Lucid Optics
Lucid Optics is a relatively new optics manufacturer based in Wyoming, where the air is as clear as the glass in the company's scopes. It seems that part of getting into the optics business is starting with some no-nonsense, slam-dunk products like long-range rifle scopes.
I don’t know for sure, but I’d say it’s a fair bet that the open country and big game animals of Wyoming inspired somebody to create an affordable riflescope for conquering Western landscapes.
Lucid MLX Riflescope
The Lucid Optics MLX is a 4X precision riflescope with a 4.5-18 power magnification. Built on a 30mm tube with a reticle in the first focal plane, the scope features MRAD turrets and reticle, both of which have become more and more desirable in the last decade. Inside the scope you’ll find the MLX reticle. It has a good mix of whole and half-MIL measurements as well as fine aiming points and a mostly open center.
The turrets themselves are 6 MIL per revolution. My preference would have been 10-MIL turrets, as they are easier to track. The turrets are lockable by pushing down for a positive click, and lifting them disengages the lock. In addition to all these great features, the MLX comes with a couple other nice little extras.
Included in the box was a 44mm sunshade as well as a threaded “cattail” or throw lever for the magnification ring. Also included were the cheap flip caps you often find on most imports, as well as a stretchy scope cover to protect it from the elements.
Mounting the Lucid MLX
With the MLX in hand, I wasted no time getting it ready for its debut. I happened to have a brand-new Bergara B-14 HMR Carbon handy, which would make an excellent host for the MLX. Since the rifle already has a scope base, all I needed was a set of scope rings to mount it. I found a pair of Burris rings that were just the right height, and after messing around with tools for a bit, I managed to get the scope mounted and leveled.
Finally, it was time to get this rifle and scope on the range. I grabbed a few boxes of Hornady Match 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition and headed out the door. First into the snowy mountains, and later into the deserts of the southwest.
Shooting Time
It took only a couple shots to zero the scope after a quick boresight job. With a target at 100 yards, I fired a group to confirm zero. Next, I zeroed the turret by removing the turret center screw, lifting the turret and setting it on zero before snugging the screw back down.
Knowing the drop rates of common ammunition, I estimated about a 2.5-MIL drop for a steel target 460 yards downrange. With the reticle favoring slightly into the breeze, I held 2.5 MRAD over the target and pressed the trigger. With only five previous shots through the rifle, the sixth shot splattered on the little IPSC dangling from a T-post. To confirm, I fired another two shots with the same hold, both of which found the steel plate.
After that little confidence-builder, we stretched out to the next target 780 yards downrange. I dialed the corrective elevation for that distance and settled in on the steel plate. After a sighter shot doping the wind, it was actually pretty easy to drop one hit after another onto the steel plate on the distant desert hill.
The warm Arizona mirage made the wind more apparent, and picking up mirage and debris drifting in the air was easy looking through the scope. I grew fond of the different subtensions available on the MLX reticle. I like the open spaces in the reticle as well, which allows for better target identification.
More Excursions
I took the rifle and scope combination on several more shooting trips. The varying terrain of the Rocky Mountains and dry deserts gave excellent opportunities to put the MLX in action, and the clean air and impressive distances were perfect for eyeballing targets through the scope.
Subsequent trips to higher elevations in the Utah desert and mountains provided both scenic and high-angle shooting opportunities – and of course, some much colder temperatures. Differing conditions didn’t seem to affect the scope’s function nor the stiffness of its controls.
It was quickly apparent that I liked the optical clarity of the Lucid MLX. I certainly am not comparing this scope to a scope costing three or four times more than this one, but compared to other optics in its price range, it looks fantastic. On each trip, we spent several hours playing with the rifle and scope, engaging targets at different distances. The general opinion by all who looked through the Lucid MLX was that it was an excellent image.
Pros & Cons
With some significant time behind the Lucid MLX, my opinion on the scope has been outlined well. Compared to other scopes in its price range, the image looks great, and it is still comparable to scopes that cost significantly more. The parallax adjustment allows for excellent aiming on distant targets.
Controls on the MLX are smooth and easy to read. Turret clicks are easily felt and heard when adjusting on a quiet open plain. The little add-ons like the included shade and throw lever are also a very nice addition. Performance in low light conditions was better than I expected, and tracking the reticle against a yardstick shows closely accurate measurements and reliable movement of the scope’s erector.
That said, I really wish Lucid would have made this scope with a 10-MIL turret. I know why some manufacturers don’t, but I sure wish they would. I’d have practically nothing to complain about.
Another small thing that isn’t exactly a problem but something you should know: the objective end of the scope uses a tiny threaded ring that must be removed to install the sunshade. It was a bugger to get off and the main reason I kept the shade on for the duration of testing.
One thing about throw levers is bolt interference, and I experienced it on this rifle and scope combination. At certain powers the throw lever was too close to the bolt knob and would cause an occlusion that usually ended with a sore finger or two. Of course, this is easily remedied by removing the throw lever.
Pros:
- Image clarity comparable to more expensive scopes
- Smooth, functional controls
- Easy to operate
- Throw lever and sunshade included
- Accurate and reliable
Cons:
- I’d prefer a 10-MIL turret
- Sunshade difficult to remove
-
Throw lever can interfere with bolt operation
Conclusion
As I mentioned before, I love finding inexpensive optics that perform above expectations. If you are like me and grew up with duplex reticles, mismatched turrets and reticles, and scraping together money to get those mismatched features, the MLX will be an incredible breath of fresh air. With a street price under $600, this scope is a great value and well worth your consideration if you are shopping in that range.
It’s often hard to believe many of the claims made by new optics companies, and searching their websites often turns up some fuddy comments and even dumb claims. Despite my skepticism, I ended up quite happy with the Lucid MLX. Long-term durability is the only test left for this scope, and it will definitely get plenty of time on my rifles. So, follow along if you want to see how this story ends.
