diff --git a/game/reconstructed/btl4vid.cpp b/game/reconstructed/btl4vid.cpp
index 9bc48e0..d7a384c 100644
--- a/game/reconstructed/btl4vid.cpp
+++ b/game/reconstructed/btl4vid.cpp
@@ -1902,7 +1902,12 @@ BTReticleRenderable *BTBuildReticle(Entity *mech)
 			2, 3,
 			(int *)wp->SimulationStatePtr(),		// attr 1: damage state (1 = destroyed)
 			1,
-			1 /* Front group (RearFiring==0 on every BLH weapon) */);
+			// (task #68) the AUTHENTIC pip group: the binary registration reads
+			// the weapon's RearFiring attr and passes group 1 (front) / 2 (rear)
+			// (part_014.c:5429-5434) -- the reticle draws the group matching
+			// the current look view (mech reticleElementMask low bits).  The
+			// old hardcoded 1 rode the disproven "no BLH weapon is rear" belief.
+			wp->GetRearFiring() ? 2 : 1);
 	}
 	DEBUG_STREAM << "[hud] reticle built: " << gBTReticle->WeaponCount()
 				 << " weapon pip(s) registered\n" << std::flush;
diff --git a/game/reconstructed/mech4.cpp b/game/reconstructed/mech4.cpp
index 9c25618..1681f2e 100644
--- a/game/reconstructed/mech4.cpp
+++ b/game/reconstructed/mech4.cpp
@@ -6225,6 +6225,17 @@ void BTCommitLookState(void *mech_v, int look_state)
 				(look_state == 3) ? rf : 0);
 		}
 	}
+
+	// (task #68) the HUD pip GROUP mask (binary mech+0x390, weapon update
+	// part_013.c:5588-5595): forward view shows the FRONT pip group (|=1,&~2),
+	// look-back shows the REAR group (|=2,&~1); side/down views leave it.
+	// mech4's HUD tick publishes the low bits as gBTHudGroupMask each frame.
+	if (look_state == 0)
+		m->targetReticle.reticleElementMask = (Reticle::ReticleElements)
+			(((int)m->targetReticle.reticleElementMask | 1) & ~2);
+	else if (look_state == 3)
+		m->targetReticle.reticleElementMask = (Reticle::ReticleElements)
+			(((int)m->targetReticle.reticleElementMask | 2) & ~1);
 	if (getenv("BT_KEY_LOG"))
 		DEBUG_STREAM << "[look] state=" << look_state
 			<< " rearFiring=" << m->rearFiring