Today reader Ian McKee, whose blog handle is 45Bravo, tells us about a dot sight he has mounted on his Glock 19 clone.
If you’d like to write a guest post for this blog, please email me at blogger@pyramydair.com.
Take it away, Ian
Looking at the UTG OP3 Micro SLS dot sight
by Ian McKee
UTG OP3 Micro SLS dot sight.
This report covers:
- True Strength
- Many different models
- Mounted and in action now
- Features
- Multi-platform compatibility
- What’s in the box
- My thoughts so far
- The future of this test
Optics on long guns are commonplace as they help increase your accuracy at longer distances. In recent years small dot sights have become more prevalent on handguns for both competition and personal protection purposes. Today we are looking at the UTG OP3 Micro SLS. It is part of their True Strength Platform of optics.
True Strength
As the name suggests, they aim to achieve the highest level of dependability in their optics. They achieve this through strengthened materials, meticulously placed reinforcements at key structural and adjustment points and nitrogen purging the internal assembly where applicable. True Strength (TS) Platform optics are reliably rainproof, fogproof and shockproof right out of the box.
Many different models
There are a few different models of the OP3 Micro Reflex Dot Sight (abbreviated as MRDS in their marketing material) But the one I am testing is the SLS model. I think it stands for Surrounding Light Sensor. It could also mean Side Load Sensor. (That makes more sense to me.)
That means it has a side-loading battery. The sight does not have to be removed from the gun in order to change the battery. And the last letter S stands for an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts the intensity of the dot to suit the lighting conditions. It also does have a manual mode and eight levels of brightness, all of the features are controlled with one button.
The SLS model uses a single CR1632-size coin battery. The battery life (if left on continuously) is rated for 15,000 hours at the middle intensity setting. So, if you set a calendar reminder on your smartphone or computer for 1 year to change the battery, you don’t have to remember to turn it off.
Mounted and in action now
This UTG dot sight is now mounted on my “Glock 19” clone pistol — the one I recently reported on. So far it has survived 400 rounds of 9mm ball ammo with no ill effects, nor vibrating loose on the mount. I fired 100 rounds in the first test before mounting the optic, and have since fired an additional 400 rounds through the gun with it mounted.
Normally, I am gentle with my optics, I protect them from accidental knocks and abuse. With this one it is going to be the opposite, I am using the sight as a convenient cocking handle to rack the slide.
While I don’t think it is intended for that use, it is just too convenient not to use it as a means of operation. Besides I have seen many optics on handguns being used for the same purpose, and we will give the True Strength name a real world long term test. [BB will comment here. The police department in my town carries Glocks with dot sights and I know for a fact they use them as cocking aids.]
And besides, UTG has a lifetime warranty.
Features
The Leapers website shows a LONG list of features. I will hit on the ones I deem most important — at least to me.
The sight is machined from 6061-T6 aluminum. It’s only 1.78-inches long x 1.14-inches wide x 1.39-inches tall (44mm x 29mm x 35mm) and only weighs 1.2oz. (34 grams).
It has an IPX7 waterproof rating. That means protected against water immersion for 30 minutes at a
depth of up to 1 meter.
The optics are multi-coated.
The optic will co-witness with most suppressor-height iron sights, meaning you can see the pistol’s sights and the dot in the lens at the same time, if that is your preference.
It has a laser-engraved tertiary (third) aiming point on the hood and rear part of the optic to aid in fast sight alignment. I find this feature useful when bringing the gun up to bear on the target as it really does aid in rapid sight alignment. It also gives you a centerline reference point of the optic that is always there even if the sight is off.
This is the sight picture with suppressor-height sights. Note the white line on the top of the optic hood. That’s the tertiary sight that helps get you on target quickly.
It has a 4 Minute Of Angle (MOA) dot, meaning the dot will appear to be 4 inches across at 100 yards, or 1 inch across at 25 yards. The adjustments are 1 MOA per click, meaning it adjusts ¼ inch per click at 25 yards. The adjustment tool is included with the sight, or a small regular screwdriver may be used.
Multi-platform compatibility
While this model does use a Trijicon RMR (Ruggedized Miniature Reflex) footprint, it is shipped with a low profile Picatinny base mount already installed. It’s ready to be mounted on any pistol or rifle that has a standard Picatinny rail.
If your airgun, pistol or rifle has a dovetail mount, don’t despair. UTG has you covered with their dovetail-to-Picatinny rail adapters that are extremely low profile and do not raise the optic any more than absolutely necessary.
The optional adapter insert adapts this mount to a dovetail mount.
If the gun you wish to mount it on has the RMR footprint, you can remove the Picatinny mount and mount the sight directly to the slide.
What’s in the box
You get the sight, and Picatinny mount, a battery, and a tool to adjust the windage and elevation.
There’s also a cleaning cloth for the lens, and a rubber protective cover for the optic if you wish to use it.
And finally in the kit are a pair of #6-32 and #4-40 Torx screws that are common on the mounts of most optic-ready systems. The appropriate wrenches for these fasteners are also in the kit, as well as a detailed instruction sheet.
This is what’s in the box, with an American dime for scale.
My thoughts so far
Overall I like the sight. It is small, lightweight and reasonably priced. So far it seems like it will live up to the True Strength reputation Leapers/UTG has proven with their other optics. And is a great value for the money spent.
The ambient light sensor seems to do an excellent job of choosing the best setting for the conditions you are in at the moment.
This UTG OP3 will continue to be abused on the sub-$200 “Glock 19” build I have written about earlier. I am halfway through a 1000-round torture test. Will the gun and optic make it with no cleaning or maintenance? We will see.
