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My only other suggestion is that if you are only looking for shorter ranges, the SOCOM or Scout models will be shorter and a lot handier to carry around. My SOCOM while not light, is decently balanced to carry around and good for the shorter ranges it is intended for.

I am definitely not ruling out the Scout. Qualifies as long range relative to my use case and can also be more readily scoped.

markthenewf wrote:Had one, shot great, but some substandard parts (produced elesewhere) gave me fits so I got rid of it. The only other bummer I remember is that mags were a bit pricy at the time.

I still have 5 or 6 mags from mine....... just in case I buy another M1A.

One of my favorite rifles, you wont regret the purchase.

M1As are awesome! I have the Socom 16 and a Loaded in an EBR stock. If you go with a scout mount, it's a bit hard to find a correct optic that will work due to the very long eye relief.

My father-in-law wants to sell me a Swarovski 2.5-10x42. Does anyone know if this would be a proper scope for a Scout Squad? Also, looking for a quality scope-smith in the DFW area. Pardon my noobishness.

Redneck_Buddha wrote:My father-in-law wants to sell me a Swarovski 2.5-10x42. Does anyone know if this would be a proper scope for a Scout Squad? Also, looking for a quality scope-smith in the DFW area. Pardon my noobishness.

You should only buy a scope that is specifically marketed as a "scout" scope. Other low magnification variable power scopes do NOT necessarily have long eye relief.

Examples:

• Leatherwood ATR long eye relief scope: http://swfa.com/Leatherwood-2-7x32-Long ... 64466.aspx $160
• Leupold 2.5x28 Scout: http://swfa.com/Leupold-25x28-FX-II-Sco ... P3261.aspx $300
• Leupold 1.5-4x28 Scout: http://swfa.com/Leupold-15-4x28-VX-2-IE ... 71866.aspx $350
• Leupold 1.5-5x32 Scout: http://swfa.com/Leupold-15-5x33-VX-R-30 ... 69513.aspx $600 — I have this scope mounted on my Ruger Gunsite Scout, and it is an excellent optic, however.... the greater spread of magnification means that it has slightly shorter eye relief than the others listed here. That does not affect ME on THIS rifle, but the mount on an M1A scout rifle is pretty far forward, and this one might not work for you.
• Burris 2.75x20 Scout: http://swfa.com/Burris-275x20-Scout-Scope-P2020.aspx $249
• Burris 2.75x32 Scout: http://swfa.com/Burris-2-7x32-Scout-Scope-P61548.aspx $379

Edited to add: The links I have provided above are all from SWFA, which is located in Red Oak, just south of Dallas. I have purchased a number of scopes from them, although they are not my exclusive supplier. But I usually check SWFA first because they have a HUGE inventory. If you bring your rifle (with the bolt removed from the action), they can also mount and bore sight for you.....for a fee. I purchased my last scope, a Vortex Viper PST, from Cabelas in Fort Worth, and mounted and bore sighted it myself.

Thank you, TAM. This is exactly what I needed.