Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
With 4x magnification, weighing just 8.4 ounces, and taking up only 3.4 inches of rail space, the P8 4x Prismatic Optic from Lucid Optics is a little gem of an optic. I used one recently for several hundred rounds worth of AR-15 shooting and the P8 4x proved itself an extremely functional optic for close-quarters applications, including home defense, but with the ability to go long when needed.
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It might also be the perfect optic for turkey hunting, especially for those willing to reach out beyond traditional distances for Mr. Tom.
As the full name implies, the P8 4x is a prismatic optic, not the more conventional scope employing a lens on each end to magnify. The P8 4x employs two opposing prisms inside the tube to magnify images at a fixed magnification. The P8 4x prisms are silver coated, too, making them more reflective than the commonly used, less expensive aluminum-coated prisms.
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Prismatic scopes can be made more compactly, taking up much less space atop a rifle than a traditional scope. With a generous eye box, like that found on the P8 4x, a prismatic scope can help a shooter deploy quickly on target.
Which is often exactly what’s needed for an AR-15.
Carbine Ready
When I received a new P8 4x, I mounted it onto a Bushmaster M4 Patrolman’s MOE Flat Top chambered in 5.56 NATO, sporting a 16-inch barrel. Mounting was easily done as the P84x came with low, medium and high mounting hardware that fit onto a Picatinny rail. I used the high mount.
The P8 4x reticle features a 2 MOA center dot in the middle of a 16-MOA rough aiming circle, the combination designed to put a shooter on target fast. Below the center dot, another dot is located 4 MOA down, followed by a small circle at the bottom of the larger aiming circle 8 MOA down from the center.
Lucid terms this last dot a “mechanical offset.” An offset is needed because, when an optic is zeroed for longer distances, very close shots will hit low. The offset raises the point of impact for closer-in shooting.
The P8 4x reticle also sports “sighting wedges” to the sides of the center circle and some of the lower MOA dots.
Seeing Red?
It took me years to realize that the red dot in a red dot wasn’t supposed to have a starburst shape or that the red crosshairs in an illuminated scope weren’t supposed to be blurry.
But my eyes are affected by astigmatism, with my eyes somewhat irregularly shaped. That’s why I wear corrected lenses. But even wearing my glasses, that red dot isn’t sharp and precise.
I began figuring out the relationship between astigmatism and the color red when I found that green dots and crosshairs were much sharper than red, for my eyes at least.
And what is just as good as green? Blue, I discovered, when I turned on the power on my P8 4x. Lucid’s optics are illuminated in a blue shade; for the P8 4x that means a blue center dot and the aiming circle. The color popped very nicely for my eyes.
At The Range
I zeroed the rifle and optic at 50 yards initially and made some quarter-sized groups. Next, I moved on to 100 yards. At this distance, my three- and five-shot groups came in at 1.5- to 2.0-inches and sometimes larger, though I also fired some three-shot groups at 1.25-inches.
Given its 2 MOA center dot, I don’t think the P8 4x is what most would consider a precision optic. Let’s not forget that at 100 yards, the 2 MOA dot is covering up 2.0 inches of target. This is a more tactical unit, designed to quickly engage targets.
When I had a better sense of both the Bushmaster M4 (my first time using it) and the P8, I settled on one brand of ammunition for the remainder of my testing: Norma Match -223, loaded with a 77-grain Sierra MatchKing hollow-point bullet. The M4’s 1:7 twist rate made this heavier, longer bullet a good choice.
Re-Shoot
I went back to my 50-yard lane, this time shooting at a LE B-27 Cardboard Silhouette LE Target made by Champion Range and Target, which measured 24×45 inches. First, though, I spray-painted the center and head areas of the target white to better show up.
I shot five-round groups from a rest and then offhand, let the rifle cool, and repeated this sequence.
From the rest, I took just enough time shooting to get the aiming circle over the white head area and a split second to locate the center dot. For the offhand shooting, I started with the rifle at low ready, counted to five, and then raised up the rifle. I got behind the optic and shot off five rounds fairly fast, simply placing the aiming ring over the white space of the target’s center mass area.
