I like the M1A and despite the 22” barrel it points very well. Unless you are in *very* dense cover there is zero benefit to a scout squad. They sell a lot of the, based on the cool factor but it is by far the least practical and least effective M1A model sold. Accuracy is poor, they are loud, and the balance is poor for off hand shooting.
The BM-59 isn’t as accurate as the average M1A but it’s still more than accurate enough for the more common 200-300 yards shots.
The overall length of the BM-59 is very similar to the M1A, but it handles better than the M1A with better balance. It’s particularly better in rapid fire as the tri compensator muzzle device is actually very effective at managing both recoil and muzzle flash.
The BM-59 magazines are less common and more expensive, but they extremely well made. That’s in part due to a different tactical doctrine used by the Italians. Where the US based their infantry load out for the M14 on a magazine in the rifle and six spare loaded magazines on the webbing, the Italian military based their combat load out on one magazine in the rifle with one spare and the rest of the combat load in stripper clips loaded via a cartridge guide in the receiver. The M14 was also designed with a cartridge guide to top off the magazine in the rifle using stripper clips, but it was an ancillary feature with ammo in fully loaded spare magazines being the norm.
The end result of that difference is BM-59 magazines that are very robust and very well made, even by M14 standards.
The bipod on the BM-59 is practical, but if you want a lighter and shorter rifle, you can remove the bipod and swap the muzzle device out for a BM-59E style flash hider.