Leupold Micro reddot

bamaranger · February 7, 2025, 03:56 AM

So bamaboy, good lad that he is, gave me a Leupold Micro red dot for Christmas. Nice gift. As my Glock 20/10mm, is already wearing a JP dot and sports and extended barrel and is performing satisfactorily, I had to put the Microdot on another Glock pistol. I was reluctant to place it on the G17 ( which I carry a good bit) 'till I got familiar with the system, so I put the thing on the Glock 21/.45. I've shot and handled it enough now to form an opinion. I like it.

It looks a bit goofy, the battery compartment hanging off the rear of the slide. The window is small, 10mm. In simple handling of the sight, unmounted, I figured I would never find the dot in the window. Not so. Once on the gun, the dot appears fairly quickly in the window if my presentation is solid. You can even shoot without using the dot, say inside 30 ft or so, buy sighting through the window to the front sight like an aperture/peep on a rifle. When doing so, my shots come in a bit high, but would still be good on a torso sized target.

In deliberate shooting on paper or steel to 50+yds, I can do far better with the dot than the traditional sights, the front sight now being a bit hard for my 67 yr old eyes to see. I'm not quite as fast up close as I'm still learning the system and my presentation to the dot is still forming, but I'm getting there.

I was concerned the device would not stay secure, but with 100 rds or so of shooting, it has remained solid. The adjustment/zero screws seemed very loose, but zero has held as well. I had the unit mounted, and with about 5 shots, zeroed at 20 yds off the bench. It has a "sleep mode", so the unit is not lit all the time, but shakes awake. I cannot recall battery life but it is very good, much better than the budget dots on my AR rifles.

Drawbacks? Well it was a gift but I think they are overpriced, but I think everything is overpriced these days. Bamaboy claims he got a racehorse deal , and I appreciate it. Additionally, the unit does not self adjust for brightness. Not a problem on the range or for casual shooting, but if the dot is cranked way up (or down), it stays there, till you adjust it otherwise. That creates potential visibility problems indoors to outdoors, lit areas to darkness and so forth. With the dot cranked up for outdoors daylight, it will be too bright that night or even possibly in a dim indoor setting. Visa-versa in darkness to bright. That is a bit much to remember for a carry gun, for me anyhow. On a match/range piece or even on a hunting gun, not so much of a problem. Easy mount and dismount, it would be a simple (but expensive) way to experience and experiment with the red dot world.

I still like it. If the JP dot on the Glock 20 craps out, I may buy one for it as well.

seanc · February 10, 2025, 04:39 PM

I had one on a Glock 30S. I agree with everything you report. I thought it was the greatest sight ever. And then the front lens detached. I sent it in to Leupold and they quickly sent a replacement. A couple months later, same issue. I sent it back to Leupold and requested a full refund. To their credit, they gave me a full refund with no argument. I would say I went through about 1,500 rounds through the 1st and about 700 through the 2nd sight before they broke. This is my carry gun. It wasn't abused or dropped. Only shooting standard 200 grain ammo, not +P. If anything, my reloads are on the light side.

bamaranger · February 11, 2025, 12:59 AM

Sorry to hear about your Micro problems. Glad to hear Leupold came through with your refund. Hope my Micro doesn't crap out. Hearing your account makes me think that putting one on a G20 is likely not a good idea due to high slide velocity.

My round count is not nearly as high as yours......yet. The Micro made a big splash when it was released, I'm going to research how it's perceived at present. Hard to believe they'd release a product that would not retain it's lenses!!!!!!!!!!!!

My dealings with Leupold have always been satisfactory, but there are many folks who remark they are not the company they used to be. No gloss 'scopes, replacement of 'scopes rather than repair and dropping some of their old custom reticles has not set well with some customers.

Hopefully I will not have to deal with them and my new dot.

February 7, 2025, 03:56 AM	#1
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,788	Leupold Micro reddot So bamaboy, good lad that he is, gave me a Leupold Micro red dot for Christmas. Nice gift. As my Glock 20/10mm, is already wearing a JP dot and sports and extended barrel and is performing satisfactorily, I had to put the Microdot on another Glock pistol. I was reluctant to place it on the G17 ( which I carry a good bit) 'till I got familiar with the system, so I put the thing on the Glock 21/.45. I've shot and handled it enough now to form an opinion. I like it. It looks a bit goofy, the battery compartment hanging off the rear of the slide. The window is small, 10mm. In simple handling of the sight, unmounted, I figured I would never find the dot in the window. Not so. Once on the gun, the dot appears fairly quickly in the window if my presentation is solid. You can even shoot without using the dot, say inside 30 ft or so, buy sighting through the window to the front sight like an aperture/peep on a rifle. When doing so, my shots come in a bit high, but would still be good on a torso sized target. In deliberate shooting on paper or steel to 50+yds, I can do far better with the dot than the traditional sights, the front sight now being a bit hard for my 67 yr old eyes to see. I'm not quite as fast up close as I'm still learning the system and my presentation to the dot is still forming, but I'm getting there. I was concerned the device would not stay secure, but with 100 rds or so of shooting, it has remained solid. The adjustment/zero screws seemed very loose, but zero has held as well. I had the unit mounted, and with about 5 shots, zeroed at 20 yds off the bench. It has a "sleep mode", so the unit is not lit all the time, but shakes awake. I cannot recall battery life but it is very good, much better than the budget dots on my AR rifles. Drawbacks? Well it was a gift but I think they are overpriced, but I think everything is overpriced these days. Bamaboy claims he got a racehorse deal , and I appreciate it. Additionally, the unit does not self adjust for brightness. Not a problem on the range or for casual shooting, but if the dot is cranked way up (or down), it stays there, till you adjust it otherwise. That creates potential visibility problems indoors to outdoors, lit areas to darkness and so forth. With the dot cranked up for outdoors daylight, it will be too bright that night or even possibly in a dim indoor setting. Visa-versa in darkness to bright. That is a bit much to remember for a carry gun, for me anyhow. On a match/range piece or even on a hunting gun, not so much of a problem. Easy mount and dismount, it would be a simple (but expensive) way to experience and experiment with the red dot world. I still like it. If the JP dot on the Glock 20 craps out, I may buy one for it as well.

February 11, 2025, 12:59 AM	#3
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,788	interesting Sorry to hear about your Micro problems. Glad to hear Leupold came through with your refund. Hope my Micro doesn't crap out. Hearing your account makes me think that putting one on a G20 is likely not a good idea due to high slide velocity. My round count is not nearly as high as yours......yet. The Micro made a big splash when it was released, I'm going to research how it's perceived at present. Hard to believe they'd release a product that would not retain it's lenses!!!!!!!!!!!! My dealings with Leupold have always been satisfactory, but there are many folks who remark they are not the company they used to be. No gloss 'scopes, replacement of 'scopes rather than repair and dropping some of their old custom reticles has not set well with some customers. Hopefully I will not have to deal with them and my new dot.

February 10, 2025, 04:39 PM	#2
seanc Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 1998 Posts: 624	I had one on a Glock 30S. I agree with everything you report. I thought it was the greatest sight ever. And then the front lens detached. I sent it in to Leupold and they quickly sent a replacement. A couple months later, same issue. I sent it back to Leupold and requested a full refund. To their credit, they gave me a full refund with no argument. I would say I went through about 1,500 rounds through the 1st and about 700 through the 2nd sight before they broke. This is my carry gun. It wasn't abused or dropped. Only shooting standard 200 grain ammo, not +P. If anything, my reloads are on the light side.