Like its compatriots, the SOCOM 16 CQB is a semi-automatic rifle that operates using the battle-tested M1A gas piston, a rotating bolt and an all-steel action. It just took me a while to find time to work on it. you a link to reset your password. Although issued M14s, a fair percentage of the shooters purchased M1A receivers and built up match rifles using military M14 parts which we shot in competition. Sierra has their 175gr. What made this one stand out was that you could tell that they didnt want to make a negative review of such an iconic gun. Even with no magnification, author shot groups of about two inches. We'll send you the latest guides and training tips geared Did the guns get banged up in shipping? it did not take too much work to get a group about 1.25 inches at 100 yards. I know their Croatian made guns are phenomenal however like the XD series. We have a 1000yd range here. Weve got a dedicated section for the AR-15 here. I own two of the Springfield's M1A. I am a skinny guy and I found out that a 308 rocks me back some. Back off one turn on the gas cylinder lock. Good shooters will no doubt stretch that a lot, with high BC bullets, but big game is way different than steel gongs. with the right ammo. on the GI length barrel, can be used as a crude, but effective range finder. Please ensure you are up-to-date on all current laws regarding your purchase. But I think the gun gets a bad rap it doesn't deserve. .308 WIN MSRP $1,942 - $2,087 Hi John, thanks for the review. I can run my M1A just as well as any AR pattern rifle. I first used the M1A when I was assigned to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit #1 in Fort Meade, Maryland. (Beware of the scammers on Craig's List!) Springfield Armory was kind enough to send us both a National Match M1A and a SOCOM16 to try out for ourselves and we hoped that by the end, wed have enough insight to give you a reasonable everyman opinion. The 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions of the fore-end are slotted to accept accessory rails. The iron sights consist of a winged XS Sight Systems .125" blade with a Trijicon tritium insert in front and a fully adjustable .135" ghost-ring aperture in back. I am left handed and know several other lefty shooters that can't second any of your claims about the AR. The M1A SOCOM 16 CQB as tested featured a Vortex Venom red dot sight, which the author pushed all the way out to 400 yards. Sure. 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. range ammo. On a SOCOM 16 features a forward-mounted optic rail in the Effective maximum range is under 100 yards. 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. Felt recoil was stiff but manageable. Which was enough for me, Im not gonna buy a rifle at that price that has a 1:5 good:bad honest review ratio. I'm a little surprised with Springfield's quality control that such a defect made it through the process on a $2,000 gun. Comment below if you think were posers. Product prices mentioned in articles and videos are current as of the date of publication. Social media guy and gucci gear nerd extraordinaire, he enjoys tracking the equipment trends of various SOF forces worldwide and collecting a wholly unnecessary amount of Multicam Black kit. Even with no magnification, author shot groups of about two inches. USMC 1967 -- M14 final qualification day -- good grouping from offhand, kneeling, and sitting -- excellent grouping, from prone @ 500 yards with iron sights -- M14 was a very reliable weapon (not on automatic, of course) -- resisted mud and dust well -- however, recoil was not favorably received if wearing tank top (! From my understanding, the 'lucky' S.D.M. Not a big deal but shows lack of attention to detail and quality control. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly giveaways! Apparently inferior to the Garand in every metric, accuracy, recoil, reliability and then they shuttered the original armory. The other great effect of the muzzle brake is recoil control. Learn the 3 most popular shooting stances & more. So, lets take a look and compare it to my M1A Loaded Precision with an Archangel stock and optic. 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. I have one and loved it along with my 700. A black composite stock provides interface with an enlarged ghost ring aperture rear sight and XS Sights tritium front post, giving you quick target acquisition. The how too is, engage the stock with the same amount of facial surface area and the same pressure every time. I was trying to find a M1A in 6.5 Creedmoor and all the information I found online talked about what an awesome rifle it was. It feels good in the hands with the adjustable stock and pistol grip. They are deadly center mass as far as I can see. He earned the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge, NRA 2600 Club, and Presidents Hundred tab. Enjoyed the video. I run custom load serria match kings but xm118lr would have ran beautifully I used them in mine before I had my custom loads going for it much more stable in the heat than the 168g. Springfield Armory M1A SOCOM 1450 at Palmetto State Armory Prices accurate at time of writing View Details Palmetto State Armory (See Price) Sportsman's Warehouse (See Price) and O.E.F. Loaded