A local just bought in a standard Springfield Armory M1A for me to sell.  Regular M1A, walnut stock and some crappy scope. I know it wasnt fired more than 50 times.  Send me an email if your interested in pricing and pics. [email protected]

tayous 1, you haven't given much of a picture of your goals for the rifle, so it's hard to answer exactly.

I'm going to proceed on the assumption that you want a rifle for personal defense and possibly for some competition shooting eventually.  Maybe a little hunting.  I'm figuring cost is a factor, also.

Here's the straight story; no B.S.:

If I were you, I'd get a rifle from Springfield Armory, the older the better as the older ones seem to have a higher percentage of USGI parts.  Any non-GI parts on the one you get can be swapped out, but some, like the op-rod, are getting expensive.  I'd want a standard, GI, chrome-lined barrel that with decent care will last 20,000 rds before it has to be replaced.  Non-GI barrels shoot-out of Match accuracy levels a lot sooner, maybe in as little as 5,000 rds.  Not that they're completely shot out, mind you,  just no longer at Match levels of accuracy.  Forget the expensive wood, and go with a GI synthetic stock that won't swell and change zero when the temp/humidity changes, and it paints/camos easily.  Pay close attention to the muzzle, as improper cleaning can bugger it up, and your accuracy along with it.  Good news is that if the buggering is not too bad, a re-crowning, which is cheap, will fix your problem.
Once you get the rifle, learn how to shoot it from all positions into an inch, with iron sights, at 25M.
After you can do that, get a trigger job.  Any NM bells and whistles can easily be done later as time and money permit.  Some NM mods can reduce reliability, such as tight chambers.
Heavy NM-contoured barrels prohibit Scout-style mounting of optics, the only way to go on an M1A or Garand, IMHO, and I've BTDT.  Heavy, too.

Keep it simple and as GI as possible, and you won't go wrong, as long as you do your part and learn how to shoot it.  Go to www.fredsm14stocks.com and order his "Guide To Becoming A Rifleman", and read it front to back a couple of times, then go practice.

If you do what I say, and practice, you will own the finest Main Battle Rifle ever made, and, again, if you read the Guide and PRACTICE, you'll be in the top 5% percent of shooters this side of Camp Perry.

There's a lot of NM rifles out there that people are selling off because the AR is out-doing them at the ranges.  That's fine, but the M1A is a better real-world Battle Rifle.  The range isn't the real world, and far from it.   Maybe they're worn out, maybe they're not.  Don't pay for NM stuff you don't need, and don't want.  I have a Super Match that I wish had a GI barrel, so I know what I'm talking about.

If you need more info, don't hesitate to IM me.  

Quoted: Thanks I've been finding a lot of the M1A Socom 16 for sale with only 100 to 500 rd through them is there a problem with them?

Reduced range as compared to a std-length barrel, Iron sight calibrations are no longer correct, dramatically increased muzzle blast and flash.

The fact that so many owners are "unloading" theirs says something.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Thanks I've been finding a lot of the M1A Socom 16 for sale with only 100 to 500 rd through them is there a problem with them? Reduced range as compared to a std-length barrel, Iron sight calibrations are no longer correct, dramatically increased muzzle blast and flash. The fact that so many owners are "unloading" theirs says something. I was looking to pick one of them up but I keep looking at it and it just does not look as nice as the scout and then the problems I've heard they been having and yes then mostly reduced range. I Just want to ask as I've seen them a lot are the China made M-14 any good at all? I've been seeing a lot of them and it is kind of tempting for $800 to get one and then have a whole lot of money to spend on Mags and ammo but I'm not sure if it's worth it. I know nothing about them. Don't want to save up for 6 years and get a lot of ammo and mags but a crappy rifle.

I'm not an expert on the ChiCom M1A clones.  Apparently the receivers are forged (Good Thing) but there are some problems with the bolts.  The usual solution is to send them away, have a USGI bolt installed, and some heat-treating done.  Not cheap, but if done right will yield a VERY durable rifle.  Smith Enterprises and perhaps Fulton Armory can do the work.  Google their web sites, and look for info on the work needed on Chicom M1As.  Check to see if they will schedual the work first, as they are backlogged with work for the US Mil.
Some ChiCom and USGI parts will interchange, some won't. You are not likely to need spares of the parts that won't interchange, but still...  worse, still, is the spotty availability of the unique ChiCom parts.  Personally, I think the Polytechs are a bit better than the Norincos, but that opinion, again, is not an expert one.  Needless to say there is NO warranty on the Chicoms.  
I think, when you add up what the additional work on a ChiCom will cost you, that you'd be better off, money-wise, with a new, standard grade Springfield Armory M1A.  At least the SA has a lifetime warranty.  Others will disagree.  Before you think about buying a ChiCom, do a little reserch on what it needs to be brought up to spec, and what it will cost.