Springfield M1A

AirForceMedic · December 13, 2009, 05:11 PM

Hi,

I'm looking to purchase a springfield M1A but i am not sure which model to get. I will be doing mostly range shooting for fun. It's not going to be for hunting for sure and i will not use it for home defense (I have a glock 10mm for that). I have narrowed it down to the Scout Squad, The SOCOM 16, and the SOCOM II. Can you tell me which you would choose and why please? also if you think a model not listed here would be better then by all means tell me why. I would like to eventually mount a red dot on it so it must have some type of rail. I know both SOCOM's have 16" barrels but i'm not sure there is enough loss in power to even make a difference. So i guess just pick one of the 3 and tell me which you would choose and why? This will be my first rifle but not the first time I have shot one. Thank you all in advance

Relentless Pursuit · December 13, 2009, 05:16 PM

16" M1A's are fickle. Keep it simple and stay close to issue length..............

RT · December 13, 2009, 05:38 PM

Get the Loaded version with the 2 stage trigger and the match sights/ barrel.

smee78 · December 13, 2009, 05:40 PM

I have a full size loaded M1A and if I could do it all over again I would go with a loaded scout model, 18 barrel is just about perfect and it uses a standard flash hinder/suppersor on the tip. I have heard that the socom's have a verrrry loud report.

SR420 · December 13, 2009, 07:12 PM

Get the Scout!

M1As (Bush & Scout) with 18.0" barrels and M14s (MK14 Mod 0 & 1)
are easily the best all-around, general purpose variants of the breed.

Unless you plan to shoot competition or long range beyond 700 yards
there is no need for the extra 4.0" of barrel you get with the standard.

I prefer the added muzzle velocity and the muzzle device options the
18.0" barrel gives the shooter when compared with the 16.0" SOCOM.

Edit: I've not noticed the 18" being loud and I sold my AR10 to build a second MK14.

tINY · December 13, 2009, 11:52 PM

7.62x51 barks pretty loud with 18" and is downright obnoxious with 16" with a brake.

If this is what you are after, then go for it.

Forget about the forward scope mount on the M14 - you really should get an AR10 for that.

-tINY

Tucker 1371 · December 14, 2009, 03:26 AM

When funds allow I'm going to get the 18" Scout model, less issues than the 16" and a little more barrel to give your rounds that much more oomph. Win win right?

Suwannee Tim · December 14, 2009, 04:19 AM

I have a National Match and a SOCOM 16. The SOCOM is a lot of fun and I like it a lot. I use a Leupold 2X scope on it. I don't like the SOCOM II as it is horribly ugly. The full size M1A is a great gun too. I like a walnut stock but if you want a shooter and you are not a rifle competitor you don't need the target sights, target barrel or glass bedded stock. Not that they hurt anything, they don't except with the glass bedded stock SA recommends you do not frequently remove the action from the stock as it wears the glass bedding out. I wouldn't scope an M1A over the action, it just dosen't make a good installation. The mounts range from heavy to way too heavy, they are not very rigid. If you decide to scope it over the action you would want an adjustable cheekpiece and a top quality, preferably titanium mount. Very expensive. If you want a scoped 308, there are better choices. I have never had an issue with my 16 inch SOCOM.

wayne in boca · December 14, 2009, 05:38 AM

I have two Standards,a Scout and a Socom 16.If I could keep only one it would be a Standard (22").That said,I love my Scout and Socom.For a red dot,I would go Socom 16.With an Eotech 552 on it,it is perhaps the perfect carbine.Hits like a hammer,shorter than a Marlin .30-30 .

