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Colt M4A1 SOCOM Barrel Accuracy: Another Look (Page 2 of 3)
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Originally Posted By Combat_Diver: Also check out his Mk262 clone playlist.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9PAV6jx2zMCD His opinion regarding twist rate is off track IMO. The 20" barrel has a varmint rifle chamber, probably close to SAAMI .223 and that IMO is the reason for the poor performance on target. I have never seen standard military issue ammo shoot very well. In fact his results using the 18" WOA barrel with the .223 Wylde chamber is about as good as it gets. Obviously Sierra's 77 grain bullet shot very well from two of his uppers. |
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Originally Posted By borderpatrol: The 20" barrel has a varmint rifle chamber, probably close to SAAMI .223 and that IMO is the reason for the poor performance on target. Originally Posted By borderpatrol: The 20" barrel has a varmint rifle chamber, probably close to SAAMI .223 and that IMO is the reason for the poor performance on target. All Varmint and Predator uppers feature our exclusive .223 WOA Varmint chambering, designed for optimal performance with magazine length loaded ammunition and is capable of shooting both .223 and 5.56. |
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Originally Posted By DougFresh: Help a new guy, can you buy a rifle built with this barrel from the factory now? If you can find one, the Colt M4A1 SOCOM with the p/w extended flash hider is not an NFA item. |
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I guess it's time to grab a 4th SOCOM I appreciate your content as always Molon, thanks! |
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Originally Posted By Molon: You can never be too rich, too thin or have too many SOCOM barrels! Truth! I just got two more from Brownells to mate up with a pair of BCM blem uppers I bought on a whim. Next step is deciding on which FF handguard to use. |
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Originally Posted By Another-Bill: Thanks again and again for the time you put into your posts for our benefit. It is very much appreciated. De nada.  .. |
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Originally Posted By FedDC: Does anyone have a guide to interpretation of Colt AR barrel markings? My 6920 has an R stamped on it at the chamber and no date? The "R" supposedly stands for Rosco Manufacturing. One of my recent A4 barrels has the "R" and the "O" stamps.  ... |
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I believe I read somewhere that the "R" denotes a sub-contracted barrel from Rosco Manufacturing. [Dang -- two seconds!] I've got a stainless Rosco on a "Retro-ish" carbine and a 20-inch rifle. They shoot straight, but I've never sat down to shoot them for groups. |
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Originally Posted By FedDC: I just wondered as my prior Colts all had a date code stamped there, not a letter. Historically, Colt barrels have had the date code stamped just aft of the handguard retainer.  .... |
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Originally Posted By Sinister: I believe I read somewhere that the "R" denotes a sub-contracted barrel from Rosco Manufacturing. [Dang -- two seconds!] I've got a stainless Rosco on a "Retro-ish" carbine and a 20-inch rifle. They shoot straight, but I've never sat down to shoot them for groups. My latest A4 has the "R" and the "O" stamp. The "O" is faint, but it's there.  ... |
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| Great info as always Molon. I have a SOCOM barrel in an upper that I built back in 2016 while I was stationed at Ft. Campbell that I shaved the FSB and wrapped with a DD RIS II. It's a heavy girl, but she's a sexy thick! It's one of the few barrels that I have kept this long as it is one of the most accurate ones that I have. With a 2-10x scope and Hornady 75gr HPBT I have been able to hit steel silhouettes out to 750 meters. I want another one to use with a lighter weight MLOK handguard, but they are getting harder to find. Aside from cloners and some AR afficionados, the Colt SOCOM barrel went unnoticed or was disregarded, my opinion, for lighter weight and slimmer profile barrels. But, I have had a lot of those other barrels and have not witnessed the accuracy or reliability that is found in the Colt barrel that I have, which is why I want another one. |
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Originally Posted By Harv24: Do they make a mid length SOCOM Barrel ? In for an answer on this. I’m looking at a block ii/urgi ish build.. and being how the Socoms are hard to find and carbine length I’ve been thinking of the hybrid criterion 14.5 mid length as an alternative. I do have a FbI colt 11.5 I had cut to 10.3 for my mk18 and it’s a hammer. |
