The M1A series of rifles from Springfield Armory is known for its versatility. It’s suitable for both tactical and hunting use. The .308 carbine is capable of providing you with ultimate long-range accuracy and the gun holds enough power to decimate any big game hunting competition in North America.
While the gun has really good performance and accuracy backing it up, it lacks in the accessories department. That’s why you see so many posts about upgrading the M1A rifle to suit their style of shooting. Which is perfectly fine and I urge you to do so.
Finding out your shooting style is part of the learning process and helps you get better at it. With that said, it’s about time you and I address one of the biggest issues of the gun. A lack of scope. That’s right, you have to take the liberty yourself to find out the best scope for M1A. Don’t worry, you don’t have to stress yourself. Let me take all of your worries away and let’s start this magical ride.
How To Choose a Scope For Springfield M1a?
Now that you know what are some of the best M1A scopes, how do you find the best one for you among them? Well, that’s pretty easy. Let me break it down into a couple of pointers that will help you with the decision making.
Magnification is one of the key parts of decision making. If you want higher magnification, obviously you will go for higher magnified scope. But if you want low or fixed even, then you also have Scout from Burris. So, depending on what kind of range you shoot at, your decision will be influenced a lot.
And the next important thing is the budget. As you can see, all of the scopes are priced very differently. While some of them have similar pricing, a lot of them have pretty hefty price tags as well. Depending on how much you are willing to spend on the scope, your decision making will vary significantly.
1. NIGHTFORCE SHV 4-14x50mm F1 Hunting Scope
The SHV series of scope from Nightforce is known to be the best bang for the buck. That remains true today as well. The SHV 4-14x50mm variant is available in F1 reticle in MIL-R and MOAr 30 MOA center illumination.
Both of those reticles are great for tactical use and hunting. Of course, I will leave it up to you to decide on the reticle.
The build quality of this scope is insanely good. It’s made to be paired with long-range weapons like the M1A. The body of the scope is made out of aircraft aluminum and it’s nitrogen purged as well.
Making it fog proof internally. To prevent water and moisture from leaking inside, they also used rubber O-ring gaskets to seal the lenses better.
Speaking of lenses, they are some of the best in this price range. They are fully multi-coated and extremely clear.
While they are by no means capable of doing night vision, they are capable of doing any big-game hunting that runs from dawn to dusk. That’s right, the low-light performance of this scope is simply incredible! It’s so nice to see even lesser priced scopes are getting better at low-light performance.
What kind of scope rings do I need for this scope?
As the main tube of the scope is 30mm pretty standard size, you can easily buy a pair of mounting rings from your favorite vendors. I, for one, will vote for the Vortex Pro series rings. They are great for the money and incredibly well-built.
Where is this scope made?
Just like other Nightforce scopes, this one is also made in the USA in their factory located in Orofino, Idaho.
Is zerostop technology present on this scope as well?
Yes, it is. The nightforce ZeroSet feature allows you to return to zero points with ease. Doesn’t matter how many adjustments you made in the field, you can get back to your zero.
2. Athlon Optics Ares BTR GEN2 HD 4.5-27×50 FFP Riflescope
While you may have heard of Athlon here before for budget stuff, let me introduce you to a not so budget stuff. The BTR Gen2 HD is a powerful long-range riflescope made for sniper rifles and long-range AR rifles. The BTR Gen2 uses some of the best tech Athlon has to offer.
The scope is made out of extremely durable aluminum. The CNC machining on the chassis is flawless and doesn’t have any visual glare either.
The inside of the scope is purged with chemicals to make it immune to internal fogging. The outside of the body has an anodized finish to it. It looks and feels quite awesome in hand. It’s also scratch resistant to an extent.
The scope lenses used on this are some of the best you will lay your hands on. They used HD glasses and used their own method of advanced fully multi-coating. The multi-coating makes the lens perform in a different league. While the lenses are not scratch proof by any means, they are scratch resistant to an extent.
