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The SOF sports upper and lower receivers forged from T7076 aircraft-grade aluminum with a hardcoat black anodized finish.

Shooting ArmaLite’s New Carbine
Next I moved to checking the SOF’s accuracy, velocity, and reliability. First I fired a few magazines through the carbine to check its function and break it in a bit. Then I stripped and cleaned it before moving to the bench. Next, four five-shot groups were fired with each load off sandbags, using the iron sights, at 100 yards. Velocity readings were recorded 12 feet from the muzzle with an Oehler 35P chronograph at an ambient temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Wind varied in direction and velocity from two to six mph. Test ammunition ranged in weight from 50 to 77 grains and included FMJ, match, and hunting loads from Black Hills, Federal, Hornady, PMP, Sellier & Bellot, Winchester, and Wolf.

Moving from the bench, I posted some NRA regulation High Power targets and IPSC silhouettes at 300 yards. Shooting prone with a military leather M1907 sling, I stretched the SOF’s legs a bit. Looped up, my first thought was how short the barrel seemed compared to my match rifle’s barrel. The next was how big the front sight seemed in relation to the silhouettes. I fired a group, adjusted the sights, and then got to work. While the sight radius is short, I must note that it is longer than that of a standard M-4. Shooting Black Hills’s 69-grain Match load, the ArmaLite averaged six-inch five-shot groups and posted a best of five inches at 300 yards—good enough to keep all its shots in the 10-ring of a regulation 300-yard High Power target. Recoil was nothing, and while the trigger felt like it had a shovel full of gravel in it, it’s nothing that can’t be overcome if you set your mind to it. At 300 yards I was the limiting factor with this rifle. If it had been a flat top with a decent scope mounted, I’m sure I could have shaved my groups down a bit.

Next, minus the sling, I took it on several four-mile hikes through the Maine woods. Why? Just to get a feel for how it carried and balanced. I walked and jogged with it. I noted that the handguards are small enough in diameter to fit the hand and carry well. I liked their diameter and length. I cannot say the same for the A2 pistol grip. This design just doesn’t fit my hand. Luckily it can be easily replaced by removing one bolt. The overall length and weight made the SOF easy to carry and quick to the shoulder.

From the bench the SOF initially looked like a 2.5-inch gun. I suspected this was not really the case, it being an AR after all. So somewhat dismayed at my shooting, I hoofed it from my range back to my office. Rummaging around, I came up with a box of Black Hills 69-grain Match ammo. This was much better suited to the ArmaLite’s 1:9-inch twist barrel than the 77-grain match load I normally shoot from my 1:8-inch-twist match rifle. I loaded five rounds into a magazine and sat down behind the gun. Five careful trigger pulls later, the ArmaLite had posted a nice 1.12-inch group. Yes, the ArmaLite would shoot, she was just finicky about what she liked. This load went on to give the best accuracy from this rifle at a consistent 1.25 inches and 2715 fps. Surprisingly, the next most accurate load was the Black Hills 55-grain softpoint load; it averaged 1.41 inches and 2943 fps. The overall average for all the loads tested came in at a respectable 2.1 inches.

The SOF field-strips easily for routine maintenance.

Next I mounted up a Mamba tactical sling from Best Made Design (Dept. ST, P.O. Box 475, Monahans, TX 79756; 915-943-4888; www.specopsbrand.com) and ran the SOF through a variety of drills engaging IPSC silhouettes from 10 to 90 yards. Here multiple targets were rapidly engaged with multiple shots from a variety of positions. This portion of testing was to ascertain the SOF’s practical accuracy, reliability, handling, and controllability. My ammunition load of choice for this work was Wolf Performance Ammunition’s 62-grain FMJ load. Some AR manufacturers turn their noses up at this inexpensive steel-cased ammunition, claiming the sky will fall if you use it. So what better to run through it for testing? Here I used three types of magazines: original Colt 20-rounders, Thermold 30-rounders, and steel Post-Ban 10-rounders.

When the smoke cleared, and with my range littered with little biodegradable steel cases, the ArmaLite had performed well. Controllability was very good, the gun simply raising slightly and then hanging there during rapid fire. As the round count climbed I noted the intermediate length handguards did a fine job of protecting the shooter’s hand from heat buildup. This is something some rifles, especially members of the HK and Kalashnikov families, have a problem with. The Mamba sling performed well, especially during transition drills. Functioning with the inexpensive ball was flawless. Magazines inserted easily, rounds fed smoothly, and extraction and ejection was consistent and vigorous. The silhouettes? All nicely riddled, thank you.

I concluded my testing by checking the ArmaLite’s flash signature in low light and complete darkness. While flash varied dramatically by load, they were all quite noticeable and some were truly retina melting. On the positive side, the brake does not project the flash directly up into the shooter’s line of sight.

Like the M-4 carbine the SOF has an ejection port cover, forward assist, fenced magazine release, and winter trigger guard that folds out of the way for use with heavy gloves.

Negative thoughts on the SOF? I’d prefer a front sight assembly pinned on rather than clamped on. Put a large volume of rounds through a semiautomatic rifle and screws have a tendency to loosen. Plus, the upper receiver on the test rifle was nicked up beneath the finish. This did not impress me from a new rifle in this price range. Looks-wise, I didn’t think that it closely resembled an M-4 carbine due to the 16-inch barrel (rather than 14.5-inch barrel) and intermediate length handguards.

Positives? It’s light, handy, accurate, and reliable. I liked the longer gas tube and intermediate length handguards. The sights adjusted crisply and distinctly. Controllability on rapid fire was excellent. There were zero functioning problems throughout the shooting.

Final thoughts? At $1153 ($1253 with a match trigger) the SOF carbine is not cheap and may run into stiff competition from other ARs in this price range. For the money you get an accurate rifle that’s both good looking and reliable.

The .223 ArmaLite SOF At The Range
	Muzzle Velocity (fps)	100-Yard Accuracy (Inches)	300-Yard Accuracy (Inches
Factory Load
Winchester 50-gr. Ballistic Silvertip	3135	2.00	——
Black Hills 55-gr. SP	2943	1.41	——
Federal 55-gr. GameKing HPBT	3023	2.00	——
Hornady 55-gr. V-MAX	2882	2.50	——
PMP 55-gr. FMJ-BT	3011	2.00	——
Sellier & Bellot 62-gr. SS-109	2961	2.83	——
Wolf 62-gr. FMJ-BT	2893	3.00	——
Black Hills 69-gr. Match	2715	1.25	6.00
Black Hills 77-gr. Match	2696	2.75	——
NOTES: Accuracy is the average of four five-shot groups fired from a sandbag benchrest at the ranges speicifed. Velocity is the average of 20 rounds measured 12 feet from the muzzle.