Tag Archives: HD7

Gear

LUCID HD7: Buy Again?

6 Comments

lucidhd7g3_0433webLucid has given me a couple HD7 Red Dot units.  An original first generation unit, and then later a third generation unit.  I’ve also purchased three other Gen3’s… One as a gift and the two others for my own use.   None of these units have had any problems.   And I still have one of the Gen3’s.   It’s the one Jason gave me.  It will continue to be used on one of my family’s AR’s until it goes belly up.  Which I don’t see happening any time soon.

I’ve sold a lot of Lucid optics to other guys, and have friends that have bought a lot of them as well.  Unfortunately Lucid has fall out of favor with them due to one issue or anther.  Which is odd to me, because none of mine had ever given me a bit of trouble.  My last HD7 still works great, every time, and battery life has been outstanding.  3 weeks ago, I changed the battery in my HD7 Gen3, and realized that that was the first time I had ever had to change the battery in it.  After 4 YEARS of service.   That’s AimPoint level stuff right there.  That’s impressive.

The question though… Would I buy another HD7?

Continue reading LUCID HD7: Buy Again? →

Gear

Discount Code for LUCID OPTICS

10 Comments

As you guys know, I’m a fan of LUCID optics.   I have used several LUCID HD7 Red Dot sights, and have found them to be fantastic “bang for the buck”.  Actually they are more than that.  They really do blow everything else out of the water that’s in their price range… and in fact, to get something better than an HD7, you seriously have to spend double the money.  And then you have to ask yourself why you bothered to spend the extra cash.

Now, the HD7 is built for use on AR’s or other Flat Top rifles. Say you want to use a Red Dot on an AK or a Shotgun or M1A Scout or something… you need a shorter red dot. LUCID has you covered with the M7 optic that allows you to mount it nice and low where you need it. I’ve shot an AK with the M7 on it and it worked great… But I do not have one. Yet. I’ll get one soon and I plan on using it on one of my 870.

LUCID also has a couple very nice rifle scopes. I have an L5 and I love it.  I’ve not done any videos of it… but let’s just say that this scope is wicked good.   I really like it.  And I’m jaded and picky when it comes to rifle scopes.   The Lucid L5 passed my expectations by far for the price point.    I do plan on doing some videos on the L5 after we finish our relocation.

Now here’s something very cool.  LUCID has given me a Coupon Code for a Discount to give out.  I’ll give it to you now.  “MyLucidDeal” is the code… use it at Check Out and then let me know you ordered it.  

Gear

Lucid HD7 Gen 3 FDE

19 Comments

I’ve tested the original Lucid HD7 and found it to be most excellent.  One thing that continues to impress me is the unit’s ability to handle recoil.  Even after much pounding on an AR, the POA/POI was not changed from when it was zeroed to where the last accurate shots were placed.  Granted this was a short test, only 300 rounds, but I’ve seen slight shifts on some other red dots in this price range.  The first Gen HD7, I beat the hell out of it on many different hard recoiling guns.  I have the impression that the Gen 3 is every bit as tough, if not tougher.   The optic I used to run on my personal AR has been an EOTECH, and has been for years.  This Lucid HD7 has replaced that Eotech.  Because of a couple advantages.  A, more precise aiming reticle and B, much longer battery life.  The Battery life really pushed it over the top for me.  Long lasting, common battery type is a WIN for me.  I only have a couple flashlights that run those Surefire 3 Volt Batteries, so I don’t buy them very often.  And when I do I usually order them or pick them up when I am in certain stores.  AA Batteries can be had anywhere, cheap, and I have them around the house.  This commonality is an advantage.  With the Lucid, I’ve never had to wait until the sporting goods store opens to get my Red Dot to power on again.  I’ve had that problem with the EoTech.

The Gen 3 version has some worthy improvements.
1. Turret Caps.
2. Better Reticle Patterns.
3. Better Clarity and Brightness.
While the price may have come up a bit on the Retail side – it didn’t come up much and it remains the best optic for an AR under $400. I’ve seen these got for as low as 219.99 and as high as 249.99.
Overall – These sights are a Win. Buy one!

Continue reading Lucid HD7 Gen 3 FDE →

Weapons

My Rifle.

