I think the m1a SOCOM is retarded. I remember when they first came out they had all sorts of jamming problems because a 16 inch barrel wasn't long enough to give the slow burning powder enough pressure to cycle the action. The 18 inch barreled Scout model can be very accurate and adds hundreds of meters of range... for two inches in length. f i were looking for a hard hitter with a 300 yard range I'd just get a .50 Beowulf from Alexander. And if i were to buy an M-14 it would be an original Federal or a Fulton, NOT a Springfield. Between the FAL and HK91 in my closet, I'll be waiting a while before I get another semi auto .308.