YAGT: Looking for M1A Scope Suggestions

[roguerower]

It's been about 2 weeks since I bought my M1A and since then I've put 135 rounds through it, all with iron sights, roughly half at 50yds and half at 100yds. I've been using the Champion 100yd sighting target...

...and at 50yrds can put all 10 rounds from the clip within the 2nd black circle with usually 5 of those inside the first black circle.

That said, I am planning on putting at least another couple of hundred rounds through it with ironsights so that I'm somewhat proficient, but I plan on upgrading to a scope and/or bipod to be used for range practice and hunting. Budget would probably max out around $400-500 for the scope because I also have to purchase a mounting system for the rifle and decent ones cost some money.

 

[IGemini]

Leupold makes some nice variable scopes, a decent one will definitely push your budget. You'll want to look through a few at your local store, their product line is pretty big.

 

[jessieqwert]

Picked this one up, nice build quality for the price

http://www.amazon.com/Millett-4-16x5...3963113&sr=1-2

 

[adairusmc]

Whatever you do for the M1a, if you need to get a scope mount, DO NOT BUY anything other than a Sadlak mount. Anything else is a poor excuse for a rifle mount and will make you wish for the Sadlak.

I myself put originally put a Leupold Mk. 4 LR/T 4.5-14 on my national match, but it ended up kicking brass onto the right adjustment knob, so I replaced it with a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 with a rapid-z 600 reticle, and I absolutely love that setup.

 

[roguerower]

Whatever you do for the M1a, if you need to get a scope mount, DO NOT BUY anything other than a Sadlak mount. Anything else is a poor excuse for a rifle mount and will make you wish for the Sadlak.

I myself put originally put a Leupold Mk. 4 LR/T 4.5-14 on my national match, but it ended up kicking brass onto the right adjustment knob, so I replaced it with a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 with a rapid-z 600 reticle, and I absolutely love that setup.

Thanks adair. I was waiting for you to chime in since you're the only person on this board that I could find (an I went back to 2010) who has an M1A. What range do you usually shoot at with that setup and what's the accuracy?

EDIT: What cheek rest is that?

 

[adairusmc]

Thanks adair. I was waiting for you to chime in since you're the only person on this board that I could find (an I went back to 2010) who has an M1A. What range do you usually shoot at with that setup and what's the accuracy?

EDIT: What cheek rest is that?

That is a cheekrest from http://www.coyotem1a.com/ Very very nice quality, and you can get them in multiple colors.

I have been shooting that rifle out to 500, and once I got it sighted in for the rapid-z reticle the only thing you really have to compensate for is windage.

I typically shoot clay pigeons laid out on a hillside on some family property, out to 500 yards or so, and I can routinely bust them at 500 (takes a few rounds sometimes, I am doing Kentucky windage with that scope though). As far as groups, I have grouped it at 100 and with factory 180g ammo (my rifle shoots best with 168 or heavier), I get 1.5-2" groups or so. With my handloads, I can get it down to 1" or smaller all day long at that range.

 

[pontifex]

in the spirit of atot (and most gun forums) if you don't have this, you're doing it wrong.

 

[roguerower]

That is a cheekrest from http://www.coyotem1a.com/ Very very nice quality, and you can get them in multiple colors.

I have been shooting that rifle out to 500, and once I got it sighted in for the rapid-z reticle the only thing you really have to compensate for is windage.

I typically shoot clay pigeons laid out on a hillside on some family property, out to 500 yards or so, and I can routinely bust them at 500 (takes a few rounds sometimes, I am doing Kentucky windage with that scope though). As far as groups, I have grouped it at 100 and with factory 180g ammo (my rifle shoots best with 168 or heavier), I get 1.5-2" groups or so. With my handloads, I can get it down to 1" or smaller all day long at that range.

Sounds good. Like I said, I'll be waiting a while and putting at least 400-500 rounds through it on iron sights. Can already see a bit of an improvement with me. I wear my contacts when I shoot and at 100yds in can be a bit difficult for me to actually see the middle target because they start tearing/blurring from keeping them open for so long.

I originally shot the Winchester 7.62 148gr ammo but last week I picked up 60rds of American Eagle 168gr and that seemed to work a bit better. I'll probably be doing the same this weekend and I'm picking up all of my brass in the hopes that one day I'll find someone who will reload them in exchange for something.

in the spirit of atot (and most gun forums) if you don't have this, you're doing it wrong.

Roger that, I'll run out and pick one up right now.

 

[Josh123]

Man I want a M1A so bad. I currently have a Remington 700 SPS .308 but would like to trade it all for a stock M1A.

I took it down to Austin for Thanksgiving and me and my dad did some special reloads to find the right amount of powder. That night he reloaded 100+ rounds for me lol. Thanks Pops!

 

[adairusmc]

If you arent wanting to do anything super long range with your rifle, you could consider an aimpoint or something too, like I have on my other m1a -

With your rifle though I would definitely do with a magnified optic with a longer eye relief, like a good leupold or the zeiss conquests.

That American Eagle m1a ammo does shoot extremely well for factory ammo, if it is available around where you are I would get that stuff when you can. It shoots awesome in that socom16, which can be kind of picky on ammo.

 

[roguerower]

If you arent wanting to do anything super long range with your rifle, you could consider an aimpoint or something too, like I have on my other m1a -

With your rifle though I would definitely do with a magnified optic with a longer eye relief, like a good leupold or the zeiss conquests.

That American Eagle m1a ammo does shoot extremely well for factory ammo, if it is available around where you are I would get that stuff when you can. It shoots awesome in that socom16, which can be kind of picky on ammo.

I'm planning on trying to get out to about 500yds so an aimpoint is out, and I'll definitely be looking out for good optics.

The AE is going for $16.99/box at a local sporting store, cheaper than anything else.

 

[roguerower]

adair, any reason why you went from a 4.5-14 to a 3-9? Seen any issues with the decreased magnification?

 

[adairusmc]

adair, any reason why you went from a 4.5-14 to a 3-9? Seen any issues with the decreased magnification?

No issues with the decreased magnification. the reason I downgraded is that the big expensive Mk4 that I had used the tactical style turrets for the windage and elevation adjustments, and they were so big the ejecting brass would come out of the rifle, hit that knob, and go back down into the action. That got annoying real fast, so I put that scope on a bolt action rifle that needed one, and got that Zeiss with the rapid-z specifically for that rifle.

Your rifle may eject brass at a different trajectory than mine did, but instead of playing with replacing the extrators and all that, I figured it was easier to just put that scope somewhere else and get one without the tactical turrets.