December 13, 2009, 05:11 PM	#1
AirForceMedic Junior Member Join Date: December 13, 2009 Posts: 1	Springfield M1A Hi, I'm looking to purchase a springfield M1A but i am not sure which model to get. I will be doing mostly range shooting for fun. It's not going to be for hunting for sure and i will not use it for home defense (I have a glock 10mm for that). I have narrowed it down to the Scout Squad, The SOCOM 16, and the SOCOM II. Can you tell me which you would choose and why please? also if you think a model not listed here would be better then by all means tell me why. I would like to eventually mount a red dot on it so it must have some type of rail. I know both SOCOM's have 16" barrels but i'm not sure there is enough loss in power to even make a difference. So i guess just pick one of the 3 and tell me which you would choose and why? This will be my first rifle but not the first time I have shot one. Thank you all in advance

December 13, 2009, 05:38 PM	#3
RT Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2000 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 2,194	Get the Loaded version with the 2 stage trigger and the match sights/ barrel. Last edited by RT; December 13, 2009 at 05:53 PM.

December 13, 2009, 05:40 PM	#4
smee78 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,918	I have a full size loaded M1A and if I could do it all over again I would go with a loaded scout model, 18 barrel is just about perfect and it uses a standard flash hinder/suppersor on the tip. I have heard that the socom's have a verrrry loud report. __________________ We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located, among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't got a clue where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are

December 13, 2009, 07:12 PM	#5
SR420 Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2005 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 3,336	Get the Scout! M1As (Bush & Scout) with 18.0" barrels and M14s (MK14 Mod 0 & 1) are easily the best all-around, general purpose variants of the breed. Unless you plan to shoot competition or long range beyond 700 yards there is no need for the extra 4.0" of barrel you get with the standard. I prefer the added muzzle velocity and the muzzle device options the 18.0" barrel gives the shooter when compared with the 16.0" SOCOM. Edit: I've not noticed the 18" being loud and I sold my AR10 to build a second MK14. __________________ The History and Development of the M14 EBR Last edited by SR420; December 14, 2009 at 06:07 AM.

December 14, 2009, 03:26 AM	#7
Tucker 1371 Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2008 Location: East TN Posts: 2,649	When funds allow I'm going to get the 18" Scout model, less issues than the 16" and a little more barrel to give your rounds that much more oomph. Win win right? __________________ Sgt. of Marines, 5th Award Expert Rifle, 237/250 Expert Pistol, 382/400. D Co, 4th CEB, Engineers UP!! If you start a thread, be active in it. Don't leave us hanging. OEF 2011 Sangin, Afg. Molon Labe

December 13, 2009, 05:16 PM	#2
Relentless Pursuit Junior member Join Date: December 12, 2009 Posts: 116	16" M1A's are fickle. Keep it simple and stay close to issue length..............

December 13, 2009, 11:52 PM	#6
tINY Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2005 Location: Orygun Posts: 2,589	7.62x51 barks pretty loud with 18" and is downright obnoxious with 16" with a brake. If this is what you are after, then go for it. Forget about the forward scope mount on the M14 - you really should get an AR10 for that. -tINY

December 14, 2009, 04:19 AM	#8
Suwannee Tim Senior Member Join Date: June 27, 2009 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 320	I have a National Match and a SOCOM 16. The SOCOM is a lot of fun and I like it a lot. I use a Leupold 2X scope on it. I don't like the SOCOM II as it is horribly ugly. The full size M1A is a great gun too. I like a walnut stock but if you want a shooter and you are not a rifle competitor you don't need the target sights, target barrel or glass bedded stock. Not that they hurt anything, they don't except with the glass bedded stock SA recommends you do not frequently remove the action from the stock as it wears the glass bedding out. I wouldn't scope an M1A over the action, it just dosen't make a good installation. The mounts range from heavy to way too heavy, they are not very rigid. If you decide to scope it over the action you would want an adjustable cheekpiece and a top quality, preferably titanium mount. Very expensive. If you want a scoped 308, there are better choices. I have never had an issue with my 16 inch SOCOM. Last edited by Suwannee Tim; December 14, 2009 at 04:26 AM.

December 14, 2009, 05:38 AM	#9
wayne in boca Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2005 Posts: 345	I have two Standards,a Scout and a Socom 16.If I could keep only one it would be a Standard (22").That said,I love my Scout and Socom.For a red dot,I would go Socom 16.With an Eotech 552 on it,it is perhaps the perfect carbine.Hits like a hammer,shorter than a Marlin .30-30 .

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