The Loadout Room
Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • 1A Gun to Ride the River With: The Smith & Wesson 686
        • The Tristar folding shotgun is ready for your wilderness adventuresThe Tristar folding shotgun is ready for your wilderness adventures
        • maxim defense cqb stock (8)The Maxim Defense CQB Stock: Short and Sweet
        • Perfecting your zero | A little help goes a LONG wayPerfecting your zero | A little help goes a LONG way
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • RIP-MVehicle Preparedness: Fast access to essential items | Grey Man Tactical RIP-M
        • Midland radioOverland Essential | Midland Radio MXT275 | GXT1000
        • ppGrab your gear and go | Here’s everything you’d need to build an adventure go bag
        • Scrubba Washbag: Keep your clothes clean in the fieldScrubba Washbag: Keep your clothes clean in the field
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • The Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stingerThe Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stinger
        • How to determine how long you have before the sun setsHow to determine how long you have before the sun sets
        • fireWilderness survival expert breaks down how to build a fire
        • 5.11 Tactical Expedition Long Sleeve Shirt5.11 Tactical Expedition Long Sleeve Shirt, SWAT Tested and Approved
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Shop

Lucid MLX 4.5-18X scope review | Budget friendly quality

Lucid MLX 4.5-18X scope review | Budget friendly quality

November 22, 2017 by Jens "Rex Nanorum" Hammer Leave a Comment

Most gun owners I know have a respectable sized stable of firearms at their disposal.  Few enthusiasts it seems, are single firearm owners.  With many guns comes many accessories.  Slings, scopes, magazines…. the costs add up quickly.  While the most used (and abused) rifles may find themselves adorned with the most expensive optics the shooter can afford, it’s hard to justify shelling out top dollar for every rifle around.  This is especially true if somewhat less expensive optics are performing nearly as well as their “gold-ringed” counterparts.  This was just the situation I found myself in when I first came across Lucid Optics shortly before I was able to review their P7 4x optic.  Now, enter the Lucid MLX.

Lucid’s MLX is a 4.5-18x riflescope, with a glass-etched mil-based reticle in the first focal plane (FFP).  The turrets are lockable, re-zeroable and adjust in 1/10 mil increments.  The reticle has 5 mils of hold-under, 10 mils of hold-over and 5 mils of windage in each direction.  The internal adjustment range is 20 mils, both vertically and horizontally.  The glass is coated for 92% light transmission as well as being fog, shock and waterproof.  At ~14″ long and 26 ounces of heft with a 30mm tube, the MLX is fairly petite given its spec sheet.

Lucid MLX 4.5-18X scope review | Budget friendly quality

The MLX scope feels well crafted.  The turrets have distinct clicks and rotate smoothly, unlocking and re-zeroing the turrets is quick and intuitive, given the “lift turret to unlock and adjust, lift further to re-zero” mechanism.  The magnification ring spins with little stiffness, not requiring knobs to grab on to for leverage.  The reticle is clear and distinct and offers plenty function without being cluttered.

This is my first experience with a first-focal plane scope in the civilian market.  I really think if someone is using a mil-based reticle (which allows for range estimation), they should use one with the reticle in the FFP.  With a second focal plane (SFP) reticle,  it won’t change size when you zoom in or out.  It’s only functional for ranging (and drop adjustments!) at a certain, manufacturer specified magnification.  Every other magnification, mils aren’t mils!  With a FFP scope, the reticle grows and shrinks as you zoom in and out, staying the same size regardless.  No matter what magnification you want to range at, mils are always mils with first-focal plane reticles.

Lucid MLX 4.5-18X scope review | Budget friendly quality
MLX FFP Reticle, provided by Lucid optics

I like having 15 mils worth of drop adjustment available even at max magnification.  While my AR (which this scope was first mounted on) is used from 0-300 yards, my bolt-action .308 is routinely used from 500 to 1000 yards for long-range practice.  If I zero said bolt-gun using the top dot instead of the center dot, that gives me 15 mils of holdover without touching the turrets.  15 mils with Federal Gold Medal Match 168gr rounds at 2608 fps gets this rifle past 1100 yards with no adjustments.  While this method isn’t optimal for every setup out there, it sure is fast on a dedicated long-range gun.

Lucid MLX 4.5-18X scope review | Budget friendly quality

In usage, the MLX quickly feels like you’ve had it for years.  I attribute that to the smooth control inputs and intuitive layout.  The scope passes the “box test”, returning to zero after numerous adjustments made in all directions.

Lucid MLX 4.5-18X scope review | Budget friendly quality

If we take the saying, “you get what you pay for” at face value, we should assume there’s a reason something like Leupold’s Mark 4 runs ~$400 more than the MLX.  Similar magnification (MLX has more), similar features.  Both have a warranty… The differences?  The Mark 4 is 4 ounces lighter and has ~5% better light transmission.  Also, the MLX is a little pickier on having the side parralax knob adjusted just so.  If that’s worth $400 to you, fire away.  I think spending that $400 on more ammo to practice with would benefit nearly every shooter immeasurably more than 5% light transmission.

Lucid MLX 4.5-18X scope review | Budget friendly quality

What Lucid Optics is offering is rare… a first focal plane scope with 4.5-18x magnification at a reasonable price.  The MLX is well made and functions flawlessly.  For the precision shooter be it professional, recreational or competitive, the Lucid Optics MLX is certainly worth checking out.  MSRP is $649, street price is ~$529.

-Rex Nanorum


Share This

Filed Under: Optics and Sights Tagged With: FFP, first focal plane, lucid optics, Mil Dot, milliradian, MLX, Rex Nanorum, Scope

About the Author

Avatar

Jens "Rex Nanorum" Hammer is an Alaskan Expatriate living in Oregon with his wife and kids. Growing up on commercial fishing vessels, he found his next adventure with the 2nd Bn, 75th Ranger Regt. After 5 tours to Afghanistan and Iraq, he roamed about the west coast becoming a commercial diver, rated helicopter pilot instructor (CFII) and personal trainer before becoming a staff writer with Loadoutroom.com

See All Jens "Rex Nanorum" Hammer Articles

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

What’s Hot

Top 8 upgrades every Kel-Tec Sub 2000 owner needs: MCARBO parts review
Featured

Top 8 upgrades every Kel-Tec Sub 2000 owner needs: MCARBO parts review

Why .45ACP is an outdated caliber
Ammunition

Why 45 ACP is an outdated caliber

Gear Reviews

A Gun to Ride the River With: The Smith & Wesson 686

Ammunition

The Reasons Why FBI Went to Back to 9mm

Dogs

Tactipup Extreme Collar and Leash: Tactical dog gear, Perfected

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates daily and to hear what's going on with us!

In Case You Missed It

Gear Reviews

A Gun to Ride the River With: The Smith & Wesson 686

October 9, 2019 Leave a Comment

Camping Gear

The MSR Pocket Rocket | Your little camp dragon

October 8, 2019 Leave a Comment

The Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stinger
EDC

The Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stinger

October 7, 2019 Leave a Comment

Gear Reviews

A plate carrier for the big boys: AR500’s Testudo Gen 2 is a good pick for large frames

October 7, 2019 Leave a Comment

Get it on Google Play

© Copyright 2021 Crate Club Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers