I very much like my 18.5" standard contour barrel, and cannot think of a practical situation where it would be the limiting factor. I like it most often with either a Holosun 65 MOA circle dot, or just irons.
The M14 platform isn't really a great starting point if you're looking for either short or light, as the barrel is relatively forward of the trigger compared to some other platforms, and as a burly tough 'wood and steel' venerable dinosaur, even if you swap out the wood for a nice lightweight fiberglass stock, it's still got a good amount of steel, and bless it for that, but it weights.
But it can be certainly short or light 'enough' for certain situations, and certain uses, for the people willing to carry and maneuver (and setup to optimize/minimize the maneuvering required) and if you have the option of a folding stock or what not with a pistol grip, that simplifies storage and withdrawal a little bit. Choate offers one that Ted says was decent. I've got a similar one with the same mechanism on an SKS, and it's not pretty, but it's practical. Probably not match-oriented, but not stupid expensive or dangerously cheap either.
I think SOCOM form factors sure do look cool, though I haven't felt strongly enough about that to have purchased one yet. I don't know that I will, but I wouldn't say that I won't.
I cannot say with any confidence, though, whether you'd prefer a slightly shorter 'SOCOM' length, saving a little length with the integrated gas cylinder lock brake over something like an 18.5-19.25" barrel with an SEI direct Connect, or just get a barrel with no device, get a little more zing, possibly better factory ammunition accuracy compatibility, and less concussion. A SOCOM length would theoretically be a better tool for CQB scenarios with cinder block walls involved, though I don't know how much of that superiority you'd capitalize on in a ranch scenario.
My speculative opinion is that if you're talking about a standard profile barrel, and you're not planning on hoofing it around, but rather pulling it out of your truck/vehicle, select the barrel length that allows you to easily get it from it's stored location (whatever the best you can manage that to be) into use, safely, without any gymnastics. Depending on the physical aspects involved, that may even preclude an LPVO or even a red dot, and suggest you just run it slick with irons, and even Ssshhh) a 5 or 10 round magazine in place for initiation of any pleasantries. If you can do that with a 'scout' length barrel, I'd lean that direction for reasons of the above, but if losing an inch or 3 (depending on what's on or not on the muzzle) makes it significantly easier to get it safely and reliably into use, go with it. If you can manage all of that with a full length 22" barrel, why not? Though if you simply want a different barrel length, I also don't think you need to justify that either. Your rifle, your choice.
