Rifle Scopes Is The Eotech Vudu 5-25 Right for Me?

[Neurotic]

I have a (moderate weight, 18" barrel) 224 Valkyrie AR that needs a new scope. It currently has a XRS2 which matches my bigger Valkyrie AR, but it makes the rifle too top heavy and bit awkward. I don't have an opportunity to look through many decent scopes, so I come up with a set of requirements for a sight unseen purchase:

- Lighter side of things, 30-32 ounces maximum
- Good FOV at lower magnification
- Good CA handling (I seem to be on the sensitive side)
- Useable in the 15-20x magnification rage (where I spend time shooting for groups)
- Illumination would be good to add contrast to dark targets, or targets in shadows
- $1k or less is ideal, but am willing to stretch up to $1,500
- MRAD, FFP as is customary around here
- 10-12 MRAD elevation for typical ammo & ranges

Which has led me to the following contenders:

Leupold Mark5 3.6-18: 26 oz., narrow FOV, mixed image quality, higher price range
Burris XTR3 3.3-18: 30 oz., no illumination, thin reticle, have had good experiences with their CS (I really want to like this)
Burris XTR2 4-20: 31 oz., illuminated, cross reticle, doesn't seem like a great value compared to the LRHS2 and others
Bushnell LRHS2 4.5-18: 28 oz., narrowish FOV, lower elevation travel, reticle seems thick, I have a non-illuminated LRTS for the thinner center cross
Brownells MPO 3-18: 30oz., had a Crimson Trace 3-18 and was unimpressed
Sightron SIII 6-24: 24 oz., narrow FOV, and high minimum magnification
Trijicon Tenmile 3-18: 25 oz., seems like a LRTS/LRHS with more magnification range, 0.5 MRAD tree reticle
Eotech VUDU 5-25: 30 oz., seems to have CA and/or image issues above 20x (but that may not matter much), simple 0.2 MRAD cross reticle, rotating objective

So, is the Vudu the best answer? After typing this out, perhaps the Trijicon is a better option.

 

[deersniper]

Nx8 2.5-20 is also a good choice a little more $$

 

[ormandj]

Nx8 2.5-20 is also a good choice a little more $$

I got a chance to look through one of those and was very disappointed. It’s unbelievably finicky to get behind and use. I don’t know what you intend to use your rifle and scope for, but I would hard pass on that option if you’re doing anything but perfectly positioned shooting.

 

[deersniper]

I got a chance to look through one of those and was very disappointed. It’s unbelievably finicky to get behind and use. I don’t know what you intend to use your rifle and scope for, but I would hard pass on that option if you’re doing anything but perfectly positioned shooting.

Lol I have like 3 of them they work great for me

 

[Birddog6424]

You're in luck if you want to like the Burris XTR3 18x. Its an excellent optic. As good or better than any of your other choices. Optically the MK5 is the closest competition. I also like the Vudu, its a nice design, but the glass is a little disappointing from 18x to 25x. The NX8, especially the 20x has too many issues.

The Burris has the best FOV of any of those.

 

[charnicus]

I’d try to pick up a Mk6 for $1200-$1400 with M5C2 turrets.

Also Bushnell DMR3 maybe as it exceeds your weight limit by a whole 3oz.

 

[Neurotic]

I’d try to pick up a Mk6 for $1200-$1400 with M5C2 turrets.

Also Bushnell DMR3 maybe as it exceeds your weight limit by a whole 3oz.

If I ease the weight limit, it's only another 2 ounces above the DMR3 to the XRS2 I already have....

 

[Neurotic]

You're in luck if you want to like the Burris XTR3 18x. Its an excellent optic. As good or better than any of your other choices. Optically the MK5 is the closest competition. I also like the Vudu, its a nice design, but the glass is a little disappointing from 18x to 25x. The NX8, especially the 20x has too many issues.

The Burris has the best FOV of any of those.

I certainly do want to like it... Do you know if the SCR2 reticle is sized the same for the 3.3-18 and 5.5-30? The Burris website is a bit confusing. Also, do you know if the 3.3-18 XTR3 has the 3-15 or 4-20 XTR2 sized SCR MIL reticle? Again, the Burris website kind of sucks. Thanks.

 

[Birddog6424]

I certainly do want to like it... Do you know if the SCR2 reticle is sized the same for the 3.3-18 and 5.5-30? The Burris website is a bit confusing. Also, do you know if the 3.3-18 XTR3 has the 3-15 or 4-20 XTR2 sized SCR MIL reticle? Again, the Burris website kind of sucks. Thanks.

The SCR2 is optimized for the 18x. So its a little thicker than the 30x version.

