Targeting illumination unit

A combination, comprising:

• a weapon, and
• a targeting illumination unit removably attachable to the weapon but not to any scope that may be attached to the weapon, the targeting illumination unit including:
• a hollow body having a upper aperture and a lower aperture, the upper aperture containing a forward capture sleeve supporting a lens assembly therein and a rear capture sleeve supporting a light source therein that is adapted to generate at least one light beam that is transmitted through the hollow body at a distance from the weapon but not through any scope that may be attached to the weapon so that the targeting illumination unit does not interfere with use of the scope,
• a reticle provided between the light source and lens assembly within the upper aperture, the reticle having a geometrically-shaped image formed thereon that is adapted to modify the at least one light beam emitted by the light source, and
• a power source supported within the lower aperture and configured to power the light source,
• wherein the at least one light beam is modified through the reticle and focused through the lens assembly to project a targeting light image that is adapted to pinpoint, at a distance from the weapon, a specific spot in a target zone of interest which corresponds to where the weapon is to target at a distance from the weapon, the targeting light image having a geometrically-shaped design visible in the target zone.