Hi guys, question about a USMC red dot. I was issued a brand new A4 for a deployment with the 15th MEU/BLT 1/1 in 2004. Just getting the A4 was special enough at that the time but because I was on the TRAP team I was givin a red dot in place of the carry handle. It was not a Trijicon. My question is does any one know what type of red dot the Marines would have been giving out at the time. It was new. I’m building a M16A4 clone and would be interested in getting the same type of red dot for it.
ITL MARS?
Our unit had ITL MARS issued to us mixed with ACOG’s in 2004 for Iraq.
This look like it?
https://www.opticsplanet.com/fraser-volpe-mars-multi-purpose-aiming-reflex-sight-red-wpic-adr.html
Sadly, if this is it they’re a grand a pop and OpticsPlanet, only vendor I’ve found, says “Mil/LE Only, NO TOYS FOR PROLES!” on this one.
I don’t get the restriction status. Wonder if there’s any quality difference between the U.S. manufactured (Fraser) and Israeli (ITL)? Both excellent companies. I don’t currently know; in the past it was not uncommon to see them for sale.
I know some laser modules, usually the IR or high-power ones, are Mil/LE restricted, so maybe that’s a factor. Gotta nerf everything for the peasants, ya know… snort
It definitely was not that ITL MARS unit, in fact I had never seen one of those before. I talked to a buddy that was on TRAP with me and he said Aimpoint, so I am thinking a Comp M4 maybe.
Yep, probably a standard M68 CCO (the .mil designation for the Aimpoint Comp M series). If it used AA batteries, it was the later CompM4 style, if it used a thick button cell, it was the older CompM2 style.
Welcome, and happy soon-to-be USMC b-day, devil. 
I know some guys got Eotechs.
Yep, I had a CompM4 on a full-auto Colt in 2003… 2004 they gave us AA Eotechs.
Thanks for the help guys.
If the M68 is what your looking for the Aimpoint PRO is the cheaper alternative, it does’t have as long a battery life and can’t be submerged as far as the 68 but looks almost the same for half the price.
Pro
Depends on the M-68…Comp M2 or M4. PRO does use the QRP2 mount of the M4, but when combined with the 30mm ring causes it to sit between Absolute and Lower 1/3 co-witness unlike the M4 with QRP2 or M2 with QRP. Very noticeable difference between QRP and QRP2 (spacers removed) when using either combined with the Aimpoint forward carry handle mount and PRO type tubes requiring the 30mm ring.
FWIW, Aimpoint literature list the M4 launch date as 2007.