I also find that for me personally, the combination of hand and head placement when shooting from a rest position always winds up grabbing a bit of facial hair that the rifle takes with it when it fires, so make of that what you will. 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 . still gives me sub moa groups as recently as the beginning of the month. I think this gun in the hands of a good shooter is easily a sub MOA gun. 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. Then I came across this video review. The M14 is no different. As someone who shoots a lot of handguns and thinks handguns should not have manual safeties (all long guns should of course, but with a handgun a good holster is your safety) i worry about forgetting the safety is switched on, this solves that problem. 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. Popular 9mm Ammo. I was sick of that heavy thing. WebThe SOCOM 16 put three shots into about two inches, with the other two shots opening the group up to about ten inches using the Hornady Steel Match ammo. Outside of that, rifle to rifle, is the old grip inferior? 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. I would have to find the reticle or dot, depending on the optic I was using. 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. Purchased a bayonet w/scabbard at a local gun show. I also run a PTR-91 for the same purpose. Old and heavy? Good shooters will no doubt stretch that a lot, with high BC bullets, but big game is way different than steel gongs. Stick around, because we put a ton of .308 through a National Match M1A and a SOCOM 16, and had a profoundly weird experience. After a few mags, we decided to setup a shooting mat and rest to take some prone shots with an optic mounted to the SOC16s scout mount to see if the irons themselves were just inexplicably way off. It also seems unlikely that wed be able to get two rounds to touch back to back if we werent decent shots to begin with, only to have a subsequent round end up nowhere near the previous two. All rights reserved. From the comments below and the Springfield techs results, it seems that the rifles are capable but getting the most out of them takes a high level of technique. which was 98.6 percent of list velocity. For the 2k I was into even tried gas system upgrade, the 2.5 moa I got was horrible. Accuracy results are the average of four, five-shot groups, over a Sinclair shooting rest, at 50 yards. Ive seen more bad reviews than good on socom 16 version. .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 US would have been better off with the FAL. Even the lightest .458 SOCOM round is more than three times heavier than the M855 round. Accuracy results are the average of four, five-shot groups, over a Sinclair shooting rest, at 50 yards. I regularly saw slightly over 1 MOA with iron sights and probably 1 MOA with an ACOG at distances less than 300 meters, probably 3-3.5 MOA out to 600 meters with 147 grain federal fmj, and I could get back down to that 1.5 MOA range with 168 blackhills. A 1911 with a host of duty-grade features. I had both the Scout and the Socom 16, and I liked the Scout better, so I kept it. Couldn't pass it up at that price and .458 SOCOM is legal for Indiana deer so it was an easy decision. He has always had a love of the outdoors and shooting and has been shooting for 40+ years. The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly gungiveaways! I know this differs from gun to gun because of all the odd mechanical claptrap which also differs from gun to gun. The .458 SOCOM treads hard on its heels, but with a flatter (albeit still arcing) trajectory. Takes time learning it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U11URice_cM. It is very likely your shooter not being familiar with the weapon system that got you the results that you achieved. Even with no magnification, author shot groups of about two inches. Sure, people can hit targets further than this, but its uncommon, to say the least. Because there are so many general purpose and specialized target shooting loads to choose from, it's a good idea to look for those cartridges with performance qualities suited to close-quarters conditions. 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?). I still wonder what is going on with the rifles you reviewed. Then the AR-10 platform got going at flank speed, and those accurized M-14's (as far as know) went back into storage. M1A SOCOM 16 Options Best Red Dot for M1A. For a result of 3.29 MOA You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to use this website. Thanks so much for doing this review. 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. The bag comes in Black, Tan or OD Green. This multi-function case features multiple pouches for range books, ammo, cleaning kits, spotting scope, and other gear. Point is you own one of these rifles because you want to. Ready to fire? Early M1A rifles were built with surplus G.I. The National Match M1A is, according to Springfield, hand-built to win competitions. 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. SpecificationsManufacturer: Springfield ArmoryModel: M1A AA9611PK CQB Close-Quarters CombatAction: Gas-Piston Operated Semi-Automatic with Rotating BoltCaliber: 7.62 NATO/.308 Win.Finish: Parkerized SteelStock: Archangel Synthetic 5 Position CQB with Adjustable Cheek Piece, BlackBarrel: Medium Profile Parkerized Carbon SteelMuzzle: SOCOM Muzzle BrakeFront Sight: XS Sight Systems Post with Tritium Insert, .125" Blade FrontRear Sight: Ghost Ring Adjustable, .135" ApertureOptic: Vortex Optics Venom 3 MOA Red DotOptic Mount: Springfield Armory Clip Guide Red-Dot MountBarrel Length: 16.25"Overall Length: 35.5" - 38.5"Length Of Pull (LOP): 11.5" - 14.5"Weight: 9 lbs. 's and Army S.F. Ava8harrierusmc1 At Aberdeen, the army figured a max effective range of 656 yards for these guns because that was the range at which bullets began to wobble a bit due to lack of stability. You could fully load an M-4 style rifle with 30 rounds, optic, sling, and laser and be close to that same weight. And stay in touch with newsletters of our best articles on techniques, guns, & gear. | Edged Weapons Self-Defense, WHOS OUT OF THE FIGHT? WebIn my opinion, 200 yards is this rifle's practical hunting range. "M1A" is a proprietary name for Springfield Armory's M14-pattern rifle. Rifle in a high ready OR (you won't believe this) tucking the stock under the arm pit to shorten the rifle immensely. Next you can upgrade your stock and that choice can be made from a wide range of stocks. trigger pull. I've heard that the Browning BAR modern rifle is very accurate with the BOSS muzzle device. We don't doubt it at all - it seems the general consensus is that the M14 was, on average, a much better performing rifle than the M1A - though some folks still swear by their M1As as well. The rifle includes a short section of barrel-mounted Picatinny rail. The Leupold scope features a one- inch tube made from 6061-T6 aluminum, with 14 MOA finger click adjustments, fast-focus eyepiece, and 15 inches of eye relief. The rear sight is an enlarged military aperture sight, with a .135-inch opening that makes target acquisition fast for open-sight matches, where speed is a requirement. If somebody wants a 308 battle rifle I always recommend just go buy a AR 10 and be done with it. The M1As safety is located within the trigger guard itself, and is essentially a metal tab that you press forward to disengage. Federal Premium Fusion MSR 150-gr. Had no choice. NO. I would love to shoot the M1A. If there is anything you do not understand, seek advice from someone qualified in safe handling of firearms. They are about equal as far as accuracy. Ive been using this spotting scope for some time, and it really helps locate those small holes at extended ranges. 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. ABM ammo shot best groups of the day at 100 yards with Aimpoint installed. Its not 3 gun fun, but youll notice the successful 3 gunners incorporate key element from high power. I was on a sub so we had to know the .45, .12 gage and M1A. Maybe you should have tried the high power sling supported positions. Steve Sieberts has over 40 years in the firearms field. No more of that! .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. It was an amazing piece of machinery. Otherwise I actually prefer my M1A to my ARs. ( It even voids the factory warranty). You do not pay 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. Not to mention noone our age at least ( I'm a 60 model) had the $ for one of those things, not when you could buy a 69 340 Barracuda for $800! Honestly I couldn't read all of this, but what I did seems like a lot of operator error. WebThe Sportsman's Shop 7.47K subscribers In this video we take a close look into the Springfield Armory M1A SOCOM 16 Rifle! Back in the 1970-80s, I shot on a military rifle team that was issued NM M14s. No, a sniper does not need a precision rifle. 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. As far as loosing facial hair my AR platforms are the worst. However, with a few adjustments to the rifle's configuration, it becomes a potent close-quarters combat platform. I dont like the socom version, Just the match M1A and of course, the super match M1A. The guns action is glass bedded into the walnut stock, which overcomes the traditional issue M14s face with poor fitment apparently affecting accuracy. The ergonomics of the rifle design suit me better I guess. Had a SVT40 that shot well also. That little extra recoil, noise, and muzzle rise the SOCOM 16 offers make it damn enjoyable to shoot. Still I qualified good with it. Dovetailed into the receiver above the ejection port is a Springfield Armory Clip Guide red-dot mount supporting a Vortex Optics Venom 3 MOA red-dot sight (VMD-3103). WebThe SOCOM 16 weighs 8.8 lbs, unloaded. I found the CQB very enjoyable to shoot from the bench, standing or walking in the woods. Handloaded it shot groups from .50 to .75 all day long. Early M1A rifles were built with surplus G.I. First things first in all honesty, these rifles are quite dated in terms of design ergonomics as again, theyre civilian M14s, and the M14 was dated design-wise at the time even compared to the AK and FAL. It just took me a while to find time to work on it. WebThe .458 SOCOM achieves optimum ballistic performance in barrel lengths shorter than 16 so there is no need for longer, less portable barrels. This feels a little bit odd to grade with a number value, as the rifles design is quite dated. Shoulder straps and a plethora of handles make this a versatile drag bag capable of carrying factory-length rifles, shotguns or a combination of rifles, shotguns and handguns with ease. From cold to warm it seems to move a bit. Here's a closer look at the Springfield SOCOM 16 CQB M1A model designed specifically for up-close and personal situations. Now you should do a head to head comparison of both the Springfield Armory M1A and the DSA made FAL. Also, it seems to be more consistent once it warms up. I love the aesthetics of the M1 and M14 rifles but they are from a bygone era and it shows. I bought an M-14 from Springfield in the late 1980's. 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. .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. WebIn both tactical and traditional forms, the SOCOM 16 will answer your call for a compact tactical rifle without sacrificing power. The primary complaints were fragile receivers, malformed bolts, poor accuracy, and instability during automatic fire. I myself feel the M1A is a great rifle. The M16As effective range is only about 400 yards. Again, a bit of antiquated design here I dont particularly care for a safety mechanism that I have to get my finger near the trigger to operate, and the lever itself is quite stiff. Two metallic quick release (QD) flush cup sling swivel ports are located on the right and left sides near the muzzle with two more just above the AR-type removable pistol grip. The SuperMatch Ive owned for 3 decades Fully loaded with a 20 round mag, it weighs over 10 lbs. Product prices mentioned in articles and videos are current as of the date of publication. And check out the Best .308 Ammo, Best AR-10s, and Best 7.6251 Battle Rifles. I love these rifles they are true battle rifles don't get me wrong i own two AR'15's one in .223 and the other in 6.8 which if going into combat the 6.8 is the shit by a long shoot, for it's recoil and it's stopping power (80% stopping power of a .308 round in such a small package). 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. Out of the box I've found the weapon to be very accurate with iron sights. 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. Further, I learned to shoot the weapon not whine about it. The M14 socom has a shorter barrel than the standard M14 and thus has a shorter effective range of about 500 yards. WebThe .458 SOCOM achieves optimum ballistic performance in barrel lengths shorter than 16 so there is no need for longer, less portable barrels. My 13-year-old son knows it as one of the better sniper rifles in his Call of Duty games. Wow. The feel is amazing. Some might use the terms M1A and M14 interchangeably, but the M14 is the original military version while the M1A is the semi-auto civilian version of the M14. Smith & Wesson's new M&P FPC is a compact, folding pistol-caliber carbine chambered in 9 mm Luger and designed to accept the company's M&P handgun magazines. I am no sniper and I don't get to go out to the range much. Make me chose between the M14 or any of the AR's.