The problem with most reflex or red dot sights is the milling that needs to be done for older models. Now, many manufacturers sell pistols ready to accept a wide variety of red dots. Leupold launches a reflex sight ready to go, even if your slide is not milled.
The Leupold Delta Point Micro is a lightweight aluminum no fuss optic. One of the key features for the Micro is it’s a direct replacement for rear sights. It doesn’t possess any sharp edges to snag while on the draw and is compact for smaller pistols. All great features, not to mention it is waterproof, fogproof and guaranteed for life.
Behold, for the New Year I give you hope for those non-milled pistols and an in-depth look at the newest reflex sight from Leupold.
Note: The Leupold Delta Point Micro is initially available for GLOCK non-MOS and Smith & Wesson M&P models. This Micro was installed on a GLOCK GEN 3 G17.
I am not a gunsmith, but I am a rebel. Leupold recommends that the Delta Point Micro be installed by a qualified gunsmith, but who has time to mess with that? I have a sight pusher and the will to succeed.
Once I got the sight pushed through the installation was KJ proof. The kit comes with two, press-fit Torx screws with a dovetail to mount the Delta Point Micro to. Once installed, I easily aligned the middle of the Micro to the front sight. After tightening the Torx screws to a 25-inch pounds of torque the Micro is ready for the range.
Note: I initially attempted to mount this sight to a G19 with a Tyrant Designs backplate. The backplate was slightly extended in the back, which caused the reflex sight to cant. Only attach the Micro to backplates that are flush with the rear of the slide.
Overall Ease of Installation: 9/10
The windage and elevation adjustments are located on the left side of the sight. Adjusting the sight is simple. Before headed out, I attempted to bore sight the optic, lining up the 3 MOA red dot with my front sight. This put me pretty dang close when I fine-tuned the optic on the range. The Delta Point Micro has eight brightness settings, which was nice give my conditions on sight-in day. The cloudy conditions demanded a brighter setting. During sunny days, I’d lower the power.
One of the great things about the Micro is the battery life. At 3.5 years, I feel comfortable letting the optic run. The toolless battery change compartment on the back is easy to use, and best of all you don’t need to take the optic off the slide to change.
Note: Set an alarm every other year on your birthday to change the batteries out. Although it can run on level 4 for 3.5 years doesn’t mean you accidently forget it’s on a level eight for a few months. You should be checking your brightness levels often anyways.
Sight-In Process: 9/10
We got Ryan on the range running an outside the waistband holster from Blackhawk. It should be mentioned that this was his personal holster. I ran off and forgot my G17 holster at the house. Here is what I noticed from his draw stroke, and his effectiveness down range.
Leupold looked at every small detail with the Delta Point Micro. Not once, did Ryan catch the optic on the fabric of his shirt. This is a massive deal to the guys running this dot on their carry guns. I appreciate the fact that Leupold also made this optic slim. We didn’t have any issues coming up on target and picking up the red dot.
We’ve become accustomed to large windows to view our red dots, but Leupold went the opposite way. My only concern with the smaller window is getting sucked into the optic. If a threat is down range, I don’t want to be so involved with the optic that I lose my focus.
Note: Practice, Practice, Practice. I’ve been dry-firing the optic out of a holster for the past few days with no issues. After a couple hundred dry fires with movement, I’m becoming more confident acquiring the red dot. Under duress, with enough practice, getting sucked in should be less of a problem.
Draw Stroke/Shooting: 8/10
It’s early. I’m anxious to see how it performs down the line. The south is a hot, muggy mess. In my findings in a less-than-friendly environment to lenses, I’ve been pleased to see no fogging on the glass and zero moisture under the hood.
Durability: 8/10
Well done Leupold. This is a big hit so far for those guys that bought early versions of pistols that lack a milled slide. If you own a Shield, G43X, G48, M&P Compact this optic is slim and sturdy.
So far, the tests have been pretty basic, but the Delta Point Micro is slim and fits a wide range of holsters.
The battery compartment of the optic is initially shocking to see. I wondered if it would be cumbersome to have a tail on my firearm. I didn’t notice it in the least. With a correct draw stroke, the battery compartment off the back holds no bearing on how the optic performed.
One drawback that I noticed was the fact that if you want to do any maintenance on your firearm that requires the firing pin to be removed the sight must come off the gun. Any time I take a sight off a gun I reconfirm zero. This is a slight concern since I rarely completely disassemble my firearms.
It’s a great, sleek reflex sight that give us non-millers hope. I’m a little shocked by the price tag, but it’s a fair price if you think about it. Sending your slide in to have milled and purchasing a red dot runs you far more than the price of the optic. At $399, the Leupold Delta Point Micro falls in line with other red dots and reflex sights.
Overall: 8/10
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