“SOCOM seems to like the 416”
Some do. Some don’t. Don’t forget that some like to have pet projects instead of doing their day job. I’ve never met a perfect rifle. I’ve met lots of good ones, some more practical than others. The AR platform is practical. The AK is, too, for its intended purpose. I don’t like it as it rattles and jumps and has the ergonomics of a bag of door knobs.
Never assume that a “cool” title like SOCOM means diddley. It’s like every manufacturer that sends the SEALs a component or a weapon then claims, “The SEALs use it!” Not really. They don’t. They looked at it. They might have even sent one overseas for a small personal trial. Heck, that SEAL might have used it once and threw it out as junk, but the company will still claim, “The SEALs use it!”
Take the Luminox watches. “The SEALs use it!” I like the watches. I am wearing the Limunox 8400 right now. I love it. It lights up continuously, is made of metal, water proof beyond any diving I ever do, takes a beating (Lost one to a tiller once when tilling the backyard. It went round and round throught the tines and I still have it. Got a new one but that one still works.), and I like the bezel. I bet not a single SEAL wears one. It’s $480 and has a crystal face that while tough will scratch. I’d wear something a little cheaper and replaceable if I were a SEAL, but this little number is my favorite every day watch. Again, I bet not a single SEAL wears one but Luminox touts, “The SEALs use it!”
True enough.
On the other hand, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, the Asymmetric Warfare Group and the Capitol Police SWAT team are all confirmed to have traded in their M4s for HK416s.
The German Special Forces and the Italian Special Forces are also using it.