The renowned NRA Whittington Center near Raton, New Mexico once again played host to Lucid Optics Ballistic Summit in September of this year. The event brings together manufacturers, new products, and outdoor media giving all in attendance an up-close and personal look with a tryout of current and new products along with related gear in the firearms world.
Lucid Optics, the sponsor of the Summit is based in Riverton, Wyoming and has become known for quality optics and related accessories at an affordable price as their motto “On Target, Under Budget” describes. Jason Wilson, founder and CEO of Lucid Optics arranged for numerous manufacturers associated with the shooting industry to be in attendance. He and his wife, Jamie Wilson, work hard to put on an outstanding event.
New products are always of greatest interest at this type of event and Lucid Optics did not disappoint.
New for 2023 from Lucid Optis is the E7 Reflex Sight for pistol, carbine or shotgun applications. Having been tested, the E7 has proven to withstand the torture in vibration, temperatures, typical of hard use.
The E7 sight is the first and only reflex sight on the market with a blue colored reticle. Sporting a high efficiency LED emitter provides a sharp M5 Reticle proven to be 30% faster to target than a standard dot.
Lucid Optics is the only company I am aware of using the color blue in some of their reticles. Although Lucid does offer the more common red color reticles in some of their optics.
Wilson says there is science in his decision for using the color blue in the illuminated E7 Reflex sight as outlined below:
- The human eye is more sensitive to blue than in other color in the spectrum
- Blue is the fastest transmitted color in the spectrum
- Blue is the most easily refracted wavelength by the human eye
- Blue illumination gives the shooter a cleaner sharper edge reticle
- Blue offers both a calming and stress reducing effect on the human mind
- Less than .02% of the human population have any blue color blindness
- With a blue illuminated aiming point is easily reduced in brightness level thereby allowing for greater target focus and identification
Specific features and specs for the E7 Reflex Sight are:
- Magnification—1x, none
- Lens Size—21mm x 18mm
- Length—1.78”
- Mounting Type—ACRO
- Weight—2.65 ounces
- Power—CR2032
- Material—Aluminum (7075)
- Color/Finish—Matt Black
- Waterproof—Yes (IPX7)
- Shockproof—Yes (40 S&W)
- Lens Coating—FBMC Multi Coated
- Light Transmission—95%
- Parallax—Free outside 3 feet
- Field of View—60 ft at 100 yards
- Battery Life—50,000 hours
- Reticle Type—Lucid Optics M5, Blue in Color
- Windage Adjustment Range—90 MOA
- Elevation Adjustment Range—90 MOA
- Shake Awake—Yes
- Warranty—Limited Lifetime
The E7 sight will be available within the next month or so and will retail for around $399.
Once on the range at the Whittington Center the E7 Reflex Sight was put through its paces. Shooting with the Lucid Optics E7 atop Bilson Arms new 9 mm Pistol Caliber Carbine and its patent pending forward charging system, I found the M5 blue reticle to be easy to pick up with clear and sharp edges, a feature sometimes challenging with the color red.
Over the course of a couple of days members of the gun media ran thousands of rounds through the Bilson Arms PCC via the Lucid E7 sight utilizing the ACRO mounting system. The E7 never failed, continued to hold zero, and provided a clear, and sharp edge reticle image throughout the trial.
Bottom line, the E7 Reflex Sight from Lucid Optics looks to be a great success and will provide excellent service to anyone needing this style of sight.
Many other vendors were on site at this year’s Lucid Optics Ballistic Summit. Stay tuned for additional writeups on all of these manufactures coming soon!
Other product lines from Lucid Optics includes:
- Prismatic Optic, P8
- Red Dot Optics, HD7, HDX, Lil Mo and M7
- Rifle Scopes, L5, L7, MLX (New for 2023, the MLX 5×30, 34 mm tube, FFP)
- Binoculars, B-8, B-10
- Spotting Scope, SC9
- Weapons Light, C3
- Archery, A5 (5 Pin Archery Sight)
You will find many other accessories such as scope rings, magnifiers, targets, quick release mounts, tripods and much more at lucidoptics.com.
About the Author:
TERRY NELSON – is a 30-year veteran of law enforcement with police and sheriff agencies, including SWAT and sniper roles, and has served as a state game warden. Nelson also served seven years with New Mexico State Guard. A lifelong hunter, guide, tracker and firearms enthusiast, Terry is sought for training in multiple disciplines by both civilian and police-serving agencies and companies. Nelson also holds a Basic Tac Med instructor certification from Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
