When I needed a compact red dot sight for my pistol, I knew I could never go wrong with Trijicon and Leupold.
Unfortunately, at the time, I only had room for one; either the Trijicon SRO and the Leupold Deltapoint Pro.
If you’ve been in this scenario, you’ve come to the right place!
In this review, I’ll discuss both optics’ pros and cons, size and weight, durability, glass, reticle, and battery longevity.
I’ll also give a verdict on which one is better and suggest one based on your needs.
Let’s begin this Trijicon SRO vs Deltapoint Pro review!
Contents
Trijicon SRO Overview
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The Trijicon SRO is a sight made with 7075 T6 durable construction, making it lightweight and sturdy at the same time.
However, I noticed it doesn’t have the same rugged rating as the RMR, which can be off-putting if you’re looking for an ultra-rugged setup.
The Trijicon SRO also has a wide field of view, although it’s circular. My target tracking with the red dot reticle has been made easier because of it!
Another similarity that the Trijicon SRO optic has with the RMR is the small mount footprint, making it compatible with many slides and optic mounts.
However, one downside is the front extension point on the optic, which interfered with the ejection port on some of my pistols.
The Trijicon SRO has top-loading battery access, which helps with usability, ensuring you don’t have to remove the optic itself to replace it.
Furthermore, the Trijicon SRO also has brightness adjustment features.
It features lock-out and lock-in modes to make accidental adjustments near impossible on auto and manual modes.
There are 6 daylight and 2 night vision settings here, too!
- Access on the top for battery loading
- RMR-like mounting footprint with wide compatibility
- More affordable
- Fast dot tracking reticle
- Wide field of view
- Many brightness and night vision settings
- Non-duty grade reticle, unlike the RMR
- Possible front ejection issues with the front extension
Leupold Deltapoint Pro Overview
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The Leupold Deltapoint Pro is also durable, on the same level as the RMR. It has a protective shield or lens hood visible on the outer housing.
However, if you drop optics like this with it hitting the ground first, expect at least some damage to be done.
The lens on this Deltapoint Pro is fog proof, too, which helped me when shooting in more humid environments.
Compared to other optics, the Leupold Deltapoint Pro has a wide field of view because of the large and wide “loaf-shaped” window.
The top-loading battery hatch is a big help to the Leupold DPP because it only has around 1,000 hours of battery life on average.
However, it does have a battery-saving feature called MST (Motion Sensor Technology.
This technology causes the dot to turn off when no motion is detected. I’ve had my idle moments, and this is a very convenient feature to have!
At least you won’t have to remove the optics to get to the battery, which is fine!
The Leupold Deltapoint Pro includes brightness control, which has 10 settings and can be cycled through with one simple button.
The brightness control on the Leupold DPP also makes the dot flash five times when you’ve cycled through all settings to let you know, which is a nice touch.
- 6 MOA model available
- Access to the battery port on top
- Fogproof
- Rugged
- Lens hood to put less stress on the main frame
- Only 1,000 hours of battery longevity
- The reticle looks a bit more orange than red at times
Trijicon SRO vs Deltapoint Pro: Side-By-Side Comparison
Now that I’ve discussed the Trijicon SRO and Leupold Deltapoint Pro separately, it’s time to compare both head-to-head when it comes to these categories.
Size and Weight
Both optics are COMPACT and can be mounted easily on any of my pistols.
They have different shapes, as the Trijicon SRO is circular, and the Leupold DPP is “loaf shaped.”
However, some pistols may encounter problems with the extended front of the Trijicon SRO.
In my experience, the ejection port got covered by the front portion of the Trijicon SRO. The Leupold DPP doesn’t have this issue.
Winner: Leupold Deltapoint Pro
Durability
While both optics have good ratings in this category, the Leupold DPP edges the Trijicon SRO out in this category.
It’s on the level of the more expensive Trijicon offering, the RMR.
While the SRO is made of the same material, it doesn’t have the same rating.
Don’t expect the same performance when the manufacturer doesn’t put the same rating.
The DPP also has a lens housing which helps reduce the stress on the main frame of the optic if you drop it, which I like!
Winner: Leupold Deltapoint Pro
Glass Clarity
I’d say the glass clarity on both is decent.
However, they are both open emitter optics, which means dust and debris CAN enter and obscure the LED emitter screen.
True enough, I’ve had both glasses look quite dusty after leaving them out for a while.
The lens and glass won’t be affected if mainly used indoors, but outdoors in the sun, and windy conditions can be tricky.
Just make sure to clean either regularly!
The brightness settings on both also affect the lens clarity. There are 10 options on the DPP, making seeing the dot in a pistol shooting out in the sun easier.
However, the SRO has 6 brightness and 2 night vision settings, adding a layer of flexibility that the Deltapoint Pro can’t match.
Winner: Tie
Reticle
The Trijicon SRO and the DPP have different MOA dot offerings.
The SRO has 1 MOA, 2.5 MOA, and 5 MOA options, while the DPP has 2.5 MOA and 6 MOA options.
If you prefer the 2.5 MOA, then both will suit you well.
However, if you need a 1 or 5 MOA dot, then go for the SRO. If you need a 6 MOA, then go for the DPP.
Since the Trijicon SRO has an extra dot MOA option, it gets a slight edge here.
Winner: Trijicon SRO
PRO TIP: People with astigmatism may need vision correction to see a crisp dot in any optic, regardless of how sharp it may be.
Battery Life
There’s a CLEAR winner in this category, which is the SRO.
The battery can last up to three years, with automatic and manual LED brightness adjustments.
The DPP only has 1,000 hours of battery, which is short.
Even though it does have a motion-sensing battery-saving technology for when it doesn’t detect motion, the overall hours are still shorter than that of the SRO.
Winner: Trijicon SRO
Frequently Asked Questions
After seeing the head-to-head comparison for both optics, you might still have some questions about which optic is better on your guns or which model is better.
I’ve answered the most commonly asked questions below.
What is Considered “Good” Battery Life for Red Dots?
Good battery life depends on what brightness on the dot you use them on.
In my opinion, for medium brightness, 10,000 hours is considered good. On lower settings, 30,000 or more is decent.
Which is Better, Trijicon RMR or SRO?
I would say the RMR is the better optic because it’s more rugged, has longer battery longevity, is cheaper, and still has a good field of view.
However, if you value a bigger lens, get the SRO.
Where is Leupold Deltapoint Pro Made?
The Leupold Deltapoint Pro models are made in the USA, specifically in Beaverton, Oregon.
Rest assured that these red dot sights are made by American hands and are of top quality.
My Final Verdict: Which is Better?
The SRO lasts longer, is clearer, and has better brightness options than the Leupold Deltapoint Pro.
Therefore, I’d recommend the SRO over the Leupold Deltapoint Pro if you’re planning to get any of these optics.
While the Leupold Deltapoint Pro is a great choice for its ruggedness and size/weight, the DPP doesn’t match up to the SRO in the ways that matter to me.
