When you’re known for one thing, it’s a tough road to inform and enlighten the public that you’re no longer a one-trick pony. In the case of EOTECH, their HWS (holographic weapon sights) have been the cornerstone of the company for so long that most consumers only know them for those.
A little background…EOTECH Inc. was founded in 1995 and displayed their first holographic weapon sight at SHOT Show in 1996. Keep in mind that this was during the post-Cold War downturn era after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Clinton Administration had gone through the Defense Department with an ax and closed numerous bases and retired scores of ships. Conventional troops in the US Army and Marine Corps were still using the M16A2 and the new M4 with old school carrying handles and iron sights. The optics boom of GWoT was still many years away. The company was content to produce their HWS optics and make small improvements during a period of relative calm.
Then the attacks of 9/11 occurred and everything changed. Every company in the United States that was producing guns, ammo, optics, accessories, boots, uniforms, etc. fit for military use started bidding for government contracts. Our troops deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq with essentially the exact same weapons and gear that we had when the Cold War ended over a decade prior. In 1999 I was in a US Marine Corps Reserve infantry battalion and the only notable change between then and my original enlistment in 1987 was the adoption of the M240 machine gun to replace the aging M60E3. We were still in M81 woodland cammies with PASGT helmets and body armor.
Within a year or two, the US Army recognized a need for change. During the Cold War, the ground troops had essentially become a budgetary afterthought. All the big money went to aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, long range bombers and ICBMs. The DoD had little concern for the gear used by infantry soldiers. After 9/11, when ground troops became essential, that thinking changed. We started removing the carrying handles from the M16A4s and M4s and mounting optics to them. Those of us who remember living through that era recall that the big optic companies could barely keep up with demand. Backorders were quite common.
Where Wall Street investment groups once viewed the gun industry as a quaint, niche, market for American rednecks, all of the sudden they realized there was big money to be made. These investment groups, with fat checkbooks, started buying up the privately held companies and EOTECH was one of those. L-3 Communications purchased EOTECH in 2005 and set about making their shareholders happy.
With the close of GWoT and the rapid shrinkage of the government contracts, L-3, like just about every other investment group that jumped into the gun business during the era, wanted out. EOTECH was sold to the current owners, American Holoptics, an affiliate of Michigan-based Koucar Management. Thankfully, for all those who appreciate EOTECH products, the company is under private ownership again.
Vudu: Expanding the Line
It was under the new ownership that things changed rapidly. While the HWS optics would remain a cornerstone, EOTECH would expand their product line dramatically. This is where the professional grade magnified optics line known as Vudu comes in.
While many optics companies decided to go to China to produce price-point glass to compete for the entry level market, EOTECH went the opposite direction with the Vudu brand. The Vudu magnified riflescopes were built to compete with the top-end European glass; the ones who had been dominating the military, law enforcement, and high-end hunting market.
Vudu 3.5×18 FFP
The particular model featured here is the Vudu 3.5-18×50 FFP. As you know, with a first focal plane set up, as the magnification is increased, the reticle expands with it. They have a few reticle choices and I went with the Horus H59 as I had very little experience with that design and wanted more. You can also choose an MD1 or MD2 reticle.
Being long in the tooth, I remember when riflescopes had either the slender “rimfire” tubes or a 1-inch erector tube body. That was it. When you bought scope rings, the guy at the gun shop asked if you wanted “rimfire or 1-inch.” Then 30mm tubes became popular and were considered the go-to for tactical applications. Now we find ourselves in the 21st century and 34mm (and even 35mm) are the standard for professional grade optics.
The Vudu 3.5-18×50 uses a 34mm tube and the adjustments are milliradian or MRAD. The external adjustment turrets move in precise “clicks” as you would expect and they have an excellent cap system that does not require any tools for you to remove and reset after zero has been established. As you would expect, the optic comes with an extended scope shade.
As for controls, the focal lens can be adjusted for the shooter’s vision and magnification is adjusted from 3x all the way up to 18x by rotating the focal lens in the common fashion. EOTECH includes a removable throw lever to aid you in this endeavor.
The parallax knob is found on the left side of the scope where you would expect it to be. The reticle is illuminated and the illumination controls (rubberized buttons) are found on the parallax knob. A single CR2032 battery powers the reticle.
A fact that I learned over the decades that I have been involved with the firearms industry is that the companies making the absolute highest quality glass are few and far between. If you want professional grade glass you either go to Europe or Japan. EOTECH went with Japan. Their product sheet describes the lenses as “XC High-Density glass.” The body is naturally high-strength aluminum. All of the optics in the Vudu line are fog, water, and shock resistant.
Being a serious scope designed for serious use, the total weight is 33.6 ounces and the overall length is 15.13 inches and it comes in basic black. Each scope comes with a ten year manufacturer’s warranty.
As mentioned earlier, if you are looking for a “price-point” riflescope or one that you can pick up off of the shelf at your local discount store, the Vudu line isn’t for you. A piece of advice that I was given by one of my instructors when I went through sniper school many moons ago when I was much younger was this, “If you are serious about shooting, you need to spend as much on the glass as you did on the rifle.”
Paul G. Markel is a combat decorated United States Marine veteran. He is also the founder of Student the Gun University and has been teaching Small Arms & Tactics to military personnel, police officers, and citizens for over three decades.