Red dot showdown: Leupold Delta Point Pro vs Trijicon RMR

So you made the decision to put a red dot on your handgun. Maybe for a shooting competition or for fun. When it comes to red dots, Leupold and Trijicon make some of the best – they’re what I prefer – but how should you choose between them? For this review, I’ll look at the Leupold Delta Point Pro and the Trijicon RMR to find out which is best if you’re still trying to decide.

Durability

Obviously the red dot you choose needs to be dependable. You wouldn’t want to waste time and money on something that only works most of the time. Fortunately, both items fair pretty evenly in this department. The Trijicon RMR is at the top of the proverbial micro red dot pile when we are talking about dependability. Trijicon is no stranger to making “bomb proof” optics and they have a longer MRD track record. They’re both designed with 100 percent water- and fog-proof with rugged aluminum housing. However, the average user won’t abuse either of these red dots enough to make them quit.

Battery life

Both the DPP and the RMR are powered by batteries with the exception of a few RMR that use ambient light. The Trijicon RMR has a battery life of over 4 years if left on continuously, which is great because changing batteries is a real pain. The battery is stored underneath the unit which means you need to remove the two loctited screws and physically remove the dot from the slide. This leaves potential to strip your screws and the need to re-zero after changing the battery.

The Trijicon RMR is at the top of the proverbial micro red dot pile when we are talking about dependability. (Photo: Ben Brown/Guns.com)

The Leupold DPP has a feature called Motion Sensor Technology. This deactivates the dot after 5 minutes of inactivity but will turn back on as soon as it senses movement. (Photo: Ben Brown/Guns.com)

The Leupold DPP has a feature called Motion Sensor Technology. This deactivates the dot after 5 minutes of inactivity but will turn back on as soon as it senses movement. This saves battery life and also makes it difficult to gauge remaining battery life. If you want to be on the safe side and change the batteries frequently it is easy to do so. The battery compartment is on top of the dot so you do not need to remove it from the slide.

Dot size

The size of the dot in the window is a specification I am really particular on. It can’t be too small or too big. Finer dots make longer shots a bit easier and bigger dots are fast but obscure targets at distance. One advantage of both the RMR and DPP is that you can adjust the brightness of the dot if you really need to fine tune it.

The RMR comes in a variety of models with dots ranging from 1-13 MOA. The dots are typically very clean with minimal bursting. (Photo: Ben Brown/Guns.com)

The RMR comes in a variety of models with dots ranging from 1-13 MOA. The dots are typically very clean with minimal bursting. The glass has blue/green tint, which some find distracting.

One advantage of both the RMR and DPP is that you can adjust the brightness of the dot if you really need to fine tune it. (Photo: Ben Brown/Guns.com)

DPPs have two options for dots. The most common is a very crisp 2.5 MOA dot and the other is 7.5 MOA triangle. Where the DPP is lacking on dot options it makes up in glass clarity and field of view. Compared to other MRDs on the market the Delta Point Pro has a generous field of view which is a very attractive trait when

Price

Both of these price points are probably going to be as much if not more than the cost of the gun you plan to put them on. In my mind this is to be expected. When we are choosing good glass for a rifle, it is not uncommon to have the glass cost as much as the gun. Why should your optic on your concealed carry gun or competition gun be any different? The Leupold DPP has a slightly more affordable price point at $519.99 MSRP compared to the Trijicon RMR, which ranges from $577 to $699 depending on the specific model.

Decision time

The RMR is hands down the current gold standard for many who want to push innovation and stay ahead of the curve. However, personally, I favor the DPP. The larger window is a big draw for me. It might be a total placebo effect in my mind, but time will tell.

Guns.com