The ten-shot total at the head area clustered into a 1.5-inch group.
My first five shots offhand at center mass were not impressive. Only two shots hit the center white, the other three well below. Total size of this group: 4.5 inches. I recalculated my aim point for Group #2 and paid more attention to my trigger pull. This time, all five shots went into the white and the total group came to 2.5-inches.
For shooting in a tactical situation where faster is a must, I will take that and the P8 4x.
The P8 4x At Close Quarters
To test the P8 4x’s mechanical offset, I set up another Champion LE Target with a white, spray-painted center at 10 yards. I placed a green sticky circle in the white center.
I aimed the optic’s center dot at the green dot and fired twice. Both shots hit approximately three inches low.
Then, I placed the mechanical offset on the green dot and fired. I pulled one shot, but the first of these two shots impacted at 1.75 inches low.
Last, I used the dot found three dots down from the offset dot and bracketed by sighting wedges to form a sort of box. My three shots are pegged right at the bottom of that green dot.
Nice to know for home defense purposes.
Functional Controls
The elevation and windage controls are located at the top rear and right middle of the P8 4x, respectively, and provide .25 MOA adjustments. They moved the point of impact well.
However, I did experience some trouble initially in knowing how many clicks I had moved these controls. The controls didn’t “click” audibly and there wasn’t a great deal of resistance between clicks. So, in the beginning, I clicked over and up/down way too many times.
Once I figured out the situation, I took my time, clicked slowly, and got onto target just fine.
I didn’t shoot the box with the P8 4x but changed loads many times. With each ammunition change came a noticeable point of impact shift. I clicked over and up or down, as needed and the P8 got back on target without too much tinkering at both 50 and 100 yards.
Power On
The P8 4x is powered by a single AAA battery loaded into a small tube on the right and top of the unit. Lucid recommends a lithium battery and rates the optic at 25,000 of reticle illumination with a high-quality lithium battery. I used an alkaline AAA and had no problems, though I only ran the unit for a relative handful of hours.
Illumination controls are located just to the left of the battery tube along the top of the optic.
Mr. Tom Turkey
When turkey hunting season is on, I’ll be hunting with the P8 4x atop my shotgun. To me, it seems like the near-perfect optic for hunting these big birds.
I’ve been using and testing the newer TSS turkey loads and they really do increase the effective distance for taking down a bird. A 50+ yard shot with a red or green dot is certainly possible. Yet, I’d be much more confident in that shot with an optic that actually magnifies, without the bulk of a conventional scope.
Conclusions On the P8 4x
The P8 4x is a quality optic with many uses, tactical being only one of them. While my 100-yard groups were not the tightest, again, if the point is to get solid hits on target? The P8 4x is up to the job.
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I could see this compact optic also doing well on lever action rifles with rails atop the receivers.
Lucid puts the suggested retail of the P8 4x at $600, but it is on the web at several sites at discounts of over $100. With all the optic has to offer, I suspect Lucid will have some trouble keeping up with demand for the P8 4x.
Specifications: Lucid Optics P8 4x Prismatic Optic
Magnification: 4x
Objective Lens Diameter: 30 mm
Reticle: Lucid P8 Illuminated
Reticle Color: Blue
Adjustment Value: .25 MOA per Click
Elevation Adj. Range: 80 MOA
Windage Adj. Range: 80 MOA
Eye Relief: 3 in.
Emitter Type: Enclosed
Field of View, Linear: 35 ft. at 100 yds.
Parallax: 100 yds.
Color and Finish: Matte Black
Tube Material: 6061 Aluminum
Power Source: One (1) AAA Battery
Battery Life: 25,000 hours (w/High Quality Lithium Battery)
Operating Temperature: 10 – 140 Fahrenheit
Water Resistance Level: Waterproof
Fogproof: Yes
Length: 3.4 in.
Weight: 8.4 oz.
Mounting: Inc. Low, Medium, High Mounts
MSRP: $599.99
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