If your plan is to add optics, then I would recomend the following mounts...
1. ARMS #18 : This mount will produce the lowest profile to that of the rifle, but with the type of scope you mentioned, you will still need to raise your cheekweld in some way. A lace on cheek piece or a bolt on adjustable riser.
The adjustable riser is the most solid type that I have used, but it will require a permenant modification thru the stock. Lace on risers, or velcro types will not require any holes thru the stock.
2. Sadlak : Very good quality, and can be custom ordered to precisely fit your rifle's receiver if she measures out "different". For proper cheekweld, refer above.
3. Smith Enterprise Inc. : We use this mount on M14 rifles at work. Another rock solid mount from my dealings with them. Again......refer above concerning cheekweld.
4. Bassett : The most simple to use mount of any, and so simple it does not appear that it would even closely resemble a solid way to mount optics over the receiver. Once you zero the optic, you can remove the mount with optic in place, and reinstall later. Your origional zero should be around 1MOA or better, if you follow the directions the same way every time.
Refer to above concerning cheekweld.
Recomendations with a NIB M1A......
1. It's been awhile for me now, but SAI used to ship um out with some sort of "preservative" grease like substance smeared all over them. If this is still the case, carefully dissassemble the rifle... clean that stuff off of it....then apply your favorite rifle grease in all the right spots for lubricant.
2. Stick with quality mags. ( SAI/CMI/USGI). Others will land between "hit and miss" to " pullin your hair out".
3. I have not had any good fortune when it comes to any SAI mounts. 4gen mounts might be the exception, as I have not tried one out before.
4. Match ammunition will produce the best results, unless you reload for this specific rifle. ( Federal, Hornaday, Black hills, and Winchester make some decent commercial fodder for these types of rifles IMO. Try a few match loads and see which load your rifle likes.
5. Out of box accuracy. ( Has more to do with the nut behind the butt than the rifle. Just my 02 here.
FWIW...... most of mine are not bedded action -med weight tubes like the NM you have, but if I can see it, I can put a 7.62 hole thru it.
Basic fundementals of marsksmanship apply.
6. Good quality rings are another portion of optics on this type of rifle. They do not have to be super wallet bustin rings.........but quality rings. Keep them low enough to allow the bell to clear the rear sight assembly, as the higher you go, the more cheekweld adjustment you will need to get up there behind the scope.
Note: I keep a "shooter's log" on mine. ( Simply put....a record of a specific rifle with me doing the trigger pullin.....
In short..... you have a fine rifle there that sports a "user freindly" lifetime warranty with excellent customer service to back it up, should you have any issues. ( Reloaded ammo voids this however) Go have some fun with it, and post some results after ya get aquainted with her.
11B