By Terry Houin
I’ve had an EOTech on at least one of my combat rifles since the early 2000’s, and once I retired, I carried that tradition into my private stash of guns. I’ve put the EOTech Holographic sights through the wringer in more ways than one. Yes, you can skydive with them and have a harder than anticipated landing and they hold zero and work. Or you beat them off the side of a ship while you climb a rope ladder up the side and have complete confidence the saltwater and impacts will have little effect on their operational capabilities.
So, here’s a rundown of what products I currently have set up for EDC through hitting targets out to a mile. My Quiver — we’ll start up close and work our way out.
Uncle T’s EOTech Quiver
First up is the EOTech EFLX mini reflex sight. This is a classic-style sight with a similar look and function that most shooters are familiar with. Here’s what I like about it. It starts with a lower profile, making concealed carry easier with less chances of the sight catching on clothing during a draw. Relatively large window for its size of 1.9×1.2 x1 inches (length-width-height) with a 3 or 6 MOA dot and eight daylight and one night vision brightness settings. Add to that a long battery life of about 20,000 hours and the top load battery, eliminating taking your sight off like some competitors still have. All this and a brand like EOTech with a reputation for top quality is why this sight will be riding in my truck daily.
Next up is the classic, which EOTech made their name on, the Holographic Weapons Sight (HWP). I’ve had one variation or another of the XPS or EXPS mounted on my combat weapon or class gun for a couple decades. Paired up with the G33 3x Magnifier, you have a flexible system for up close and personal work on NODS as well as the option to stretch it out a bit when the occasion presents itself. My current setup is the EXPS3 2 dot reticle and the G33 Magnifier, both of which are mounted on Unity Tactical FAST mounts.
Going Long
From in-your-face shooting with the EFLX and XPS, we next stretch it out with a RECCE rifle setup, and for me that currently includes the VUDU 1-10x FFP riflescope with the LE-5 reticle. With this optic on my 16-inch 6ARC SOLGW M89 rifle, I can cover the bases up close on 1x and then quickly roll over to 10x and lock in for those extended shots at 500+ yards. This optic does bounce around from rifle to rifle, which is why I have it mounted in a Reptilia AUS mount to make that process a lot easier.
Why I love this scope, let me tell you the ways. First, it’s beefy; the 34mm tube has a lot of room for elevation internally, and it’s built to take abuse. Next is the quality glass and illuminated LE-5 reticle for quick follow-up shots in a variety of conditions. The low-profile turrets allow me to run an EFLX at the 12’ o’clock or at a 45 when needed. One unique feature, at least on my reticle, is the XPS style-reticle that overlays the graduated Christmas tree-style reticle, so at 1x it looks like I’m shooting my XPS HWS, and as I crank up the magnification that circle goes away and I’m looking at my normal reticle.
For my hunting and long-range setup, I still love the VUDU 5-25x scope. It’s mounted on my 16-inch 6.5 CM Fix and has been the go-to for my whitetail hunting this year, along with my loaner when I take kids out to hunt. Its compact size and excellent glass with the illuminated reticle make it a perfect pairing for compact rifles.
And last but certainly not least, the outlier that doesn’t really fit in any traditional category is the VUDU 3-9×32 SFP . I say it’s different for a few reasons. First, the compact size gives it the appearance of a red-dot sight and not a compact 3-9x little powerhouse. It has an integrated base that’s compatible with mini-ACOG, so you don’t need separate rings or mounts. And finally, the compact size still allows you to shoot the 3x with eyes wide open for close target engagements; most 3-9x scopes are twice the size. Add an EFLX on top and you have an all-around SBR/truck gun setup.
Uncle T’s Take
For EOTech, it’s quite simple – they work! And if you do happen to break one — I’ve managed to shorten a few lifecycles over the years — they have excellent customer service, but make sure you have a good story.
My Recommendations:
EFLX for your EDC pistol — they do have the Leupold Delta Point Pro footprint, so you’ll need the appropriate slide cut or adapter plate.
SBR/Carbine — the XPS and G33 are a solid lineup that will do everything you want.
For hunting or shooting under 500 yards, the VUDU 1-10x FFP is solid; for longer ranges or more precision, the VUDU 5-25x FFP is what’s on my rifle.
If you want to get a little out of the box for your truck gun or SBR, give the VUDU 3-9x SFP a look.
