By: Greg Chabot

Photos Sasha Steadman

Springfield Armory, known for producing and importing various firearms, needs no introduction to readers. One of their most popular products is their M1A line of rifles that have been in production since 1974, with multiple variations being produced over the years. In 2004, Springfield Armory introduced the SOCOM 16, a version of the M1A with a 16-inch barrel that became an instant hit with the shooting community. Due to that success, there have been multiple variants of the SOCOM 16 such as the SOCOM II and the Tanker model. In early 2016, Springfield introduced a variant called the SOCOM 16 CQB which is the subject of this article.

What Is the CQB Model?

The CQB is mechanically the same as other SOCOM 16s. The main difference is the ProMag Archangel stock that has an adjustable stock and pistol grip and cheek riser to use with the factory red dot if equipped. The Archangel has slots for M-LOK rails giving end users more options for mounting accessories to suit their needs compared to the standard SOCOM 16. I have always wanted to try out a SOCOM 16 and finally found an NIB one for a decent price just as the scamdemic started in 2020. And it has been in regular rotation since then.

Initial Impression

The sample came in a range bag with a 10-round magazine and all manuals and paperwork. The CQB is available with a Vortex Venom equipped from the factory or just irons. The Venom was correctly mounted and torqued and zeroed at 50 yards from the factory. The dot sits where the stripper clip guide is on other M1A rifles. Being the flagship of Springfield Armory, the fit and finish of the parts was outstanding with no machine marks or defects in the finish. M1As are hefty rifles and the SOCOM 16 weighs in at 9 lbs. 2 oz unloaded. The weapon balanced and carried well, with the red dot being easy to acquire.

The Archangel stock provided a good fit and shoulder weld, and I found the AK-style grip ergonomics comfortable for extended shooting sessions. The Magwell is large and made reloading under stress a simple task. The two-stage trigger broke at 4 ¾ lbs. with a smooth take-up and clean break that only got better as it was used. It comes from the factory with a couple of M-LOK rails that I mounted, I also added a BCM KAG hand stop. The Archangel stock has both QD and conventional mount points for slings. I used a single-point sling for the entire testing period. The front sight has a tritium insert for low-light conditions. One drawback of the red dot setup is the inability to use the irons if the dot fails. The CQB comes with a muzzle brake designed specifically for the SOCOM line. It does an excellent job of keeping the muzzle down for fast follow-up shots and control during rapid fire. Overall, I had a positive first impression of the weapon.

Range Report

Testing was done in various weather conditions. Ammo used was everything from surplus to match ammo. Lubrication used was Slip 2000 EWG grease; I started at 25 yards to make sure the dot was on paper and to make adjustments if needed.

I want to go down the rabbit hole on the accuracy of the M14/M1A family. The M14/M1A family was designed as a battle rifle. And the accuracy reflects that, many falsely believe all M1A rifles are sub-MOA out of the box. That is not true, as a lot of work goes into accurizing them, such as shimming the gas system, bedding the stock, changing the sights and other parts along with other arcane and dark arts. I’ll state this, if you are looking to build a sub-MOA rifle out of a SOCOM you are wasting money. I’d advise going with the Scout model or full-size M1A as your base. Another option is the AR-10 platform. If you want to spend serious money, look for a Super Match M1A that will shoot sub-MOA out of the box.

The Vortex is zeroed for fifty yards from the factory. I found that it was true, I had no issues hitting the steel off-hand or supported.  Moving out to 100 yards I made consistent hits though groups did open up. On paper my best group at 100 yards was just under 2” with match ammo. The sample stayed consistent at 2.5” at 100 yards with 147 gr Winchester, with the worst at 3” with surplus “Mystery” ammo. Moving out to 200 I was still making consistent hits if I did my part. Overall, the weapon did OK in the “combat” accuracy department.

