Is $200/Day Realistic Trading MCL Futures? Insights from Reddit and Research

Reddit users note $200/day is possible but warn against fixed daily profit targets due to psychological pressure leading to revenge trading [5]. They recommend starting with 1 contract live to test psychology and suggest ES/MES futures as more consistent than MCL [5]. Users also advise that 10 contracts may be too many for MCL, recommending a switch to standard CL futures for larger positions [5].

MCL futures are 1/10th the size of standard CL contracts (100 barrels), with a $1 tick value [1]. Based on 2025 WTI data, daily ranges of $1-3 translate to $100-300 per MCL contract [3][4]. Research indicates $200/day is achievable but not guaranteed; 10 contracts is the threshold where traders should switch to CL [2]. Backtest performance often overstates live results due to slippage, spread costs, and emotional decision-making [6]. MCL also has higher trading fees compared to equities [2].

Both Reddit and research agree $200/day trading MCL is achievable but comes with significant caveats. Research quantifies the daily range and contract thresholds, while Reddit adds practical insights on psychology and contract sizing. The consensus is that fixed daily targets are risky, and traders should prioritize risk management over dollar amounts [5][6].

: Liquidity constraints for large positions (≥10 contracts), higher fees than equities, psychological pressure from fixed targets, and a substantial gap between backtest and live performance [2][5][6].
: Lower margin requirements than CL, making MCL accessible to smaller traders, and daily ranges that support targeted profits [1][3].