Get a Springfield Armoury (SA) M1A Scout, take off all the Scout parts save about 1lb 4 ounces, replace the upper handguard with an original fiberglass unit save 1 ounces, get an aftermarket recoil spring guide rod with lightening cuts save 1 ounces (or drill holes in the factory guide rod), quality aluminum scope mount
properly mounted. Fast short rifle that weights a bit about 1 1/2 pound less than a standard AR-10. If you get the SA walnut stock, take off the heavy steel but plate, and replace with light weight plastic unit 7 ounces saved, the SA wood pretty much weighs the same as the SA synthetic tock. SA wood is way oversized, awkward, heavy , replace with a trim original early Winchester stock, save about 4 ounces. So with some thought and effort, a person can drop the weight of a M1A by about 1 7/8 pounds.
The rifle so modified here, weighs 7.4 pounds, about the same as Marlin 336, using the factory irons a very effective woods rifle, a joy to carry, I'm comfortable with that set up out to about 300 yards.. With a move to optics long range potential is there, my hunting handloads go about 1.25 inches at 100 yards benched, from the iron sights.
Modified M1A scout is the middle rifle.
