I've wanted an M1A for decades and finally picked up a Scout a few years ago. Such a wonderful, simple, and durable rifle. Like the add says "bring enough gun".
Waited and saved for two years to get my SOCOM 16!!! Every shooter has a preference, Every weapon is a Flavor!!!! And some us just like and enjoy more horsepower and torque in a small package. Semper Fi. 0311
A good friend tells me he was issued a Scout Squad as a DMR in Iraq. The Army bought alot of them new in the white box from Springfield. He says with the 18.5" barrel 700 yard shots are not an issue at all especially with low magnification. It works great.
As an old Vet who was in during the transition from M-14 to M-16 ,I can say that I wouldn't trade my Scout for any rifle out there. Tack driving son of a gun with irons, low recoil and easy to hump for old guys. Wish I had it 50 years ago.
I put a Primary Arms 3-18x50 ffp ACSS HUD DMR reticle specifically for the 308 on my M1A standard model with a Sadlak steel mount and Aero Precision 1 piece rings. This is not a precision rifle, but a damn fine DMR! Great video, keep it up🇺🇸
Very nice collection! I'm more of a precision bolt guy, but the M1A has always been one of my bucket list guns... finally had a good deal fall into my lap & snabbed a Loaded Archangel. Put an SWFA SS 10x42 on it, and it is bad-ass fun. Only thing I don't like about it is that I'm a reloader, and mine wants to fling the brass into the next zip code! And you're right about the range... I've got a few pretty nice bolt guns, but when that thing comes out of the bag, everyone wants to check it out.
I found a SOCOM M1A at a gander mtn. a couple months ago in the used rack for $1,300. It had no, and I mean no, visible indication that it had been fired at all. It also came with 4, 20 round mags and one 10 rounder that also had no marks on them. Absolutely amazing rifle. I have shot nothing but bulk ammo like M80C or Tulla ammo through it and it's maybe 2" groups on average. The occasional flyer makes the grouping spread a little more. It's not a "tack driver", but it's awesome none the less. I am getting an Archangel stock for it this week and I'm excited to see how that'll turn out. I have that stock on my R700 and I love it.
Great video man! I was still deciding between the S16 and the Scout and you really sold me when you said all around or multipurpose M1A. Thank you for your honesty, stay dangerous. 🏴☠️🐀
Grat review brother i enjoyed it. Question though what kind of accuracy are u getting out of the socom 16? I live in cali and sick of all the featureless rifle shit we have to go through and since the m1a type rifles are totally legal here im having a hard time deciding between the socom or the scout. I generally wont shoot past 300 yards, mostly 25-200 id say. Do u think the scout would be a little more reliable of a weapon? Have u had any issues or had to tweek anything on your socom? And would the blast of the socom be too much to loud for cqb get out of house gun? I would appreciate your input since u have shot and own both thank u
Just now seeing THIS vid. Love the SA M1A’s. I have a Standard model I bought back in 2010 or so and adore that rifle. I didn’t have a choice of the different models that SA offers, only the Standard and have NO regrets. One of my favorite for sure and the only ‘.308’ I have, it’s one you SHOULD ‘pass down’, NOT sell. Shoots like a laser as the iron sights are THE BEST on any rifle ANYWHERE I believe and has certainly been my experience. On a personal note regarding the sights specifically: The 1st 3 rounds I fired out of mine after literally unboxing and CLEANING it were dead-on literal bullseye hits @ 100 yds. Even back then I couldn’t believe it. Well since, I’ve opted for and mounted a Sadlak “Airborne” steel scope mount (absolute excellence in engineering), added an older Bushnell 3-9X40 & an “Eagle” brand cheek rest/pad. I hunted with it this year (2019, Dec) and took a NICE 8 pt on our place. The ONLY slight ‘negative’ if you could call it a negative, is the weight. It is heavy, no doubt..and I only mean it from the standpoint of getting in & out of a small deer blind under actual hunting conditions...where deer are present everywhere in real time. The closest conditions that I can reproduce to ‘sniping’. It’s not a rifle you’d ever want to take on a still hunt or while stalking. I’m sure the ‘Loaded and National Match’ rifles are a tad better component/barrel-wise, but with what this particular rifle can do..I’m MORE than satisfied.
I got one of the socom2 full length rail (hard to find) with a black stock. All said and done @ the time was $2500. If I ever got a scout I’d want to put it in a green stock too. I took the bottom section of the VLTOR rail off for now. Just a timeless rifle. I love the look of the muzzle breaks on both of the guns (scout/socom).
Loved this video, davis0331! Thank YOU! You helped me make my decision which model to purchase. I went with the M1A Scout Squad. Now I have to sell my brand new MOD 10 SAVAGE ASHBURY 308WIN PRECISION. As Hickok45 would say, "Life is good!"
I wish I had money to own 3 M1A rifles. Currently I only have a Scout. I took it out to the range the day I bought it (5 years ago) and shot 300 yard 12 target steel targets and hit them every time while standing. Beautiful gun especially with a walnut stock. Re the sighting options... I would put your rail mount on the NM gun with along with the nicest scope you can afford. The scout was made for a long eye relief scope. I LOVE the Leatherwood scope LR scope on mine. Excellent scope and easy to use at close range. At long range you can still use the 8x and use the tack driving accuracy of the scout. As for the SOCOM 16 I would put a nice low profile red dot on it. Add the quad rail to it and add a light and back up pop up irons. Nice guns. #jealous.
Thank you for the informative video and explanation of the difference in each model. I am torn between the loaded and scout , so your video is much appreciated. Any data of shooting at paper ? Thanks again!