The SCR reticle is the same in the XTRII and XTRIII. I'm not aware of a reticle thickness difference between the 15x and 20x XTRII. I thought those two were the same, but I've never had the 15x. So the 18x should be the same as the 15/20x. The 25x and 30x should be the same. I think the website just shows one size rather than get into all the detail of various reticle thickness depending on magnifications and models. Its a can of worms to try to post them all.

If you want a thicker reticle, the SCR is thicker than the SCR2.

 

[Neurotic]

The SCR2 is optimized for the 18x. So its a little thicker than the 30x version.

The SCR reticle is the same in the XTRII and XTRIII. I'm not aware of a reticle thickness difference between the 15x and 20x XTRII. I thought those two were the same, but I've never had the 15x. So the 18x should be the same as the 15/20x. The 25x and 30x should be the same. I think the website just shows one size rather than get into all the detail of various reticle thickness depending on magnifications and models. Its a can of worms to try to post them all.

If you want a thicker reticle, the SCR is thicker than the SCR2.

For the SCR MIL they show 15x and >=20x versions. For the SCR2, they show a single drawing in mil twice and what looks like a SCR MOA drawing. The downloadable catalog shows the same. Confusing.

From the drawings that seem properly dimensioned, the center cross line thicknesses are (in mil)

SCR MIL 15x: 0.04
SCR MIL 20x: 0.03
SCR2 (all?): 0.02

I may need to call them...

 

[moosemeat]

Minox 5-25×56LR?
Never mind, out of budget and probably to small a field of view.

 

[Annex Defense]

I wanted to love the Vudu I had, but the CA was fierce. The form-factor was incredible, simple reticle, and I like the company.

I just listened to a podcast about how they are rebooting the brand after buying it away from L3 and refreshing the optic line, hopefully they can address some of the shortcomings.

 

[Neurotic]

I wanted to love the Vudu I had, but the CA was fierce. The form-factor was incredible, simple reticle, and I like the company.

I just listened to a podcast about how they are rebooting the brand after buying it away from L3 and refreshing the optic line, hopefully they can address some of the shortcomings.

Thanks. That's disappointing, but a trade-off I expected. Probably should pull the Vudu from my list...

 

[Neurotic]

So I did a thing...

3.3-18 XTR3 (30.75 oz with exposed windage turret cap) in a Sig Alpha3 mount (4.98 oz). Saved ~9 oz compared to the previous XRS2 setup.

 

[Neurotic]

Also, the manual had XTR3 SCR reticle info that the website is missing...

Aiming cross thicknesses:
SCR MIL XTR2 15x: 0.04
SCR MIL XTR3 18x, XTR2 20x & XTR2 25x: 0.03
SCR MIL XTR3 30x: 0.02
SCR2: 0.02

The non-cross thicknesses:
SCR MIL XTR3 18x: 0.04 for 0.2 mil marks, 0.05 remainder
SCR MIL XTR2 15x: 0.05
SCR MIL XTR3 30x: 0.03 for 0.2 mil marks, 0.035 remainder
SCR MIL XTR2 20x & XTR2 25x: SCR MIL XTR2 15x: 0.035
SCR2: 0.02

 

[Birddog6424]

Also, the manual had XTR3 SCR reticle info that the website is missing...

Aiming cross thicknesses:
SCR MIL XTR2 15x: 0.04
SCR MIL XTR3 18x, XTR2 20x & XTR2 25x: 0.03
SCR MIL XTR3 30x: 0.02
SCR2: 0.02

The non-cross thicknesses:
SCR MIL XTR3 18x: 0.04 for 0.2 mil marks, 0.05 remainder
SCR MIL XTR2 15x: 0.05
SCR MIL XTR3 30x: 0.03 for 0.2 mil marks, 0.035 remainder
SCR MIL XTR2 20x & XTR2 25x: SCR MIL XTR2 15x: 0.035
SCR2: 0.02

I had no idea it was in the manual. Thats great to know!

Grats on the new XTR3

 

[TOTS]

So I did a thing...

3.3-18 XTR3 (30.75 oz with exposed windage turret cap) in a Sig Alpha3 mount (4.98 oz). Saved ~9 oz compared to the previous XRS2 setup.

Nice! Let us know what you think compared to the XRS II.

 

[Neurotic]

Nice! Let us know what you think compared to the XRS II.

The XTR3 was warrantied for a focus issue, and I now have a Pro and 18x XTR3i. The newer ones didn't overlap with my time with the XRS2, but from recollection it's apparent the XRS2 is an older design. The XTR3s' had better color, contrast and brightness, but the XRS2 did a better job controlling CA. I also appreciate the lower minimum parallax of the XTR3s.