You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
M1a Scout - need update
- Thread starter Mr. Pub
- Start date
Are you interested in pros and cons of scout rifles generally, or just the MIA? If you know generally about the scout system, then I would say that for me there are better scout platforms (size and weight wise). If I was going to use the MIA as a scout, I would probably use 10 (or maybe 5) round mags to reduce weight and "bulk". The MIA is a fine rifle in general, however, and would be fun to shoot with a low powered scope. I have a Bush model(with a barrell length the same as the scout, I believe) that I shoot with iron sights only, and it is great, and has acceptable accuracy. If you need info on the scout concept generally, do a search and you will find lots here. Regards.
San Francisquito Bill
New member
Mr. Pub,
I recently purchased an M1A Scout rifle with the synthetic stock, and I am extremely impressed with the rifle.
I like the handling of the shorter M1A and it points quickly for me. The power of the cartridge is greater than .223, and I feel that practical accuracy of the Scout is greater than most ARs. I say this because I recently took a rifle course where the M1A shooters consistently outshot the AR shooters, excepting a few exceptional AR shooters. This is not to say that an AR cannot be accurate. I simply feel that the sight format/radius/??? seems to facilitate accurate shooting.
The gun is in no way uncomfortable to shoot, and the 10rd. factory magazines are indeed handy. I would like to get hold of some 20 round mags, but alas, I live in California. Maybe someday I'll find some that I forgot about deep in my attic!
Now the bad news:
What with all of the positive features of this gun, I feel that I can deal with the negatives, and it seems that the SEALs, as well as the Marine Corps DMs can too. However...
These guns are heavy-- much heavier than an AR. (By the way, I am comparing the M1A Scout to the AR, because I feel that if you want a true "scout" you need a bolt gun, and if you want a true long range accurate semi-auto rifle, why not go with the full size M1A? I therefore feel that the M1A Scout serves best as a do-it-all rifle that fits the bill of both semi-auto "assault/battle rifles" as well as accurate "scout" type systems. ) The weight is manageable, but by the second day of that course, my shoulder was getting sore from the constant rubbing of the military type sling.
The recoil of the M1A is significantly more than an AR. While not uncomfortable, uick repeat shots do take longer with the M1 than wiht an AR. Of course, they are faster than with a bolt gun, and the 7.62x51 hits with more athority than the 5.56, reducing the need for multiple hits.
There is probably much more to this discussion, as I am not a big rifle shooter, and have only taken one practical rifle course. Therefore take what I say for what its worth.
Lastly, buy one. I don't think that you'll be dissapointed. I have a ball with mine!
I recently purchased an M1A Scout rifle with the synthetic stock, and I am extremely impressed with the rifle.
I like the handling of the shorter M1A and it points quickly for me. The power of the cartridge is greater than .223, and I feel that practical accuracy of the Scout is greater than most ARs. I say this because I recently took a rifle course where the M1A shooters consistently outshot the AR shooters, excepting a few exceptional AR shooters. This is not to say that an AR cannot be accurate. I simply feel that the sight format/radius/??? seems to facilitate accurate shooting.
The gun is in no way uncomfortable to shoot, and the 10rd. factory magazines are indeed handy. I would like to get hold of some 20 round mags, but alas, I live in California. Maybe someday I'll find some that I forgot about deep in my attic!
Now the bad news:
What with all of the positive features of this gun, I feel that I can deal with the negatives, and it seems that the SEALs, as well as the Marine Corps DMs can too. However...
These guns are heavy-- much heavier than an AR. (By the way, I am comparing the M1A Scout to the AR, because I feel that if you want a true "scout" you need a bolt gun, and if you want a true long range accurate semi-auto rifle, why not go with the full size M1A? I therefore feel that the M1A Scout serves best as a do-it-all rifle that fits the bill of both semi-auto "assault/battle rifles" as well as accurate "scout" type systems. ) The weight is manageable, but by the second day of that course, my shoulder was getting sore from the constant rubbing of the military type sling.
The recoil of the M1A is significantly more than an AR. While not uncomfortable, uick repeat shots do take longer with the M1 than wiht an AR. Of course, they are faster than with a bolt gun, and the 7.62x51 hits with more athority than the 5.56, reducing the need for multiple hits.
There is probably much more to this discussion, as I am not a big rifle shooter, and have only taken one practical rifle course. Therefore take what I say for what its worth.
Lastly, buy one. I don't think that you'll be dissapointed. I have a ball with mine!
Hickman: I was referring to the 18" version known as M1a Scout vs. the concept of the scout rifle.
SF Bill: I have not shot one, but I handled one at the gun store. True its heavier than an AR15, but it seemed to have a better balance to it in my opinion with more weight up front. I also liked the iron sights and the forward mount for a scout type scope. I have heard that the M1a's are less subject to jams than AR15's in general.
I read in a magazine that the scout is rated as a 2 moa rifle by springfield.
