Size
The thing that makes the Vudu 3-9 unique is, obviously, its size. This is unusually small for a 3-9, second-focal-plane scope. The average 3-9 scope is around 12 inches, but the overall length of this Vudu is only 6.8 inches.
Overall weight is 16 ounces. My test model came paired with an EOTech EFLX red dot with ring mount. In this configuration, it is 19 ounces. That’s crazy short and light for its capabilities.
Glass Quality
What everyone wants to know first is: how is the glass? It is great. To temper expectations a little bit, the Vudu line is EOTech’s mid-tier line. For an intermediate-priced scope, the glass is outstanding. The image is sharp and clear. Light transmission was great, with good color and no chromatic aberration. At 3X, the image was perfect edge to edge. At 9X, there was the slightest distortion at the outer edges.
Now, was it as good as my top-tier Leupold Mark 5HD? No – but it was close. In the real world, you will not be held back. Even low-light performance was very good, probably because of the 32mm lens.
I was able to take video on my cell phone through the scope in a variety of lighting conditions, including overcast, bright sunlight, and dawn. As you can see in the video review, they all look outstanding. Just understand, video through a scope is never as good as it looks with your eye in real life.
I would consider this a medium-power variable optic designed for the shorter end of intermediate distances. It is not a precision long-range scope. One sign for this is the lack of a focus or parallax knob, as it's designed for faster engagement in combat or hunting applications. ACOGs also don’t have parallax adjustments.
New ACOG?
I think the ACOG comparison is apt. They have a similar form factor, and the Army-issued TA31 ACOG is about the same length and weight. But the ACOG is only 4-power with 1.5 inches of eye relief.
The Vudu has about 2.5 to 3 inches of eye relief. That means you no longer must push the scope all the way to the rear or get your head all the way forward. I would say both eye relief and the eye box are very usable. In addition, at 100 yards, the Vudu has a 38-foot field of view compared to the ACOG’s 37 feet.
Features
The Vudu comes with an integrated Picatinny mount that places the optic at a lower third co-witness, which is perfect. The footprint is also compatible with any aftermarket mini-ACOG mounts, so you can change it if you want.
The housing is aircraft-grade aluminum. Knowing EOTech, I don’t think we need to worry about build quality or durability. It is rated as fog, water, and shock resistant.
The capped turrets feature 0.25-MOA adjustments, which match the HC-1 MOA reticle. The reticle design is solid and simple. It is a basic T-style with MOA hash marks and a floating dot in the center. The lines are quick to pick up, and the center dot gives a fine point of aim without any obstructions. I was able to measure targets easily; however, note that because this scope is second focal plane, the reticle readings are only accurate at max power.
The zoom ring is incredibly smooth and requires little effort. The fast focus diopter on the eyepiece works well, too. Illumination is powered by a CR2032 battery. It is daylight bright. Although it’s not the brightest I’ve seen, it’s usable in all but the brightest of conditions.
The illumination also can be used if you want to shoot occluded, a technique made popular with the ACOG optics. This technique can make close-range shooting at 3X power more effective, but it takes some practice to master. A red dot is easier to use.
My Setup
You might have noticed that I installed the EFLX red dot at the 3 o’clock position. It is a bit non-traditional, but I did a bunch of experiments and found it worked best for me. I didn’t like the 12 o’clock position, because I would need to go to a chin weld, which I found unstable. I much prefer keeping my normal cheek weld and just rolling the rifle over. Putting the EFLX at 3 o’clock on the Vudu puts is similar to mounting the dot at 35 degrees off the rail, which is popular with competition shooters.
In my opinion, this configuration is the perfect do-everything sighting system. That’s why I’ve mounted it on my personal do-everything gun: a 10-inch .300 Blackout with a universal Banish 46 suppressor. It’s maneuverable, quiet, and great at CQB distances, but it can be effective out to 300 yards with supersonic ammunition.
I haven’t exhaustively tested this scope yet, but after a few hundred rounds, everything was still solid, zero was held, and tracking was true. EOTech Vudu scopes have a good, reliable reputation, and I’m sure this one will be no different.
Conclusion
