'75scout

I've already got a good tactical 12 guage (870) , a great carry gun (Kahr PM40), a .22 for practice (Ruger MKII), and a full size big-bore carry gun (SIG 220).

I think my arsenal needs a good semi-auto rifle. But I don't want an AK or AR because everybody has those. I don't really like the look of the FALs. The HK G36 and the Galils are a little too expensive. I want a .308 so that I can use it for deer hunting. It must have a removeable mag so that I can reload quickly. A barrel shorter than 18" is also needed incase I need it for SHTF senarios.

So what am I left with but the Springfield Armory M1A Socom 16. What do you guys think?

OD

I think I'd get the 18" SSR.

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OD
"Slow down, you'll get a more harmonious outcome...."
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"The pistol, learn it well, carry it always ..." - Jeff Cooper

Rob72

16" with a brake does the .308 no favors. A PTR91, sans flash hider, is 17.25 ", no gas system, and as accurate as you can hope to be. It can also be had for about $7Bills, from Sarco, leaving you spare change for mount (ARMS ONLY- personal prejudice)and optics.

JT

I was seriously considering getting a SOCOM 16 for a while. The main thing that turned me off was reports about the type of accuracy people were getting. For that much money, I expected a little better. Sometimes I am still tempted, but that’s a lot of money to plunk down.

Here’s a good place to research any of the M1A/M-14 style variants…

http://www.m-14forum.com/

I know you said you didn't like the look, but for that kind of money, you may also want to consider a DSA FAL…

http://www.dsarms.com/

check out the carbine…

http://www.dsarms.com/item-detail.cf...a58carbine.gif

EDITED because I put "DPMS" instead of "DSA".

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Blessed be the Lord my rock who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle. Psalm 144:1

Si vis pacem, para bellum

enigmaone

I think you might think about a standard Springfield M1A1, I did and
am very happy with it.

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quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Redneck Repairs

In .308 i would go with a full size rifle , if you want a short range poodle shooter get an ar or ak , dont handicap your .308 with a 16"

Team American

There must be a good reason why everyone has 'em

I agree with Redneck Repairs...if it has to be a short barrel rifle, an AR or AK is the way to go. A .308 should have an 18" or longer barrel.

I like my DSA Congo



YMMV

__________________
"I surrounded 'em"- Alvin York

"They're ain't many troubles that a man can't fix with seven hundred dollars and a thirty ought six"- Jeff Cooper

JT

I have been very tempted to get a DSA. How much did you pay for it?

__________________
Blessed be the Lord my rock who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle. Psalm 144:1

Si vis pacem, para bellum

joe/OH

Don't overlook the AR-10 and it's many variants. Rock River Arms will have their LAR-10 available this summer and it looks to be a sweet rifle. Cheaper and much more accurate than the M14 modeled rifles.

I would re-evaluate the need for a short rifle - especially for SHTF scenarios. In those cases, a longer rifle with a longer sight radius would be just as beneficial if not moreso. The shorter rifle really shines in close quarter combat - and in those cases I'd much rather have something chambered in 223 or 762x39.

blueyedevil

I think most states have a magazine capacity regulation for hunting big game. You may want to check into your states laws before going hunting with a high-capacity rifle.