special Forces using the SOCOM? They use a ton of 7.62 SCARS, and I've seen regular Army units using modified M14s as DMRs, but have yet to see a SOCOM. Not saying they aren't using them, just haven't seen it in actual use (and Springfield doesn't list an NSN for the SOCOM making it unlikely, although not impossible...)

Springfield Armory M1A's are commercial semi-suto rifles. None are in service with the military. The military uses M14's, some of which have been converted into EBR's. SOCOM is just a name used for marketing.

The M1A series, along with the original M14, is a service grade weapon with an accuracy standard of 3 moa. Most will do better.

If you want an accurate one, the Loaded model does 2 moa and National Match will do 1.5 moa. The SuperMatch will do under 1 moa.

The Scout is more accurate to shoot than the Socom because it has a thinner front sight and a longer sight radius. If you scope each, then accuracy is the same. The Scout will give you slightly more velocity.

All M14 style weapons will jam if you don't use ammunition designed for their gas system. You have to use military surplus M80 ball or M118 Long Range. Commercial ammo should be Federal M1A OTM or any of the Gold Medal Match.

If you reload, bullets should be 130-175 grains and powder burn rates need to be between 3031 and 4064.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodrow S:
JDA...mine never failed to go POW. One wouldn't want to be down range to find out if it's his lucky day...it won't be. So just how can the squad rifle have better accuracy with an extra few inches of barrel length...barrel length itself has nothing to do with how accurate a rifle can be. Again...just how accurate must a battle rifle be? We ain't shooting eyeballs out...just his heart.

Hey Woodrow - I think they shortened the gas system on the SOCOM (I could be wrong). The accuracy wasn't my issue (although I would have liked it to be more so); the reliability was my issue.

Glad you're happy with yours!

The gas system is same length, but they had to enlarge the port in the barrel to allow for the proper amount of gas to reach the piston.

The shorter SOCOM barrel creates less back pressure, since the bullet leaves the barrel sooner.

Kurt, thanks for the detailed information. Regardless what opinion one might have, they are fun to shoot, effective, handle well and get more attention at the range than the usually seen AR15's.

quote:

Originally posted by KurtC:
The gas system is same length, but they had to enlarge the port in the barrel to allow for the proper amount of gas to reach the piston.

The shorter SOCOM barrel creates less back pressure, since the bullet leaves the barrel sooner.

Makes sense.

Impact guns carries them and usually has them OR will let you backorder one .
They have their likes(ammowise). If you use the wrong ammo, you can damage the gas system.
I prefer the SOCOM I to the II.
The I is lighter and does not contain the yuppie crap on the II.
I is less $$ also.

quote:

The I is lighter and does not contain the yuppie crap on the II.

But where do you mount your flashlight, back-up sights to the back-up sights, the laser, night vision equipment, heat sensors, AGOG, scope, ghost ring, and GPS? :-)

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
But where do you mount your flashlight, back-up sights to the back-up sights, the laser, night vision equipment, heat sensors, AGOG, scope, ghost ring, and GPS? :-)

That stuff is all mounted on your back-up rifle!

Random thoughts.
I really like the way the SOCOM handles...
I have shot 3 SOCOMS. I was NOT impressed with their accuracy, and I shot them with good ammo including Federal 168gr Match. I would NEVER own one.

However, I have shot several of the 18" barreled M1-A's over the years. ALL of them have shot very well. I have shot a few of them to 600 yards.

I can highly recommend one of them...

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Random thoughts.
I really like the way the SOCOM handles...
I have shot 3 SOCOMS. I was NOT impressed with their accuracy, and I shot them with good ammo including Federal 168gr Match. I would NEVER own one.

However, I have shot several of the 18" barreled M1-A's over the years. ALL of them have shot very well. I have shot a few of them to 600 yards.

I can highly recommend one of them...

That's been my experience...

I looked up "battle rifle" in a Webster's dictionary and guess what they had there as a picture reference....hell it was a SOCOM16. Folks...it's a battle rifle, not a sniper rifle....and it was never designed to be one. Hopefully, that clears things up a bit.

I can't be angry because my British Sterling SMG can't put all 34 rounds inside a pie plate at 100 yards...but I can be proud that it will put all 34 of them into man-size torso's at 50....real quick too...just like the designer intended it to do.

