Description

M1A SCOUT FOR SALE

M1A SCOUT FOR SALE.

The M1A™ Scout Squad™ combines the legendary power and reliability of the M1A™ with the quick handling and fast sight acquisition of a scout-style rifle. This means your rugged outdoors life just got a whole lot better.

From the two-stage military trigger to the aperture-style rear sight (adjustable for windage and elevation), the Scout Squad™ takes the M1A™ design and adds a forward mount scope for the added versatility of extended eye relief optics. Its barrel is shortened to 18″, so its short, handy dimensions will never get in the way of your big plans.

Designed for quick snap shots at a target, the Scout Squad™ is packed with all the standard features that make the M1A™ great, plus new features like a specially designed muzzle brake to help tame recoil. The M1A™ Scout Squad™ gives you the maneuverability of a scout rifle with the same power and features of a legendary American rifle. You’re welcome.

Originally the US began developing a rifle in conjunction with Great Britain and other newly formed NATO allies for the British .280 pattern cartridge. The idea was for the member countries of NATO to develop and produce a common cartridge along with a common rifle for ease of logistics in potential future conflicts.

 

At first, the US played nicely with her NATO allies but at the behest of a few high ranking officers that may or may not have had a personal interest in the development of the 7.62×51 and the then experimental M-14 that was to change.

 

It’s all history now, but the US would go on to develop the M14 and the rest of the NATO countries would select the FN FAL or a similar derivative of it. The cartridge that was selected to be chambered for both the M14 and FAL did end up being the 7.62×51.

 

The US would not have to wait long to put their new service rifle to the test.

 

Having been in development during the Korean War to replace the M1 Garand, the M3 “Grease gun” and the M1918 BAR, the conflict in Vietnam saw the deployment of the M14.

 

Unfortunately the theater of operations in Vietnam being composed mostly of heavy, thick jungle the overall length of the M14 would hinder it from being used to its full potential.

The 7.62×51 cartridge was astounding when it came to stopping a threat, but the 22” barrel affixed to a traditional style stock proved too cumbersome and unwieldy to fight in the dense jungle.

The introduction of the M16 rifle in 1964 unfortunately signaled the beginning of the end of the M14 as America’s standard issue rifle.

 

The M14 however can still be found in the hands of our fighting men and women across the globe as reworked M21 & M25 sniper rifles, Mk 14 EBR (Enhanced Battle Rifle) and also has found a home in the Civilian world as the Springfield M1A.

 

 

The Springfield that manufactures the M1A is however not the same Springfield that helped develop, and was originally granted the contract to produce the M14. That US Owned Springfield Armory was shut down in 1968.

 

A company by the name of L.H. Gun Co. out of Texas was renamed to Springfield Armory shortly after the original shuttered its doors to capitalize on the almost 200 year old history and name recognition of Springfield Armory.

 

The current day Springfield Armory does however still make the legendary 1911 pistol and of course the M1A rifle in addition to many more modern offerings.

The subject of this review is a derivative of the M1A; the M1A Scout Squad. To briefly hit on the theory behind this particular model we need to look back to the early 1980’s and to a man by the name of Jeff Cooper.

Cooper wanted to design a rifle that he thought would be good for use in the woods or as a hunting rifle for guides.

 

The characteristics he would include for his concept of a scout rifle were they would typically (but not always) be bolt-action carbines chambered for .308 Winchester or 7.62×51, be less than 1 meter or 40 inches in length, and less than 3 kilograms or 6.6 pounds in weight.

 

He would also require iron sights and an option for forward mounted optics.

 

Finally, the scout rifle would be fitted with a practical useful sling.

 

These characteristics would make sure the scout rifle would be powerful enough to handle most any game (two legged of four) and comfortable enough to carry throughout a day while tracking in the woods.

 

While this concept has morphed over time, the general outline still exists in a niche market to this day.

 

The Springfield Scout Squad I would contend, fits into this category with a little flexing