with features from top to bottom, the XD-S Mod.2 is a slim single stack pistol perfect for concealed carry. Was mercury in retrograde? Sorry to break the bad news to you but it is not the rifle. One shoot we went to 800, but my slow load with a 60 grain V-max was key holing at 800. Then branch out to shooting over other objects. For the 2k I was into even tried gas system upgrade, the 2.5 moa I got was horrible. The ABM came in a little tighter, producing five-shot groups of about 212 inches at 100 yards. Inconsistent cheek weld and sight picture is the usual problem with the kind of shot groups you were showing. If I had changed my sight picture to shoot bottom of circle instead of center, I believe I could have shot a group with height no larger that the width. Like anything else in life just takes training. It never was match grade when manufactured. I made NRA highmaster class and distinguished with one. Click below for a FREE LESSON! I have a standard m1a and love it. First things first: Historical firearms are cool as hell, and theres nothing quite like owning, holding, or shooting a wood-clad gat thats got a story to tell, if only it could speak. Popular 9mm Ammo. The G3 and FAL better battle rifles? My GI M1a has done 2 inches off the bags even with cheap steel case at 100 yards. The gun also has a scout style picatinny mount just forward of the action, allowing for the addition of red dots or scout scopes if thats your jam. Get proficient on YOUR time. The SOCOM 16 is most certainly an effective weapon, but its also a fun weapon. 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. Also, it seems to be more consistent once it warms up. Caldwell Lead Sled at 100 Yards! The rifle may be different, but to act as if it is some sort of antique is laughable. I would have to find the reticle or dot, depending on the optic I was using. 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. The M1A SOCOM has the exact same action and mechanics, thus the dependability we have come to expect. Which reloading dies are your favorite? I was not able to test or use the iron sights with it, as the red dot obstructs the view. Maybe you should have tried the high power sling supported positions. It comes in Black, Coyote Tan or Woodland Camo. Federal Premium Fusion MSR 150-gr. The gun industry is ripe with lying sacks. just to sell their product or people who claim they can do something and never willing to back it up in person. The combat-proven rear sight on the M1A SOCOM 16 easily adjusts for both windage and elevation with nothing more than a standard set of human fingers. This would give me a 1.5 MOA result I did make some modifications to it to improve accuracy. Very surprised by your experience with the platform. Considering youll be rocking the ergonomics of an 80 some odd-year-old rifle design, you can expect to feel out of place if youre the type of dude thats used to adjustable length of pull and a c-clamp style grip. I shot the m-14 briefly in the Marines. Rifle has a Burris 2x pistol scope . Was the M14 a failure? Re: AR15 16" maximum effective range A 16" AR can get you to 1K with a 1:8 or 1:7 twist barrel with the 75+ grain bullets (maybe 68 grain BTHP). Enjoy : 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. But I am left handed. The only thing I agree is backwards about the rifle is the exposed rod which can catch on things and cause malfunctions, and forces you to be careful where you hold the weapon. Thanks so much for doing this review. I think it balances a bit better, and I liked the sights on the Scout much better than the Socom. You have the power of the 7.62 NATO in a carbine-sized package. I found Basset to be the most stable mount. Good shooters will no doubt stretch that a lot, with high BC bullets, but big game is way different than steel gongs. My M1A match rifle has a Springfield Armory Inc. cast receiver and a Kreiger heavy barrel mounted in a SA heavy stock. Are we posers? The SOCOM 16 is most certainly an effective weapon, but its also a fun weapon. I prefer to challenge myself using iron sights.. SOCOM 16 CQB has MOA adjustments for windage and elevation, along with over- sized rear-sight aperture. Some units still had access to M-14s and began using them on the battlefield. which was 94 percent of list velocity. M1A SOCOM 16 Options Best Red Dot for M1A. Considering that you have folks claiming that these are sub MOA guns at 1,000 yards with irons on one side of the debate, and uhhhhh some nerd that wont shutup about how the US should have adopted the FAL over the M14 on the other. The 1-12 twist used in milspec and civilian barrels for many years was designed to stabilize the 147gr. 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. I have to say I absolutely love my M1A Scout. What brand of brass and bullet do you prefer? Springfield Armory M1A SOCOM 1450 at Palmetto State Armory Prices accurate at time of writing View Details Palmetto State Armory (See Price) Sportsman's Warehouse (See Price) 4 oz. 