M14 Forum

DukeBuddy · January 18th, 2012, 01:29 PM

I am now the proud owner of an M1A. I would like to know what type of scope and what magnification is best suited for this firearm. I plan on doing recreational match shooting as well as hunting. I plan to be shooting at the 100-700 yard range. Please help me if you can, because I would like to purchase the appropriate scope for such a beautiful firearm. Thanks.

bustedknuckles · January 18th, 2012, 02:03 PM

i just recently picked up an loaded sprngfld, my 1st also. bought a bassett high picatinny mount and a leopold rifleman 3x9 with the long range reticle and there up for sale iwas going to take a pic or 2 this weekend and put em on px. i think that was a great setup, liked that can still use ironsights under the bassett mount, and i liked the scope too with the range dots just dont like a scope on my m1a, stuffs brand new

colder · January 18th, 2012, 02:20 PM

Stay with the irons to get proficient with that new rifle! But if you must, I have 6x Monarch which I think is perfect for 100-600yrds

KyAggie · January 18th, 2012, 02:25 PM

There are two gold standards, Nightforce and Leupold, that many choose to use on their M1As; mostly in the power ranges from about 2 to 10ish which would work well for 700 yards. If you find these brands are a bit pricey, take a close look at the Vortex Viper PST 2.5-10. I do not have one YET, but I do have the Vortex Viper PST 1-4 and I love it; for 700 yard shooting you would need the 2.5-10. Also, Nikon makes some nice optics as well.

For a scope mount, I would go with a Bassett picatinny, either high or low. I have a low and really like it, but you can not see the sights through the low, only the high. I like to keep things as low as I can on an M1A and with the Bassett, if I need open sights, just one bolt and it's off. Good luck!

Buy once, cry once. Buy the best optic you can afford.

Jet · January 18th, 2012, 02:56 PM

Get a Sadlak mount and the best optics you can afford--Leupold and Nightforce mentioned above a very good scopes. There are many others in the same and higher price range that should be considered. You also need to give consideration to the reticle you want to use. Recommend you research so you can figure out what will work best for you based on distance, age of your eyes, weather conditions, etc.

Enjoy your new rifle.

Jet

John Crusher · January 18th, 2012, 03:12 PM

My advice is to look at up to 10X and decide if you want fixed or variable.
Remember what you paid for the rifle, don't put on cheap glass. Buy once and hurt once. You'll be glad you did. Mounts and rings should be rock solid and there are quite a few good and great ones out there. Get proficient with irons first because things fail. Do your research and see what works best for you. I could tell you A and someone will say B so I won't suggest a brand.

Ivan1GFP · January 18th, 2012, 03:12 PM

For the M1A / M14, my personal preference is for something along the lines of a 6.5-20X Leupold EFR Target. If not that, then a 30 mm tube Target Scope. On a gun with ONLY a telescope, having too much power is an issue, but there are always the backup iron-sights to use on this gun. (Don't get a mount that requires you remove the irons to use. Even if you still have the iron sights with the gun, they won't be zeroed if you have to install them in the field.

I am not convinced that this caliber in this gun is capable of 1000 yards, but that is a nice round number. If you want to zero at 100 yards, you will need around 42-45 MOA in your telescope to get out to 1000 yards. That is why I choose that particular Leupold or a 30 mm tube Target scope. You want the target knobs so that you can adjust for elevation and still return back to your zero.

With a large scope the only real disadvantages are cost and weight. With this variable scope, you can see well enough to be VERY accurate at the 100 yard range when folks with irons can't even tell there is a target frame out there any more.

There is a bit more detail, but folks here have probably seen me write the same basic thing several times already.

Just my 2 cents.
- Ivan.

NoExpert · January 18th, 2012, 03:59 PM

Ivan, I'll add size to the disadvantage list you have. A more compact scope can keep things a bit more streamlined vs. having the Hubble parked on top of the rifle.

markp · January 18th, 2012, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivan1GFP

I am not convinced that this caliber in this gun is capable of 1000 yards, but that is a nice round number. If you want to zero at 100 yards, you will need around 42-45 MOA in your telescope to get out to 1000 yards.

Just my 2 cents.

- Ivan.

I've shot an M14 at 1000 yards, with irons. It's certainly capable and far more capable than I am. If I can put several rounds on target at 1000 yards without a scope, with a scope the job should be much easier.

As for a scope, I went with the "hubble telescope"... 34mm tube Bushnell HMDR 3.5-21x50

drshame · January 18th, 2012, 04:54 PM

Basset Piccatinny, Standard Rings, Leupold 6X20 Mk 4....Mil Dot. Needs a cheekpiece for a good cheek weld. Strap ons are nice too..but I did this stock with a Desert Warrior Kydex.

scrtsqrl02 · January 18th, 2012, 05:26 PM

I went with the Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 with mildot reticle, and I absolutely love this scope.

RHallenbeck · January 18th, 2012, 06:32 PM

I use a Bushnell Elite 4200 Tactical with Mil/Mil FFP with Illum. retical.. 6-24X50 .. Glass seems very good and the turrets are easy to grab and defined clicks.. No Zero Stop tho..

Rick

KyAggie · January 18th, 2012, 08:13 PM

DukeBuddy, when I mount a scope to an M1A, I personally like to keep it as low as possible; some mounts make it easier than others. Take a look a the picture of my Scout below and see how close to the rear sight the scope is; the scope is mounted about as low as you can mount one. This keeps your line of sight through the scope lower and necessitates a lower stock riser making consistent cheek weld easier which is very important with an M1A. My scope is mounted in a Bassett Low Piccatinny with Vortex low rings.

Now look at the drshame's M1A in a picture several posts above. It is in a Bassett High Piccatinny mount. Look at how much higher it is. The benefit to his set up is that he can look through his open sights with the scope mounted and I can't. However, one of the benefits to a Bassett mount is that you can remove it and replace it and it goes back on within 1 MOA of where it was. It all depends on what you like the best.

Whatsinaname181 · January 18th, 2012, 08:20 PM

I used a leupold MK IV with TMR reticle 3.5x9x40. It works fine. I am partial to BDC's as well. 1 MOA elevation and 1/2 MOA windage. i own two of them.

NoExpert · January 18th, 2012, 08:41 PM

KyAggie and I think alike with scope height. I like to keep mine low for a couple reasons; lower center of gravity, lower riser, and less of a signature. My scope has a huge eyepiece, both the objective and eyepiece are about 47.5mm OD. The eyepiece clears the rear sight by about 1mm, I'm pretty happy with that.