Of course, I also live in Calif. and the M1a is the only decent battle rifle one can currently purchase. I am also debating getting a Steyr scout tactical or tactical light rifle (bolt actions). You get slightly more accuracy - 1 moa, but slower action.
decisions....decisions....
SF Bill: I have not shot one, but I handled one at the gun store. True its heavier than an AR15, but it seemed to have a better balance to it in my opinion with more weight up front. I also liked the iron sights and the forward mount for a scout type scope. I have heard that the M1a's are less subject to jams than AR15's in general.
I read in a magazine that the scout is rated as a 2 moa rifle by springfield.
Of course, I also live in Calif. and the M1a is the only decent battle rifle one can currently purchase. I am also debating getting a Steyr scout tactical or tactical light rifle (bolt actions). You get slightly more accuracy - 1 moa, but slower action.
decisions....decisions....
San Francisquito Bill
New member
Mr. Pub,
Whereabouts in CA are you from? You didn't see the Scout in Turner's did you?
Anyway, In that course I took (my only real objective experience) there were three M1A's and about ten AR series guns. Of the AR's, there were only a couple that I didn't see malfunction. (That doesn't mean that they didn't, just that I didn't see it. I SAW all the others malfunction, including several type 3's!)
My M1A never skipped a beat, and I didn't see any malfunctions from the other two. I talked to one of the M1A shooters towards the end of the course and he had not experienced any malfunctions, so I can definately see where M1A's are considered more reliable.
Yes, I like the balance also. Especially after taking the course at Front Sight, I now feel so much more confident with it. I would say that the Scout is an EASY 2 MOA rifle, and probably better in trained hands (As opposed to me!)
I took the M1A because I wanted a semi. A bolt gun will have more accuracy, but as you say, a slower action. That's a personal decision, but if you decide on a bolt, that Steyr is a pretty cool little gun. I've never fired one, but having handled one at the store, I was very impressed!
As far as using the M1A as a "Scout", I have no intention on mounting an optical sight on the gun. The iron sights work just fine. (Actually they work exceptionally well!) I like that I have the option to mount a scope, and frankly, I think that the mount looks cool, but I doubt that I'll use it. I picked the Scout more for the balance and compactness than for the forward mounting system.
Please let me know what you end up with. If you decide on the M1A, let me know, I learned some tricks that make it perform much more efficiently!
(I never knew how fast a speed reload could be with one of these rifles!)
Whereabouts in CA are you from? You didn't see the Scout in Turner's did you?
Anyway, In that course I took (my only real objective experience) there were three M1A's and about ten AR series guns. Of the AR's, there were only a couple that I didn't see malfunction. (That doesn't mean that they didn't, just that I didn't see it. I SAW all the others malfunction, including several type 3's!)
My M1A never skipped a beat, and I didn't see any malfunctions from the other two. I talked to one of the M1A shooters towards the end of the course and he had not experienced any malfunctions, so I can definately see where M1A's are considered more reliable.
Yes, I like the balance also. Especially after taking the course at Front Sight, I now feel so much more confident with it. I would say that the Scout is an EASY 2 MOA rifle, and probably better in trained hands (As opposed to me!)
I took the M1A because I wanted a semi. A bolt gun will have more accuracy, but as you say, a slower action. That's a personal decision, but if you decide on a bolt, that Steyr is a pretty cool little gun. I've never fired one, but having handled one at the store, I was very impressed!
As far as using the M1A as a "Scout", I have no intention on mounting an optical sight on the gun. The iron sights work just fine. (Actually they work exceptionally well!) I like that I have the option to mount a scope, and frankly, I think that the mount looks cool, but I doubt that I'll use it. I picked the Scout more for the balance and compactness than for the forward mounting system.
Please let me know what you end up with. If you decide on the M1A, let me know, I learned some tricks that make it perform much more efficiently!
(I never knew how fast a speed reload could be with one of these rifles!)
I shot one of these at Ducks Unlimited in Memphis this year. It was the wood model with Harris bipod and the Scout scope. It had been sighted in perfectly. I just fired the first round to get a feel for it, by just placing the crosshairs on the clay pigeons we were using. The range was approximately 115 yards. The thing vaporized. What? A first round hit at 115 yard for a person who's not a particulary good shot with a rifle and had never held the weapon before, let alone fired it? Wow. The next four rounds were identical. It was the closest thing to a laser I've ever seen. Just put the crosshairs on it and the target goes bye-bye! It made a believer out of me. I will be purchasing one in the near future, as finances permit.
Mr. Pub, you mentioned that you were considering a Steyr Tactical Scout. FWIW, I have one that I shot at the Gunsite Masters General Rifle course earlier this year, and it was really nice. As I mentioned, although I have the short barrelled MIA, it is not a scout. Before going to Gunsite I considered taking the MIA instead, but after going through the week with the Steyr, I concluded that I had made the right decision. I think I would have found the MIA a bit too heavy/bulky in a scout-type role. Again, FWIW, after a bit of practice, you can run a nice bolt scout rifle pretty darn fast, and as you mentioned, probably get more accuracy.