Compact Vudu 4-12x36mm FFP Riflescope

EOTech unveiled its Compact Vudu 4-12x36mm FFP riflescope at January’s Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show. Its shorter stature gets the attention — only 7.1 inches in length — but there’s a long list of other advantages that make it ideal for predator hunting.

EOTech, a firm highly regarded for optics expertise, unveiled its Vudu brand of hunting riflescopes 10 years ago. It was a new venture for the company, and it came as little surprise when its offerings quickly earned a loyal following. An intimate understanding of what it takes to develop innovative, rugged and reliable solutions capable of thriving in challenging conditions — including extreme predator pursuits — is in its genes. This wasn’t its first dance in the hunting market either.

In 1996, Bushnell introduced what was then a groundbreaking line of holographic sights at the SHOT Show. Rave reviews followed those HOLOSights. Enthusiasts clamored to own one and Bushnell headquarters’ trophy case swelled with awards.

HOLOSights were an EOTech design released in concert with Bushnell to harness the firm’s better-recognized name, established supply channels and marketing muscle. The move was a wise one, but law enforcement and the military soon discovered the advantages.

In 2001, EOTech introduced models under its own name for use by those in uniforms, beginning the rather discrete corporate courtship. The industry warmly greeted the brand, partly because of the company’s roots.

EOTech was established in 1995 as a subsidiary of the University of Michigan’s Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (ERIM) — a pioneer in heads-up-displays for pilots and cutting-edge holographic optics. The firm was highly regarded by the U.S. military and widely recognized for innovative products that perform.

The Compact Vudu 4-12x36mm FFP riflescope builds on that tradition. Here’s a look at some of the key features that make it a solid choice for predator hunting, starting with that abbreviated length.

Shorter is Better

If I had a dime for every time I thought to myself, Gee, I sure wish my riflescope was longer, I still couldn’t buy a plain coffee, much less a fashionable iced brown sugar oatmilk espresso. Branches and other obstructions like to hang up under a scope — usually at an inopportune time — and the problem increases in direct proportion to length. Shorter is better, assuming there’s no compromise in performance. The Vudu 4-12x36mm FFP delivers without sacrificing any of the quality we’ve come to expect from the company.

That abbreviated stature also provides an ideal setup for short-barreled rifles and AR-15 pistols. With their limited Picatinny rail space, this riflescope is an ideal choice. Add the ability to magnify up to 12X and it’s not out of the question for longer rifles, either.

The Vudu 4-12x36mm FFP measures only 7.1 inches. The figure sounds impressive on its own, but needs to be compared to the average length of most popular scopes — with identical magnification and zoom factor — to understand the difference.

I selected three different riflescopes from three different major manufacturers. The sampled, and currently available, nine scopes had an average length of 13.17 inches. The Vudu trims slightly more than 6 inches from the measurement. That’s not a typo. Admittedly, objective sizes and tube diameters were not all identical, but that’s still a ton of real estate.

Field-of-View

In a lifelong search to identify precisely what engineers were willing to sacrifice in the improvements, I compared field-of-view numbers. Fast-moving predators can be hard to find in a magnified scope, after all.

The laws of physics seem to have been clearly violated, and Sir Isaac Newton is rolling in his grave. Field-of-view — at 100 yards — in this Vudu is 28.5 feet at 4X and 9.5 at 12X. The average of sampled 4-12X competitors came in at 23 feet (12X) and 9.1 feet (4X). The results clearly indicate that, on average, getting on target with the much shorter Vudu will be faster.

Admittedly, three of the competing scopes did have a 6 inch or a full foot of advantage at 12 power. In exchange, however, they sacrificed a disproportionate 6 to 6.5 feet of view at the wider, 4X setting.

What About Weight?

The Vudu 4-12x36mm FFP spec sheet and website clearly state weight as 16.9 ounces, but the figure is deceptive. That number reflects the Combo version’s heft, which ships wearing the company’s EFLX 1X reflex sight. You can buy the scope alone, but in the interest of seeing it stacked up against competitors I first removed it and the company’s Diving Board Mount — which allows the red dot to be oriented at 45 degrees or directly atop.

