Editing Springfield Armory M1A (section)

===SOCOM rifles===
{{infobox weapon
| name               = Springfield Armory M1A SOCOM
| image              = Flickr - ~Steve Z~ - Springfield Armory SOCOM II .308.jpg
| caption            = An M1A SOCOM II chambered for .308 Winchester
| origin             = [[United States]]
| type               = [[Battle rifle]]
<!-- Type selection -->
| is_ranged          = yes
<!-- Service history -->
| service            = 
| used_by            = 
| wars               = 
<!-- Production history -->
| designer           = 
| design_date        = 2004
| manufacturer       = [[Springfield Armory, Inc.]]
| unit_cost          = 
| production_date    = 2004–present
| number             = 
| variants           = 
<!-- General specifications -->
| weight             = {{convert|8.8|lb|kg|abbr=on}} (with empty magazine)
| length             = {{convert|37.25|in|mm|abbr=on}}
| part_length        = {{convert|16.25|in|mm|abbr=on}}
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications --> 
| cartridge          = [[7.62×51mm NATO]]<br>[[.308 Winchester]]
| action             = [[Gas-operated reloading|Gas-operated]], [[rotating bolt]], [[Semi-automatic firearm|self-loading]]
| rate               = [[Semi-automatic firearm|Semi-automatic]]
| velocity           = {{convert|762|m/s|ft/s}}
| range              = 
| max_range          = 
| feed               = [[M14 rifle|M14]] detachable [[Magazine (firearms)#Box|box magazines]]
| sights             = XS Sights post with [[tritium]] inserts (front) / Enlarged military aperture (ghost ring) adjustable for [[windage]] and [[elevation]] (rear)
}}
The SOCOM 16 and SOCOM II are modern variants of the M14 manufactured with lighter materials. SOCOM is an abbreviation which refers to the [[United States Special Operations Command]]. These variants have a barrel that is just slightly longer than the minimum barrel length of {{convert|16|in|mm}} permissible without taxing and registration under the [[National Firearms Act]] in the [[United States]]. The gas system was reworked to ensure proper operation with the shortened barrel, and a new [[muzzle brake]] was added to help soften recoil.

The SOCOM 16 was introduced in 2004, with the SOCOM II being introduced the following year; they are essentially the same except for their [[Rail Integration System|accessory rail]]s. An uncommon variant called the SOCOM II Extended Cluster Rail features a longer top rail that extends over the ejection port to the stripper clip guide, allowing the operator to mount optics farther to the rear. It appears the SOCOM II was discontinued at the end of 2014.<ref name="IA 28Dec14">{{cite web|url=http://www.springfield-armory.com/m1a-series|title=M1A series on Internet Archive, December 28, 2014|access-date=July 4, 2016|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228050755/http://www.springfield-armory.com/m1a-series|archive-date=December 28, 2014}}</ref><ref name="IA 08Jan15">{{cite web|url=http://www.springfield-armory.com/m1a-series|title=M1A series on Internet Archive, January 8, 2015|access-date=July 4, 2016|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108125047/http://www.springfield-armory.com/m1a-series|archive-date=January 8, 2015}}</ref> The SOCOM 16 CQB (close-quarters battle), a SOCOM 16 with a pistol grip and telescoping stock, was introduced in early 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tactical-life.com/firearms/springfield-m1a-socom-16-cqb-swja16/ |title=M1A SOCOM 16 CQB: Springfield's Close-Quarters Brawler |first=Dave |last=Bahde |website=tactical-life.com |date=May 3, 2016 |access-date=June 3, 2020}}</ref>

The SOCOM 16 and SOCOM II are largely identical to the standard M1A, but feature a {{convert|16.25|in|mm|adj=on}} barrel, rather than the standard model's {{convert|22|in|mm|adj=on}} barrel. The specially designed muzzle brake is designed to reduce the increased recoil produced by the shorter barrel. In addition to the top accessory rail for optics, the rifle has enclosed [[M1 Garand|Garand]]-style iron sights, with [[tritium]] inserts for low or dim light conditions. The rifle will accept any [[M14 rifle|M14]] magazine, with typical capacities of 5, 10, or 20 rounds.

The only difference between the SOCOM 16 and SOCOM II is the [[Picatinny rail]]s. The SOCOM 16 features a short length of Picatinny rail in front of the action, above the handguard,<ref name="SOCOM 16">{{cite web|url=http://www.springfield-armory.com/products/m1a-socom-16/|title=SOCOM 16 on Springfield Armory's official website|access-date=July 3, 2016}}</ref> while the SOCOM II features a continuous top Picatinny rail from just ahead of the action to the front of the handguard, and shorter lengths of rail on the sides and bottom of the handguard.<ref name="SOCOM II">{{cite web|url=http://www.springfield-armory.com/products/m1a-socom-ii/|title=SOCOM II on Springfield Armory's official website|access-date=July 3, 2016}}</ref> The extra Picatinny rails allow for more attachments, including scopes, grips, lights, and lasers, but also means the SOCOM II weighs {{convert|10|lb|kg}}, compared to the SOCOM 16's {{convert|8.8|lb|kg}}. Because the rails add weight at the front of the weapon, it is more muzzle-heavy than the SOCOM 16, making it more difficult for some users to engage multiple targets quickly.