Brief Can-am socom 18 review

canuckchap said:
Anyone having SIGNIFICANT trouble with their mags binding?
I can only get mine out but hitting it pretty hard (forward) with one hand, while keeping the release depressed with the other. I am not expecting "drop free" but this is crazy.

If i use the 5 round, its virtually impossible to remove.

The mag walls are rubbing on the insiode of the receiver (when viewed from underneath)

What can be done? Do I need to file the rifle for clearance???? Note: it is the same for all my mags
Click to expand...

Yup mine is really really tight too, I sat down and put the mags in and out for about an hour to find where the binding was . Mine are binding on the rectangle block on the back of the mag, but only on the left side. They are getting easier but I think a small amount of filing on the mag may fix the issue for me. I can not see any wear on the inside but a small amount of paint should show where the issue is.
 
rgallant said:
Yup mine is really really tight too, I sat down and put the mags in and out for about an hour to find where the binding was . Mine are binding on the rectangle block on the back of the mag, but only on the left side. They are getting easier but I think a small amount of filing on the mag may fix the issue for me. I can not see any wear on the inside but a small amount of paint should show where the issue is.
Click to expand...

I noticed that the tightness in mine happened with both the supplied and an older pinned mag that I had available. If you file the mag, be prepared for the possibility that they might be too loose when used in another rifle.
 
I'm starting to think that it's the mag recess in the receiver that's to blame, my 2005 mags practically drop free in comparison.

If you look at the mag when you're inserting it on the Socom, it actually compresses inwards. I'm tempted to relieve this area on the receiver ever so slightly.

I'll put a couple hundred more rounds downrange first.

It's definitely not the stock, I tried 3 different stocks and it's just as tight with the Socom action.
 
drifter dave said:
I'm starting to think that it's the mag recess in the receiver that's to blame, my 2005 mags practically drop free in comparison.

If you look at the mag when you're inserting it on the Socom, it actually compresses inwards. I'm tempted to relieve this area on the receiver ever so slightly.

I'll put a couple hundred more rounds downrange first.

It's definitely not the stock, I tried 3 different stocks and it's just as tight with the Socom action.
Click to expand...

I just tried putting the SOCOM into a USGI fibreglass stock (she fits nicely) and noticed no discernible difference when trying to release the mag. So I don't think that the stock is the issue either.

Otherwise the bolt to receiver fit seems fine and the trigger group doesn't look like it has the problem that caused light primer strikes for a few other purchasers. The pinging sound when releasing the action is quite audible and unlike the sights on my shorty, these ones seem usable. Just a little more cleaning of the bore and a few other oil soaked areas and I can see the rifle being ready for the range. Loosening the mag release and the muzzle break so that I can reverse it can follow afterwards, as well as determining what kind of mount and optics I might get for her in the future. I'm beginning to think that with a CASM fore end mount and simple Bushnell TRS that this will make a fine bush hunting and range rifle. Unless the rifle totally disappoints on the range, I see this as becoming one of my favourite rifles.
 
drifter dave said:
I'm starting to think that it's the mag recess in the receiver that's to blame, my 2005 mags practically drop free in comparison.

If you look at the mag when you're inserting it on the Socom, it actually compresses inwards. I'm tempted to relieve this area on the receiver ever so slightly.

I'll put a couple hundred more rounds downrange first.

It's definitely not the stock, I tried 3 different stocks and it's just as tight with the Socom action.
Click to expand...

Both my socoms would not work with some of my mags too well at all , would not seat right would not release , so i compared parts to my 2009 norinco and seen that the mag catch was too long on the socom rifles , shortened them a bit with a file and now all my mags of all kinds work perfect in both , Im guessing all the socoms are like mine were , easy fix though .
 
Yeah i have a sadlak release on the way, i did file my release down a bit and it helped, the top had an angled edge that was weird.
 
I had the same problem with mags that were hard to release.

I compared my mag catch to a GI one and the Chinese catch was machined wrong. The front face of the catch was far too vertical... It needed to be filled back at an angle. I'll post a pic of what I mean tomorrow.
 
^ I was just starting to think along these lines too, the way my release lever pushes against the mag tab trying to insert a mag. I was thinking this part is too thick? - pics would be appreciated for those that have this problem.

So potentially, the "front face" and the "top edge" are both oversized/wrong.
 
Looking forward to a picture or two...I think I have my filed down about right. just looked at it and used some common sense to re-profile it.
Though the mag also looks TIGHT (ie: touching) the metal in the mag housing of the stock, there doesn't seem to be any rub marks there, so I suspect the whole issue is with the mag release

I <3 M14 said:
I had the same problem with mags that were hard to release.