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Originally Posted By Harv24: Do they make a mid length SOCOM Barrel ? Won't techincally be a SOCOM barrel then since those are all carbine gas. Now the URGI comes with a mid length gas but Govt Profile made by DD. CD |
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Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15&16'
Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21'
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15&16'
Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21'
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Originally Posted By Molon: If you can find one, the Colt M4A1 SOCOM with the p/w extended flash hider is not an NFA item. It's where I got mine. Quite unique in that, the owner has his own flash-hider pinned and welded to a cut barrel in order to make it of the proper federal-legal length. Here's my non-NFA item, SOCOM barreled M4A1 from Specialized Armament. One of my better (Colt) rifles. PS this thread is ARFCOM cream - delivering classic satisfaction with quality and reliability  Colt M4A1 by SoloDallas, on Flickr
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Originally Posted By jmh556: Great info as always Molon. I have a SOCOM barrel in an upper that I built back in 2016 while I was stationed at Ft. Campbell that I shaved the FSB and wrapped with a DD RIS II. It's a heavy girl, but she's a sexy thick! It's one of the few barrels that I have kept this long as it is one of the most accurate ones that I have. With a 2-10x scope and Hornady 75gr HPBT I have been able to hit steel silhouettes out to 750 meters. I want another one to use with a lighter weight MLOK handguard, but they are getting harder to find. Aside from cloners and some AR afficionados, the Colt SOCOM barrel went unnoticed or was disregarded, my opinion, for lighter weight and slimmer profile barrels. But, I have had a lot of those other barrels and have not witnessed the accuracy or reliability that is found in the Colt barrel that I have, which is why I want another one. The only chrome-lined, NATO chambered barrel that I've tested that was more accurate than the Colt SOCOM, is the 16" HBAR found on the Colt 6721.  .... |
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Originally Posted By SoloDallas: PS this thread is ARFCOM cream - delivering classic satisfaction with quality and reliability https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48105739863_963f37e703_k.jpgColt M4A1 by SoloDallas, on Flickr Nice pic! |
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I'm a huge huge believer in the SOCOM barrel. I bought 4 of them at the SAR show that were literally brand new in the bag for about $200 each. They were all various codes from my youngest being 05 and 03 and latest is 09 and 12 They were cheap because they weren't pinned and welded. I was laughed at for SBRing it because of 1.5 inches.. but I didn't care....... I did well at PR with it. thank you for vilifying and praising the M4A1 SOCOM barrels. |
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Originally Posted By Jozsi: I'm a huge huge believer in the SOCOM barrel. I bought 4 of them at the SAR show that were literally brand new in the bag for about $200 each. They were all various codes from my youngest being 05 and 03 and latest is 09 and 12 They were cheap because they weren't pinned and welded. I was laughed at for SBRing it because of 1.5 inches.. but I didn't care....... I did well at PR with it. thank you for vilifying and praising the M4A1 SOCOM barrels. Honestly if I ever shoot one of my 14.5s out it's getting replaced with a socom. I will be on the lookout if a batch ever pops up at a decent price. |
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Originally Posted By jkitchen: Honestly if I ever shoot one of my 14.5s out it's getting replaced with a socom. I will be on the lookout if a batch ever pops up at a decent price. Originally Posted By jkitchen: Originally Posted By Jozsi: I'm a huge huge believer in the SOCOM barrel. I bought 4 of them at the SAR show that were literally brand new in the bag for about $200 each. They were all various codes from my youngest being 05 and 03 and latest is 09 and 12 They were cheap because they weren't pinned and welded. I was laughed at for SBRing it because of 1.5 inches.. but I didn't care....... I did well at PR with it. thank you for vilifying and praising the M4A1 SOCOM barrels. Honestly if I ever shoot one of my 14.5s out it's getting replaced with a socom. I will be on the lookout if a batch ever pops up at a decent price. the guy that had it at the SAR show was kinda douchy to the point of asking for SBR papers and then finally selling it to me but wanted cash as he wasn't responsible if I built an illegal SBR.  I have 1 M4A1 and M4 carbine marked SBR's and the others are my Noveske N4 and my RR AR15 Oly/SGW. The next year, he had more barrels including 20 inch A2's and other stuff and I showed him my papers.   He wandered off from his table......saying...... I DON'T want to see that....as he was embarrassed to admit that he asked for papers to sell it. Others surrounding him at his table section was shaking their head. |
