Much ado has been made about the lack of lethality of the M16 and M4 at the increased ranges encountered in Afghanistan but you can’t hit what you can’t see. One of the Army’s answers to this quandary is the M150 Rifle Combat Optic (RCO) which is is designed to increase the probability of a first-round hit at distances up to 600 meters.
Adopted in 2007 for use on the M4, M16A2, M16A4, and M249 weapons in addition to increased range, it also allows the use of reflexive fire techniques. When a target is acquired, the ranging reticle can be used to get an accurate range to the target. Then, the range aiming point on the bullet drop compensator can be used to engage the target.
Manufactured by Trijicon, the RCO features a 4 x optic illuminated by fiber optics and tritium. The reticle is of a chevron pattern and is red in color both day and night. Naturally, the issue item also incorporates a laser and anti-reflection filters as well as an integral Mil Spec 1913 attachment.
Tags: Trijicon