Lucid L5 rifle Scope.

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Lucid had sent me one of their new L5 rifle scopes to test out some time ago and I’ve not been able to really get to it.   Now is the time.  The L5 was never meant to be a Combat Optic.  It wasn’t designed for use on an AR-15.  You can see, it’s a bit large for this task.  The L5 is more suited for a long range hunting or target rifle.  It would look natural on a Remington Sendero or the like.   I could see this on an AR-10 as well.  But it’s a lot of scope for the light weight AR-15 here.  But that’s fine.  This AR-15 brings a lot of consistency and accuracy that will let me test the Scope, and not the Gun.  That’s important here.   But you can see, this isn’t making for a real workable configuration for me… It needs something else.  You see, this L5 is a 6-24 power optic.  Sometimes 6X is too much.

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The 45 Degree offset is built into the Daniel Defense tube. All it takes is moving the add-on rail sections, and presto. Right over the bore as you want them. The MBUIS lay flat enough that they do not get in the way, and pop up when needed.  Simple enough. 
I tell you what though – I’d never have considered putting this sort of set up on my rifle… But I gotta face it… with my eyes now… I really do need a magnified optic.  I need something a bit more suited to an AR-15 with magnification… I prefer a 4 power I think.  Lucid is said to be working on just that.   But this is to test the L5 Scope.  

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In the mean time, the L5 will be getting a full evaluation.    Here’s my initial impression:
Let me start off by saying that I can be an optics snob.  I’m not easily impressed and normally any scope under $1200 doesn’t impress me.  There are some exceptions to that… and the L5 is one of them.  

What you are looking for in Glass is Clarity.  Optical Clarity is primary.  Second to that Brightness.  And Third is Color.  Some may argue that, but this is my considered opinion.  I sold high dollar optics along with guns for many years and I learned to see the differences.  The L5 has the clarity.  It has the brightness.  While it transfers color very well, it’s not a Swarovski.  But you are not paying Swarovski dollars either.  It does however, have better “CBC” than other scopes of this type, and ones that cost a whole lot more.  Between this L5 and one that costs almost double – I’d take the L5 in a heartbeat.  That’s the thing about Lucid… if you want something better, you gotta pay double.  Tangibly better – you gotta pay a lot more.  I’ll go ahead and say it – I like this scope a lot better than a Nikon Monarch or a Burris or anything from Bushnell.  Millett or the like, need not apply.

The side parallax focus goes all the way down to 15 yards.   You could put this on a heavy barrel rimfire rifle.   Huh… Maybe I should try it out on my .17 HMR Savage.  (The most accurate rifle I’ve ever had)

Lets talk about that for a second – Parallax in a rifle scope is where your target and your reticle are in two different focal planes.   This comes across as one of the two being out of focus.  The result is that the reticle can swim or move around on the target… making for a less precise shot.  To get the most precision out of your scope, and put that round right where you want it, the Parallax must be focused.  The reticle and target need to be focused sharp together.  Parallax comes into play typically in high power scopes, 12 power or above… which is why most 4-12 or 3-9 scopes don’t have a manually adjustable Parallax.   They are factory focused at about 150 yards.  Rimfire scopes between 35 to 50 yards.  We’re used to seeing the Parallax focus out on the Objective bell.  The L5 has it on a third turret, which has become the standard place for Parallax adjustment.  This makes any adjustment precise and easy to make… without having to come out of your shooting position to do it.   Rule of thumb, set the focus to the range you are shooting.   If you are shooting at 100 yards, set it to 100 yards, and then fine tune it.

The L5 scope is constructed very well.   Very solid, so much so that it reminds me of some very premium optics.  A rifle scope is a precision optical instrument… the internals are always delicate no matter who makes them… so they need to be protected.  A solid built scope like this goes a long way to help that.  The tube body is 30mm, which is ideal and the objective lens is a fat 50mm.  If you want a 50mm Obj, you really need to go 30mm in the tube.  Too many scopes are out there with a 1″ tube, and that’s just too skinny and you don’t get the light.  30/50 is ideal.  I can’t stress that enough.  Some companies are putting out larger, which is a fine, but then you are forced to get very expensive specialized rings and your mounting options become limited.  Pretty much everyone making Rings these days makes a 30mm option.  It’s a common size.  Commonality has it’s advantages.  Going to a 32mm or something like that… you start to loose advantage over cost and flexibility.   The Turrets are tight, but the clicks are distinct and counting 5 up or 4 right – not a problem.  I’m not going to name any other brands, but one brand that has a scope similar to this… the clicks were indistinct and made such adjustments vague.  

Now here’s what I like about the L5 scope.  The L5 Reticle:

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I like a fine crosshair.  This allows for actual precision shooting.  The reticle through the scope is clear and distinct.  It’s not an illuminated reticle… but most are not.  And for most people, illumination is not needed.  I am no Operator anymore and I will not act like one.  I am old and busted and enjoy large breakfasts and comforts that go with that… so I don’t want an illuminated reticle in a precision scope.  Again, this is a precision scope, not a combat scope.   This scope is designed to get me out to long range, and make a good kill-zone shot quickly.   Take a look at that reticle.  It’s quite simple.  To make it even more simple,  this reticle is programed into the STRELOK calculator… an App for you Smart Phone.   I’ve been a fan of the STRELOK calculator for some time.  I used it to zero a .50 BMG and it got me on target with 1 shot.  Second shot confirmed it.  Done.  

