I've been shooting my Springfield M1A scout squad, and I have to say I have not been happy with the accuracy. I'll start with the loads I've shot in it. I've tried a Saeco 315 clone, Lee 170gr, and 175gr HP from GT bullets. I've tried .310", and .311" sizing. I've tried a plethora of powders. Bluedot, 4227, 5744, 3031, 4895, varget, 4831, and likely more. Everything I've tried has all been 4" to 6" at 100 yards
Now onto the rifle. I shot it as it came, in its plastic stock with peep sights. I then mounted a pistol scope onto the scout scope rail that it already had on it. The scope did not help at all. I then put an M14 birch wood stock on it, and kept the scope, still no change. At this point I started to do serious research into the problem. I decided to strip it all the way down. I took everything off I could. I replaced the flash hider with a sight base. I took the scope and scope mount off the barrel. I found I had a ton of play behind the gas block. I flipped the nut around and found it stopped right to 5 o clock, and tightened perfectly. I hogged out the stock around the gas system so there was adequate room such that nothing was touching. When I put the action back in the stock, I did not put the hand guard back on. I left it off to eliminate any possible variable. I found no change in accuracy.
More research, and talking to good M14 gunsmiths found that that connection from action to stock ferrule is critical. I polished that surface and put a dab of grease on it. I also felt like there wasn't enough draw pressure on it. I added painters tape under the action, in front of the trigger guard only. This increased the draw pressure, and I could tell the action was self centering. I also found my rear sight had some play in it. To eliminate the variable, I used a rubber band so it is always pulled to one side. So I shot it again, not one iota of improvement from when I bought it.
Back to the loads themselves, the saeco 315 fits like it was made for it. The bore riding part slightly engraves, and I seat such that it is barely off the rifling, to ensure perfect function. I will say one thing, with any of the slower powders, this rifle has been 100% functional. No worries there. What I hate is that no matter the load, there is no change, not for better or worse. Different targets, different holds, different gun rests. Nothing matters.
Something is wrong with the rifle, and I can't figure out what it is. Surely these are supposed to shoot better than this, I've seen knockoff SKS's shoot as good. About the only thing I have not done is had the stock bedded and gas system unitized. Is it worth shelling out the money on this, or should I start over with a different rifle? The barrel itself on mine seems fine. The rifling is smooth, groove just a tick over .308". Crown looks ok. As much as it sickens me, I may have to try some jword bullets in this one.