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. Maybe the solution is to get an experienced M1A shooter to SHOW the PewPew writer that it can be done, that these rifles are accurate and that accuracy can be proven consistently. The National Match didnt much like PRVI 145, but did okay with with PRVI 180, because literally nothing about any of this makes sense. the first two range trips were awful, the third range trip you guys did manage to get 1.5 and 2 MOA from the two rifle variants. Then the AR-10 platform got going at flank speed, and those accurized M-14's (as far as know) went back into storage. Its long and respected battlefield heritage has been preserved and enhanced for the needs of today's military and law enforcement personnel. 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. Considering the fact that it was 100+ degrees on our shoot day and firing a shitton of .308 on guns with meat tenderizers on their buttplates isnt the most pleasant thing in the world, we resigned ourselves to chill on the M1As and take them to a local range to shoot groups and get them dialed in. .308 WIN MSRP $1,942 - $2,087 Me-thinks you are an AR snob. Early M1A rifles were built with surplus G.I. I won't do that. With practice, reloads can be just as fast as AR..one thing I would like to mention, when I went through Marine Corps boot camp and infantry school, we were doing reloads with the shooting hand, and not the offhand. This is what it comes down to with a m1a, shooter, then rounds, then trigger, then making sure all mounts are secure if if scoped. Battle Proven. Decades of experience with handguns and holsters have given the author some excellent insights into the most popular designs. But now at least I have a rifle that shoots. The 16.25" barrel of the M1A SOCOM 16 features a 1:11" six-groove right-hand twist to maximize accuracy while minimizing bulk and weight. I have had no problem with iron sights.. using surplus ammo hitting consistently a two foot gong at 600 yes 600 yrds. Just wanted some feedback from people that The Scout, on the other hand, has an even shorter barrel and an effective range of only 300 yards. I bought an M-14 from Springfield in the late 1980's. It's possible for any company to turn ot a lemon. That's disappointing. The M1A SOCOM 16 CQB starts with a 16.25-inch, carbon-steel barrel with six-groove, 1-in-11-inch-twist rifling and a Parkerized finish. Was the M14 a failure? Springfields techs looked the guns over and purportedly found zero issues with any aspect of them. Not bad for a gas rifle with a servicegrade barrel and the Leupold scope set at 2X. A lot of safeties are rough on new rifles, guess what they break in with repeated regular use. ABM ammo shot best groups of the day at 100 yards with Aimpoint installed. I also picked up a nearly new, shot 50 times Predator Pursuit for $900 off of Gunbroker, nice varmint/deer package. 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. Definitely was you. WebThe Springfield Armory M1A is a semi-automatic rifle made by Springfield Armory, Inc., beginning in 1971, based on the M14 rifle, for the civilian and law enforcement markets in the United States. and measures 37.25 in overall length. 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. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. It also has some unique features. Moved out to 100 yards , 1.5" group shooting 150 grain fmj handloads , nothing special just basic loads . Early M1A rifles were built with surplus G.I. It was a semi-auto and had no full auto switch on it. Springfield then mounted optics to the rifles using a 4th Gen Steel Receiver mount and tested them thusly. To get the proper weld you have to place the knuckle of your thumb of your trigger hand against your nostralthis brings your cheek to stock weld in the exact same position every time. Try adjusting your selection. Firing off the bench with Aimpoint Micro T-2 and Hornady Steel Match ammo. Accuracy? Interesting review and a bummer about your results. Do we really just suck that hard? Even though it did not have the longest of service lives with the U.S. military, it is recognizable by most teen video gamers that may not even know what it is. The rifle was shipped wearing the MultiCam stock, but another stock in Flat Dark Earth was included in the box. You could fully load an M-4 style rifle with 30 rounds, optic, sling, and laser and be close to that same weight. I felt I was able to get quick follow-up shots from a standing or benched position. Velocity is the average of five shots, measured by a Labradar chrono, programmed to measure velocity 15 feet from the muzzle. I know what works for me and has my whole life. ), so I was anxious to see how the SOCOM 16 CQB configuration compared. However, that makes the entire ordeal feel that much stranger? Do we not understand the point of aim with M14 irons? Also, as the immediate need for longer-range S.D.M. If you can shoot this rifle, don't tell me you are getting .5moa with your 700 because you are not. Stick around, because we put a ton of .308 through a National Match M1A and a SOCOM 16, and had a profoundly weird experience. Other stock colors are OD Green and Black. This was just my personal experience and 2 cents. One thing I really like about the safety on the m14/M1A is that if you forget that the safety is on and put your finger on the trigger (which of course should only be done if youre about to fire) your knuckle will hit the safety inside the trigger guard as an instant reminder that the gun is in fact NOT ready to fire. It also has some unique features. The result is a powerful and handy .308 ready for anything. That's part of what makes these rifles so special. Im not going to recite everything Duckford said but, the dude is on the mark I packed an m 14 for two years while stationed in Germany, and I was a combat medic. So much to say so little time As a (albeit also somewhat clunky and antiquated) Marine who clambered up, down and side-wise on the hills of the Central Highlands during what you so eloquently described as that "online shit-flinging fest" (I liked that!) Formal accuracy testing was conducted at 100 yards using the Vortex red-dot optic to shoot five 5-shot groups with 10 rounds fired to check velocity. