Recently I met a guy shooting an AR in 6.5 Creedmoor, He was all over the place at 200yds, it looked like a shotgun hit his 18in shoot and see target. Once again the problem is rings, scope, and ammunition. This problem is not limited to M1A/M14, I see the same issues with all rifles especially the AR-308. I've only seen one M1A that just had massive problems and it was a train wreck in other ways. They didn't have quality scope rings, a solid scope, or they were using surplus ammunition. Bedded a rifle helps, spring guide and spring change help, a properly polished trigger really helps.Īfter a while, several customers come back to me thinking it had gone out of wack.

The National Match and Loaded tend to do better, the Socom, Scout, and Standard vary a bit based on the shooter. Most rifles change significantly, changing from 2-4 MOA shooters to sub-1.25 with FGMM ten shot group,(not my group the owners). I use 3 shots to zero and 3 to confirm and I give 14 to whomever I was adjusting the rifle for. I use Federal Gold Medal Match 168gr I use it because it is some of the best, cheapest and most normalized ammunition available. Now here is the thing, I don't just use any ammo to test the rifle. I then use a bipod or a gun rest to test the rifle. On traditional stocks, I use a Bradley Adjustable Cheek riser because I want the eye relief and cheek weld to be as close to perfect as possible. I use this specific setup because I know it works and I know it can handle the M1A. Again with the scope leveling kit and a torque wrench. I use Sadlak for preference but Springfield mounts will work if you follow the instructions and don't baby the mount when it comes time to hammer on it.Īfter the scope mount is installed correctly I use a SPUHR mount and a Vortex Viper PST II. The first thing I do is reinstall the scope mount with a leveling kit and blue Loctite while looking for problems with the mount. You start with a base rifle and then you put a scope on it because you spent a good amount of money on the rifle you cheap out on the scope setup. I've tested this theory with several Socom 16s, Scouts, Loaded and even a national match.

Your scope mount, rings, and scope, then ammo I've been working on M14 pattern rifles for a while now and here is what I believe the problem is.

M1a socom accuracy