Some folks on the boards here are aware that I was an early adopter and advocate of the SA Inc's Socom 16 rifle.
I shoot it for the odd bit of tactical tourism training in an ongoing bid to pretend that I am still 25.
Over the last year or so, it has had a few iterative changes from stock. Not in a drive for the ultimate paper poking shorty, mind you. Just often because a part sounded or looked cool, and gave me something additional to drool over or write about.
As of a week ago, it sat parted out as follows:
Now, the accuracy on my rifle has been acceptably good at 200m (where the bulk of my shooting with it has occurred at). The 1 MOA, non-magnified Eotech 552 "optic over rifle" combination has been yielding 5 shot groups in the neighborhood of 2-3 MOA with South African surplus.
I suspect that it is closer to 2 MOA, with a good or a bad day making up the difference. My last groups were on the wider side, around 8 inches at 200m in last light shooting at white paper on a grey-white back stop in Valleyview.
I'll take that as acceptable for those conditions.
The new deal
But thanks to GG&FB and our friendly folks at Canada Post, my SAI shorty is now wearing a SEI "crazy horse" unitized gas cylinder and trigger group.
What can I say about the quality of these parts?
Unitized gas cylinder
The construction quality is amazing. Where my SA Inc gas cylinder was obviously not factory unitized, the biggest difference was in the FIT of the USGI spec gas cylinder. First, the tolerances are more exacting, resulting in a pleasing tight press fit of the gas cylinder onto my barrel without having to peen the barrel splines; ala Hungry's excellent clinic DVD.
Secondly, all the play between my Socom's combination suppressor/gas lock and the front of the gas cylinder disappeared. In fact, it goes tight roughly 1/8-1/16 of a turn before index. No shimming required.
Crazy Horse Trigger group
A beautiful conditioned and treated USGI group, with the glass rod break expected. I can feel the slightest gap or "creep" of the disconnect mechanism between the initial release, reset and subsequent trigger pull. Not sloppy. Just a short, discernible gap between release and the follow up shot.
Looking to the future
In all, I am very eager to get to the range to run it through its paces.
I have long thought about making a 700m capable rifle. Bolt actions are cheaper, and a far easier to produce results for sure. But the semi is fun, with plenty of rapid follow up action. In the next year I'd like to remove the scout type rail, add a SEI or Sadlak mount with a Short Dot optic or something similar and mate a decent bipod to the forward rail. As steel chickens at 400m have been possible, I'm looking forward to see how the optic gain will improve my shooting adventures
I'd hoped to move the same direction as Brobee's outstanding LRB build, but building a house takes its own financial toll so I'll have to envy his for a while longer.
I apologize for not having photos yet, but pictures will follow.
Until then, shoot safe.
Greg
I shoot it for the odd bit of tactical tourism training in an ongoing bid to pretend that I am still 25.
Over the last year or so, it has had a few iterative changes from stock. Not in a drive for the ultimate paper poking shorty, mind you. Just often because a part sounded or looked cool, and gave me something additional to drool over or write about.As of a week ago, it sat parted out as follows:
- Sadlak TiN coated gas piston
- Sadlak NM Spring guide
- Eotech sight
- VLTOR stock
- Wolf Springs upgrade for rifle and mags
Now, the accuracy on my rifle has been acceptably good at 200m (where the bulk of my shooting with it has occurred at). The 1 MOA, non-magnified Eotech 552 "optic over rifle" combination has been yielding 5 shot groups in the neighborhood of 2-3 MOA with South African surplus.
I suspect that it is closer to 2 MOA, with a good or a bad day making up the difference. My last groups were on the wider side, around 8 inches at 200m in last light shooting at white paper on a grey-white back stop in Valleyview.
I'll take that as acceptable for those conditions.
The new deal
But thanks to GG&FB and our friendly folks at Canada Post, my SAI shorty is now wearing a SEI "crazy horse" unitized gas cylinder and trigger group.
What can I say about the quality of these parts?
Unitized gas cylinder
The construction quality is amazing. Where my SA Inc gas cylinder was obviously not factory unitized, the biggest difference was in the FIT of the USGI spec gas cylinder. First, the tolerances are more exacting, resulting in a pleasing tight press fit of the gas cylinder onto my barrel without having to peen the barrel splines; ala Hungry's excellent clinic DVD.
Secondly, all the play between my Socom's combination suppressor/gas lock and the front of the gas cylinder disappeared. In fact, it goes tight roughly 1/8-1/16 of a turn before index. No shimming required.
Crazy Horse Trigger group
A beautiful conditioned and treated USGI group, with the glass rod break expected. I can feel the slightest gap or "creep" of the disconnect mechanism between the initial release, reset and subsequent trigger pull. Not sloppy. Just a short, discernible gap between release and the follow up shot.
Looking to the future
In all, I am very eager to get to the range to run it through its paces.
I have long thought about making a 700m capable rifle. Bolt actions are cheaper, and a far easier to produce results for sure. But the semi is fun, with plenty of rapid follow up action. In the next year I'd like to remove the scout type rail, add a SEI or Sadlak mount with a Short Dot optic or something similar and mate a decent bipod to the forward rail. As steel chickens at 400m have been possible, I'm looking forward to see how the optic gain will improve my shooting adventures
I'd hoped to move the same direction as Brobee's outstanding LRB build, but building a house takes its own financial toll so I'll have to envy his for a while longer.
I apologize for not having photos yet, but pictures will follow.
Until then, shoot safe.
Greg
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