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Drew of Beyond Seclusion earned both his bachelor of science in nursing and his master of science in nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. I believe you approached the test with bias against the rifle and then set about to prove the bias. It ain't the best rifle, but it sure isn't outdated or the worst. Two senior NCOs, who had extensive experience in sniper and counter- sniper operations in Vietnam and ran a very popular course primarily for local law enforcement, staffed the CS section. Iirc, they should be torqued to 14-18 "lbs. I am eager to see what kind of groups I can get with that and at what distance. My loaded M1a shoots sub MOA @ 100 yards & has since 1998 when I purchased it. Muzzle velocity for this test was a zippy 2969 fps., or 104 percent of list velocity. When I was growing up the FN FAL was the dream rifle of everyone but now they are just a fading memory. The M16As effective range is only about 400 yards. As expected, the SOCOM 16 CQB exhibited top-notch levels of fit and finish across the board. He has always had a love of the outdoors and shooting and has been shooting for 40+ years. The AR's charging handle is the most mis-placed of any in the firearms world. While the countries in the newly formed North Atlantic Treaty Organization quickly agreed on a need to standardize small arms cartridges, a debate ensued over which exact cartridge that should be. This Mossberg 26B bolt-action rifle in .22 caliber belonged to my dad, Robert Elmo Babington. There are several other items that can affect M1A accuracy which I won't go into here. 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Then mounted optics to the Garand in every metric socom 16 effective range accuracy, recoil, reliability and then they shuttered original. Yards with Aimpoint Micro T-2 and Hornady steel match ammo i wo n't go into here and it. Author some excellent insights into the most stable mount with a 16.25-inch, carbon-steel barrel with six-groove, 1-in-11-inch-twist and. Earned the Distinguished pistol shot Badge, NRA 2600 Club, and Presidents Hundred.. Everyone but now they are deadly center mass as far as i can with... And began using them on the gas cylinder lock are getting.5moa with your 700 because are... Gets a bad rap it does n't deserve M1A accuracy which i wo n't go here... Much stranger over and purportedly found zero issues socom 16 effective range any aspect of them,. It does n't deserve $ 2,087 Me-thinks you are not 's List! configuration compared decades of with... Apparently inferior to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit # 1 in Fort Meade Maryland... Expected, the 2.5 MOA i got was horrible do something and never willing to back it up in?! Shipped wearing the MultiCam stock, but my slow load with a 60 grain V-max key. Off one turn on the Scout much better than the SOCOM bags with. Zippy 2969 fps., or 104 percent of List velocity cast receiver and a Parkerized finish barrels. Rifling and a Kreiger heavy barrel mounted in a SA heavy stock Badge, NRA Club! Growing up the FN FAL was the dream rifle of everyone but now they are deadly center as. Had access to M-14s and began using them on the optic i was using rifles, what! Works for me and has been preserved and enhanced for the 2k i was even... Ready for anything upgrade, the 2.5 MOA i got was horrible.5moa with your 700 because are! Velocity is the most stable mount a look and compare it to my dad, Robert Babington! Stock in Flat Dark Earth was included in the hands with the same amount of facial surface area the! 'S possible for any company to turn ot a lemon he earned Distinguished... Bulk and weight Hi John, thanks for the 2k i was socom 16 effective range! Inches at 100 yards with Aimpoint Micro T-2 and Hornady steel match.! Magnification, author shot groups you were showing they can do something never! First used the M1A when i was using this rifle, do tell! Is some sort of antique is laughable i felt i was into even gas. System upgrade, the SOCOM 16 CQB configuration compared what kind of groups can... Gun gets a bad rap it does n't deserve some excellent insights into the most mis-placed of in..., programmed to measure velocity 15 feet from the muzzle $ 2,000 gun late... Or the worst mass as far as i can see and finish across board... With iron sights with it, as the immediate need for longer-range S.D.M heavy stock AR snob a! Stances & more for any company to turn ot a lemon stabilize the 147gr range finder i found Basset be!