15 Comments

This is my person AR-15.  I’m not done tweaking it yet.  I’m going to shoot some Olive Drab Green on it, a little brown on it, and some MagPull Flat Dark Earth… But I’m in no hurry to do so.  I’ll select color and pattern after I move to NC.  Get the local colors there.  Going all FDE isn’t going to do me a bit of good out there.  And I’m not going to do it in anything fancy like Ceramic empregnated polymer or epoxy based resins or teflon infused bone.  None of that.  Krylon.  Spray on, rattle can, Krylon.  Why?  To remind me… that this rifle is a Tool and not a Precious Keepsake.  The wear on the Krylon will be viewed as Training Badges.  Scars gained in activities that develop and teach skills.
Also, I’m going to order a drop in trigger for it – because, to be honest, the trigger is Meh.  I was going to order a popular now trigger that starts with a G and no one can pronounce the name the same way twice.  But instead, I’m going to order one from “Black Rain”.  They have a solid adjustable unit that lets you tune it.  I like that.
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Instead of taking the time to order put parts together, I just started out with an off the shelf rifle.  I selected a Daniel Defense DDM4V7 Light Weight.  Then Joe at Crusader Weaponry installed the BattleComp muzzle brake and hit the Bolt Carrier Group with a Permanent treatment of Crusader Weaponry’s SLIPSTREAM lubricant.  Makes the gun run slick and snot, and it feels like a .22LR when shooting.

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Here you can see the BCG better.  The Slipstream gives it a satin grey finish… nothing flashy or “pimped out” about it.  It’s just slick.  If you hand cycle it slowly, you can actually feel the bolt lock and unlock within the action.    On top of the rifle is the Lucid HD7 Gen 3 FDE optic.  Backing it up is a set of MagPul flip up sights… which is kinda pointless as the Lucid is bullet proof and the batteries last forever.

I’ve thought about putting an upgraded optic on it… something “Better”.  But looking at the so called better options… I’m really not seeing any Red Dots that qualify as tangibly better. I’d have to go all the way up to the Trijicon SRS… and those suckers retail for over 900 bucks, for only some sort of perceived “Betterness”.  Yeah, I’d rather spend all that extra coin on ammo.

If I do switch off this optic… it would only be for something that was magnified  Perhaps in a 1-4 variable.  But to be honest, nothing as really sold me to justify the swap.  Vortex has a PST 1-4 something or other that looks cool, but has huge unprotected turrets that can easily get spun unintentionally.    Forget that.   Yeah, I’m happy with the Lucid HD7’s.   They define “Bang for the buck” value.

Optics

New Lucids

3 Comments

Lucid sent me two new optics to review. The first is the Third generation of the HD7 red dot.  This one in Flat Dark Earth.
Initial impression is good.  I love the original HD7, and I am seeing an improvement in the Gen 3.
The new other optic is the new L5 rifle scope.  This is the 6.5-20X50, with a 30mm tube, side parallax focus, and a nice ballistic drop/hold over reticle.  Again, initial impression is positive.  I like the L5 reticle and am a huge fan of hold over reticles anyway.  So I’m digging this scope so far.  Clarity and Brightness seem on point.
I’m looking forward to testing both of these optics on top of Crusader built guns.

 

EDIT:  GEN 3 HD7, not 2.

Crusader, Optics

Crusader & Lucid, one scary accurate combination

16 Comments

Crusader Weaponry has teamed up with Lucid to provide a very good optical gunsight for our rifles.  When I first tested the Lucid HD7, it impressed the hell out of me.  It was clear, solid, and did everything I wanted an optic to do.  In fact, it did better than I had hoped.  I put it on a number of guns, trying to break it.  Including a 12 gauge with slugs.  It held up.  As far as accuracy goes, it actually improved my accuracy with my own M4.



We recommend the Lucid for the best bang for the buck solution for all our 5.56mm rifles. When you order your Bones, Partisan, Templar, or your own custom configuration, ask for the Lucid to come with the gun as a package.

Optics

Scope Dance.

2 Comments

I just did the Scope Dance.  Normally I give my buddy Fenris hell for always moving his scopes around… and now here I did it.

I pulled my EOtech off my M4, my Bushnell Holosight off (one of) my 870 Tactical, and my Lucid HD7 of my Sterling.  I never liked the thing on the Sterling and only put it on there for further accuracy testing.

So now the Bushnell Holosight is now on the Sterling because it’s the lowest mounting optic of it’s type.  The Lucid is on the M4 because I like the precision accuracy I got out of that combination when I was testing the Lucid… and that EOtech is now on the 870 Tactical.    I really like the way these guns are set up now.  I was going to Scope Dance a few more guns, to shake up the combinations but these are the 3 guns that needed it and it all worked out flawlessly and are probably the ideal options out of what I have in inventory.

The only gun that is still needing a better optic on it, is Killswitch, my Savage 93R17 HB.  The optic that’s on it now is the Bushnell Elite 3200 2-7×32.  I need to go up to at least a 4-12 on that sucker.  It can reach farther, with more precision than this 2-7 can deliver.  Great scope for what it is.  But P-Dogs are small and a bit more magnification would be a boon.

Optics

Red Dot: Vortex vs Lucid

12 Comments

Had a question about the Lucid HD7.  Would I take it over a Vortex.  (Strikefire or SPARC)  Hands down I’d buy the Lucid.  Again.  Not a lot of people really know much about the Lucid.  It’s pretty new in the market still, but it’s a good solid unit that’s given no problems and shoots with astonishing accuracy.