Great looking rifles I'm looking to get one myself really like your scout Squad. Did you say that you changed the socom stock out on the Scout squad one. Or is that something that available that they can do.
it took me a while to save up for it but I highly recommend the trijicon 2.5-12.5 accupoint scope. when you consider that most long range shooters use fixed 10 power scopes, this one will do everything you want it to on a 308. I had a 4-16 on my loaded originally but I went to the 2.5-12.5 and I love it. the glass is clear, it's tough, the tritium/fiber optic reticle is clear and unobtrusive, and it is super versatile. I have it on my loaded model currently and I couldn't recommend it higher. the arms 18 is my mount if you were curious.
I'm still an M1A wanna be and I sure appreciate your comment on the Trijicon. I have the ACOG on my AR and love it but hadn't even considered the one you recommended for an M1A! ...It's kind'a like saving up for 2 rifles!!
Loved your review! I see your video was posted 7 yrs ago. Im "sold" on getting an M1A, but cant decide which... Have you looked into the Bula 19" M21DMR? Close in length to the Scout but perhaps more accurate at longer range?
Thanks for the great video but I feel it's screwing me up judging the size between socom and scout because you swapped the stocks. The butt stock is wider and longer on the scout than the socom right?
I went with the Scout , I Love it!! I would love to have all 3 Nice. I have an M1 Garand it is a 1943 with a 1953 barrel. These are part of Our History and I'm honored to own them
Nice video! I am trying to make up my mind on the scout or the socom? Why the scout for you and not the socom as your favorite? Spending $1,700 or so on rifle is not cheap! Any input would be greatly appreciated.
U forgot about Mrgunsngear, he does an honest to goodness no frills review on everything, he doesn't pull and punches. Nice looking rifles, Ive always been partial to the 30-06 Garand, but those scouts and socoms are the way to go these days, thanks for sharing bud
Davis,, Can you link us to that vid or you tube on adding the AFG to the M1a? Ive looked several times and can not find it. Nice overview. I have a SOCOM 16 and absolutely love it. Ive done several improvements to it. I Polished the trigger parts and that significantly improved the trigger feel and pull weight. I added a ultimax M8 rail and a red dot optic. Please link to that AFG improvement if you could. Thank You
the socom 16 is a really nice rifle, I really like it . I have never owned one but I would really like one . I really like the M1A14 & the M1A16 , great looking rifles.
Davis0331 how did you get that grip on your socom 16? I just bought the scout squad and the one thing I don’t like about it, there is nowhere to put my hand so my wrist doesn’t sit awkward and the rifle sits into my shoulder. Having an issue with that; also, do you know if it’s possible to attach a bolt cover on this gun similar to the Ruger Mini lineup?
Love the video , I can only get one do all rifle for everything so this helped me with what m1a I'd get now m1a or ar10 🤔 🤣🤣🤣 but I wanna scout scope on mine .
I would go black synthetic because of good bad weather rifle. I have both Loaded and Scout in black synthetic. Springfield uses real good synthetic stocks.
Scope set up for your loaded. Arms #18 mount, much better than the springfield mount and actually holds zero. Good rings. And maybe a decent 3.5-10 or 4-14. It needs to handle the double recoil of the m1a though. And consider shimming the gas system.
For the loaded I vote a Bassett Low Pic mount with a mid to long range scope with a magnification somewhere in the 1-4.5x on the low end and a 10-30 on the high end. Which scope depends on price range. For a tight budget I vote the Primary Arms 4-14x44 with the Mildot or 308 dmr reticle for under $1000. For middle of the road I think the Vortex scopes for around $500 are good as well as well as the $800-$1000 dollar range with the Weaver Tactical line with either the 3-15x50 or the 4-20x50 . For higher than that I like the Bushnell Elite optics in the $1000-2000 range.
I've been debating on the scout or socom. I've decided the scout. I have plenty of "get out of the house" but recently started doing long range with friends. I love the look, especially that it's doesn't look like an AR platform.
Amazing collection. Socom with a walnut stock and a scout scope. Still allows you to use stripper clips. That also means carrying less magazines. Just me. Great rifle.
rear sight apertures- smaller for daylight; (iron sight ZERO dependent) larger is for night or NBC situations (masked)...deals with accuracy just for FYI. And it is a long range rifle btw. And agreed 39 thorns.
I am 44, & this rifle has been on my bucket list for as long as I wanted a gun/rifle. I am a big fan of Col Jeff Cooper, & while the m1a scout & socom fall short of a true scout (they are fat pigs) they still very much hold to the spirit of the concept. Now Springfield charging $1k for the hooded site & bedded stock is nuts, but you really need a solid chassis, & even glass bedding yourself really should be done as it really tightens up your groups (assuming you do your part), especially if using the walnut stock. I wish I would of bought this rifle ten or twenty years ago as it keeps going up, & up (it's funny as Springfield is the budget m1a vs guys like Fulton). I still find myself struggling with which model I need to get as all are a huge chunk of change for me to justify. I really need one to fall in my lap.
Just got a scout. Glad to hear it's preferred.Shot a few in the yard but yet to go to any distance. Wanted the socom, unavailable in today's market : ( Oh and ammo, 27$/20 ct box fmj. Troubling times my brothers : (
I have the Socom 16 CQB and I have a walnut stock to swap in and out of. It’s a great battle rifle and one of the best SHTF/patrol/North American hunting rifle and made to be such... if you want to make it into something it’s not (M1A match) then you need to get a good scope and make sure it’s sighted perfectly in order to adjust for the slight loss in velocity in comparison to the 18-22 inch models. People who complain about the Socom 16 tried to compare it to its competition brother even though they are made for different reasons. I’d rather clear a room or patrol a zombie infested world with a 16 inch Socom with much greater power/penetration/range than a 16 inch AR-15 which everyone goes Gaga for
