{"id":190446,"date":"2022-07-01T07:00:35","date_gmt":"2022-07-01T13:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/?p=190446"},"modified":"2025-06-26T09:16:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T14:16:45","slug":"m-1a-scout-squad-rifle-how-does-it-measure-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/m-1a-scout-squad-rifle-how-does-it-measure-up\/","title":{"rendered":"M-1A Scout Squad Rifle How Does It Measure Up?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I began unboxing the Scout Squad Rifle that Springfield Armory had sent me, I was happier than Wile E. Coyote with a brand new Acme catalog! I\u2019d been waiting for weeks with building anticipation. This wasn\u2019t going to be my first rodeo with an M-1A\u2014I\u2019d had two similar rifles years ago when I was in my 20s and 30s. So when this rifle arrived, it was like an old friend coming home. The intent of my article is to take a look at whether the M-1A Scout Squad measures up as a true Scout Rifle in the vision of the famous Colonel Jeff Cooper, as well as doing a straightforward review of the Scout Squad rifle itself.<\/p>\n

\"Shooting
Conditions at the range were less than ideal; there was a high, numbing wind that made the fingers go numb quickly with temperatures in the low teens. I did accuracy testing from an improvised rest.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Scout Squad Rifle Predecessors<\/h2>\n

Before we dive into Colonel Cooper\u2019s vision, let\u2019s turn the clock back a bit to decades gone past, to the roots of the Scout Squad rifle.<\/p>\n

M-1 Garand<\/h3>\n

Its grandfather, the M-1 Garand, was approved in 1936 by the US Army and used until around 1958. It fired the .30-06 Springfield cartridge and was fed by 8-round en-bloc clips. The Garand served impeccably during WWII and Korea, being the first general issue semi-auto battle rifle. The military, however, wanted specific improvements.<\/p>\n

M-14<\/h3>\n

In 1958, the M-14 entered the service with those desired improvements. One huge improvement was the inclusion of a 20-round box magazine, which elevated its firepower well above that of the M-1 Garand. The M-14 was intended to replace several infantry weapons, including the M-1 Garand, the M-1 Carbine, the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), and the submachine gun. Unfortunately, it did not sufficiently replace all of those weapons; it could not match the BAR in automatic fire because it was not as controllable. Same with the submachine gun. As a replacement for the Garand, it did offer an improvement and was liked by the troops. Naturally, the M-14 used a shorter cartridge than the M-1 Garand (7.62x51mm vs. 7.62x63mm, respectively).<\/p>\n

\"M-1A
The M-1A succeeded the M-1 Garand and was loved by the troops. The walnut stock on the Springfield Armory rifle is gorgeous.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

M-16<\/h3>\n

1968 arrived and saw the M-14 being replaced as the general issue military rifle by the M-16 series, which we still use today. However, that did not spell the end of the M-14, which still soldiers on in some forms to this day. Over the years, it was used by snipers as the M-21. During our wars in the Middle East, the M-14 has been used because the 7.62 NATO round offers longer range than the standard 5.56 NATO of the M-16 series. All branches of the military have used the M-14 over these years, if not as standard issue, then for certain purposes where a heavier caliber was needed or desired. It served as a Designated Marksman’s rifle in the Middle East until recently.<\/p>\n

Scout Rifle<\/h3>\n

In the 1970s, Colonel Jeff Cooper came up with what he believed was the optimal criteria for a Scout Rifle. He perceived the need for a rifle to equip a scout, rather than an infantry team. The scout would be forward of organized elements, probably performing reconnaissance functions. Since recon\u2019s mission is to avoid contact with the enemy, the Scout Rifle, in the Colonel\u2019s mind, is not intended for a heavy engagement with the enemy, but rather a fast snap shot in order to break contact and get out of Dodge.<\/p>\n

Some of Colonel Cooper\u2019s criteria for the Scout Rifle are as follows:<\/p>\n