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Originally Posted By Jozsi: the guy that had it at the SAR show was kinda douchy to the point of asking for SBR papers and then finally selling it to me but wanted cash as he wasn't responsible if I built an illegal SBR. I have 1 M4A1 and M4 carbine marked SBR's and the others are my Noveske N4 and my RR AR15 Oly/SGW. The next year, he had more barrels including 20 inch A2's and other stuff and I showed him my papers. He wandered off from his table......saying...... I DON'T want to see that....as he was embarrassed to admit that he asked for papers to sell it. Others surrounding him at his table section was shaking their head. Originally Posted By Jozsi: Originally Posted By jkitchen: Originally Posted By Jozsi: I'm a huge huge believer in the SOCOM barrel. I bought 4 of them at the SAR show that were literally brand new in the bag for about $200 each. They were all various codes from my youngest being 05 and 03 and latest is 09 and 12 They were cheap because they weren't pinned and welded. I was laughed at for SBRing it because of 1.5 inches.. but I didn't care....... I did well at PR with it. thank you for vilifying and praising the M4A1 SOCOM barrels. Honestly if I ever shoot one of my 14.5s out it's getting replaced with a socom. I will be on the lookout if a batch ever pops up at a decent price. the guy that had it at the SAR show was kinda douchy to the point of asking for SBR papers and then finally selling it to me but wanted cash as he wasn't responsible if I built an illegal SBR. I have 1 M4A1 and M4 carbine marked SBR's and the others are my Noveske N4 and my RR AR15 Oly/SGW. The next year, he had more barrels including 20 inch A2's and other stuff and I showed him my papers. He wandered off from his table......saying...... I DON'T want to see that....as he was embarrassed to admit that he asked for papers to sell it. Others surrounding him at his table section was shaking their head. That is ridiculous. |
16 inches be damned...
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Originally Posted By Alaska511: That is ridiculous. Absolutely I don't mind people giving me the nfa warning when purchasing parts because most people aren't aware but other than that it's not his responsibility to worry about how one plan's to build it up. A simple "this needs to be a pistol or pinned to 16 unless you are doing the nfa paper work to be legal" disclaimer is about all that he should be saying. |
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Originally Posted By SoloDallas: May have some luck at SAW - Specialized Armament Warehouse It's where I got mine. Quite unique in that, the owner has his own flash-hider pinned and welded to a cut barrel in order to make it of the proper federal-legal length. Here's my non-NFA item, SOCOM barreled M4A1 from Specialized Armament. One of my better (Colt) rifles. PS this thread is ARFCOM cream - delivering classic satisfaction with quality and reliability https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48105739863_963f37e703_k.jpgColt M4A1 by SoloDallas, on Flickr Beautiful rifle. Classic GWOT |
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Originally Posted By Molon: The Sierra 64 grain Tipped GameKing also looks promising. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/28568/sierra_64_grain_tipped_gameking_003-1915077.jpg Ballistic coefficients: > .323 @ 1900 fps and above > .305 between 1500 and 1900 fps > .270 @ 1500 fps and below ... Originally Posted By Molon: Originally Posted By Sinister: I wish I could find some to compare how they fly against M855A1. The Sierra 64 grain Tipped GameKing also looks promising. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/28568/sierra_64_grain_tipped_gameking_003-1915077.jpg Ballistic coefficients: > .323 @ 1900 fps and above > .305 between 1500 and 1900 fps > .270 @ 1500 fps and below ... Coming 2nd quarter 2022 . . .  .... |
