Scope or no scope. M1A loaded.

[Psychbiker]

Max range I can use is 200 yards.

Deciding if I want to add a scope to my M1A. With the limited yardage speniding major $$ doesn't seem worth it.

Was looking at a millet 4-16x50 trs1 or primary arms 4-14-44 asics ffp scope.

Keep irons?

[PrimaryArms]

Scope or no scope. M1A loaded.

Irons on an M1A are great. But slap a 4-14x ACSS on there and use standard M80 or 175 smk and its like shooting fish in a barrel! Maybe you ll go past 200 at some point

-Dimitri

[jarhead714]

Max you can see is 200 yds?

[Psychbiker]

Max you can see is 200 yds?

Use as in access to. There's a members 200 yard range that's accessible a few times a month. The 100 yard is always available.

[jarhead714]

Just keep the irons. They tend not to break or wiggle loose...

[PrimaryArms]

Scope or no scope. M1A loaded.

Just keep the irons. They tend not to break or wiggle loose...

Yeah but with an optic you can hunt grass hopers at that range. I have had irons come loose or lose zero. Use lock tight some QD mount and your good to go.

-Dimitri

[strongpoint]

I'm not going to advise one way or the other (I'm partial to glass; YMMV), but don't forget to factor in the cost of mounting the glass. You're looking at anywhere from about $100 for a Bassett Machine model up to almost $450 for a titanium mount from Sadlak, if your wallet is feeling particularly loose.

[Psychbiker]

Alread have a basset mount and add on cheek weld riser. Just been shooting pistol more. Was thinking a cheap millet trs1 millet for tr time being. It's a 4-16x50 for under $200.

[bigbearbear]

I vote mounting a scope, it makes shooting a lot easier. I never had a scope until last week and I tried it out yesterday at Los Altos, my god....day and night difference compared to using irons.

There is one thing to consider though: weight.
The scope mount and the scope itself will add weight to your rifle. Not a big deal if you're mostly shooting at the range, but if you're taking your rifle on a hiking trip, the added weight might not be a good thing.

Follow the instructions of the scope mount manufacturer carefully and invest in a firearms torque wrench if you don't have one. If they tell you to tighten the base screw to 65lb-inch torque strength, do it. I didn't do this on my Burris PEPR because I didn't have a 1/4" hex shank adapter and sure enough, the base screw came loose. Learn my lesson right there and ran out to Home Depot to get the 1/4" hex shank adapter to tighten the thing down. If you do this, the scope shouldn't come loose under normal use.

[Psychbiker]

I'll have to think about it. It will get heavy and be bench rest only. A scope would need a bipod and then cheek weld, like adding 2-4lbs in total weight.

[MongooseV8]

Stay away from Millet.

SWFA or Vortex.

[Click Boom]

maybe such a high mag scope isn't necessary or even more fun at 100-200

maybe look at a 1-3 or 1-4

[PrimaryArms]

Do it!!!

-D

[sholling]

I prefer to use the irons on my M1a.

[JohnnyMtn]

I'm in the exact same boat - have an M1A Loaded and love it. I am definitely an irons kind of guy. Love irons on my Garand and do not need the help of a scope even out to 450-500yards. Same thing with the M1A. Can ding steel all day thanks to those wonderful irons. So easy to use once you know the come ups.

But the allure of a scope is tempting. I have been getting tempted to turn the M1A into an M21 type of thing. Would love to build a Vietnam era M21 (minus the flash hider of course - thanks CA). Listening to this thread to hopefully get some ideas.