From my arm chair I've only had one A1 that needed some gas port TLC after gazzillion million rounds. I've personally have not heard of any scope issues nor related internet chatter. I've seen ads for european aftermarket scope makers that make A1 scope tubes. Not sure if that is still available. A1 can be updated with the little updates except for the "do it all rail".
Go for the real deal Austrian home model, just have the cash ready and don.t be afraid to make an offer, You can do very well if your patient. Gunbroker can be a good resource. Every now and then a Police model gets sold under value.
The donut of death has worked well for these folks; (from Wiki )
Djibouti[43]
Ecuador[31]
Gambia[31]
Hong Kong: A1 variant used by Special Duties Unit of the Hong Kong Police Force.[citation needed]
Hungary[citation needed]
Indonesia: Komando Pasukan Katak (Kopaska) tactical diver group and Komando Pasukan Khusus (Kopassus) special forces group.[44] Also used by Brigade Mobil special forces group of the Indonesian National Police, including Detasemen Khusus 88 counter-terrorist unit.[citation needed]
Ireland: Standard service rifle of the Irish Defence Forces. Army Ranger Wing special forces use Steyr AUG A2 and A3.[45][46][47]
Italy: Carabinieri special forces: Gruppo di Intervento Speciale and 1st "Tuscania" Regiment[48]
Kazakhstan: Used by SWAT teams.[49]
Luxembourg: Standard infantry rifle of the Luxembourg Army. The HBAR version is also employed as the section support weapon.
The Unité Spéciale de la Police intervention unit of the Grand Ducal Police employs the AUG A2 variant.[51]
Malaysia: Made under license from Steyr by SME Ordnance.[52] Local production of the AUG rifle series started in 1991[53] with a joint production with Steyr that started in 2004.[54][55] Lawsuits from Steyr emerged when Malaysia decided to withdraw from joint production.[56]
Morocco[31][43]
Netherlands[1]
New Zealand: In service since 1988. The first 5,000 weapons delivered were manufactured in Austria by Steyr Daimler Puch. The majority of weapons now in service are the Australian ADI-made Austeyr F88 variant. It is called the IW Steyr (Individual Weapon Steyr) in service of the New Zealand Defence Force.[57] The Defence Force is currently (2014) seeking a replacement for the Steyr AUG after concerns about its performance in Afghanistan.[58]
Oman[31][47]
Pakistan: Used by Special Services Group,[59][60] Special Services Group Navy, Frontier Constabulary,[61][62] and Airport Security Force (ASF).[63]
Papua New Guinea: F88 variant.[31]
Philippines: Used by the Scout Rangers.[64]
Poland: JW Grom special forces group.[65][66]
Saudi Arabia[43][47]
Serbia: 72nd Reconnaissance-Commando Battalion.[42]
Republic of China[31]
Thailand: Used by special forces.
Tunisia[31][47] AUG was chosen since 1978 to be the Primary weapon of the Tunisian Army, The first regular unit to be issued with the AUG A1 was the GTS, later on, the leadership started to arming the National Guard with Sturmgewehr 58 (FN FAL) and the Army with the AUG A1/A2/A3 variants, including the Army's Special Forces.
Turkey: Maroon Berets and Police Special Operations Department.[67]
United Kingdom
Falkland Islands: Falkland Islands Defence Force.[68]
United States: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.[69]
Uruguay: Received 7,000 Steyr AUG A2UR rifles (with the A1 model sight and Picatinny rail) to be used by the Uruguayan infantry battalions.[70]
Venezuela: Used by SEBIN.[71][72]