Good review. The feel is amazing. There are some things that need to be improved like replacing the spring guide $35-$40.00) and the guide spring ($35.00) both from (Sadlak Inc.) acquire at the same time this will improve your groups somewhat. That is something to consider when These are the people that teach our nations sniper instructors. We hands-on review two Springfield M1As with some quirks along the way. Once you grown used to 5.56 caliber rifles, you forget how much fun a full-powered rifle with a battle rifle or larger caliber can be. That is something to consider when The first time I was exposed to the M1A was when I qualified with it in Guam with the Marines back in 1980 or so. I can't really pinpoint why we would have such differences in experience except to say that sometimes you just get used to a certain platform. KNIFE ATTACK! I believe you approached the test with bias against the rifle and then set about to prove the bias. might be a good fit for this gun. Their customer service was excellent, but I still have my doubts about the rifle. We still arent quite sure what to make of this entire experience, in all honesty. Recoil is minimal for the 7.62 NATO and, honestly, I really cant tell the difference between shooting this and my full-size M1A Loaded. Dont tell me an M1A wont shoot. I bought an M-14 from Springfield in the late 1980's. I have to line my whole body behind the recoil for best results. WebThe .458 SOCOM achieves optimum ballistic performance in barrel lengths shorter than 16 so there is no need for longer, less portable barrels. If the experience with the M1As is really in your head. The gun was first fielded in Vietnam, and although 7.62 NATO proved great at punching through thick vegetation, the guns overall length was poorly suited for jungle warfare,it was basically uncontrollable in full auto, its wood stocks were subject to swelling from jungle humidity, which affected zero, and a DOD report found that the rifle overall was inferior to both the M1 Garand it descended from, and the soon to be introduced M16. The M14 socom has a shorter barrel than the standard M14 and thus has a shorter effective range of about 500 yards. The 1X, non-magnifying optic has a dot size at a very useful 2 MOA, and battery life is an incredible 50,000 hours. The idea behind the M1A SOCOM 16 was to provide 7.6251 capabilities in a smaller, shorter and lighter package than the full-size M1A. Im not a great shooter so I cant blame the gun when holes seem to migrate. Hell there are days where it's 10 rounds through .75 moa and other like you saw. The excellent Nightforce Optics 60x scope spotted all the shots. The guns also got a 5lb two-stage trigger, which might feel sort of heavy, but its really obvious when its going to break and theres very minimal creep on the takeup. The views
If you shoot nothing but pistol grips, you might find the old stock hard to handle. Hes a former paratrooper/small arms tech with the 82nd Airborne Division and former member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit. The muzzle brake works effectively to reduce muzzle rise, keeping the gun level and on target. Semper Fi. My GI M1a has done 2 inches off the bags even with cheap steel case at 100 yards. My friend pulling targets down in the pits said the Marine Sargent supervising and making sure no one's head became a desirable target asked if I was using a scope because my groups were so close. First of all, the 1.25 MOA that was finally obtained is acceptable even for 400m antelope shots but the one single issue that seems to affect this rifle the most is ammo. So if youre looking for a longer-ranged option, the Socom is the better Moved out to 100 yards , 1.5" group shooting 150 grain fmj handloads , nothing special just basic loads . Aimpoint T2 Micro; Trijicon RMR; wars in Iraq and Afghanistan opened a need for a military rifle that could engage targets at ranges far outside the M-16/M-4s maximum effective range. I have a M1A Loaded that I bought used. The most iconic battle rifle in American history. We'll send you the latest guides and training tips geared The magazine insertion issue is easily resolved by standard 20 round magazines, with the extra length offering superior advantage and grip to rock the magazine in. The muzzle brake does increase the muzzle blast, especially with the shorter barrel, so any shooters standing next to the rifle when it goes off will definitely know it. Trained with an m14 in the Corps in '68..I can tell you that to obtain consistant groups requires proper sight alignment, sight picture, and a proper grip, and consistant weld. But now at least I have a rifle that shoots. I know the debate about whether it's ok to use both in a rifle chambered for one or the other, but the fact that these are both 7.62 tells me you should use that if you're testing accuracy. the riffle is tricky and you need to know how it shoot. Proposition 65 requires California to publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. If for whatever reason you do have issues with your guns, its nice to know that the manufacturer is going to look into the issue and treat your concerns as valid. .308 WIN MSRP $2,087 - $2,540 M1A Scout Squad Rifles Combining the legendary power and accuracy of the M1A with the quick handling and fast sight acquisition of a scout style rifle. The issues you guys had with the stock was/is a huge problem (hence the pistol grips of the AR-15's), and thus the Sage Platforms for the weapon's furniture. I've had an M1A Squad Scout (18 inch barrel) for about 9 years now and have never experienced the inconsistent performance you identified in your review. This summer I had about 3 witnesses who after I walked away from the line could not believe I could strike the gong consistently at that distance with only military iron sights.. NOT bragging but this was with iron std sights and surplus ammo that was at least 40 yrs old. The Springfield Armory M1A SOCOM 16 CQB, paired with excellent optics like the Leupold or Aimpoint, some quality ammo and a durable drag bag, makes for a combination thats hard to beat. The M1A was a huge hit with the competition and long-range shooting enthusiasts, as it is known for its reliability and accuracy. The Scout, on the other hand, has an even shorter barrel and an effective range of only 300 yards. The ergonomics of the rifle design suit me better I guess. WebThe .458 SOCOM achieves optimum ballistic performance in barrel lengths shorter than 16 so there is no need for longer, less portable barrels. From additional reading and talking to folks, the M-14 works quite well when wet (like emerging from the sea, weapons at the ready). Combining the performance of a larger handgun with class-leading concealability and capacity. Not challenging your experience with and observations of the rifle. The AR's charging handle is the most mis-placed of any in the firearms world. I love the old battle rifles, so shooting this is has a huge fun factor. For safety: before handling a firearm read, understand and follow instructions in the manual provided with firearm. Once worked in, the safety is quick and easy to disengage by simply pushing your trigger finger forward without losing your grip on the rifle, then have your finger ready for firing. We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe. As students of the gun we have to be competent with anything we pick up off the ground. The piece that always nagged at me is that it has never shot as accurately as I thought it should. It is impossible to operate in a straight-line motion, without side loading the handle, with a scope that overhangs the handle. Other well proven 1st rate designs like the FAL, G3, AKM are rockers. I may earn a small part of the sale from links to any products or services on this site. I'll say, nerd or not. The M1 Garand and M14 are battle proven, time tested, reliable and dependable rifles. Recoil is minimal for the 7.62 NATO and, honestly, I really cant tell the difference between shooting this and my full-size M1A Loaded. Incentive is the key. I shoot 2- 16" AR's for competition, and they work fine to 600. Sets the standard for ergonomic comfort and performance. It comes up naturally to give a quick and comfortable sight picture without the need for a cheek rest adapter even more so with the red dot. Again, obviously much better than the results that we were getting in the two different times we shot the guns previously. Firing the rifle off the bench was pleasant with all ammo, despite the additional blast of the muzzle brake and not having the assist of a cheek rest. I think this gun in the hands of a good shooter is easily a sub MOA gun. Then I came across this video review. Ive also owned a standard M1A and really couldnt tell any difference. The M1As safety is located within the trigger guard itself, and is essentially a metal tab that you press forward to disengage. That's what my doctor told me once when he didn't have a clue. Back in the 1970-80s, I shot on a military rifle team that was issued NM M14s. Great discussion folks. My best target was shot at a Regional match which shot the 600 yard target first. Sure, people can hit targets further than this, but its uncommon, to say the least. with the right ammo. Featuring a short 16.25 barrel and shortened gas system, the CQB is equipped with a pistol-gripped composite stock with an integrated collapsible five-position buttstock. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly gungiveaways! I totally enjoy your video on this every time I see it! There are very few sources online that have the credibility to be able to tell the truth, this is one of them. I think it balances a bit better, and I liked the sights on the Scout much better than the Socom. In this article, Steve Sieberts reviews Springfield Armorys SOCOM 16 CQB rifle. Caldwell Lead Sled at 100 Yards! Any more or less and the accuracy becomes squirrely. Also, it seems to be more consistent once it warms up. Caution You risk injury or death by mishandling firearms. Wonderful rifle gives me lots of headaches on my reloading if I was more into people knowing or I lived and who I was I do a video on it myself but I try to stay to myself. The SOCOM 16 CQB is one of the smallest, most compact variants of the Springfield Armory M1A rifle. Have adequate ventilation at all times. This is not a AR 10 ( I own a Sig 716 Patrol 1st Gen), I wonder if the difference was that you were using .308 instead of the 7.62 NATO round that the rifle was made to use.I wouldn't use .223 in my AR 15 that is chambered to use 5.56 just because, We thought that as well, but the M1A barrels themselves have ".308" stamped into them . And while the M14 may have left service as the primary rifle for the U.S. military relatively quickly, the spirit of the design has lived on with the M1A, introduced by Geneseo, Illinois Springfield Armory in 1974 and it was an immediate hit. On a SOCOM 16 features a forward-mounted optic rail in the Effective maximum range is under 100 yards. Following the sale of Remington Outdoor Company's