Editor’s Note: We recently ran a story detailing a full range session with the new Marlin 1895 SBL. For that test, the author mounted a Vudu 1-6x24mm FFP Grey riflescope. Now we present some further coverage on dialing in your lever-action rifle optics and running the Vudu 1-6X.
Testing the Vudu 1-6x24mm FFP Grey
Despite the excellent ghost ring and high-visibility front-sight arrangement on the rifle, I wanted to put a fast-handling optic on the 1895 SBL to aid my aging eyes and do justice to this masterpiece of a rifle. Since I was gearing this rifle up more for protection against large and dangerous critters than for hunting, and since .45-70 has a limited range anyway, I wanted an optic ideal for short to medium distances.
That’s when I turned to the folks at EOTech, and they helped me out with the superb Vudu 1-6x24mm FFP Grey for this review. I thought it would match up nicely with the Marlin’s gray laminate stock, though it’s offered in black as well. The Vudu 1-6X is a variable-zoom scope that offers two different reticles depending on the zoom level. Those reticles can be illuminated in low light with the simple press of a button. Powered by a 2032 battery, the scope offers 10 brightness levels for the illuminated reticles, and it includes an automatic shutdown after two hours to preserve battery life.
Mounting the Riflescope
I naturally had to remove the ghost ring at the rear to mount the Vudu 1-6X. Even with that, there’s a small hump at the rear of the Picatinny rail that required a little extra clearance from the optic. It took a little experimenting to find the right set of rings to clear that hump and still keep the scope as low as possible. One set of medium-height rings with a center scope height of 1 inch put the ocular bell right against the Picatinny rail. I wasn’t comfortable with that, so I landed on a set of Warne’s excellent 7215M (High) Mountain Tech rings for a 30mm tube.
There are three different reticle specifications available for the Vudu. I received the SR-1 model, which offers a 0.2 milliradian (MRAD) adjustment per click with 15 MRADs of adjustment per dial rotation. Total travel for elevation is 29 MRAD with 23 MRAD total travel for windage. After adjustments are made, the turrets can be re-indexed for zero for fast and easy recollection. Ringing in at an MSRP of $1,399, the Vudu 1-6x24mm is fog-, shock- and water-resistant and features anti-reflective coatings that provide absolutely exceptional clarity when you peek through the lens. The scope comes with a throw lever, making zooming quick and painless. It also includes a battery in the box, making it trail- or range-ready.
For more info, please visit eotechinc.com.
Riflescope Features
- Tube made from single piece of aircraft-grade aluminum
- Fog resistant
- Shock resistant
- Water resistant
- Anti-reflective lenses
Vudu 1-6×24 FFP Grey Specs
- Overall Length: 10.63 inches
- Overall Weight: 20.1 ounces
- Magnification: 1-6X
- Tube Diameter: 30mm
- Objective Diameter: 24mm
- Power Source: CR2032
- Eye Relief: 1X (3.27-3.94 inches), 6X (3.23-3.94 inches)
- Field of View: 1X (102.4 feet), 6X (16.7 feet)
- MSRP: $1,399
This story originally ran in the Summer 2022 issue of American Frontiersman. Read more great stories and get your copy today at OutdoorGroupStore.com.
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