Colt 4X Carry Handle Mounted Scope - AR-15 and M16A1

Colt Sporter Retro reproduction originally on A1 and A2 Colt rifles in the 1970s.

A throw-back to the early days of optics, but with modern updates in optics that make this an interesting scope to own with an early model M16A1 or AR-15 with the A1 carry handle. The Retro 4X Optic has updated technology under the hood, with modern lenses and construction. The result is a scope that looks just like the original but has optical clarity and performance that are head and shoulders above it.

Features

• Attaches to a standard AR-15/M16 carry handle
• Fully Multicoated lenses are fog and waterproof
• BDC click-adjustable elevation turret
• Duplex reticle: easy to understand
• Manufactured in Japan with high quality internals and lenses
• Colt labeled and licensed

The Colt Sporter Carry Handle Optic sports a simple, intuitive fine duplex reticle, like the original, and an elevation turret with BDC (ballistic drop compensated) clicks that closely match modern .223/5.56 55gr and 62gr ammo. As its name indicates, the Retro 4x comes with an integral carry handle mount that easily attaches to most AR-15 carry handles - no tools required.

Background

The early scopes in the 1960s were made by a Dutch company in 2x to 2.5x magnification. Later some Armalite branded scopes made their way into the US Military in the mid-1960s, and were 3X magnification.  The actual history becomes a little hazy, as most Vietnam soldiers and Marines used iron sights.  Some sharpshooters and US Airmen on security detail were known to use optics, as well as MACV-SOG units.  Many bought their own Colt Sporter scopes, and this carried over from the 1970s on AR-15's and M16A1 rifles, and up through the first Iraq war on M16A2 rifles, before soldiers and Marines started to use the ACOG.

The Colt Sporter was made under contract from Hakko Optics in Japan, and branded Colt.  Today's retro reproduction gives you 100% the look and feel, with far better optic clarity and lack of fogging that was so typical of the Hakko scopes in the 1970s.

The Colt scope used a fine duplex reticle paired with a ballistic-drop-compensated elevation turret (BDC), which is used on this Sporter Retro scope. While it seems normal today, the concept of modern BDC optics were quite novel at the time of the Colt Sporter in the 1970s.  The optic was zeroed at 100 yards, and the the reticle could be adjusted to account for bullet drop at longer ranges. It was calibrated for the velocity and weight of the standard military 55-grain .223 bullet from a 20-inch barrel. While this is technical measurement, the actual ballistics for 55, 62, and even heavier rounds are close to identical in close yardage, like 100 to 400 yards.  This would have been even more true with the barrels of the time, which were marksman accurate at 1-1/2 MOA (pretty forgiving).  The literature included with the scope noted that it "requires practically no maintenance" and is sealed to be "completely weather-proof." Still, in the event that the optic became damaged and unusable, the rifle's iron sights could still be used through the scope mount.

The rest was history, so to speak, as zero magnification red-dots, like the Aimpoint M68 came to dominate the carry handle uppers, and later the ACOG, which followed in the BDC tradition, and really made this sort rapid target acquisition popular.  But, did you know that it all started with the Colt Sporter and simple Duplex reticle ?

Specifications

This scope is distributed by Brownells

Colt part number:  RETRO4X-COLT