I can’t wait to get this out and start putting a whole lotta rounds down range with this.

Again – Anyone wanting a Lucid optic, use the coupon code MyLucidDeal at checkout.

SIDE NOTE:  The Lucid HD7 that I had on this rifle is now on my Son’s AR-15.  He is quite happy about that.  I am afraid that I may not be able to get my HD7 back once this testing is all complete.

Edited:  Edited to correct my comment about Color.

15 thoughts on “Lucid L5 rifle Scope.”

  1. Thanks for this write-up. Pls let us know what you think of the HD7 once you wring it out. Thanks again.

  2. George you are not helping me. I really want one of these for my heavy long barrel AR. I know that it is probably overkill but I really want one. I had almost forgot about the discount code. I think this should be a good father’s gift right?

    1. Oh, it would be a most excellent Father’s Day Gift. When you order it, tell Lucid you got the code from me? Right on man… Seriously… You are going to really dig an L5.

      1. Ordered it yesterday, with their mount. Did not tell them that I got the code from you. Oh well, sorry. If you get benefit from Lucid, can I send you the dope slap from my wife?

  3. What do you like in a moderate priced (under $350 with mount) in 1×4, 2×7 or 3×9? I don’t want a scope on my SWaMPy AR-15 Sport that costs more than the rifle. I want something with magnification rather than a dot. Age and experience have been tough on my eyes and I want to shoot at 500 yards like I did at Fort Polk, LA just to see.
    Geoff
    Who uses a dot at shotgun ranges.

    1. I like the form factor of the 2-7’s… the 1-4’s are nice, but they seem to be underwhelming. Unless you step up to a 1-6. But those are spendy. So go up to the 2-7. But then again, if you go up to a 2-7 – really you might as well just go up to a 3-9 which has a lower price point and more options all around.
      The only problem with a 3-9 is that 3-9 isn’t “Cool”. But they really area.

      1. Proven once again I’m on the conservative side, I went with the Leupold Rifleman 3-9x40mm the “Generous Eyebox” as the fine manual calls it was the decider.

        I started to zero the scope, but weather and commitments closed in on me and my rest was inadequate.

        By zeroing at 50 yds I put 55 gr M193 on zero at 250, with a 16 in barrel. I need to take a better rest to the range and confirm zero tomorrow.

        Geoff
        Who got soaked keeping his commitment, but I polished my conceit and inflated my ego sufficiently to make it worthwhile.

    2. I had good luck with the Leatherwood CMR for the brief time I had it on my M&P. It’s a good deal for a 1-4. I put it on one of my nieces M&P 15-22’s when my Aimpoint PRO came in. I ran about 1500 rounds through the rifle with it. I only went to the PRO because I prefer a red dot. No problems yet, and they shoot hundreds of rounds a week.

      If you’re looking at a 1-4 for a rim fire or plinker the primary arms isn’t bad. One sits on my other nieces 15-22. She can hit a 1/3 scale IDPA target at 150yds all day. Though they do it at 100 open sights. Oh, to have younger eyes.

      Nikon makes some decent scopes as well for a reasonable price.

      1. By the way, if you need someone to test the lucid to its full capacity, I have an SPS Tactical I just bedded that’s in need of a scope….Just putting it out there 🙂

  4. Off topic, but I really like the rail. Is that a DD MFR? Neat how the rail sections can be set up for 45 degree backups or a micro dot.

    Was putting the front ring on the rail just a temporary necessity for testing? I have a Pentax Lightseeker 30 (rebranded Burris Black Diamond) in 6-24×50 and it is heavy and long like that. Mounted on a Sako bolt gun in 6mm Remington. Great varmint and target scope, definitely not a tactical optic.

    Lucid’s L5 may be brighter due to advances in coatings and perhaps better glass. I think mine was a joint venture using Japanese Asahi Pentax lenses and Burris mechanical stuff. So, the glass is pretty good. I wish I had a way to compare the two.

    1. I had to mount the scope like that due to size and length. It’s solid enough, so there is no worry.
      When you mount a scope like this on an AR, you want the Ocular Lens no further back than the charging handle – as you see here. It’s easiest to do this with a Burris PEPR mount or a Nikon M223 mount – or something of that nature.

      When it comes to Glass – really there are two sources. Japan and Germany. German glass going to the expensive Zeiss, Swarovski and S&B… and pretty much everything else getting the glass from Japan. The difference between everyone is the Coatings. When it comes to Coatings – you really do get what you pay for. So the L5 is getting the Japanese glass and Lucid is having a lot of coatings applied to that. The results are excellent for the money.

  5. Maybe Drifter was intending to reference the little M7 microdot you were planning to give a whirl?

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