Is this a good scope for hunting?
It’s excellent for hunting. I mean, it was made for hunting, which turns out can be used in tactical shooting as well.
What caliber was this designed for?
You can put on anything with this. But it was mostly made for hunting. So, a .308 M1A or similar will do wonders for it.
Is the scope tube a 30mm one or 34mm?
It’s a 30mm scope tube. You can use your standard rings. That does include Vortex Pro series rings.
3. Zeiss Conquest V4 3-12×56 Rifle Scope
You may have heard of Zeiss already. Granted that may not be of their scope but rather their lenses and involvement in camera lens making. That’s right, Zeiss is known mostly for their lens related works. Their Conquest series of riflescopes is mostly famous for being the best buddy of a hunter.
The V4 of this lovely scope series is made out of purely aircraft-grade aluminum. The aluminum billet is machined through CNC machining and the tube of the scope is 30mm thick. It’s a standard size followed by most scope makers on the planet.
The Scope features a number of magnifications that you can choose from.
While the scope would have definitely been better if they featured an FFP reticle, the SFP reticle on the fully multi-coated lens treated by Zeiss just makes it look a bit more glorious than others.
It may even be my Zeiss biasness acting up a bit, but the Conquest series of scope has always been a standard among peers in terms of lens clarity.
Do I need to buy my scope rings separately?
Yes, you do. You won’t get any rings included with this. You should go for a pair of rings made by someone reputable. As always, my go to recommendation is Vortex Pro series rings. It’s a pair of lightweight rings that are easy to install and hold zero.
Does Zeiss offer any warranty with their riflescopes?
Yes, they do. They offer a limited lifetime warranty with their riflescopes.
Should I get the 3-12×56 or 6-24×50?
That’s entirely up to you. The higher magnified unit costs a lot more than the one I mentioned above. If you want more magnification, then go for that.
4. Leupold VX-3HD 3.5-10x50mm Rifle Scope
Leupold VX series of hunting scopes has always been a great value for the money. While you can argue Vortex Viper offers a better value (which it kind of does, more on that later), VX-3HD is still one of the best hunting scopes for M1A.
The scope is manufactured in the USA. From designing to manufacturing and providing after sales service, Leupold is one of the top dogs in the industry.
The scope is made out of aircraft-grade aluminum billet. The billet is processed through CNC machining and turned into a beautiful 1-inch scope tube. The inside of the tube is purged with nitrogen. Purging makes it immune to internal fogging and O-ring seals make water impossible to get inside.
In terms of optical performance, it’s one of the best at this price bracket. With HD glasses and multi-coated lenses, they perform way better than you expect them to perform.
On top of that, you also have Leupold’s twilight light management system. That management system makes the scope perform better in low-light environments.
Does this scope have any warranty?
Yes, it does. It comes with Leupold’s lifetime guarantee. They will take care of your scope as long as you have a Leupold’s scope.
What kind of scope ring do I need for it?
You will need a pair of 1 inch rings for it. As a matter of fact, yes, Vortex Pro series rings. I swear, I’m not getting paid by Vortex for it ha-ha!
Are the turrets capped?
No, they are not. The elevation knob has no cap on it. You can use it to dial with a different custom dial. As for the side ones, that’s for windage and has a cap.
5. Vortex Optics Viper HS-T 6-24×50 SFP Riflescope
As I said earlier, the Viper HS-T does offer a better value in some cases. What makes the Viper a good deal? Well, for one the lenses. The Vortex fully multi-coated lenses are some of the best you will ever come across. It’s crisp, and clear, with no color alteration, no chromatic aberration, no glares, nothing.
Just pure flawless viewing angles with zero distortion at maximum magnification even. The lenses are also made from extra-low dispersion glasses. That makes them brighter in low-light situations.
