I understand that the M1A/M14 was not intended to be a bench rest rifle, and frankly I don't shoot mine off the bench much simply because of the added recoil effect.
That said, I have been amazed at how well the M1A shoots. Firing prone at 200 yards, the first time I recorded a 1" group -- which, incidentally, I couldn't see through the scope because they were all in the black -- I thought it was a fluke. After all, the precision of my high mileage eyes and milspec iron sights is greater than 1 MOA.
But then it happened again, and the rifle has fired even more groups in the 1-1/2 to 2" range -- again, at 200 yards. So it may not be a bench rest rifle, but apparently it is trying!
For the record, rounds were my handloads: 168 SMK, 42.2 grains RL-15, CCI LR primer, mixed brass (but mainly Win.). Cases are all sized in SB RCBS die, and all primers are checked for NLT .005" sub-flush. And, of course, all rounds were loaded from the magazine.