Kurtenbach offers a full evaluation of this rifle including time on the shooting range.
The rifle was provided by the company for this review.
For us, it was the 27-lb.
How did the wood-stocked Springfield Armory M1A Scout Squad rifle stack up during our testing? Check out this article to find out.
beast, or bust.
South Korea, during that time, was an interesting waystation for soldiers.
It was a mix of green troopers, like me, and seasoned warriors fresh off of combat rotations.
A soldier at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School fires an M14 rifle during weapons training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina May 13, 2020. Image: K. Kassens/U.S. Army
You were going to contribute to the unit, and you were going to train.
The marksman at the end of the firing line was the troops only sniper-qualified NCO.
He was a gaunt, wiry, wraith of man.
Lance Cpl. L. Duplessis watches for Viet Cong fighters with his M14 rifle during Operation Chinook II near AP Trung Kieu Village, Republic of Vietnam Image: Lance Cpl. E. L. Cole/U.S. Marines
In another era, we might have said he was battle-weary, and today wed recognize symptoms of PTSD.
[Be sure to readM14 and the War on Terrorfor a veterans experience with the rifles in Afghanistan.]
Hed explain to each new shooter the placement of the controls and the operation of the scope.
Cpl. James Wormington crosses a stream with his M14 rifle on Operation Chinook II during the Vietnam War. Image: Lance Cpl. E. L. Cole/U.S. Marine Corps
With each press of the trigger, the buttstock thumped the shooters shoulder with .30-cal.
recoil as if to say, Wake up, son!
Keep up the fire!
In 2004, Spc. Jonathan Low, a designated marksman for Co. C, 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt., scans the horizon from a hilltop in Khoday Nazar Kor during a patrol near Waza Khwa, Afghanistan. Image: DVIDS
By 1967, it was replaced in common issue by iterations of Stoners aerospace-inspired AR-15 platform in 5.56x45mm NATO.
[Be sure to read Wayne van Zwolls article on thedifferences between 5.56 and .223.]
Yet, despite its relegation, the M14 and its .30-cal.
The wood-stocked Springfield Armory M1A Scout Squad rifle is both functional and beautiful. It has a forward Picatinny rail for mounting a scope, detachable magazine and a highly effective muzzle brake.
7.62x51mm NATO cartridge found a niche among military snipers and designated marksmen.
I earned my spurs through mud, mountains and monsoons with Comanche Troop, 4/7 CAV.
I visited the ornate palaces in Seoul and celebrated the Lunar New Year.
The Springfield Armory M1A Scout Squad rifle feeds from detachable magazines. A 10-round magazine is standard, with 5-, 15- and 20-round magazines also available.
I drank too much soju and acquired a taste for kimchi.
I also fell in love with Americas last walnut-and-steel battle rifle, the M14.
Across the line, the company has catered to the M14 purists by retaining wood stock options.
The Springfield Armory M1A Scout Squad is an excellent rifle to have when walking the fenceline when predators may be present.
Wood stock models also feature traditional bottom metal, flip-up metal buttplates, and sling swivels fore and aft.
Allow me a brief aside to note the quality of the wood stocks.
Truthfully, though, all the specimens Ive seen since have been equally appealing.
Springfield Armory also offers the M1A Scout Squad with a black synthetic stock for those who might want a different option than a wood stock.
Like the Garand and the M14, the M1A is a gas-operated repeating rifle.
That pressure powers the action open, extracting and ejecting the spent cartridge case and compressing the recoil spring.
[Learn semi-automatic firearms are here.]
The overall length of the Springfield M1A Scout Squad rifle is shorter than the Standard Issue models. For the truck and other confined spaces, this gun is a great option.
For those wondering, it does reciprocate during firing.
The bolt is released by slight rearward pressure on the charging handle or pressing on the bolt-lock tab.
Although 20-round magazines were the military standard, most Springfield M1A rifles ship with a 10-round unit.
The author spent time shooting the Springfield Armory M1A Scout Squad at the range. He shot off-hand and from the bench to evaluate the rifle’s accuracy and performance.
Increased capacity options are available from the online store.
The magazine release lever is located behind the magazine well.
When a mag is inserted, simply squeeze the release tab toward the magazine and pull it free.
Shown here is one of the author’s targets with three-shot groups. He found it to be more accurate than any of the guns he was issued while in the U.S. military.
In the same vicinity, the safety lever is located within a channel at the front of the triggerguard.
In the forward position, the trigger can be pressed and the rifle will fire.
In the rearward position, though, the trigger is blocked from moving.
Speaking of the trigger, its a two-stage national match assembly.
While the enhanced trigger on the Scout Squad hovers around the 5-lbs., 8-oz.
Additional Scout Squad Features
Among the M1A rifles, two features define the Scout Squad configuration.
First, the shortened barrel.
Springfield Armory took the standard 22 barrel down to 18.
The second feature of note is a forward-mounted, 4 segment of Picatinny rail.
In addition to the rail, the M1A Scout Squad comes with national match iron sights.
They include a 0.062 blade front and a 0.069 aperture in the rear.
The rifles combination of features appeals to me.
The Scout Squad is compact and maneuverable enough to venture forward in rugged and even urban environments.
And it packs enough power to solve most problems when it gets there.
From room-clearing operations to cross-canyon shots, this rendition of the M1A can answer the call.
At more than 9 lbs.
fully loaded, the Scout Squad is no lightweight.
Still, it shoulders quickly and swings like a dangerous game rifle quick, if intentional.
A firm hold was natural, and I never felt my grip slipping during the course of fire.
The iron sights were excellent and absolutely spot-on from the factory.
This was evidenced on a reduced-size 25-meter silhouette target that I engaged from standing at 100 yards.
Aim small, miss small.
From the bench, the M1A Scout Squad proved itself to be a solid inch-and-a-half rifle at 100 yards.
This one easily surpasses that benchmark and matches more closely with its civilian roots.
cartridgeoffers shooters a Swiss army knife solution in an elegant and iconic package.
Go to forum thread
