Eotech Vudu 1-6x w/SR1 reticle review.

[NickDrak]

I've been running a LPVO for several years on my work & play guns and wanted to give my initial impressions and a ongoing review on the new Eotech Vudu 1-6x w/SR1 reticle. I recently sold my Steiner T5xi 1-5x to help fund the Eotech Vudu. Prior to the Steiner 1-5x, I ran a Vortex Razor HD Gen2 1-6x for a few years. Before that I ran a Trijicon TR24G 1-4x.

I just picked up the 1-6x Vudu with the SR1 reticle off of eBay. I would have searched for LE pricing if I had more time but I needed to have it in hand by this week so I could get it mounted, zeroed, and get a few range sessions in before I head up to the NPRC (National Patrol Rifle Championship) up near Detroit next week. I paid $1055.00 shipped for it from OutdoorUSA and received it in 3 business days.

Here's my initial impressions so far....

Feels very well built (made in Japan).

Glass appears to be as clear/bright as my Vortex Razor HD G2 1-6 and my Steiner T5xi 1-5.

I really dig the illumination buttons. Very nice execution.

Not crazy about the fact that it has exposed turrets, but they feel heavy duty with very positive clicks.

The thread-on throw lever is a nice touch.

Here's a few pics:

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SR1 reticle @ 1x
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iStrelok app screen shot:
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More to follow after I hit the range tomorrow & Friday....

[Odin Bravo One]

What does this optic do that can't be done by an item made by a company whose entire existence hasn't been turd soup?

[NickDrak]

What does this optic do that can't be done by an item made by a company whose entire existence hasn't been turd soup?

Well, It has the best FFP reticle I've seen on any LPVO regarding the 1x reticle and the illumination throughout the entire magnification range.

The illumination controls are different than anything else in its league and they seem to work awesome so far.

It's lighter that the Vortex Razor HD 1-6 by like a half a pound.

So there's that stuff....since you asked.

I've been running LPVO's on my work & play guns for almost a decade so I thought someone out there on the Interwebs might be interested in my opinion on this one?

It's an LPVO review of a brand new market option, dude....If you want to beat a dead horse about Eotechs holographic sight debacle you can probably find a million other threads to poop on.

[Odin Bravo One]

I asked a genuine question for members who may not have $1000 extra dollars to waste on any brand of optic, and are looking for more information, and comparison to existing similar products. Including me. Sorry if bringing their business practices into the equation hurt your feelings. But because I know how they handled their other business, and because I too have been shooting with LPVOs for over a decade, asking for a comparison to similar items doesn't feel like it's too much to ask.

[NickDrak]

I asked a genuine question for members who may not have $1000 extra dollars to waste on any brand of optic, and are looking for more information, and comparison to existing similar products. Sorry if bringing their business practices into the equation hurt your feelings.

And I answered your question, no?

No worries about my feelings. I think they'll be ok.

Sorry if my review brought up memories of something that really doesn't have anything to do with my review.

[Luke]

I asked a genuine question for members who may not have $1000 extra dollars to waste on any brand of optic, and are looking for more information, and comparison to existing similar products. Including me. Sorry if bringing their business practices into the equation hurt your feelings. But because I know how they handled their other business, and because I too have been shooting with LPVOs for over a decade, asking for a comparison to similar items doesn't feel like it's too much to ask.

What has this features for less that is adequate

[MSparks909]

How do you like it compared to your Steiner? I have the same T5 1-5 and love it. It's been my favorite LPV so far. Really like the Aimpoint bright dot. Is the Eotech reticle daytime visible?

[NickDrak]

I really liked the Steiner T5xi for a bunch of reasons, but didn't care for the turrets on mine. The clicks were kinda mushy and the method required to return the knobs to "0" didn't work well for me. I actually had my elevation knob slip and loose about 15 clicks after spending the entire day working on my zero and the accuracy of the clicks. Happened a couple of other times after tightening down the set screws. If the Steiner had 6x and better quality turrets it would probably be on my gun right meow.

It's been overcast here the past few days so I haven't gotten to test the illumination performance in bright daylight, but the illumination is definitely bright enough in No-light against a light colored background while being backlit by a 600 lumen Surefire Scout light.

[secondstoryguy]

Thanks for the review. I'm currently considering a LPV for duty use and this looks like it might be a contender. I need daylight visible reticle though...

[GRV]

What does this optic do that can't be done by an item made by a company whose entire existence hasn't been turd soup?

As usual with EOTech........probably have a reticle that's great at both low power and high power. The fact that can't be done by an item made by a company whose entire existence hasn't been turd soup continues to annoy me. I'd like to say it "amazes me" too, but unfortunately it doesn't.



NickDrak, can you post a picture of the reticle at 6x (actual, not just illustration).

