M1A With a Scope

[NMC_EXP]

When I competed I had a back-up rifle. It is a match conditioned M1A with a standard weight USGI National Match barrel. I had it bedded in a new walnut, medium weight NM stock.

I do not compete any more but was curious to learn what this rifle was capable of. I had always used iron sights but that has become difficult with age. So I bought a Bassett scope mount and installed a vintage Weaver T-10 target scope.

After getting it on target I fired 10 rounds from a benchrest at 100 yards. I was surprised to find a 1.075" 10 shot group.

Ammo was reloads with 168 gr SMK.





Since then I went back to iron sights, prone with a sling and my 10 shot groups are typically 5".

[browningautorifle]

Very nice, imagine what a group out of machine rest would look like? Probably on top of each other. I too have gone to bench shooting since my eyes are no longer capable of great things...

[NMC_EXP]

Jim

I rarely shoot from a bench rest so I was uncomfortable thru that entire string. So agree machine rest results would be something to see.

I keep shooting with irons from prone. Just plain stubborn I suppose. Sometimes wonder if the frustration is worth it.

Jim

[browningautorifle]

I keep shooting with irons from prone.

I just can't. Arthritis has me in it's grip and I can't do the positions now, eyes are blurry so it's all scopes adjusted so glasses are moot. I bag it so I can do things, 700 rem with super heavy barrel can do a gong the size of your thumb at 100 and repeat on a golf ball at two hundred. That's all the distance my ranges have here...so I figure one inch is good. When I stand up the shots are scattered and there's NO satisfaction. Bench it is...

[NMC_EXP]

I understand physical limitations other that vision. I can still shoot from prone with a sling with tolerable discomfort. Problem is I cannot get up off the ground without some sort of prop. So I take one of those folding shooting stools from my competition days. Eventually I'll shoot from a bench.

With iron sights I still manage to shoot nice clusters of 5 on occasion but the other 5 of a 10 shot string will be scattered. I keep thinking if I can shoot 5 decent shots, why not 10. It is an elusive goal.

Golf balls at 200 is fine shooting. My wife has a Remington 40X in .308. She is toying with the idea of putting a bipod on it. Shoulder forced her to give up sling shooting years ago.

Now she shoots smallbore prone F-class. I suppose it fits on the milsurp forum because hers is a US Property marked rifle. Still has the factory standard weight barrel and stock. Does that rifle ever shoot. At 50 yards she routinely shoots 5 shot groups that look like a .30 caliber hole.

[browningautorifle]

I also have a Rem 700 in 5.56 since we had a crash of our AR15s at the hands of our Gum't...so I shoot it bench as well. What an easy rifle to shoot and it can do wonderful things too. Wish I had loaded some of it's ammo a bit more carefully but with the bangers I have...it'll do the same things at 200. I can't print a .30 cal hole with five though...don't think. I'd get a flyer. I have a Harris bipod too for either rifle but just don't get along with it as well as a couple of shot bags full of corn cob green.

When I was getting to the back end of 35 in the army and still coaching small arms shooters on rifle ranges I would be lying there for an eternity and then have to roll off the firing point to a spot I could crawl to my hands and knees and then stand up. Like your shooting stool, I needs a sandbag or something to get elevation started.

[NMC_EXP]

I also have a Rem 700 in 5.56.....I can't print a .30 cal hole with five though...don't think.

Maybe a misunderstanding about caliber. Under US NRA rules smallbore means .22 cal rimfire. My wife shooting 5 shot .30 cal size groups is with a 40X .22 rimfire at 50 yards - not a .223 at 100.

My wife on the line with her 40X rimfire. My 40X rimfire is to her left, I was on a different relay.

[Daan Kemp]

.22RF known as 5,6x15R, also 5,59 sometimes.

[browningautorifle]

Maybe a misunderstanding about caliber.

No, no...I got that. I like her bipod, very wide. That would be better than mine being narrow which seems to be exactly the problem. I don't have any .22 in a class like that. Just 3 Remington field guns. Model 34, 552, 572... I would like to have a go with a rifle like hers, just to see. Back in the '80s I was on the Battalion Biathlon team and shot the Anschutz they had, what a delightful rifle. We don't have the .22 match guns around here much.

[NMC_EXP]

Sorry about my confusion on that.

I'm impressed by the sport of Biathlon. Cannot imagine being out of breath, heart pounding and firing accurately from offhand.

Her bipod is from Sinclair International, an online retailer. It is one some Highpower F-class shooters use. The wide stance is said to reduce the amount recoil induced "torque or twist" the rifle the rifle undergoes.

Perhaps you could find a smallbore target rifle on one of the online auction sites or retailers (assuming that is permitted in Canada).

The thing we have learned is that the best smallbore rifle will not shoot cheap .22 rimfire well. They need target grade, standard velocity ammo, not high velocity.