assets in September 2020, Vista Outdoor purchased Remington Ammunition. The SOCOM 16 weighs approximately 8.8 lbs. Certainly seems to be the case - though some folks still swear they're getting crazy good groupings with the M1A. This multi-function case features multiple pouches for range books, ammo, cleaning kits, spotting scope, and other gear. 460 meters/500 yards here. I packed an m 14 for two years while stationed in Germany, and I was a combat medic. My love affair with a 308 as lasted my lifetime. First, she likes to eat only certain kinds of ammo. I have trouble shooting off a bench with it. This was a 100 meter range so it was a little over 100 yards and, in all fairness, I had done some competitive shooting but only in small bore. Benching it at 100 yards, I was able to get 2 to 3 MOA groups using PPU M80 FMJ BT 145-gr. Many match shooters do this BUT Springfield warns very strongly against it for safety reasons. For a result of 3.29 MOA ABM ammo shot best groups of the day at 100 yards with Aimpoint installed. Especially since it left their factory with defects. But I have experienced the same thing as you have, are beautiful rifles and sexy as hell just not something I need around my house. I have people who have seen this trick but no one wants to try it. Back in January, I did something I have wanted to do for a long time. As I was finishing my military career, the M16 was just coming online in competitive circles and were giving the M14/M1A a run for the money. which was 94 percent of list velocity. Because of the op-rod placement, youre likely going to have to jump your support hand out way further than what feels natural if youre used to firing modern carbines otherwise, youll be in for quite a shitty surprise when the gun bites you. It seemed like no matter what type of .308 ammunition we used, from shitty PRVI to decent PM to federal gold medal match, wed hit 1or 2 shots every 3-4 rounds using consistent holds on our steel target. What type powder and how many grains? The vaunted mid 20th century designed AR15 is over 60 years old, and only 25 years younger than the "antique" Garand design. I found I shoot it best while prone. WebThe Sportsman's Shop 7.47K subscribers In this video we take a close look into the Springfield Armory M1A SOCOM 16 Rifle! I'd love to own either but I have better stuff to spend 12-1500 bucks on unless I can find someone else to pay my rent for me (any volunteers?). You could fully load an M-4 style rifle with 30 rounds, optic, sling, and laser and be close to that same weight. I know this differs from gun to gun because of all the odd mechanical claptrap which also differs from gun to gun. Otherwise I actually prefer my M1A to my ARs. I had the same problems with the thing and could not keep rounds on paper. and measures 37.25 in overall length. When I go to any range and get out one of these or my Garand Tanker, people stop and walk over. What sticks out as extremely odd for me personally though, is that weve never experienced issues quite like this with any of our other .308 guns, and the issues occurred across multiple reasonably experienced shooters. It was par for the course during the 40s, but is it fair to judge an antiquated set up by modern standards? To achieve this it is best to start by getting acquainted with a shooting sling and building a rock solid prone position. So the M-14/M1A platform saw a pretty serious re-emergence starting around 2004. I'm 72 years old and can't even get corrected to more that 25/20. I found I was able to hit whatever I wanted with the M-14's that I used in the USMC. In particular, I tried out the CQB variant fitted out with a Vortex Venom red dot on a mount that replaces the stripper clip guide. The SOC16 is obviously a bit more compact and includes a 16 barrel in a black polymer stock with the iconic SOC16 muzzle brake upfront. While the British focused on a smaller .280 cartridge out of concern for controllability in full auto, the US refused to adopt anything smaller than .30 caliber, citing concerns over diminished stopping power. The M1As worst critics online will tell you that the guns design itself literally prevents them from being accurized, due to the mechanics of how the rifles receiver fits into the stock itself. The rifle includes a short section of barrel-mounted Picatinny rail. The rifle may be different, but to act as if it is some sort of antique is laughable. Old and outdated? Why have the safety where you have to move the safety off before finding the trigger? Are we posers? Suffice to say she can be very accurate when she's treated as she demands. I was disappointed when I had to trade it in for an M-16. Product specifications are subject to change without notice. How M-1A's equate to the real thing I have no idea. The SOCOM 16 weighs approximately 8.8 lbs. Each Loaded model brings you all the custom features you want but without a custom shop price tag. Here's what I've learned after 12 years of intimate marriage: parts until Springfield Armory, Inc. began But with the M1A SOCOM 6 CQB, they are. Here's a closer look at the Springfield SOCOM 16 CQB M1A model designed specifically for up-close and personal situations. Neil. Not a big deal but shows lack of attention to detail and quality control. They are about equal as far as accuracy. Sorry, an error occurred and we could not sign you up. But ammo choices didn't help the national match should have had 175g. BUT it takes skill to achieve results using iron sights. 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