[NickDrak]

Sorry, no 6x reticle pics today. Too busy chooting.
I'll get some tomorrow. In the meantime.....
16906

https://youtu.be/Ee_UX0PDmeg

[NH Shooter]

Perhaps a stupid question but is this an etched reticle or is it only visible with the illumination turned on?

[NickDrak]

Perhaps a stupid question but is this an etched reticle or is it only visible with the illumination turned on?

It's etched.

[NickDrak]

SR1 on 1x in bright sunlight:
16957

SR1 on 6x in bright sunlight:
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[Unobtanium]

SR1 on 1x in bright sunlight:
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SR1 on 6x in bright sunlight:
16958

So...not 1x, and not daylight bright...but the reticle is nice.

[NickDrak]

It's definitely a true 1x. Better than I've seen on any LPVO.

That's not magnification in the 1x pic, it's just a distortion likely due to the angle of my iPhone camera when I snapped the pic.

Definitely not Aimpoint/daylight bright but it's still plenty useable. I haven't seen a FFP reticle in any LPVO that has been daylight bright illumination.

[Unobtanium]

Witness my mk6 http://i66.tinypic.com/iymsr5.jpg

[NickDrak]

Witness my mk6 http://i66.tinypic.com/iymsr5.jpg

Does the illumination still disappear when your eye isnt perfectly aligned with the reticle on those? Does it still cost 2x+ as much as the Vudu?

[LittleLebowski]

Tag.

Also, I can't even afford to look at Gold Dot 5.56 :D

[Unobtanium]

Does the illumination still disappear when your eye isnt perfectly aligned with the reticle on those? Does it still cost 2x+ as much as the Vudu?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7ogQfcLOwA

...but it is actually visibly illuminated at some point rather than at no point. Yes, you do pay 1800 bucks for an optic with nuclear bright FFP reticle, lopro zs bdc turrets, combat proven track record, true 1x-6x, and 17oz weight.

[HCM]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7ogQfcLOwA

...but it is actually visibly illuminated at some point rather than at no point. Yes, you do pay 1800 bucks for an optic with nuclear bright FFP reticle, lopro zs bdc turrets, combat proven track record, true 1x-6x, and 17oz weight.

The MK 6 is great at 6x but a fail at 1x and it cost Kahles money. FFP and exposed turrets make no sense to me on any 1x optic.

At this point, if you need a serious use 1-6x you either accept the weight of the Vortex Razor or accept the cost of a Kahles or S&B.

Third choice is the Bushnell Elite Tactical 1-6.5 SFP or go 1-5 with a Steiner.

[Unobtanium]

The MK 6 is great at 6x but a fail at 1x and it cost Kahles money. FFP and exposed turrets make no sense to me on any 1x optic.

At this point, if you need a serious use 1-6x you either accept the weight of the Vortex Razor or accept the cost of a Kahles or S&B.

Third choice is the Bushnell Elite Tactical 1-6.5 SFP or go 1-5 with a Steiner.

I prefer it on 1x to my K16i

[NickDrak]

The MK 6 is great at 6x but a fail at 1x and it cost Kahles money. FFP and exposed turrets make no sense to me on any 1x optic.

At this point, if you need a serious use 1-6x you either accept the weight of the Vortex Razor or accept the cost of a Kahles or S&B.

Third choice is the Bushnell Elite Tactical 1-6.5 SFP or go 1-5 with a Steiner.

I honestly have more confidence in the Vudu's exposed turrets than I did on my Steiner T5xi's capped turrets. My Steiner's turrets slipped on me twice after spending hours and about $100 worth of ammo dialing in my zero and checking my clicks in preparation for a matchs.

[Unobtanium]

I honestly have more confidence in the Vudu's exposed turrets than I did on my Steiner T5xi's capped turrets. My Steiner's turrets slipped on me twice after spending hours and about $100 worth of ammo dialing in my zero and checking my clicks in preparation for a matchs.

I thought leupold and nightforce had put this "exposed is bad" to bed years ago?
How many scopes have capped diopter adjustments? Capped power selectors? Well darn :(

[HCM]

I thought leupold and nightforce had put this "exposed is bad" to bed years ago?
How many scopes have capped diopter adjustments? Capped power selectors? Well darn :(

Exposed is fine on a precision rifle where you might atctually dial. On a 1x general purpose or duty rifle ? No way.

My working rifle spends too much time jammed between the front seats and on the floorboards for that.

For what I actually use a rifle for I need the 1x 85% of the time with an occasional need for magnification. You use and needs may vary.

[Unobtanium]

Exposed is fine on a precision rifle where you might atctually dial. On a 1x general purpose or duty rifle ? No way.

My working rifle spends too much time jammed between the front seats and on the floorboards for that.

For what I actually use a rifle for I need the 1x 85% of the time with an occasional need for magnification. You use and needs may vary.