Now if you don't understand what a SOCOM16 is and is not...I can't help you.

LOL. You guys got my AD moved out to Medium Bores with all the discussion.

The 3 SOCOMs I shot were 5 to7 inch guns at 100 yards.Including shooting Federal Match 168gr.

The 18" Bush Guns, and Scout Squads I have shot were all 2 to 3" at 100 yards, and many 2" guns with Federal Match.

We are talking Iron Sights wuth both guns.

And believe me I like the way a SOCOM handles, but even in a Battle Rifle I want better accuracy.

I have Tanker Garands that will shoot 1 to 1.5 inches.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
I have Tanker Garands that will shoot 1 to 1.5 inches.

The Mini-G (16" barreled Garand) from Shuff's Parkerizing has my eye but I haven't decided between standard .30-06 or .35 Whelen.

Here's a picture I found on M14forums. That's the SOCOM-16 above (9.3 lbs) and the Mini-G below (7.5 lbs).


The Mini-G can also be ordered in a .308 magazine version that uses M-14 magazines. You can order a replacement upper handguard with a rail for your scope like the one below. Best part is, you can send in your M1 and they'll make the modifications to your rifle.

I have heard nothing but good things about Shuffs work.

I would prefer a 308 just because I use that calibre a lot in other rifles.

If I hunted with 30/06 rifles then I would get it in 30/06.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Scott, a Steyr Scout might also be an option, unless you want semi-auto. I've had a couple and they're more accurate than they have a right to be. I have one in 376 as well, as a Hog and Black Bear rifle.

Right on! I have several Steyrs and they are all very, very accurate.

One of mine is clunky to carry, but it wasn't built for ease of carry. It is the long-out-of-production SSG Match (heavier barrel than the SSG Marksman, which in turn has a heavier barrel than a plain SSG). The other two are hunting rifles...the "Professional", in 8x57, and the later "Pro Hunter" in .376 Steyr.

I toted one of Uncle's standard Garand's for 4 years of infantry service, and found it quite handy indeed for field service. Either of those Steyr Pro's would also serve just fine for most outside shooting of "game" no larger weight than men or black bears.

For in town house cleaning I'd prefer concussion grenades, frag grenades and a grease gun, with my Sig double-action .45 as backup. And in some instances I'd prefer a 3.5 RL or at least an RPG, but those instances would be only ones where I felt it worth becoming a primary target for the opponents.

You guys have convinced me that if I was going to get a shorter Garand, I'd probably make my own "tanker".

The accuracy of the SOCOM sucks because the front sight is 3x wider than the regular M1A rifles, bcause of the tritium insert.

If you replace the front sight, or use an optic, accuracy is on par with the Scout and Standard models.

if the difference in a semi auto form SUCKS to accurate is 2" of barrel, then one would be a bit foolish to not insist on the accuracy ...

2" isn't the difference, from 1/2 moa to 4 moa .. its quality of build ... all ego aside, gentlemen, when a maker of good rifles makes crap for accuracy, its NOT the purpose of the gun...

btw, the socom sucks with a scope, too

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Random thoughts.
I really like the way the SOCOM handles...
I have shot 3 SOCOMS. I was NOT impressed with their accuracy, and I shot them with good ammo including Federal 168gr Match. I would NEVER own one.

However, I have shot several of the 18" barreled M1-A's over the years. ALL of them have shot very well. I have shot a few of them to 600 yards.

I can highly recommend one of them...

I agree wholeheartedly with this statement. I owned a SOCOM and have converted it to a full length M1A. The 18" barreled scout that I shot was as accurate as the full length models. I've used the Scout out to 800 yds and been very pleased with the accuracy. My M1A is not the most accurate rifle I own but it is sure more fun to shoot now that we've done a little work on it. IMO go with the Scout model. You'll be more happy.

One of my friends bought the SOCOM last year and has had some issues with cycling. He has tried various reloads and some factory ammo for it but honestly I don't know what his loads are or the factory ammo used. I do know that he said that since he mounted the red dot on it he is happier than with the factory sights.
Personally I prefer the AR10 but the AR platform isn't for everyone. Armalite claimed my carbine was a 2-3 MOA gun but I have been shooting Sub MOA even with cheap American Eagle ammo and a 3x9 scope.

All the glowing reviews has made me rethink my position. I think I'll hold off on this purchase.