So Com 16...love at first sight?

[RichR]

I don't get many chances to shoot out past 2-300yd, so almost all my rifles are carbine length. The socom is featureless by design, light for the platform, handles well and shoots as well as a full length standard at said distances. What's not to love? Some people don't like springfield, inc, and thats ok. I would buy another one if I could afford it.

Oh, I took off the scout rail and put on a standard handguard. The rifle is now perfect. Irons ftw.

What's not to love is the tremendously loud backblast and noise imparted by their muzzle brake design. It's terribly loud to shoot.

I suggest the OP find one to try out, either at a public range or even solicit someone here to specifically meet him somewhere so he can try it out before he buys.

As for 'brazilian' and 'cast' nonsense, study up on it, try to find the source and substantiation for it, and any real problems that support such disparagements.

[sevensix2x51]

What's not to love is the tremendously loud backblast and noise imparted by their muzzle brake design. It's terribly loud to shoot.

eh, earplugs? it IS a 16" .308... the brake works very well at doing it's intended job of keeping the muzzle stable for quick follow-ups. i have done a bit of competing at local gun clubs with the rifle, and can attest to its performance in rapid fire... i never really noticed it being all that loud... but yeah, its a good idea to try out ANY firearm before you decide to drop a large chunk of money on it...

[prob]

cast brazilian reciever, be advised.
thats the big thing that turns me off about modern m1a's.
Im told the older versions 20 years ago was made from gi parts, except the reicever, which was still a cast reciever.

makes the ar308 look alot more attractive with that info.

Oh, please. Cast receivers are fine.

On another note, I have a Socom II and it's quite the shooter. I did remove the rail (cool, but it gets in the way and adds unnecessary weight) and replaced the front and rear sights with standard sights for a better sight picture. It's always a crowd pleaser and whenever I take people out shooting it's one of the rifles that gets used the most.

[professorhard]

I think most people like the SOCOM initially because of the short barrel and how "tactical" it looks, but they end up shooting a few hundred rounds, don't like the massive muzzle blast or mediocre accuracy and end up selling it to buy a scout...

[misterjake]

I think most people like the SOCOM initially because of the short barrel and how "tactical" it looks, but they end up shooting a few hundred rounds, don't like the massive muzzle blast or mediocre accuracy and end up selling it to buy a scout...

Accuracy is mediocre? I was hitting 12oz bottles dead center at 50 and 100 yards.

It's not designed for a long range sniping rifle it's a nice balance of stopping power and portability.

Knocking a gun for something it was not designed to do is silly.

That's like taking a m4, putting a 10X scope on it and saying how crappy it is not hitting targets at 700 yards.

[prob]

I think most people like the SOCOM initially because of the short barrel and how "tactical" it looks, but they end up shooting a few hundred rounds, don't like the massive muzzle blast or mediocre accuracy and end up selling it to buy a scout...

I can consistently hit a 12" plate at 230 yards with open sights. Accuracy is not bad at all.

[hnoppenberger]

First of all, youre not even stating any facts. SAI M1A receivers are not made in Brazil. So your credibility to know something about M1As or SAI flys out the window. In other words, if you don't know, then stop posting like you do know.

LOL awesome. I know more than you, thats all that counts. I don't know why you are that bent about the real country of origin, its not that big a deal, does not make the gun less of a weapon, the origin of the thread was discussing the pluses and minuses. To me, a cast reciever, even if it was made in USA (its not, SAI recievers are brazilian) would be a turn off for me. I would prefer a forged, domestic, m14 reciever. That is an awesome gun, for me. Go give SAI a call.

[jaustin612]

Its all up to the buyer. in my opinion though if im buying a 7.62 rifle, it would be a long range hitter, definitely not a cqb style. while it is short, its heavy. screw lugging that thing around all day.

[misterjake]

Its all up to the buyer. in my opinion though if im buying a 7.62 rifle, it would be a long range hitter, definitely not a cqb style. while it is short, its heavy. screw lugging that thing around all day.

Wow, you make it sound like it's a pallet of cinder blocks.

Socom 16 -- 8.9lbs

Ar-15 about-- 7.5lbs.

Not that much different.

Socom 16 is a great compromise between power, length and weight.