Springfield M1A Scout Squad
- Category
- Battle Rifle
- Barrel
- 457 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.99 kg
- Introduced
- 1997
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Springfield M1A Scout Squad is a compact, scout-pattern variant of the M1A series, a civilian semi-automatic M14-pattern battle rifle in 7.62x51mm NATO produced by Springfield Armory, Inc. of Geneseo, Illinois. Its 18-inch barrel strikes a balance between the full-length 22-inch standard M1A and the very short SOCOM 16, retaining more velocity and sight radius while remaining handy in the field. A forward scout-style Picatinny rail allows mounting an intermediate-eye-relief optic or red dot ahead of the action in the tradition of Jeff Cooper's scout-rifle concept, and a proprietary muzzle brake tames recoil. It keeps the M1A's White-system short-stroke gas piston, rotating bolt, two-stage military trigger, and USGI magazine compatibility.
The Scout Squad was Springfield Armory's nod to Colonel Jeff Cooper's 'scout rifle' doctrine - a general-purpose rifle light and short enough to carry all day, with a forward-mounted optic that keeps both eyes open and the ejection port clear for fast reloads.
The Scout Squad slots between the SOCOM 16 (16.25-inch) and the standard M1A (22-inch). Offered with walnut or synthetic stock. Muzzle velocity is estimated for the 18-inch barrel between the SOCOM 16 and standard M1A figures.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Springfield Armory, Inc.
- Category
- Battle Rifle
- Country
- United States
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1997
- Variant of
- Scout 18in
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 457 mm
- Overall length
- 1024 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.99 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated short stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Two stage
- Capacity
- 10
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Parkerized
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 793 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 2986 J
- Effective range
- 500 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
White system short stroke gas piston
Rotating bolt
Proprietary muzzle brake
Forward scout picatinny rail
Military aperture sights
Two stage military trigger
Usgi m14 magazine compatible
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 86 7.62x51mm NATO battle rifles | 3.99 kg | 4.30 kg | Lighter than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 85 7.62x51mm NATO battle rifles | 1024 mm | 1025 mm | Near the median |
| Barrel lengthAmong 87 7.62x51mm NATO battle rifles | 457 mm | 458 mm | Shorter than about 60% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 87 7.62x51mm NATO battle rifles | 10 | 20 | Among the smallest capacities |
Answers
Questions about the Springfield M1A Scout Squad
How much does the Springfield M1A Scout Squad weigh?
The Springfield M1A Scout Squad weighs 3.99 kg (8.80 lb) empty.
What caliber is the Springfield M1A Scout Squad?
The Springfield M1A Scout Squad is chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO.
How many rounds does the Springfield M1A Scout Squad hold?
The Springfield M1A Scout Squad holds 10 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Springfield M1A Scout Squad?
The Springfield M1A Scout Squad is 1024 mm (40.3 in) long overall, with a 457 mm (18.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the Springfield M1A Scout Squad?
The Springfield M1A Scout Squad is made by Springfield Armory, Inc. (United States).
When was the Springfield M1A Scout Squad introduced?
The Springfield M1A Scout Squad was introduced in 1997.
How does the Springfield M1A Scout Squad operate?
The Springfield M1A Scout Squad uses a gas operated short stroke action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Civilian sport/competition shooters
- 1997
Provenance
Confidence in this record
80%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/springfield-m1a-scout-squad' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "springfield-m1a-scout-squad", "name": "Springfield M1A Scout Squad", "manufacturer": { "id": "springfield-armory", "name": "Springfield Armory, Inc.", "countryCode": "US", "foundedYear": 1974, "website": "https://www.springfield-armory.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:45", "version": "25f76dc992edbd0bbf9fcae464532e0cdea93a1bb7636f2858e213931d45a359" }, "category": { "id": "battle-rifle", "name": "Battle Rifle", "description": "Selective-fire rifles chambered in full-power cartridges" }, "country_of_origin": "US", "year_introduced": 1997, "barrel_length_mm": 457, "weight_empty_g": 3992, "action_type": "gas_operated_short_stroke"}