My FIL is a Vietnam-era vet who swore by his M1A until I handed him a 16" carbine AR. It's easier for him to shoot in his "old age" (his words, not mine) since the recoil is less and the rifle itself is lighter. He even prefers shooting my .308 MWS rifles to his M1A now due to the reduced recoil. He keeps trying to give it to me but the thought of moving it from his safe to mine makes me kinda sad.

 

At any rate, figured I'd toss that out there since I think the OP and my FIL are similar in terms of background.

Big Mack, I am looking at the Scott also...Not for the color (my traditional bias is mosty the rifle look and feel vs the AR), but for the performance. What kind of range might I expect from the 18" barreled scott?

 

Thanks,

-Joe

 

Iv only shot mine at 100 yards so far so I'm not sure from personal experience, but on the m1a forums theres guys on there shooting at 500 yards with just iron sights and even further with low powered scopes.

 

Here's a Hickok review of the Socom 16. He always does good reviews.

 

 

 

Thanks for posting this, now I want to go buy a Socom 16, and build a range like this in my backyard. :wild:

Thanks for posting this, now I want to go buy a Socom 16, and build a range like this in my backyard. :wild:

 

Hahaha my old lady saw me watching a few of his videos and said "ok.. thats why you want to move to PA.. so you can spend all our money and build a range like that in our back yard." To which i said "yup"

Folks,

 

Last time I purchased a rifle was about 25 years ago - a Marlin .44 lever action which still shoots really well...

 

But I'd like a more mordern rife for the range and for "just in case" mega-disaster-survival.

 

So I need advice on all the numourous numbers of options - which I would greatly appreciate...Starting with the various platforms:

 

I see that the AR platform is so ubiquitous -- everywhere.

 

I like the traditional look of the M1a platform (I am a 1911 auto and Kabar (marine combat model) knife type of guy)-- and the better reliability (i think, from what I read) than the AR.

 

Not interested in the AK platform -- weird as it may sound, I have too much baggage with the AK-name from the vietnam era.

 

Appreciate any thoughts on AR vs M1a platforms for a "Survival-Carbine". (and are there other platforms t consider?)

 

Thanks,

-Joe

 

Screw the M1A, buy an FN FAL clone. They can be had for a lot cheaper, have similar ergos to an AR-15, are easier to clean/disassemble, and come with a lot of accessories, including a sick optics mount. Not to mention they share a heritage with actual battle rifles with a proven history, from the Falklands to the Middle East.

 

Besides, modern M1As aren't all that great. Mounting a scope on them sucks, they have issues with the gas block moving around and not being fitted properly, they're a pain in the butthole to disassemble, and have the ergonomics of an M1 Garand... which is crap compared to modern ergonomic layouts.

 

Plus they look purrrrdy like this:

Screw the M1A, buy an FN FAL clone. They can be had for a lot cheaper, have similar ergos to an AR-15, are easier to clean/disassemble, and come with a lot of accessories, including a sick optics mount. Not to mention they share a heritage with actual battle rifles with a proven history, from the Falklands to the Middle East.

 

Besides, modern M1As aren't all that great. Mounting a scope on them sucks, they have issues with the gas block moving around and not being fitted properly, they're a pain in the butthole to disassemble, and have the ergonomics of an M1 Garand... which is crap compared to modern ergonomic layouts.

 

Plus they look purrrrdy like this:

She is a buty...FN gives much fur da $$ ....But my heart was stolen last week by the M14 ;-) ...Buying Guns is like buying cars...Yes, must consider price vs features, ergonomics, etc, but it is also an emotional decision also...It has to have that "look" too (and of course that is very individual).

Well, I decided on the M14 - see post above. Then I waffeled btwn SOCOM and Scout...To resolve I attached a ruler with 3 inches sticking past the barrel on my Marlin lever 44 to simulate the scout legnth, then I attached a 3 lb weight with a small rope to simulate the wieght...

My experiment showed I can "survive" close quater with the scout ...I mean, I will not be doing any SWAT type entries any time soon. Also, the standard m14 infrastructure, no issue with amo, and no worries about a 700yard shot leaned me to the scout (in walnut ).

 

Now I can't decide on SA vs Fulton (i know FA is much more $$$ - but it is a "finer" gun)...So I left it to the Universe to decide...If I can get an SA-Scout, I will....If I have to wait 2 months - I'll order the Fulton soon (it has an 8-10 week wait)...So far, all the major on-line distributors have a big sign saying all M1As are "backordered"...Trying a few local gun shops...If they come up empty - I'll be very happy to order a Fulton Armory Scout.

Well as fate would have it --- I have located an SA M1a Scout and he put my name on it --- picking it up in a few days.

 

Bhoooohya....

 

Now I never purchased a gun from a dealers stock (they had to order my two pistols recently)...Anything special I should be concerned about, and check before I sign?

 

Thanks,

-Joe

Make sure it has the blue tag on it not broken, all paperwork including reports like head spacing, etc.. Not marred, etc..

Where did ya find one locally?

Good luck with it.

 

Well as fate would have it --- I have located an SA M1a Scout and he put my name on it --- picking it up in a few days.

 

Bhoooohya....

 

Now I never purchased a gun from a dealers stock (they had to order my two pistols recently)...Anything special I should be concerned about, and check before I sign?

 

Thanks,

-Joe

 

 

Sent from John's iPad 2 via Tapatalk HD

Typos courtesy Apple...

If its a brand new gun there should be no worries. Glad to here you found one, you will not regret your decision. If you don't mind me asking where are you picking it up from? I'v been seeing standards and socoms everywhere but no scouts. Keep us posted when you get it and post some pic's. Good luke with it Joe.

I think Cheyanne Mountain actually had one. They ususally keep M1A's in stock in various forms.

I love mine M1A NM. It is still my favorite to shoot.

Ken