Match ammo that I used to test accuracy was from Hornady and Federal. The SOCOM rifle with the EBR stock, Delta P front end, and a Millet DMS 1-4x scope (one of a few I’ve used on this rifle) produces average groups in the 1.5-2.5 MOA size at 100 and 200 meters. Most “Battle Rifle” class firearms weigh in at approximately the 10-pound mark without accessories, and the newer EBR chassis (shorter and lighter) has the SOCOM down around that weight. Is that too much weight for a 7.62 NATO chambered rifle with a “Tough as a Tank” stock? I don’t think so.
SPRINGFIELD M1A SOCOM CQB CLEANING KITS FULL
With the optic and a full 20-round GI mag, the SOCOM weighs in at 14.75 pounds. A 16″ barreled 7.62 NATO caliber rifle with no flash is pretty epic. Along with Delta P’s flash suppressor (a 4-prong straight vortex type), this gave me stellar results (see video) with 1970’s German Ball ammunition at night. This enabled me to mount a 5/8×24 threaded, flash suppressor to my SOCOM’s barrel. In the summer of 2011, I purchased a Delta P Design gas cylinder replacement for the SOCOM for about $200. Springfield Armory now offers a CQB stock on the M1A SOCOM 16 model, as a factory configuration. My EBR stock is one of the older models and weighs a little more than the newer ones because of a longer front end. At that time, my SOCOM was also made more compact by the 6-position adjustable EBR collapsible stock. I started with a Sage International EBR stock since I needed an effective and accurate way to mount an IR laser and light to my weapon. Once the 1994 gun ban ended in the fall of 2004, it was time to accessorize my SOCOM with what the hoplophobes had banned during the previous ten years. I’ve always been a fan of having a similar weapon to what the military uses because more quality parts and accessories are generally available for those models. One of the reasons I purchased the SOCOM was due to the uptick in the M14s use by the military after 9/11. Having owned a variety of M1As in the past, I knew the traits were there to make a solid defense rifle. Cost: The last category I consider is cost, because saving money on a weapon that doesn’t exhibit the above traits is just trading confidence for fiscal economy.Durability: A weapon that constantly breaks parts is more of a burden than a help in a defense.A collapsible stock and ability to mount a flash suppressor come to mind. Things like compactness and an ability to keep you from being noticed easily are also important. Capability: A weapon that can’t hit what it is aimed at with ‘minute of bad guy’ practical accuracy is a noisy version of suicide.Reliability: Without the confidence of a reliable firearm, your defense is just a guess.When it comes to the defensive weapons I choose as a survivalist, I have a list of categories I consider.