The Latest from Cactus Tactical: Weapons of the War in Afghanistan: Optics, Part II

Weapons of the War in Afghanistan

In the world of war, weapons and technology are ever changing, each war is characterized by the weapons and tactics used to fight it. As new environments and enemies are encountered, the parties to those wars develop new - more effective tactics, technologies, and weapons to counter and defeat their adversaries. The ingenuity seen in war has existed since (and most certainly before) the first wars of recorded history and continue to this very day.

Keeping with that theory, let’s take a look at the weapons that have characterized the wars and conflicts that the United States has been a party to over the course of it’s history. During the course of this series, I aim to breakdown the weapons used in each conflict by their classification, and to which party they were employed by. Having served in combat operations in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, I would like to start our series with the War in Afghanistan.

For our twenty-first installment let's take a look the most common optics used in the War in Afghanistan.

ELITE TACTICAL SYSTEMS AR-15 30 ROUND MAGAZINE w/ COUPLER

Part II - The United States

Leupold Mark 4 LR/T 4.5-14x50mm

The Leupold Mark 4 LR/T 4.5-14x50mm riflescope utilizes Leupold's 2nd Generation Argon/Krypton Waterproofing. Leupold's proprietary Argon/Krypton gas blends advantages are two fold: it nearly eliminates the effects of thermal shock, and the Argon/Krypton molecules are significantly larger than nitrogen molecules, reducing the diffusion of gases sealed inside your scope even more than their proven nitrogen technology already does. Blackened lens edges reduce unwanted glare and diffusion through the lens edges to provide better resolution, improved contrast and superior optical performance. Exterior lens surfaces are treated with DiamondCoat 2™, an ion-assist lens coating, for higher light transmission and the greatest level of abrasion resistance offered. The generous eyebox makes it faster and easier to get your eye behind the riflescope and achieve a full, clear sight picture. At high power, the longer eye relief and more generous eyebox gives you incredible head position latitude and an improved sight picture that fills the eyepiece completely.

30mm Maintube
3:1 Zoom Ratio
Flip Back Lens Covers (Mark 4)
Lockable Fast-Focus Eyepiece
M1 Adjustments
Side Focus
Super Fast-Focus Eyepiece
Tactile Power Selector
Twin Bias Spring Erector System
Waterproof/Fogproof
Xtended Twilight Lens System

Magnification---------------------- Low--------High

Actual Magnification---------------4.90 x____14.60 x

Linear Field of View (ft/100 yd)--19.00 ft___7.60 ft

Linear Field of View (m/100 m)--6.30 m____2.50 m

Eye Relief (in)---------------------4.50 in____3.60 in

Weight: 22.00 oz

Objective Clear Aperture: 2.00 in

Elevation Adjustment Range: 100.00 moa

Windage Adjustment Range: 100.00 moa

TAC SHIELD 14 PIECE PISTOL CLEANING KIT, .357/38spl/9mm

Leupold Mark 4 LR/T 3.5-10x40mm

The Leupold Mark 4 LR/T 3.5-10x40mm riflescope utilizes Leupold's 2nd Generation Argon/Krypton Waterproofing. Leupold's proprietary Argon/Krypton gas blends advantages are two fold: it nearly eliminates the effects of thermal shock, and the Argon/Krypton molecules are significantly larger than nitrogen molecules, reducing the diffusion of gases sealed inside your scope even more than their proven nitrogen technology already does. Blackened lens edges reduce unwanted glare and diffusion through the lens edges to provide better resolution, improved contrast and superior optical performance. Exterior lens surfaces are treated with DiamondCoat 2™, an ion-assist lens coating, for higher light transmission and the greatest level of abrasion resistance offered. The generous eyebox makes it faster and easier to get your eye behind the riflescope and achieve a full, clear sight picture. At high power, the longer eye relief and more generous eyebox gives you incredible head position latitude and an improved sight picture that fills the eyepiece completely.

30mm Maintube
3:1 Zoom Ratio
6061-T6 Aircraft Quality Aluminum
Crafted from 6061-T6 aircraft quality aluminum.
Flip Back Lens Covers (Mark 4)
Lockable Fast-Focus Eyepiece
M1 Adjustments
Super Fast-Focus Eyepiece
Tactile Power Selector
Twin Bias Spring Erector System
Waterproof/Fogproof
Xtended Twilight Lens System

Magnification---------------------- Low--------High

Actual Magnification---------------3.40 x____9.90 x

Linear Field of View (ft/100 yd)--11.10 ft___N/A

Linear Field of View (m/100 m)--10.00 m___3.70 m

Eye Relief (in)----------------------3.40 in___N/A

Weight: 21.00 oz

Objective Clear Aperture: 1.60 in

Elevation Adjustment Range: 65.00 moa

Windage Adjustment Range: 65.00 moa

TAC SHIELD PARA CORD, 100 FEET, COYOTE

Leupold Mk 4 LR/T M1 10×40mm

The Leupold Mark 4 LR/T M1 10×40mm riflescope utilizes Leupold's 2nd Generation Argon/Krypton Waterproofing. Leupold's proprietary Argon/Krypton gas blends advantages are two fold: it nearly eliminates the effects of thermal shock, and the Argon/Krypton molecules are significantly larger than nitrogen molecules, reducing the diffusion of gases sealed inside your scope even more than their proven nitrogen technology already does. Blackened lens edges reduce unwanted glare and diffusion through the lens edges to provide better resolution, improved contrast and superior optical performance. Exterior lens surfaces are treated with DiamondCoat 2™, an ion-assist lens coating, for higher light transmission and the greatest level of abrasion resistance offered. The generous eyebox makes it faster and easier to get your eye behind the riflescope and achieve a full, clear sight picture. At high power, the longer eye relief and more generous eyebox gives you incredible head position latitude and an improved sight picture that fills the eyepiece completely. Light reflecting off lens surfaces diminishes image quality. So Leupold® engineers developed Multicoat 4®. Multicoat 4 greatly increases the amount of all available light that reaches your eye, while at the same time, it minimizes the reflections of the sky on the outer eyepiece.