Then there’s the fact EOTech addressed concerns about mounting such an optic with such a short tube. Its clever solution was machining an interface at the bottom of the scope, where the factory-installed mil-spec rail mount is anchored. It was also removed for weighing. That left only the scope and the non-removable, machined section that allows owners to attach a mini-ACOG mount. Doing so provides enough height to clear most rear iron sights.

Once stripped of accessories, to put it on an equal footing with the three surveyed companies that don’t include rings or bases in their specs, it tipped the scales at 15 ounces even. The competitors averaged 16.2 ounces. In full disclosure, two of them did weigh less.

For such a short riflescope the small difference was not expected, but ounces feel like pounds during tough hunts. There are good reasons the difference was not dramatic, though, and it’s found in the scope’s features and added versatility. We’ll start with the latter.

Modularity

The ability to quickly and easily attach an ACOG mount is a solid asset. Add the fact both the combo and optic alone ship with a mil-spec rail mount and a major headache is solved.

What really catches attention is the company’s EFLX reflex pistol sight, which comes factory installed on the Vudu 4-13x36mm FFP Combo. It can be rotated on the scope to either 45 degrees or directly above. It’s powered by a single CR2032 battery loaded from atop, which eliminates the need to re-zero after replacement.

There are nine illumination settings — eight daylight and one for night vision. The red-dot optic is weatherproof and an elegant solution to a problem that plagues predator hunters.

Every hunter has set up and diligently watched for their prey to walk out onto a field or established trail yards downrange, only to have one appear up close. EOTech brought a combat-proven solution to the sport with the EFLX mount. It allows shooters caught in that situation to simply adjust cheek weld — or twist the rifle slightly — to target the animal quickly, accurately and ethically. It works and with practice becomes an intuitive response.

FFP and Optical Clarity

In testing, EOTech’s XC high-density, low-dispersion multicoated glass greatly outperformed what we expected from a 36mm diameter objective. Just before dawn the battalion of pocket gophers assaulting the Arizona property I just purchased were obvious. Those that theorized a dark water trough behind would conceal their head’s popping out of foxholes were mistaken.

Later, in a bright sun, objects in dark shadow were easy to pick out. Color rendition was true, and contrast was very good. It’s everything we’ve come to expect in the Vudu line.

This Vudu ships with illuminated first focal plane reticles, which enlarge with magnification. They are milliradian based, which provides easier range estimations through the optic and, in practiced hands, faster hold adjustments when stretching the distance. Power is supplied by a CR2032 battery under the same knob that controls brightness — on the left side of the scope.

It can be adjusted to 10 levels of illumination, in palpable solid-feeling clicks. Every other click is an off position. The battery is rated for 300 hours of continuous use.

Elevation/Windage Adjustment

Elevation and windage turrets are cap protected. No tool is required to adjust point of aim, and each click moves the reticle 0.1 mrad in the desired direction.

Feedback is positive and palpable throughout both dials’ ranges, but not quite audible. Once the scope was mounted and zeroed on a .223 Rem.-chambered rifle, point-of-aim and point-of-impact never wandered from one another, regardless of magnification setting.

Later the scope passed the “walk the box” adjustment-consistency test with ease and returned to zero. It’s precise and a pleasure to use.

Solid Choice

The Vudu 4-12x36mm FFL is constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum, tube diameter is 30mm and the scope is fog, water and shock resistant. The diopter is fully adjustable. A “speed bump” and generous texturing on the magnification ring ensure a solid grip in nasty weather.

If all this isn’t enough for a predator hunter to give serious consideration to the scope, we’ll leave you with one final statement from the company’s No BS lifetime warranty. “Should your Vudu Riflescope ever experience any issues, we will repair or replace it, as determined by EOTech, with a comparable product in equal or better condition, free of charge, PERIOD. You don’t have to be the original owner and you will not need to provide proof of purchase.”

That says a lot more than I could.

Specs

Vudu 4-12x36mm FFP Riflescope

Manufacturer: EOTech

Magnification: 4-12X

Objective Lens: 36mm

Length: 7.1 inches

Weight: 16.9 ounces

Tube Diameter: 30mm

Color: Black

Reticle: First focal plane, illuminated MR5 (tested), MRD

Battery: CR2032