Why does it matter where you store the rifle? I understand your application, but the low-pro turrets on my MK6 don't take up any extra space, and are only "value added".

[HCM]

Why does it matter where you store the rifle? I understand your application, but the low-pro turrets on my MK6 don't take up any extra space, and are only "value added".

You don't clearly understand my application. I'm not talking about "storing" a rifle. I'm talking about having one ready for immediate use in a vehicle. Things get knocked around, bumped etc all the time. It not about extra space it's about knowing the adjustments are where they are supposed to be when I need the rifle. When I need my rifle, I need it right now, there is no time to be messing with it or checking anything.

[Unobtanium]

You don't clearly understand my application. I'm not talking about "storing" a rifle. I'm talking about having one ready for immediate use in a vehicle. Things get knocked around, bumped etc all the time. It not about extra space it's about knowing the adjustments are where they are supposed to be when I need the rifle. When I need my rifle, I need it right now, there is no time to be messing with it or checking anything.

Never heard of MK6 turrets getting somehow knocked into play. I'm sure it COULD happen, but then the diopter could get all twisted around and you'd see a big blurr. Maybe if you didn't have locking turrets it would be more an issue>?

[HCM]

Never heard of MK6 turrets getting somehow knocked into play. I'm sure it COULD happen, but then the diopter could get all twisted around and you'd see a big blurr. Maybe if you didn't have locking turrets it would be more an issue>?

I T&E 'ed a MK6 and I really wanted to like it, the glass and reticle at 6x were great but for me the dot disapearing unless you had perfect head position was a deal breaker.

[bravo7]

It's definitely a true 1x. Better than I've seen on any LPVO.

That's not magnification in the 1x pic, it's just a distortion likely due to the angle of my iPhone camera when I snapped the pic.

Definitely not Aimpoint/daylight bright but it's still plenty useable. I haven't seen a FFP reticle in any LPVO that has been daylight bright illumination.

USO

[NickDrak]

USO
Which model???
Do they even currently make a true 1x-?
Everything in the 1.5-6 & 1-8x range is listed as "Discontinued" on their website....

[texasaggie2005]

NickDrak

Bumping this for further thoughts from you. Still liking the Vudu?

[CS Tactical]

I was skeptical on them until we got some in the shop, but it's surprisingly one of the better LPV's at 1x though the reticle gets kinda thick at 6X. It's also built really well and there's a promo for $125 back from Eotech that just started. I know the reluctance of trusting Eotech again, but they seem to be improving on their overall quality lately.

[NickDrak]

NickDrak

Bumping this for further thoughts from you. Still liking the Vudu?

Still very, very happy with it. Just wrapped up a 3-day Designated Marksman school put on by the FBI at their range in North Chicago, IL.

I also shot pretty well with it last month at the National Patrol Rifle Championship (NPRC) in Michigan.

The Mil hash marks on my SR1 are pretty thick as mentioned above, but it's not a sniper scope and I find the reticle to be very useable on 6x. The 1MOA center dot on 6x works great for me.

The only thing that I would say is sub-optimal on the Vudu is the illumination. It is still very useable though. It isn't red dot bright, but I haven't had any issues picking up the reticle in super bright sunlight from CQB out to 300yds.

Throughout the FBI class this week I was consistently shooting the highest scores on the longer scored standards they had us shoot out to 100-240yds on QIT and bullseye targets.

I'm shooting the Frank Proctor class here in IL next weekend so I will follow up afterwards.

[rob_s]

For the folks that have poopoo'd this optic for whatever reason(s) I'd be curious to hear what better options, and why, exist at the same price? As well as what else you give up on when selecting those options.

[NickDrak]

I'll also add that the Vudu feels better built with better quality knobs than any other LPVO i've seen for the sub $1100 price point (I paid $1055 on Ebay). Build quality is on par with the Vortex Razor HD which runs $200-$350 more on average than the Vudu.

[hiro]

NickDrak

How's the VUDU working out?

Did you consider the SR2 reticle?

[NickDrak]

NickDrak

How's the VUDU working out?

Did you consider the SR2 reticle?

Still digging it....

I ran it during the FBI DMR class I attended at the end of July. Was able shoot at the top of the class on almost every course of fire during the 3-day class. I'm building a new upper that the Vudu will be dedicated to for work.

[WobblyPossum]

What are the best prices for a 1-6x Vudu right now? Were you able to find LE pricing at some point? Thanks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[texasaggie2005]

DanM get in contact with CS Tactical. He answered some of my questions about the Vudu a couple of months ago. And he's a site sponsor.

[HCM]

The one I was able to get hands on had the SR3 reticle and as Garand thumb explains the SR 3 leaves a lot to be desired at 6x. It's a BDC reticle but has a gap skipping from 100 to 400.



http://youtu.be/pCseCsThnNc