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Awesome stuff. I just ordered a SS10x42 scope, rings, and Basset rail mount. I'm still on the fence about drilling into my stock. I think I'll see how many towels taped to the stock are necessary and if I can get a strap-on one from Blackhawk or someone first. I'm still seriously considering getting a new flash hider as it'll a) be smaller (shorter)/lighter b) have the bayonet mount (I don't expect to use it, but I would rather have the option than not be able to). My rear sight elevation adjustment keeps working loose as well, so that'll be something I'll be chatting with SA about.

The Annoyed Man wrote:I drilled the stock tonight and attached the Karsten's Cheek Rest, and I present to y'all the (more or less) finished rifle:

Wow. That looks smurfy. You've added just about everything I'm intending on putting on mine! I'd kinda like to replace:
- that big bird cage at the front with something like a Smith Industries vortex hider and/or brake
- original standard front sight with a night sight
- stubby mag release with the larger tactical mag release

BTW, how did the install of the Sadlak rail go? All this talk from them about how stuff could be outta spec (and then not fit up properly) has me a bit spooked on spending $250 on a mount that doesn't fit. I know they offer a fitting service, but that'd bring the rail only up to $300 and I'd still be out a scope! I'm not worried about actually doing it myself (I fiddle with 1911 guts on a relatively regular basis), but it'd be a real bummer to not have it fit.

I'm also curios to hear how that cheek rest works as compared to the basic strap-on one.

Have you tried off-hand shooting using a sling to steady? Soooooo much more fun than bench shooting at 100 & 200 yards; gets you concentrating and gives you the fulll 308 kick experience!

The Annoyed Man wrote:

markthenewf wrote:As for ammo, I've really only run WWB 7.62 (147 gr) ball through it so far. I've just bought 200 rounds of it and I may begin reloading depending upon how things go with my brass catcher and if I get a Christmas bonus this year.

Mark, have you experienced any failures to eject? A friend of mine who has the Scout model said he had some FTEs with some German NATO rounds, and I'm curious if anyone else has had this problem, and if so, why.

I've run regular winchest 7.62 (100 rounds), higher-end ballistic tip 308's (10 rounds), and remington soft points (20 rounds). I've had zero problems with any of these. I can attest that those ballistic tip suckers made sub MOA groups, though!

My first 'owned' long gun is an M1A standard I bought about a month ago. I'd not shot a long gun for over 20 years. I cleaned it up, bottomed out the sight and took it down to the range. 10 clicks up on the rear sight and I was hitting sub 2" groups at 100 yards using regular NATO 7.62 ball rounds. I did this not using bags or a sled; only used the strap to steady pull it to my shoulder. Using a sled/bags, I can easily get 1" groups or better. Using a fairly quick shot set (a cease-fire was coming up at the range), I let off 14 rounds in about 30-40 seconds (also at 100 yards) and every single shot hit the 8" target, with the majority within the 6" circle. Considering I'm near sighted, that's pretty fantastic using good old iron sights. There's no reason to believe your M1A won't be as good as mine. I can't wait to try and see how it performs using a scope and bi-pod. I'd like to be able to keep around 1 MOA at out to 300 yards with or without a scope.

As for ammo, I've really only run WWB 7.62 (147 gr) ball through it so far. I've just bought 200 rounds of it and I may begin reloading depending upon how things go with my brass catcher and if I get a Christmas bonus this year.