Scout Mount

[JarheadJoe]

For a while, I have been considering the purchase of a Scout Mount for My standard grade M-1A and installing a Trijicon reflex with a Chevron reticle.

I found the other day that Springfield Armory has a Scout Mount listed on their website. I have sent the company a message, but have not received a reply as yet.

My question is this. Will their Scout Mount fit a standard USGI barrel. If it does fit, how stable is it.

Information

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[TDH]

I don't know why it wouldn't. It should clamp to the barrel and you will have to replace the upper handguard. Is that part of the mount kit? I have one on my SA Scout (18" barrel). It's very sturdy. At this time I have a 2-7 long eye releif pistol scope on it.

[John Kepler]

The best, and based on my experience, most accurate comment ever made on the entire "Scout Rifle" concept was written by the late Gale McMillan.....a guy that knew a thing or two about how to build good rifles. Gale's comment? "The 'Scout Rifle' is a pistol expert's idea of how to build a rifle!" Couldn't agree more!

[JarheadJoe]

Sorry I have not replied sooner, I have been in a training calls all week. Wile I can see where you are coming from and to a certain extent, I can agree with you. I have already tried the comventional scope/mount route. I did not care for the cheek piece that was required for a decent stock weld. The cheek piece seemed to make things somewhat ungainly and off balance.

[John Kepler]

Without putting too fine a point on it.....you actually CAN shoot a Garand and other rifles quite accurately without a scope! A couple thousand of us are gathering at Camp Perry Ohio right now and for the next couple of weeks, will be doing just that!

John.....at CP!

[Johnny Peppers]

One of the locals has tried the scout type mount on an M1 Rifle, and so far it has given him accuracy problems. The rifle was very accurate before the mount, but so far he has not duplicated that accuracy with the mount. The mount is aluminum, so possible the rapid heat build up is causing the problems.
I shot my M1A with a scope for a while, but went back to the standard sights. It was just more fun to shoot that way.

[milprileb]

[Initially , I thought the Steyr version was over priced and a novelty rifle much touted by the gun press and Cooper in particular. Four years ago I actually held one and it fits me nicely and I changed my mind about the concept but still too pricey a rifle to chase for this stock/scope package.

Having said all of that, up to two years ago, I would have stood with Kepler on the iron sights : do or die --use iron sights. However, reaching the age where the rifle does not fail me but my eyes do with iron sights at longer ranges, I am now confronted with the prospect of HOW TO EXTEND MY SHOOTING LIFE with older eyes?

I am about at this point in life so the Scout scope on a M1 presents an option without altering the weapon and saves me chasing a M1C or M1D. I can take any of my M1 rifles, put a scout scope in it and enjoy my one rifle longer.

So: the purist in me on use of iron sights is presented with some harsh realities and the scout concept is a option. Furthermore, my son bought a SOCOM 16 and put the Aimpoint dot scope on it which is mounted scout fashion forward on the barrel. Its a quick acquisition of the target with this concept but I would rather have a cross hair scope than the electric red dot. Having shot this scout
fashioned rifle a lot recently, I find it great for my old eyes and very much enjoyable to shoot and shoot well with.

Therefore, in respect for irons sights : theres a time when a scope on a M1 rifle must be considered if one is facing the back side of life. I think the scout concept has merit. Got to have great glass though , otherwise you are firiing blanks.

Good luck to all at Camp Perry with your iron sights and enjoy using them as much as possible.

[John Kepler]

Aging eyes are why bright young men and women go to Med School! Get a good one, and you can keep shooting as Nature intended for a long, long time! Ask me how I know!

[jpf]

I have an M1 garand with the CMP scout mount and it works just fine.
I shoot left handed so the mounts that mount to the left of the receiver don't work for me.
regardless what some nearsighted people may say if you want a scout mount on YOUR rifle I say go for it!
and if you at any time want to use your iron sights it takes just a few seconds to remove the scope and use the irons just like factory.
the scout mount makes no permanent modifications to the rifle, if at any time you want to change back to original just remove the mount and put the rear hand-guard back on.
it's your rifle enjoy it any way you want!

[Griff Murphey]

I have not tried a scout mount on my M-1A but I have a CMP scout mount on my 7.62 M-1 built in '68 by M/Sgt Dwight Ingraham at Lackland, retuned '76 by Gy Sgt Bill Donovan at Camp Pendleton. Have a cheap-derriered Simmons 2-7X scope on it (which I do not advise) and the gun is scary accurate, great at holding zero. Have shot it in 3-gun and been in the top third in the scoped rifle category, which for a fat old man of 60 is pretty good next to all these SWATS and similar hard chargers. Been unable to do as well with the mounts on my M-1A have tried SA GEN III and the one from Dripping Springs, Texas, which is doing fairly well on my HB (across-the course gun) and when I have a bit more confidence in it I might shoot 3 gun with it. Recognizing what John Kepler says, and I'm sure he will jump in and share his expertise with us, good vision can be helped with well-prescribed lenses (I have one set for 03/AR and another pair that work kind of semi-well for short barrels like ARs and Carbines), vitamins (I take Bausch and Lomb's "Occuvites"), blood pressure control through weight loss, exercise; meds if necessary. However, best results with iron sights are obtained on black bullseyes with vanilla backgrounds. I can tell you that in the 3-gun I shoot, frequently the targets are camouflaged. Once at 300 they had black disks hung against black plastic sheeting. I watched a guy who I know is a very good shooter burn through 2 and maybe 3 - 30 rd AR mags, shooting like in the Infantry Trophy event, trying to connect. Hever did, "timed out." I got my 5 in 7 but only because I had a scope. Even gray steels set up on dead Texas grass can be challenging to say the least. To give you another example, the Fort Worth SWATS have a couple of real champion shooters in 3-gun. One time we were shooting over an oil derrick at disks set up about 275 yds. I got my 5 in, I think 6 or 7 (I'm always rattled) with that 7.62 M-1. This real champion 30 year old SWAT is shooting an AR with iron sights... again burns though over 1 30 rd. mag before he gets his 5 and can move on. And this is a guy who frequently WINS 3-guns. There are simply some shooting applications where you really need a scope. Sometimes even youth and great eyes won't help. But John K. may differ and if he does have some tricks I don't know about, I do hope he'll share them!