Gentlefolks
As a follow up to my previous thread (
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,126478.msg1292660.html#msg1292660), I have some good news: I bought a second hand M1A Scout (18 inches barrel).
It came with 2 extra stocks (one is a USGI stock with the fake full auto switch and the other is an Archangel stock).
The previous owner removed the barrel mounted picatinny rail and instead gave to me a Basset receiver mounted rail.
I could inspect the M1A and in the same day have a closer look on the Ruger Mini-14 and the difference is striking: the action is way smoother on the M1a, the trigger is much better and the overall build quality inspires much more confidence.
After waiting full 10 days (i.e. precisely 240 hours thanks to Cali law) to take possesion of my rifle, I went to the range and shot 2 boxes of 7.62 NATO.
The impressions, the good parts:
a) The iron sights in this rifle are pretty amazing. The best I've shot in any rifle up until now.
b) The trigger is pretty good, decidely way better than my Marlin lever action carbine.
c) The recoil is comfortable, I heard so many stories about 7.62 and .308 win kicking like a mule, but at least on the M1A I don't think the recoil is bad.
d) The Cali compliant muzzle break works excellently to tame muzzle rise and recoil.
e) Its looks: the wood stock helps to make it look classy. Plus points on not being a 'scary' black rifle (my wife and my daughter actually liked the looks of the M1A).
The not so great parts:
a) I didn't like the way the magazines go in the receiver: instead of going straight like in a modern rifle, it has to go first angled and next arc-ed to the back. Not intuitive.
b) the fact that the safety is literally inside of the trigger guard is not ideal, but I understand that it is a legacy design derived from the fabled M1 Garand.
c) It is kinda heavy. While that is great for targeting shooting, I imagine that having to carry this rifle the whole day while deer hunting wouldn't be so much fun.
I've shot a 'decent' group using cheap ammo at 50 yards, but I feel that the rifle has good potential if adding a scope or maybe a red dot.
In theory the Archangel stock could improve quite a bit its precision, but I would need to add a grip fin to make the stock California compliant.
Odds are that I will just keep the rifle as it is, I'm planning next to push it past 100 yards and see which kind of performance I can get.
Overall, I think it is a beautiful rifle and feels like a piece of 'Americana': milled parts, smooth action, beautiful and effective.
I would call it a true classic, like our valkyries.