When Vortex said it’s for hunting, they meant it like that. The scope with a VMR-1 Reticle is the perfect companion for tactical and hunting.
The tube of the scope is 30mm. It’s a one-piece design. The inside of the tube is purged with argon. Making it immune to moisture related problems.
Argon does the same thing as nitrogen does inside. Eliminates moisture. Vortex loves using Argon. As for the light gathering capability of the scope, it’s quite good. Thanks to that, it’s an all-rounder throughout the day.
What kind of warranty does Vortex provide with this scope?
They offer a lifetime warranty with this scope. Yes, it’s unconditional and unlimited as well. Doesn’t matter when, take it to Vortex and they will get your scope fixed right up.
Is this a 30mm tube?
Yes, it is. As I mentioned already. You will need a pair of 30mm mounting rings. Vortex makes a ton of them as well. One of them happens to be Vortex Pro series rings and you can also get Vortex tactical scope rings if you are on a budget.
What size scope rings will be best for a .308 firing rifle?
I would imagine a low-height ring will go bonkers with the combo. But if you are used to the height of a medium scope ring, then I will recommend sticking to your comfort zone.
6. Burris 2-7×32 Scout Compact Rifle Scope
If you are making a list of scopes for hunting and forgetting Burris, I would imagine that as a heresy. Burris scopes are some of the best budget hunting riflescopes on the market. Their scopes are simply too good of a value for the money.
Keeping that trend alive, Burris has a few scopes up their sleeves for your M1A.
The Scout series of scopes from Burris comes with different magnification levels. If you want a medium-range scope, then stick to the 2-7×32. But if you want a short range one, then stick to 2.75×20.
Both of the scopes come with a Ballistic Plex reticle. A very easy to use hunting/tactical reticle. On top of that, the scopes share the same body. The tube of the scope is 1”. That’s pretty standard nowadays and you will easily find rings for that. What makes it a good bargain is the lens it comes with. They are sharp, clear, and have no chromatic aberration whatsoever.
Will Burris include some scope rings?
No, they won’t. The choice to buy a pair of scope rings is up to you. You decide on what kind of scope rings you want to buy.
What kind of warranty can I expect?
You can expect a lifetime commitment from Burris. That’s right, Burris is known for their reliable lifetime warranty that it includes with all of their scopes. They are here to serve you for a long time and they will make sure to do so.
Is this good for big-game hunting?
I would say no. It’s good for small-game hunting. But it can lack a bit of distance in the big-game competition.
7. Primary Arms SLX 4-14x44mm FFP Rifle Scope
Let’s say, you want the cheapest scope for M1A. Then you will find a ton of scopes that are priced around 50 to 100$ but they are not that great. If you want a good performing scope for a small amount of money, then this is what you will end up with.
The Primary Arms SLX is a long-range riflescope with an aluminum body. The tube is 30mm and it’s purged with chemicals to make it immune to fogging.
One thing that a lot of you are going to appreciate on this is the illuminated reticle.
That’s right, the reticle is illuminated and you have 6 illumination settings to choose from. You will need a CR2032 battery to power up the LED. While it’s not the brightest looking star in the sky, the illumination does help in low-light environments.
What kind of rings will I need with this one?
You will need a pair of 30mm rings with this one. On the budget, I will recommend going with the Vortex tactical scope rings.
Will this work on a 308 AR?
It will work flawlessly with the .308 caliber. You have nothing to worry about.
What’s the total length of the scope?
The total length of the scope is around 13”. Pretty standard size for a scope with this much magnification.
Conclusion
And there you have it folks. You asked for some M1A scopes, and I delivered them. While there are plenty of other scopes that can be used with the .308 caliber, not all of them are the best for M1A.
It really doesn’t matter which scope you get from the list, you will get a good scope regardless. Just get the one that will fit your bill and use it till you feel like upgrading or changing to something else. With that said, that’s all for now. I will be back with more guides for you guys soon. Till then, take care and have fun.