CQB

Since this rifle was designed for CQB I set up various targets from 5 to 35 yards. The muzzle brake kept rise down for Mozambique drills and the dot made it very easy to transition between targets. Felt recoil was very mild but heavier than an AR in 5.56. I wasn’t as fast as I usually am with an AR, that is to be expected due to recoil and weight differences between the platforms. I will also warn readers that this weapon gets hot fast. The rail on top of the barrel will burn you if you are not careful while transitioning to your sidearm or using an aggressive grip so keep that in mind if you are used to AR-style rifles.  Same goes for the safety, be aware of your finger placement when going to apply the safety. I recommend taking your time to avoid negligent discharges.

Being a CQB weapon it is only fair to shoot it indoors and from a vehicle. I will say it is very loud! And depending on the ammo it makes an impressive fireball! I ended up wearing both foam plugs and electronic muffs while shooting indoors and from a vehicle. If you are serious about using this weapon for CQB/home defense, I recommend a suppressor. If not, buy low-flash ammo or experiment with rolling your own and invest in good ear protection. Shooting under NODs the flash would temporarily white out my ancient PVS-14 setup. It was a good thing I made the first shot count!

Reliability

The weapon performed flawlessly in all weather conditions, and I have no malfunctions to report. I have about 700 rounds through it so far with no issues. The M1A runs very clean and all I did after an initial field strip was clean the barrel and chamber. I dropped it in snow and dirt a few times with no issues in function. After element testing, I field stripped it and relubricated. It is important to grease the roller on the bolt. A .45 ACP case with the primer punched out works great for this task. I have yet to clean the gas system as the piston is still sliding freely. Talking with match shooters, most just clean the chamber and barrel unless they are having function issues.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Good ergonomics on CQB model can be adjusted to the shooter.
  • Runs clean, if you hate cleaning weapons this gun is for you.
  • Reliable with all types of ammo.
  • Excellent trigger
  • Easy to control during rapid fire due to the muzzle brake design.
  • It looks cool and everyone at the range will ask to try it.
  • Low felt recoil
  • Hold their value if you want to sell it.

Cons:

  • Heavy at over 9 pounds and adding useless accessories will double it in no time.
  • MSRP at over $2K USD is not a cheap weapon.
  • Very loud outside and worse indoors. When testing ear protection, this weapon is my go-to.
  • Gets hot very quickly.
  • Accuracy isn’t as good compared to other M1A models.
  • Spare magazines are pricey at over $50 USD depending on the vendor.
  • Large muzzle flash in low-light conditions ammo dependent. Plenty of videos out there if you don’t believe me.
  • No way to use irons if red dot fails. The CQB is available without the red dot.

Final Thoughts

Though having many flaws for CQB, I enjoy shooting the SOCOM-16 CQB. It was reliable and had decent accuracy. I use it in the woods as I find it is an excellent “Brush” gun. It is not worth $2K MSRP, if anything it is a $1,000 weapon in my opinion. I came to that price point from an insider I have at Springfield Armory who stated in 2019 it cost around $700 to make a SOCOM 16 with the most expensive part being the cast receiver. I recommend looking for a used one, in my area the average price for slightly used runs from $1.2K to $1.5K USD. Most have been shot very little and the money you save can go for ammo and mags.

Would I recommend one? This will depend on usage, if you are looking for a DMR or match build go with the Scout or standard model. For serious CQB use out of the box? No way I’d use it, unless it was all I had in an extreme emergency as there are better CQB platforms out there. I highly recommend running it suppressed for serious CQB use. Full disclosure, I am not an expert in CQB. I base the above on my combat experience in urban areas which is very dated.

If you are looking for a thumper to use as a brush/truck gun or something different to shoot, the SOCOM 16 CQB is a decent choice.  Would I trust my life to one? Yes, it ran reliably and will stop any two- or four-legged threats in my area. I carry mine with full confidence whenever I’m out in the woods.  My final piece of advice is to try one out before buying so you can make an informed purchase. Stay vigilant and safe, see you in the woods!