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JGarcia · 02-12-2004, 17:47

I have read the posts on this thread and I would like to add some comments regarding my experience with the M68 CCO (close combat optic). AKA Aimpoint.

I am not an 18 series soldier, ( I wanna be though) but I am a light infantry squad leader in the Oregon Army National Guard. We have had some unique opportunities to use the CCO here. I read some of the earlier comments on the difficulty using the CCO in bright sunlight. We too discovered this. Our solution was to close the front cover and look at the target with both eyes open .

The red dot light is very bright when you do this and you have no problem seeing the dot on the target. YOU MUST zero the CCO the same way. With the front cover closed. Since there is no magnification on the CCO it really does'nt matter if the front cover is open or not.

We mount the CCO's just forward of the carrying handle of the M4, because we do not have BIS (Back up iron sights). The CCO is mounted on top of the barrel on the RAS.

We shot several ranges with the POLISH G.R.O.M., (and one or two with the US Navy special Boat people, who were really impressed with the M249's) most of them use the Knights Armament M4 (fully auto) with EO Tech, and AN/PEQ6, they transition to 9mm H&K USP. The GROM guys were a really good bunch of people!

We have had no problem securing enough batteries for the CCO prior to departure from Ft. Carson. As the deployment is drawing to a close, I have recently turned in hand fulls on hand fulls of batteries back to supply. I used to carry 3 or 4 in my gear. But as long as you remember to turn it off when you are not on duty the thing lasts a long time.

If you look in the -10 TM for the M68 it lists the battery life at the minimum setting at something akin to the half life of the sun. Granted you can't see the dot at that setting unless you are using your PVS-14's mounted behind the CCO at night.

Which is something else I would like to comment on. If you order the 3x magnifier listed in the back of the -10 TM (under 'additional authorized equipment) for the PVS 14 and mount the 14's on the rail system, behind the CCO it makes for an excellent magnified night vision optic with a nice dot from the CCO for an aimpoint. You can't walk around on patrol like this but in the defense, or sitting a long range ambush its good.

As for durability, well we have a few numbskulls who are not very nice on their equipment and we didnt break any M68 CCO's in one year of field use, under all kinds of conditions. If 19 year old hillbillies from Oregon can't break it, I doubt a professional soldier could either.

02-12-2004, 17:47	#23
JGarcia Guerrilla Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Miguel, CA Posts: 407	M68 CCO I have read the posts on this thread and I would like to add some comments regarding my experience with the M68 CCO (close combat optic). AKA Aimpoint. I am not an 18 series soldier, ( I wanna be though) but I am a light infantry squad leader in the Oregon Army National Guard. We have had some unique opportunities to use the CCO here. I read some of the earlier comments on the difficulty using the CCO in bright sunlight. We too discovered this. Our solution was to close the front cover and look at the target with both eyes open . The red dot light is very bright when you do this and you have no problem seeing the dot on the target. YOU MUST zero the CCO the same way. With the front cover closed. Since there is no magnification on the CCO it really does'nt matter if the front cover is open or not. We mount the CCO's just forward of the carrying handle of the M4, because we do not have BIS (Back up iron sights). The CCO is mounted on top of the barrel on the RAS. We shot several ranges with the POLISH G.R.O.M., (and one or two with the US Navy special Boat people, who were really impressed with the M249's) most of them use the Knights Armament M4 (fully auto) with EO Tech, and AN/PEQ6, they transition to 9mm H&K USP. The GROM guys were a really good bunch of people! We have had no problem securing enough batteries for the CCO prior to departure from Ft. Carson. As the deployment is drawing to a close, I have recently turned in hand fulls on hand fulls of batteries back to supply. I used to carry 3 or 4 in my gear. But as long as you remember to turn it off when you are not on duty the thing lasts a long time. If you look in the -10 TM for the M68 it lists the battery life at the minimum setting at something akin to the half life of the sun. Granted you can't see the dot at that setting unless you are using your PVS-14's mounted behind the CCO at night. Which is something else I would like to comment on. If you order the 3x magnifier listed in the back of the -10 TM (under 'additional authorized equipment) for the PVS 14 and mount the 14's on the rail system, behind the CCO it makes for an excellent magnified night vision optic with a nice dot from the CCO for an aimpoint. You can't walk around on patrol like this but in the defense, or sitting a long range ambush its good. As for durability, well we have a few numbskulls who are not very nice on their equipment and we didnt break any M68 CCO's in one year of field use, under all kinds of conditions. If 19 year old hillbillies from Oregon can't break it, I doubt a professional soldier could either.
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