Is The Lucid Optics M7 Compact Reflex Sight Any Good?

Lucid M7 MAIN
The Lucid M7 has a very low profile. IMG Jim Grant

Lucid Optics is a relatively small company in the world of weapon sights, and their M7 is equally diminutive. Full disclosure, I have a good amount of experience with their magnified optics, and even used one at Highbar Homestead to shoot out to a mile – so I’m a little biased. That said, reviews of the original M7 online have been mixed for sure. So is the new M7 any good?

Lucid Optics M7

I first got my hands on the M7 roughly a year ago. Since then, I’ve mounted the optic on my Benelli M4 shotgun, a PTR-9CT MP5 clone, a number of franken-ARs, and most recently, my IWI 308 Galil pistol. In my testing, the optic never lost zero provided it was properly tightened down. After these thousands of rounds were fired with the M7 attached, I performed a pseudo-box test on the optic. This was done to check if the adjustments on the M7 were accurate and consistent. I used a Streamlight RM2 light/laser combo and zeroed the laser to the M7’s point of aim at 10 yards down a hallway.

M7 cowitness
The M7 co-witnesses perfectly on AR-15s when used with the included higher mount and worked great with this Galil using the lowest mount. IMG Jim Grant

I then adjusted the M7 25 clicks up and 25 clicks left, before heading out to my range and firing a 20-round magazine through my Galil 308 pistol. I then repeated these adjustments in reverse to see if the point of aim to see if the M7 retained zero and adjusted consistently. The results were mostly positive, with the point of aim having shifted less than a quarter of the diameter of the center dot of the Lucid’s reticle. Not perfect, but the shift was around an eighth of an MOA. For a short-range reflex sight, this is perfectly acceptable.

Lucid M7 Top
The M7 isn’t much wider than an AR-15’s receiver, and as such didn’t interfere with the operation of any of the guns tested – including this Galil 308 pistol IMG Jim Grant

Speaking of the reticle, I had read reports of the reticle being, ‘blurry’ to some shooters or having a starburst effect on it. My test optic didn’t have any of these issues, but the reticle is noticeably fussy without my glasses on. But this is also the case with every red dot sight I’ve ever used, and not indicative of any underlying issues with the M7. But if you’re one of the unlucky few who do get this issue, Lucid will replace the optic free of charge. But let’s get back to the reticle for a moment.

The Lucid M7 reticle consists of a donut surrounding a chevron that comes to a point with a small dot in the center. Presumably to give the shooter multiple options for leading and holdover. The donut is 32 MOA wide, while the dot measures four MOA.

LUCID M7 Reticle
The Lucid Optics M7 reticle is a little difficult to photograph, but looks sharp in person and is lightning fast in use. IMG Jim Grant

In testing, the reticle proved very quick for close and mid-range shooting out to 150 yards. I especially liked running it on my SBRs and large-format handguns. But enough subjective info let’s get down to the stats.

The M7 runs on a single CR2032 battery that allows the optic to run for up to1,000 hours. Not AimPoint crazy numbers, but completely fine considering the optic’s price-point. Additionally, the M7 is built from 6061 anodized aluminum, features a 25mm objective lens, and weighs in at 4.4 ounces. It features a Picatinny mount secured by two hex screws and includes the proper wrench to tighten in the box. The mount itself appears to be compatible with those for the AimPoint Micro, so there will be plenty of aftermarket mounting solutions available to shooters.

Finally, the Lucid Optics M7 retails for $309.99, but thrifty shooters can find it discounted online with a little shopping around. But even at full MSRP, it’s still a solid deal given the optic’s durability and compact size.

LUCID M7 Galil- 08
The Lucid held up fine under the intense recoil of my Galil 308 pistol. IMG Jim Grant

Worth a Buy?

At full price, the Lucid M7 is a good deal, but if you can find it for a little bit discounted, it makes for an excellent close-range optic for home defense, competition, or just range-use. I found it particularly fun to run on my Galil 308, as the bright reticle made re-acquiring targets much easier after the hefty muzzle blast of the short-barreled 308.


About Jim Grant

Jim is one of the elite editors for AmmoLand.com, who can wield a camera with expert finesse in addition to his mastery of prose. He loves anything and everything guns but holds firearms from the Cold War in a special place in his heart. When he’s not reviewing guns or shooting for fun and competition, Jim can be found hiking and hunting with his wife Kimberly and their dog Peanut in the South Carolina low country.Jim Grant

Lucid Optics
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Neanderthal75

I have stopped buying products from Red China! Every time we purchase something from Red China we are supplying the funding for the Chinese Communist party to keep funding the people’s liberation Army, Navy, and Air Force!

Red China has said clearly and upfront that they intend to replace us as the great power in the Pacific and to run the world as they see fit!

I take them at their word and I suggest everyone else does as well.

Stop buying Red China products!

Cheers from the oil patch in Central Wyoming

Boom

Neanderthal,

EXACTLY — you know what time it is…

Last edited 9 months ago by Boom
TANSTAAFL2

The starburst and fuzzy appearance of the reticle are very likely not due to a quality issue with the manufacturer, but due to astigmatism in the eye of the shooter. I would get blobs or lines instead of dots when using red dot sights. At first I chalked this up to the low-price red-dots I was using, but it persisted even when I moved up to higher quality optics. An eye exam confirmed I have astigmatism. Astigmatism affects about 30-60% of people Astigmatism is usually not the same in both eyes. Try looking with just one eye open, and then… Read more »

Scotty Gunn

Is this made in China like other Lucid products?

tirod

I don’t doubt the concern over sending money to China, however: That battle was lost during the Clinton Administration, when he gave them 3rd world trading status which opened to doors to Walmart. Not buying Chinese means not buying Stanley Hardware and tools, Craftsmen, Schlage locks, most cordless power tools, about every nut, bolt, screw, and fitting in a hardware store, most of the expensive hunting clothing, Leupold, Steiner and half a dozen other optics, etc. I got a great pair of Leupold binos, btw, had them five years now, foamed in place lenses like Steiner, exceptional clarity – got… Read more »

Boom

Tirod — It’s a commitment….and you do the best you can…I don’t buy anything that’s says made in china.

Last edited 9 months ago by Boom
Whodaty

I don’t appreciate the bait and switch title on this piece.

FL-GA

Nice sight, but I’m more interested in the “IWI 308 Galil pistol”. Where would I find one, and just what is it?