M1A scoping question

I'm not real hip on scope mounts for the M1a, but I can almost guarantee you, you will probably have to put some sort of cheek riser on it unless you are using a smaller tube scope.

I have a Socom16... I didn't really intend to put optics on it so I took the forward rail off. If I were to turn to glass, I would look at something like the Ultimak rail for it, it allows a wider range of mount options and doesn't rely on bolting to the receiver like some of the other mounts do... but as I say, I'm not much of an expert on M1a scope mounts.

I agree with @Charlie98, you’ll also need a cheek riser.

I have the Basset mount and it’s great.

I use the Bradley Cheek riser and like it too.

Basset low mount and a Bradley cheek rest. Real easy on & off. No loss of zero.

Does that model have the picatinny rail? If so, get the burris scout scope - extreme eye relief and 2-7x

Im doing the same thing....

An M1A Nat Match that Ive been working out with since spring.
I got a nice scope and mount, a Primary arms 8X24 with a decent static rangefinder.
The mount, however, would not let me use the iron sights, and it was not of the quickly detachable type, so I didnt get it into shape. Shot extremely well, and stayed zero'd after 120 rounds, so Im happy with the scope, but in my Arctic doings, being able to remove a busted or off scope whilst out hunting is important, and I have seen dozens of guys with busted scopes over the years.

Now I have a Springfeild aluminum mount, and I should just get this done.....maybe a Sunday project....

You probably don't want to hear this, but my suggestion would be to sell it and get an AR10 - you'd have enough for the AR10 and half the scope, instead of spending even more money on the mount. But if you're attached to it, I understand that too.

TexasPatriot.308 said:

Anyone prefer another mount like a Sadlak or a Springfield made?

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I would recommend the Sadlak mount. I have a military-contract Brookfield Precision mount on my M1A. The Brookfield is no longer made. The Sadlak is just like the Brookfield, except that it's updated with a Picatinny rail instead of the Weaver rail that's on the Brookfield.

I would get a Sadlak myself, except that my Brookfield is collectible and goes well with my very early "Devine, Texas" M1A.

The Brookfield/Sadlak is very solidly attached to the receiver with a cam bolt on the side, as well as a bracket that replaces the clip guide, and a set screw to take up any slack over the receiver ring. The iron sights can be used with the mount in place. What you want are QD rings for the scope so that it can be detached and re-attached without losing zero.

After trying Springfields aluminum mounts and being very disapointed, I ended up with an ARMS 18 mount. It's steel, low profile and locks on pretty damn solid. Using Leupold quick detach rings gets you on the irons in seconds should the need arise and the zero is repetable. Having no experience with the sadlak or basset I cant comment, but the gen 2 and gen 3 Springfield did not enthuse me one bit. As other posters have mentioned, a cheek riser is nessasary, mine comes from coyote arms and is very suitable.

I use Bassett low Picatinny rail mounts on both my M1As. The have proven secure, able to handle the recoil from each rifle (I use FGMM 168gr loads), are easy on/off and don't lose zero by more than 1/4 MOA when I remove to use my irons and then remount them. As to scopes, I use a Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 on my Super Match and have good results out past 600 yards when I get my wind calls right and will be moving a NightForce NXS 3.5-15x56 to my Loaded which sits in a Pro-Mag Archangel chassis, as I'm a bit too cheap to go for a JAE-100. I use Warne Aluminum rings on each. A cheek riser is required...I've got a 1" riser on my Super Match and use the built-in riser on the Archangel chassis as required.

Flatbush Harry said:

The have proven secure, able to handle the recoil from each rifle (I use FGMM 168gr loads), are easy on/off and don't lose zero by more than 1/4 MOA when I remove to use my irons and then remount them.

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A good solid mount (such as the Sadlak) should not be removed routinely from the rifle. It's more or less a permanent installation. The removable interface is between the QD scope rings and the rail on the mount.

When you decide to scope the rifle, you have to accept that you lose the clip-loading feature. (The clip guide is going to be blocked.) Also, ejected shells are going to be hitting the bottom of the scope mount.

As someone who has used about every variant of the M14 in the military (M21, M25, EBR, etc.) there is no really "great" way to effectively scope one. They were brought out of the mothballs in the late unpleasantness, and various methods were used to modernize them to extend a squads lethality at longer ranges. The fact is, when that rifle was adopted in the cold war, it was never really designed to have anything but a bayonet and a sling mounted to it. That said, we had the best luck using the McCann industries M14 mount (when properly installed). I think they are still available through VLTOR.

TexasPatriot.308 said:

I'm leaning toward a Bassett mount since I only live a few miles from Bassett Machine.

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Since you are so close, give them a call and schedule a time when you can stop by with your M1A and attach one to your rifle. I’d be very surprised if you spent any more time looking for something else

When I had an M1A I went with the ARMS mount and rings. IIRC the model number correctly it was the ARMS #18.

This was mine.







That with the rings were just barely able to make it without taking the rear sight off. I didn't want to personally. That may or may not be an option for you though. That was pretty low.

I agree with danny, m1a's and garands don't scope well. and IF you are able to get a solid mount, the scope is too high and the cases bang into the mount. And lets face it, it's not that accurate a platform. It looks cool as all get out, but at the end of the day, it's a heavy, expensive, marginally accurate platform that doesn't scope well. The FAL and the G3 aren't much better, and while I don't care much for the ar10 platform, it seems to be the best of the options. I'd just leave it alone. shoot it short range.

And I don't think of myself as an m1 hater, I've had 2 and currently have a garand. I just don't think it's a very good platform. certainly not from an optics perspective. There are a couple red dot mounts that look pretty neat though.....

Come on y’all, the OP was asking for help in selecting a scope mount for his M1A.

The advice to sell it and get an AR10 isn’t very helpful, especially since he already has one.

i have found that none of the springfield scope mounts work very well. I have a bassett and like it.

FL-NC said:

As someone who has used about every variant of the M14 in the military (M21, M25, EBR, etc.) there is no really "great" way to effectively scope one.

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And that is why I sold mine.

greyling22 said:

m1a's and garands don't scope well

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M14's (M1A's) and Garands are not in the same category as regards mounting scopes. The Garand loads from the top, which precludes mounting the scope directly over the bore. M1A magazines are inserted from the bottom. The M1A has a convenient mounting point (threaded bolt hole and spline grooves) on the left side of the receiver, designed specifically for this purpose. Plus, the M1A has a removable clip guide, the dovetail for which can be used as a secondary mounting point.

AlexanderA said:

M14's (M1A's) and Garands are not in the same category as regards mounting scopes. The Garand loads from the top, which precludes mounting the scope directly over the bore. M1A magazines are inserted from the bottom. The M1A has a convenient mounting point (threaded bolt hole and spline grooves) on the left side of the receiver, designed specifically for this purpose. Plus, the M1A has a removable clip guide, the dovetail for which can be used as a secondary mounting point.

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While this is true, what it also means is that while the M14 doesn't scope well, the Garand actually scopes WORSE.

the basset mounts are good but unless you loctite them or shoot them on a really heavy m14 they will probably shoot loose after a few hundred rounds. I have one, took an 18.5" LRB tanker to a DMR class and that's what happened. You can tigthen the basset's bolt up periodically but it will probably have a slightly wandering zero. The minute variations in M14-type reciever dimnsions from manufacturer to manufacturer are probably to blame. I would recommend the sadlak steel mount, or consdier a barrel mounted handguard scope rail like an ultimake. I have an aimpoint on my select fire NFA M14 using an ultimak handguard rail and it's great.

Narwhal said:

the basset mounts are good but unless you loctite them or shoot them on a really heavy m14 they will probably shoot loose after a few hundred rounds. I have one, took an 18.5" LRB tanker to a DMR class and that's what happened. You can tigthen the basset's bolt up periodically but it will probably have a slightly wandering zero. The minute variations in M14-type reciever dimnsions from manufacturer to manufacturer are probably to blame. I would recommend the sadlak steel mount, or consdier a barrel mounted handguard scope rail like an ultimake. I have an aimpoint on my select fire NFA M14 using an ultimak handguard rail and it's great.

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If you have any oil on the bolt or in the hole it can come loose. If you make sure it's clean and dry it should stay tight if you use the tool as instructed (letting the rifle's weight apply the required torque)

I've put 3k rounds through mine and only had it loosen up one time, otherwise it was solid.