I compared my mag catch to a GI one and the Chinese catch was machined wrong. The front face of the catch was far too vertical... It needed to be filled back at an angle. I'll post a pic of what I mean tomorrow.
Click to expand...
 
Okay, here's what i mean. Top picture is a GI mag catch, see how the top part of the front angles back... my chinese (2nd pic) one was pretty much straight up and down. The top part of the front needed to be filled and reprofiled to angle back... see the pic with bare metal, that's where it needs to be filled. Hope that's clear.

(PS i hate photobucket! Hopefully it smartens up and turns my pics right side up :( )





 
Last edited:
see the pic with bare metal, that's where it needs to be filled. Hope that's clear.
Click to expand...

Totally makes sense, thanks for posting. Kinda wish I didn't jump the gun and order a Sadlak when I could have tweaked the stock release.
 
I pulled out my trigger group and filed the top edge of the mag catch, popped it back in and its friggin perfect, took three minutes and worked primo, couldn't get my mags out before without a heavy thump from my hand, now they come out perfect
 
I have owned a few of these rifles in different versions over the years and bought the new Socom right away when it first came out . At first inspection it looked great .....everything tight and inline until I went to the range. It kept jamming every 3-4 rounds when firing it . The round would be about 1/2 into the chamber and if I pulled back on the bolt slightly I could get the action to go forward again. And even when chambering the 1st round it would jam a lot as well . I exchanged it and now the replacement arrives but has alot of issues. Most I can fix myself (with the use of Hungrys barrel vice) but its been disappointing to see this rifle having a lot of the same old problems . Barrel indexed incorrectly , front sight base on the gas locking ring milled at an angle , loose op rod guide , gas cylinder needs shims , rear sights garbage .The tail of the gas piston was rubbing on the inside of the cylinder . At first it took a fair bit of force to get it through but after a some cleaning up of the inside of the cylinder and passing the piston through a lot of times the piston would move through freely . It passed the tilt test after this was done and the gas system should be fine.
Guess what ....Quality control from the factory is still a joke !!!
I have been impressed with the dealers response up till now and can understand his position but this time I will only get a new gas locking ring or a refund and not another rifle .
If I wasn't knowledgeable about these rifles I would be a very frustrated person right about now.

So ....would I recommend one of these rifles to someone else . ...... Yes , but
1. Only if they were informed about the chances of getting a rifle with some issues and what the dealers policies are on exchanges and refunds.
2. What the common issues are with these rifles and as well as how to fix them if possible.
3. If they don't like tinkering with these rifles then buy one only if they could inspect the rifle themselves first .
4. And course if they can ... get to one of Hungrys or 45ACPKINGS clinics .
 
I agree.

And for the love of Pete why do they have such a hard time putting these barrels on straight, it's not really a hard thing to do.
 
chalkriver said:
I have owned a few of these rifles in different versions over the years and bought the new Socom right away when it first came out . At first inspection it looked great .....everything tight and inline until I went to the range. It kept jamming every 3-4 rounds when firing it . The round would be about 1/2 into the chamber and if I pulled back on the bolt slightly I could get the action to go forward again. And even when chambering the 1st round it would jam a lot as well . I exchanged it and now the replacement arrives but has alot of issues. Most I can fix myself (with the use of Hungrys barrel vice) but its been disappointing to see this rifle having a lot of the same old problems . Barrel indexed incorrectly , front sight base on the gas locking ring milled at an angle , loose op rod guide , gas cylinder needs shims , rear sights garbage .The tail of the gas piston was rubbing on the inside of the cylinder . At first it took a fair bit of force to get it through but after a some cleaning up of the inside of the cylinder and passing the piston through a lot of times the piston would move through freely . It passed the tilt test after this was done and the gas system should be fine.
Guess what ....Quality control from the factory is still a joke !!!
I have been impressed with the dealers response up till now and can understand his position but this time I will only get a new gas locking ring or a refund and not another rifle .
If I wasn't knowledgeable about these rifles I would be a very frustrated person right about now.

So ....would I recommend one of these rifles to someone else . ...... Yes , but
1. Only if they were informed about the chances of getting a rifle with some issues and what the dealers policies are on exchanges and refunds.
2. What the common issues are with these rifles and as well as how to fix them if possible.
3. If they don't like tinkering with these rifles then buy one only if they could inspect the rifle themselves first .
4. And course if they can ... get to one of Hungrys or 45ACPKINGS clinics .
Click to expand...

Amen brother. Anyone know of a Hungry and/or 45ACPKING clinic happening on the west coast in the upcoming months?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom