Forward Mounted Optical Sight

[chuck s]

I've received half a dozen PMs regarding my forward placement of the M68 Close Combat Optical (CCO) (Aimpoint CompM-series) sight on my M4 and M&P 15-22.

The reason is to allow the maximum field of view which translates to very fast transition between multiple targets.

From Army/Marine Corps field manual FM23-9 (emphasis added):

b. M16A4 and M4-Series Weapons (Figure 2-25). The M68 mounts directly to the integrated rail on top of the M16A4 and M4-series weapons (in place of the carrying handle). The half-moon spacer (1) should be installed to raise the M68 above the front sight post but the M68 can still be fired without the spacer. The soldier's preference dictates exactly which notch the M68 is mounted to.

Although any notch is acceptable, testing has shown that the farther away the M68 is from the soldier's eyes, the better his field of view.

Remove the carrying handle, align the locking bar with a notch, and tighten the torque-limiting knob until it clicks twice. If the M68 is remounted onto the same notch, it will retain zero.

Mine mirrors the location of the M68 sight on my old (circa 1990) M4 Carbine with the fixed handle. Here's the FM mounting:

Here's the pair. The clone is in the same location as the real sight.

Try it! The system has worked for me for years and is very fast transitioning between targets on the range. Both eyes open and the Red Dot of Death (tm) is visible down range all the time the rifle is at your shoulder.

-- Chuck