This is a repost from my P&S bookface post located here (pictures of the reticle in the comments section on the link, as I don't have these images uploaded anywhere yet): https://www.facebook.com/groups/PSPrimarySecondary/permalink/1438474416199054/
Eotech Vudu 1-6 first impressions:
I recently purchased an Eotech Vudu 1-6 with the SR-2 reticle from Ike at Big Tex Outdoors. I had a chance to mount it up to my 14.7" carbine and look at it in various lighting conditions as well as a short range visit to zero.
Out of the box: The scope is just as it is advertised, coming with a bikini cover, throw lever, and good instructions. The reticle I chose was the SR-2, one of the two BDC choice. This reticle has a very large outer ring (familiar to Eotech users), and a smaller circle-dot as a center point on 1x, with BDC marks and horizontal markings for wind. The scope weight is just as advertized, just under 20oz. The build quality seems very good, and the glass looks to be close to the Vortex Razor, though the scope body doesn't quite seem to disappear on the Vudu like it does with the Razor.
The turrets are 1/2 MOA clicks on the scope I chose. They do not lock, and they are not capped, which is something that I'd have hoped for in a scope of this intended use and price point. We'll see how they work.
The eye adjustment is typical of most scopes, with a rotating, non-locking adjustments. The zoom ring isn't really a ring, it's the entire body of the rear of the scope. This gives me a little concern over inadvertently adjusting the focus, so I applied a piece of self-cling tape over the back of the scope so I don't have to worry about moving the focus while adjusting zoom.
Illumination: The Vudu uses a CR2032 battery and the illumination is push button activated. This is something I'll have to get used, but it's nice to just hit a button and have it come on the way it was. With the illumination at maximum, the reticle is noticeably bright in all but the brightest conditions, including low light when tested with my Surefire Scout Ultra bouncing back on glossy white objects like bathroom walls and my water heater. The only time that the reticle appeared black while at max brightness was a VERY bright day at my house in VA, on my south facing deck around noon. I'd say that my deck around noontime gets as bright and hot as any day I've been in Afghanistan (can't speak to Iraq level or Texas bright). In that condition, the reticle did appear black. That said, the outer ring of the reticle is big and bold, and seems to be very quick even while not illuminated. The center circle-dot is very small at 1x, and in dimly lit areas, you need the illumination to see that center dot well. However, in bright lit areas, the center dot appears crisp and noticeable even when not illuminated. I honestly don't think this will be a problem. My only other scope on hand, a Steiner P4Xi, has an incredibly bright center dot that was plainly visible in all conditions, but I don't think will be as fast as the Vudu in practical use. Please see the pictures below in the comments for reticles in various lighting conditions.
Overall, I'm very happy so far, but I don't have much real use on it yet. The reticle seems very good for CQB out to mid-range, with the skew toward CQB shooting with the Eotech style reticle. I'm not sure that I'd call it a Razor killer, though. It's a few ounces lighter, and I personally like the reticle better than the Razor (totally subjective). The Vudu is also a few hundred dollars less than the Razor, though, at the price point, a few hundred dollars isn't really a deal maker or killer. The Razor has better illumination (though, only the center dot and not the whole reticle) in my limited experience with it, and the glass is maybe a tiny bit better with the amazing phenomenon of having the scope body nearly disappear. I definitely see the Vudu being a direct competitor to the Razor, but it's going to come down to personal preference rather than being clearly a superior scope. I'll be updating as I get more use and hopefully a class under my belt with it in the future.
Note: The reticle does appear somewhat better lit in real life than it does in the following pictures. I was going to include a low light picture with a white backsplash from my light, but the camera just couldn't take the picture right. The reticle appeared nice and bright even with back splash off of a glossy white water heater.
Eotech Vudu 1-6 first impressions:
I recently purchased an Eotech Vudu 1-6 with the SR-2 reticle from Ike at Big Tex Outdoors. I had a chance to mount it up to my 14.7" carbine and look at it in various lighting conditions as well as a short range visit to zero.
Out of the box: The scope is just as it is advertised, coming with a bikini cover, throw lever, and good instructions. The reticle I chose was the SR-2, one of the two BDC choice. This reticle has a very large outer ring (familiar to Eotech users), and a smaller circle-dot as a center point on 1x, with BDC marks and horizontal markings for wind. The scope weight is just as advertized, just under 20oz. The build quality seems very good, and the glass looks to be close to the Vortex Razor, though the scope body doesn't quite seem to disappear on the Vudu like it does with the Razor.
The turrets are 1/2 MOA clicks on the scope I chose. They do not lock, and they are not capped, which is something that I'd have hoped for in a scope of this intended use and price point. We'll see how they work.
The eye adjustment is typical of most scopes, with a rotating, non-locking adjustments. The zoom ring isn't really a ring, it's the entire body of the rear of the scope. This gives me a little concern over inadvertently adjusting the focus, so I applied a piece of self-cling tape over the back of the scope so I don't have to worry about moving the focus while adjusting zoom.
Illumination: The Vudu uses a CR2032 battery and the illumination is push button activated. This is something I'll have to get used, but it's nice to just hit a button and have it come on the way it was. With the illumination at maximum, the reticle is noticeably bright in all but the brightest conditions, including low light when tested with my Surefire Scout Ultra bouncing back on glossy white objects like bathroom walls and my water heater. The only time that the reticle appeared black while at max brightness was a VERY bright day at my house in VA, on my south facing deck around noon. I'd say that my deck around noontime gets as bright and hot as any day I've been in Afghanistan (can't speak to Iraq level or Texas bright). In that condition, the reticle did appear black. That said, the outer ring of the reticle is big and bold, and seems to be very quick even while not illuminated. The center circle-dot is very small at 1x, and in dimly lit areas, you need the illumination to see that center dot well. However, in bright lit areas, the center dot appears crisp and noticeable even when not illuminated. I honestly don't think this will be a problem. My only other scope on hand, a Steiner P4Xi, has an incredibly bright center dot that was plainly visible in all conditions, but I don't think will be as fast as the Vudu in practical use. Please see the pictures below in the comments for reticles in various lighting conditions.
Overall, I'm very happy so far, but I don't have much real use on it yet. The reticle seems very good for CQB out to mid-range, with the skew toward CQB shooting with the Eotech style reticle. I'm not sure that I'd call it a Razor killer, though. It's a few ounces lighter, and I personally like the reticle better than the Razor (totally subjective). The Vudu is also a few hundred dollars less than the Razor, though, at the price point, a few hundred dollars isn't really a deal maker or killer. The Razor has better illumination (though, only the center dot and not the whole reticle) in my limited experience with it, and the glass is maybe a tiny bit better with the amazing phenomenon of having the scope body nearly disappear. I definitely see the Vudu being a direct competitor to the Razor, but it's going to come down to personal preference rather than being clearly a superior scope. I'll be updating as I get more use and hopefully a class under my belt with it in the future.
Note: The reticle does appear somewhat better lit in real life than it does in the following pictures. I was going to include a low light picture with a white backsplash from my light, but the camera just couldn't take the picture right. The reticle appeared nice and bright even with back splash off of a glossy white water heater.
