Rifle Scopes EoTech Vudu 3.5-18 (Updated with pictures and comparison)

[One1Bravo]

ISo I've been scouring the Hide and Google for some info on this particular scope and haven't turned up much. Most of the posts are from around it's intro in early 2017. Also quite a few for sale in the PX which makes me a bit nervous.

Basically, I'm looking to put it on a 6.5 gas gun for range use and possibly a few hunting trips. I've already purchased an Athlon Ares BTR for this gun. I've stumbled upon a new Vudu with a price that is well below retail and made me do a triple take.

So, how does the glass compare to the Ares? The Vudu is a LOW scope so I'm assuming it would be better. I definitely prefer the reticle on the Ares. Also noticed EoTech specs say the Vudu only has 14.5 mils of travel vs the 24 mils on the Ares. Looks like the knobs on the Vudu may be nicer as well, but have not laid hands on one to know for sure. The Vudu is also heavier than the Ares; 33.6oz vs 27.3oz. Basically trying to figure out if the Vudu would be a better buy than the Ares.

Update 10/25:

Vudu just showed up. IMO compared to the Ares BTR it is a better scope. The only thing I don't personally like is how thick the reticle is. The upside to that is on the occasional hunting trip I won't lose the reticle in the woods. To me the glass is A LOT better, the turrets are louder and more tactile, I like the illumination system better than the rotating knob, also the illumination appears to be a tad bit better than the Ares (Ares has slight splash if that makes any sense). Here are some comparison photos I took. Tried to get some comparing the glass but realized that's above my skill set.

Ares BTR claims 24 mils total elevation adjustment. I got 11.5 up from center making it 23 mils.

I got the same 11.5 mils on the windage knob.

The Vudu claims + or - 14.5 mils elevation. I got 17.6 mils up from center.

Windage was 14.1 mils.

Here are a few side by side shots and a video comparing the turret clicks (cell video, sorry for the quality; best I can do for now).

As said before, I definitely prefer the Vudu. Let me know if you have any questions about the Vudu and I'll do my best to get the answer/comparison or whatever. Not very much info on the web about these other than the one Youtube review I saw. I'll likely have the Ares for sale soon; let me know if you're interested.

 

[One1Bravo]

Couldn't pass on it at the price so I bought it and will report back. Should be here tomorrow.

 

[One1Bravo]

Received the Vudu today and updated the original post.

 

[Delicatessen]

How flexible is the eyebox on those, cannot seem to find much info on these? If you have mounted it yet, how does it compared to whatever nicer scopes you have used specifically in ease of getting behind at higher mags and how is resolving on paper targets at range? They occasionally show up for great prices so just curious.

 

[One1Bravo]

How flexible is the eyebox on those, cannot seem to find much info on these? If you have mounted it yet, how does it compared to whatever nicer scopes you have used specifically in ease of getting behind at higher mags and how is resolving on paper targets at range? They occasionally show up for great prices so just curious.

It's not mounted yet, it just came in a few hours ago. Still shopping for a mount.

I find the eyebox to be pretty forgiving. Side by side with the Ares BTR it is a lot better. Pulled out my Cronus BTR and find the Vudu was just a bit more forgiving.

 

[Blackfoot 7]

I picked up a Vudu 3.5-18x50 FFP on "clearance" and it was delivered over the weekend. At first I was skeptical due to the lack of end-user reviews/feedback, and was initially turned-off by the lack of reticle options. I ended up going with the MD1 MRAD reticle, and while the lines and mil hashes are just a tad on the bold side compared to others I've used, it's really not all that bad actually. Just for comparison, I once owned a Leupold VR-X Patrol and that mil reticle was far worse in terms of target obstruction and this is nowhere near that bad. I think it's well suited for how I intend to run it, which will go on a bolt gun I plan to use for the occasional hunt, so I'm not worried about losing the reticle in a wooded backdrop. The optical clarity is very impressive and beats my Mark 5HD 3.6-18x quite a bit, comparable to top tier glass. Colors have more pop, image clarity is excellent across the zoom range, it resolves much better at the high end, and CA is better controlled. The Mark 5HD beats it in terms of weight, compactness and reticle choices, but I wager it's image quality suffers a bit due to it's compact design. Overall I think it's a very solid optic that probably would have been better received if EOTech's reputation hadn't been tarnished from the thermal drift fiasco, and if it offered more reticle options. Glad I picked it up.

ETA: This will be going on an SPS Tactical I recently picked up, so I'll provide updates as I get more trigger time behind it in the field. Charlie Mike.