Who uses the SOCOM 16?

[Kenshin]

In the military? I take it that only certain Spec Ops use them?

[Morales]

I'm not sure if anyone in the official military uses them. I think the whole military angle is a selling point for the civilian market, who seems to fall for anything that sounds like troops use it. Every piece of junk that you can slap on your rifle is advertised as being "battle proven" or "tactical" or "the choice of professionals." I've never seen a picture of troops in the mid east using a SOCOM 16, and of the 5-6 good friends of mine who went to war, including one who worked with some SEALs, not one has mentioned anything aside from the usual stuff. Acording to my buddy, more often than not Spec Ops guys go out with either M4s or AKs.

[bwiese]

No one.

No 'real' .mil organization would use a semiauto battle rifle without a chrome-lined barrel.

(Sure, maybe the Eastern Kentucky Tri-Counties Mutual Aid SWAT Team might have a couple on the rack.)

[Technical Ted]

No one.

No 'real' .mil organization would use a semiauto battle rifle without a chrome-lined barrel.

(Sure, maybe the Eastern Kentucky Tri-Counties Mutual Aid SWAT Team might have a couple on the rack.)

MARCOM

[edsel6502]

No 'real' .mil organization would use a semiauto battle rifle without a chrome-lined barrel.

Does springfield know that there is a market for having their products with a chrome lined barrel?.

I wonder why they don't do it or offer it as an option?.

[slick_711]

Springfield's claim is that it is a production version of some rifles that the SEAL teams were using at one point that had been made for them by their armorers. That said, I know a number of seals and have never seen any such thing. They're not current issue for any U.S. military unit.

[aplinker]

I use it, daily, for house clearing.

I am the President and Army of One of Wilzakistan. My military duties of protecting the borders from cockroach and burglar encroachment are well fulfilled by my SOCOM II in the close quarters of my apartment. The rails, tac light, laser and black evilness scare the piss out of all intruders.

No one uses them, save maybe some random SEAL who reads Springfields propaganda, too. I do have one and like it, but I've always known it's ridiculous. It is, however, an unbastardized open-magwell self-loading main battle rifle available in CA that isn't gigantic.

[slick_711]

No one uses them, save maybe some random SEAL

I know more than one SEAL who personally own SOCOM 16s and love them. The M1 & M1A are IMHO the best battle rifles ever made. Granted the SOCOM 16 (& especially the SOCOM II) are a bastardization of the original, they are very functional and lord knows .308 does the trick.

[Atmosphere]

I thought I remember someone on this board mentioning that some military personnel where using the "scout" M1A's or some other 18" barrel version

[aplinker]

I know more than one SEAL who personally own SOCOM 16s and love them. The M1 & M1A are IMHO the best battle rifles ever made. Granted the SOCOM 16 (& especially the SOCOM II) are a bastardization of the original, they are very functional and lord knows .308 does the trick.

Personally own them is vague... you mean they own them for personal use or for "work?"

Have them pose with credentials and SOCOMs.

Honestly, I don't really undertand the choice... I like mine, but if I were working with it, I'd be much more likely to choose an AR-10 or similar -- the ease of transition between AR-10 and M4, etc. alone would make it decidedly better.

I've seen the pics of armory M14s in Sages stacked up. Some looked like 18" barrels.

[PIRATE14]

I thought I remember someone on this board mentioning that some military personnel where using the "scout" M1A's or some other 18" barrel version

Pretty sure they don't come form the Springfield factory...........

Are M14s in use in the GWOT.....YES.....are they a SOCOM II....NO...

[bwiese]

Does springfield know that there is a market for having their products with a chrome lined barrel?.

I wonder why they don't do it or offer it as an option?.

I have repeatedly asked them to do this - both their folks at Springfield's SHOT Show display in 2005 and 2006, and whenever they have a rep at Reed's "Springfield Days" sales.

I'm usually looked at quite quizically after I request one. (I'd love a 16" SOCOM w/chrome-lined bbl, and I think the chrome-lined milspec chamber may well solve any extraction/ejection issues such rifles might have.) .

One Springfield rep even had the gall to tell me that several police depts buy them, "so it must be good enough for them". Another told me that if I knew so much about rifles I should apply for a job there, but until then (effectively) shaddup, after I'd told him it costs around $30-$50 to chrome-line a bbl (includes rejection rate compensation) and buyers would pay 3X that difference.

They gulped a bit when I said I'd buy several if they could do it (hey, why not?) and that it would be a shame to buy one of their rifles as it sits and have to put a brand new barrel in it.

[jumbopanda]

It's a bit sad that peasants in Romania can chrome-line AK barrels, but Springfield won't do so for their rifles.

[boosterboy]

I've heard of rumors of SG-2 using them to penetrate Jaffa armor. Since it's a shorter weapon, it makes it easier to use onboard Goa'uld ships, because you know the corridors of spaceships are really tight and a fullsized M1A would too be cumbersome to manuever.

In response to Jaffa stun grenades, SG-2 started firing .308 blanks from their Socom 16s, the muzzle blast is loud and bright enough to stun everybody in the room. Finally a good use for 16" barrel .308 rifles.!!

They figured 5.7 fired from P90s wasn't putting down Jaffa fast enough, so they went straight for .308

If the Air Force uses it, it must be good!, afterall, the M16's procurement was an Air Force General's ideas.

I would totally take a Socom 16 if I was goin' through the gate.

[edsel6502]

One Springfield rep even had the gall to tell me that several police depts buy them, "so it must be good enough for them". Another told me that if I knew so much about rifles I should apply for a job there, but until then (effectively) shaddup, after I'd told him it costs around $30-$50 to chrome-line a bbl (includes rejection rate compensation) and buyers would pay 3X that difference.

Ziggactly.. $100 to $150 option to chrome line a barrel. I would buy it.

The only choice that I've found is a barrel from Fulton or buying a Fulton rifle.