Topped with the Leupold DPP, the Marlin 1984 SBL is one excellent way to spend a day at the range prepiarng for next fall. (Photo provided by Author)
January 04, 2025
By Colton Bagnoli
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Leupold released the first DeltaPoint Pro red dot sight in 2016 as their answer to the growing demand for red dot pistol sights. The defensive pistol market has been going strong for the reflex sight, with nearly every major pistol manufacturer making red dot ready pistols with Leupold DeltaPoint Pro plates included for mounting. Aside from pistols, this fantastic sight has many more applications for hunting, sport shooting and more, making it one of the most versatile red dots available today.
For many hunters and sport shooters, the red dot optics have been known for a limited application on pistols and AR15-style rifles. Most have not experienced the vast use of a red dot optic on a shotgun, levergun and muzzleloader taking the shooting experience to a whole new level. While iron sights are great, the speed and accuracy gained from a red dot on every one of these weapon types is unmatched.
Shotguns When it comes to tactical and hunting shotguns, there is no better single optic than a red dot sight mounted atop a pic rail for rapid target acquisitions on the range or in the field. When mounted properly and coupled with some training, the increased accuracy from a red dot optic allows for not only pinpoint accuracy at normal distances but also allows for increased accuracy at long ranges normally outside of iron sight ranges or front beads. The added speed and accuracy pays off huge on spring gobblers and coyotes that hold up longer distances due to years of savvy senses telling them to hold back from the enticing call ahead.
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Tristar's Viper G2 Camo Turkey shotgun is a great platform to utilize Leupold's Delta Point Pro for not only Turkey, but predator calling for coyotes, fox and bobcat. The semi-auto shotgun reliably feeds 2 3/4 and 3" Hornady 's Varmint Express and makes for a deadly combination on fur. (Photo provided by Author)For the self-defense shotgunner with a Remington 870 by the bedside, mounting a DeltaPoint Pro red dot sight helps with low-light shooting as you are no longer searching for a bead or front sight. The large 1’ wide screen with red dot center takes the guesswork out of aiming in the dark. Simply rack, shoulder, place the dot and shoot. This makes home defense safer for you and your loved ones.
Aside from self-defense, turkey hunting and predator hunting , a red dot can also work very well on shotguns for wingshooters alike. The biggest challenge when shooting any moving target is not burying your face down on the stock and keeping more of a natural heads-up presentation. I have found the red dot optics aid in quicker target acquisition that gets me in front of birds quicker than with traditional bead-style shooting down the barrel. Not to mention the quick shots presented by a coyote that pops out of the sagebrush at 45 yards at a full sprint.
Leverguns The modern levergun resurgence has taken off in recent years with the recent purchase by Ruger, acquiring Marlin and new production processes offering exceptional rifles for both “traditionalists” and “modern” levergun fans. The latest version released from Marlin was the 1894 SBL offered in .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum with custom features, including a full-length Picatinny rail atop the receiver for mounting optics. This is where the DeltaPoint Pro really is at home and just takes the fun aspect to the next level. All the same reasons we have mentioned before, just on a different platform. Screw on a suppressor, and now you have a really fun plinker setup for hours of shooting while serving as an excellent hog, deer or even treed bear and mountain lion rifle, as the lever-action 30-30 Winchester has long been home base for houndsmen across the country.
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The cool factor of a Lever action rifle is taken to new heights with the addition of a red dot sight. This Marlin 1894 SBL in 357 Magnum is an absolute joy to shoot with the Delta Point Pro, making accurate and fast shots on small targets a breeze, that would normally be difficult with large iron sights. (Photo provided by Author) With new technology in bullet design and rifle manufacturing processes, lever guns are the ultimate in utilitarian rifles for the avid outdoorsman looking for a handy truck rifle capable of putting down game quickly and efficiently. While many will argue an LVPO offers a better magnified view for distance, I have yet to miss a 10” inch steel plate inside 150 yards with a simple red dot and have much faster follow-up shots if needed. Plus, I can watch the bullet impact through recoil with a red dot.
Modern Muzzleloaders CVA Paramount Accura LR-X topped with a Leupold Delta Point Pro is an ideal duo for hunting with a muzzle loader when magnified optics are not an option. This rifle paired with Hornady's 45cal Bore Driver ELDX and Blackhorn 209 makes for an accurate setup capable of shots out to 200yds with minimal effort. The red dot sight covers less of the animal, making for much higher accuracy potential with the proper zero and practice. (Photo provided by Author)Many states have allowed modern muzzleloaders to be used in special seasons and areas to reduce hazards commonly associated with centerfire cartridges. One of the caveats is many states restricting the use of magnified optics on muzzleloaders, leaving non-magnified red dots and iron sights on the table. I’m here to tell you, a Leupold DeltaPoint Pro on top of a modern smokepole is a deadly combination inside 150 yards with minimal practice. Once you get comfortable shooting without magnification, the ability to shoot accurately between 100-200 yards with a flat-shooting 45 or 50 cal muzzleloader almost feels like cheating.
On a Centerfire Rifle Scope? Yes! The Author's favorite .308 Win rifle paired with a Leupold MK4HD and Delta Point Pro demonstrates the proper mounting of a red dot to help aid in target acquisition at extended distances. Starting with a red dot optic on a match or hunting rifle helps the shooter get the rifle pointed in the right direction before locating the target or animal in the rifle scope. (Photo provided by Author) We have all been in the scenario where we glass up a shooter buck or bull in our binoculars and frantically try to locate the animal in our rifle scope. Finding the animal by looking over the rifle scope as an aiming reference is a great way to get in the general area, then move down to the optic to get the reticle on hair. This is another great place for the dynamic sight to be mounted for quicker referencing of an animal's location by placing the red dot on the location the animal was last seen and then finding it in the rifle scope. When set up properly, this method gets you on target much quicker than searching through the eye piece. Competitive shooters have really brought this method to the forefront of modern precision shooting by zeroing their red dots on targets at 400 yards while the rifle is sandbagged with the reticle on target.
22 Trainer Rifle The Author's 8 year old son can really run this Volquartsen 22LR quickly and accurately at 35yds while training with dad in the front yard. The red dot sight really shortens the learning curve for teaching new shooters how to aim properly and leads easily into training with a magnified optic. (Photo provided by Author) When introducing kids to shooting rimfire rifles, a common starting point is iron sights; after all, that's the way we were taught! While learning to use iron sights may be a rite of passage to some, keeping kids interested in shooting is the goal, and hitting targets keeps them engaged and having fun. Enter the DeltaPoint Pro. The addition of a red dot sight to a rimfire rifle allows young shooters an easier way to locate the target, aim and fire to start learning the skills faster. When I started teaching my kids to shoot a .22lr, the red dot sight was the easy button for getting more hits on targets and keeping them enjoying the competitive nature that plinking 22’s tends to bring out the joy in all of us. The use of iron sights is still implemented in my teaching, but after the fun part is brought to light via the DeltaPoint Pro.
The Leupold DeltaPoint Pro is one of the most versatile optics you can add to your collection with its endless uses for the modern shooter. complementary on just about every shooting system from pistols and revolvers to leverguns and precision rifles, the DeltaPoint Pro will make you a more successful shooter in any shooting application due to its quicker target acquisition and pinpoint aiming reference. Add one to your favorite firearm for hunting and see what you have been missing.