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Originally Posted By Molon: Coming 2nd quarter 2022 . . . https://i.ibb.co/WpwhkbY/sierra-31-grain-tipped-game-king-ammunition-001.jpg .... Originally Posted By Molon: Originally Posted By Molon: Originally Posted By Sinister: I wish I could find some to compare how they fly against M855A1. The Sierra 64 grain Tipped GameKing also looks promising. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/28568/sierra_64_grain_tipped_gameking_003-1915077.jpg Ballistic coefficients: > .323 @ 1900 fps and above > .305 between 1500 and 1900 fps > .270 @ 1500 fps and below ... Coming 2nd quarter 2022 . . . https://i.ibb.co/WpwhkbY/sierra-31-grain-tipped-game-king-ammunition-001.jpg .... Nice!! We need more options for medium game hunting in the 45-50gr range for us 22-250 / 220 swift buffs. The 50gr NBT’s work well enough for now. |
| about to put some black hills 62g tsx through mine.. bought 500 at the LGS at 1.05 per round, will report. in a couple of weeks. I'm not as high speed as Molon, nor do i have the shooting skills I possessed 10 years ago in the army.. but I'm still an MOA shooter. |
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Originally Posted By borderpatrol: His opinion regarding twist rate is off track IMO. Yup. A 1:8" twist is fine for M855A1 at normal temperatures. ..... |
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Originally Posted By Molon: Yup. A 1:8" twist is fine for M855A1 at normal temperatures. ..... Originally Posted By Molon: Originally Posted By borderpatrol: His opinion regarding twist rate is off track IMO. Yup. A 1:8" twist is fine for M855A1 at normal temperatures. ..... As we all know the 855 is a 62 grain bullet. Back when I shot Service Rifle I bought a Compass Lake upper with a Krieger barrel, it had a 1/7.75 twist. That is a mere ¼" from a 1/8 twist. It was fine for the Black Hills 75 grain Hornadys I shot, I believe they advise that it is also good for the 77 grain Sierras as well. A 1/9 is not a cliff that bullets heaver than 55 grains fall off, I would expect a 75 grain would shoot well out of a 1/9. Next time I'm at the range I'll shoot some of my Black Hills 75 grains out of my Remington M700 .223 in 1/9 to see. |
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Originally Posted By Another-Bill: As we all know the 855 is a 62 grain bullet. Originally Posted By Another-Bill: Originally Posted By Molon: Originally Posted By borderpatrol: His opinion regarding twist rate is off track IMO. Yup. A 1:8" twist is fine for M855A1 at normal temperatures. As we all know the 855 is a 62 grain bullet. As you apparently don't know, gyroscopic stability is based on bullet length, not bullet weight. ... |
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Originally Posted By Molon: The "R" supposedly stands for Rosco Manufacturing. One of my recent A4 barrels has the "R" and the "O" stamps. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/28568/colt_ar_barrel_chamber_stamp_001-2104850.jpg ... I had originally thought it stood for remington since I saw a bunch of those barrels being made and sold. Mine has R on it. Thanks for the info. Much appreciated! |
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Originally Posted By Molon: As you apparently don't know, gyroscopic stability is based on bullet length, not bullet weight. ... Originally Posted By Molon: Originally Posted By Another-Bill: Originally Posted By Molon: Originally Posted By borderpatrol: His opinion regarding twist rate is off track IMO. Yup. A 1:8" twist is fine for M855A1 at normal temperatures. As we all know the 855 is a 62 grain bullet. As you apparently don't know, gyroscopic stability is based on bullet length, not bullet weight. ... And you are correct, I did not remember that, thanks for reminding me. Nonetheless, that 1/7.75 Krieger barrel was stellar with heavy bullets. |
Happiness is a warm gun,
Bang bang, shoot shoot.
The Beatles
Nov. 1968
Bang bang, shoot shoot.
The Beatles
Nov. 1968
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Originally Posted By Another-Bill: Nonetheless, that 1/7.75 Krieger barrel was stellar with heavy bullets. Originally Posted By Another-Bill: Originally Posted By Molon: Originally Posted By Another-Bill: Originally Posted By Molon: Originally Posted By borderpatrol: His opinion regarding twist rate is off track IMO. Yup. A 1:8" twist is fine for M855A1 at normal temperatures. As we all know the 855 is a 62 grain bullet. As you apparently don't know, gyroscopic stability is based on bullet length, not bullet weight. ... Nonetheless, that 1/7.75 Krieger barrel was stellar with heavy bullets. Which has nothing to do with M855A1. ... |
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Colt M4A1 SOCOM Barrel Accuracy: Another Look (Page 2 of 3)
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