SA Socom 16 and 16" barrel for .308 questions

[Prion]

My local shop has a SA Socom 16 that I like the look of. However a 16" barrel for .308 seems rather short.

This rifle will be used for HD (I don't have neighbors to worry about), range work, and brush gun. Basically an all around fun, compact, maneuverable .308. Ranges not exceeding much more than 150 to 200 meters. Red dot or irons.

Anyone with experience with this rifle or other .308's w/ 16" barrels that could tell me how .308 performs as a carbine? Velocity loss, accuracy, muzzle blast, etc.

Thanks

 

[wayne in boca]

I have a Socom 16,as well as a DPMS LR308 AP4 (AR type 16" .308). The Socom has become one of my favorite rifles,with an Eotech 512 on it.The muzzle brake is absolutely excellent,and the rifle stays on target with no rise during recoil.It's loud of course,but it's a high powered rifle,they're all loud.Accuracy is very good,hits where you want to hit.And it's about the same length as a Marlin 336.The velocity loss from a 16" barrel vs a 22" barrel is not a factor at the ranges at which you will be shooting.

 

[X-Rap]

Anything at your stated distance will never know the difference of that barrel and you will certainly enjoy the way the short gun handles.

 

[Acera]

Go for it, it will take good care of you. Yes, it will still be able to do it's job with the shorter barrel. I took the EOTech off mine, and use irons now.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Inside of 200 yards you will not see any noticeable decrease in performance with a short barrel.

 

[KBintheSLC]

I want a SOCOM 16. So many guns, so little cash.

 

[austin360]

I have a Leupold 2.5x scout scope on my SOCOM. I raised it 1/4 inch with a picatinny rail riser so I could still use the iron sights. I love it.

 

[dmckean44]

If you hand-load use a fast burning powder.

 

[browningguy]

I have the Ruger RSI carbine in .308, deer can't tell any difference between the 18" barrel on it or a 22" barrel on a full size, at least under 200 yards they can't.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Personally, I wouldn't want that short of a barrel, due to blast/noise/recoil issues. As mentioned, ballistics won't matter much at nearly any practical range, but I want at least 18-20" for a "full-sized" cartridge in the .308 class or larger.

Now in a .30-30 or 7.62x39, 16" is where it's at, IMO, particularly 7.62x39.

 

[elmerfudd]

I tend to agree with the Dr. I have a 16" Saiga308 and while it's plenty powerful and there's no notable trajectory within 200 yards, the blast can be unpleasant. The loads you use will make a big difference. Unfortunately though, some of my best accuracy loads have also been some of the worst for blast.

Now when you go to 7.62x39 a 16" barrel works great and about the only thing I can think of that the .308 would do better within 200 yards would be to serve as a big game cartridge. To me that's irrelevant. If I go out hunting elk, I'm not going to do it with an AK.