The future of this test
The ammo I am currently using is CCI Blazer brass 115 grain round nose like what is being sold by Pyramyd AIR. It is accurate in my handgun, and clean burning. And, with the buy 3 get the 4th one free, it is relatively inexpensive compared to other 9mm ball ammo.
After running 1000 rounds of the CCi Blazer brass-cased ammo, I intend to clean the pistol thoroughly and inspect it for wear and report the findings here.
If there is interest, I am thinking of then switching to a different ammo manufacturer, and doing the same for another 1000 rounds.
I will test the accuracy in this pistol and how clean the ammo burns, and continue the long term torture test of the sub-$200 pistol. To do that, though, I think I’m going to need an ammo sponsor.
Shoot safe, have fun!
Ian
“…I am using the sight as a convenient cocking handle to rack the slide.” — Ian
“The police department in my town carries Glocks with dot sights and I know for a fact they use them as cocking aids.” — BB
OK guys, I guess I’m living in the past; I had no idea [currently manufactured] dot sights were able to stand up to that level of use/abuse…that’s impressive! 🙂
I have seen videos of reviewers using the edge of a table or some other structure to cycle the action using the dot sight.
They were practicing getting their gun back in action while practicing a drill to simulate having an injury to your non dominant hand or arm.
Yes they are that tough.
Would they stand up to a steady diet of that abuse?
I don’t know.
Ian.
45Bravo,
Ian!
“Would they stand up to a steady diet of that abuse?” is that they about the trainee “…having an injury to your non dominant hand or arm.” or is that about the robust dot sight?
JUST joking.
Just don’t use you belt, belt buckel, or plate carrier straps. AD/ND happen that way. Haste makes bad outcomes even worse! Mind the Flagging (what the muzzle sweeps) or pay the price of a discharge.
shootski
Call me normal, unlike some of the YouTube warriors, I try not to do stupid stuff with firearms.
I can see practicing live fire drills in your non dominate hand.
But I have never and will never practice reloading or clearing jams “in an injured state” with live ammo.
Too many of the younger generation are getting their information about firearms from video games.
I am coining a term for them.
Remember you heard it here first.
Some time in the near future someone will list this job description on a resume.
Virtual Cyber Warfare Specialist: (another way of saying they play video games….)
Ian
45 Bravo,
Lol! VCWS has a certain feel to it ;^)
Simunition® is the answer for your concerns; restrictions on who gets to use it are a major issue.
shootski
I have trained with simunitions, and being on the receiving end, it isn’t fun.
Yes it is less lethal than live fire, it hurts like heck and leaves very nasty bruises!
But beats a trip to the emergency room, or worse.
I will stick to snap caps..
Ian
45 Bravo,
The lesson is learned so much better than by the VCWS’ method of choice, the RED SCREEN.
Better to be black & blue for a few days!
shootski
“I have seen videos of reviewers using the edge of a table or some other structure to cycle the action using the dot sight.”
Ian, wow!…that’s pretty cool; thanks for the info. 😉
Hmmmmm, this might be the thing for some of my pumpers.
How often are you manually cocking the pistol? If this is a semi-automatic with blow back slide, then I would guess cocking it once per magazine full of ammunition would be typical.
You would be correct.
Unless there was a stoppage anyou had to clear the malfunction.
Ian
Ian,
Great report on the UTG dot sight. Both you and BB have had very good things to say about the UTG dot sight line for some time now. I have had Leapers/UTG scopes for many years and have never had a problem with their ruggedness. Most of my scopes are UTG. The quality is every bit as good as any other and the price is way better than most.
Ian,
I think it is time to test the waterproofness of this Micro Dot Sight.
Let us see if it can handle 30 minutes at one meter in salty water?
-Yogi
Yogi,
Great idea!
But since Ian is testing his on a pistol now and is in the middle of a thousand-round test, what if you bought one and did that test for all of us? Then we’ll know for certain, as two honest reporters have tested it!
BB
I have nothing to mount it on. However, I might just buy one dunk it and send it to you or Ian to test.
Will not be until the spring however….
-Y
Yogi,
Oh, I see. But you are close to the ocean, so the salt water is real.
BB
Yogi,
Before you spend your money and get your feet wet read this: https://www.androidauthority.com/ip-ratings-explained-746306/
Salt Water and Chlorinated Water (think swimming pools) will negate most of the protection.
Also these protections are usually done with O-Rings and we all should know what that means!
hth,
shootski
Thanks for the explanation! But due to circumstances it is 1,000% more likely to fall into salt water than fresh. I do not take my guns with me when I take a bath…lol.
-Yogi
Wait, Yogi you mean to tell me that you don’t have a dedicated shower gun?
This is America, how did you miss the memo on that?
You need to check your inbox more often…
Ian.
Not even a SS revolver would survive!
Lather, rinse, repeat…
-Y
When I bought my Marauder Pistol thanks to BB’s comments on an older model of the UTG Micro red dot, this is exactly what I purchased for my Prod. It is great for the removal of the occasional tree rat and is good to about 25 yards. Beyond that its 4 MOA dot is just too big for that purpose. I just wish they had a shake awake variant, like my Holosun, but it is much larger and a lot more money.
Mike
To all,
Going way off topic. Can anybody shed light on the Umarex Perfecta 31? As far as I can determine it seems to be of Chinese origin probably BAM. An acquaintance of mine is trying to find a replacement piston seal for it.
Siraniko
Will have to give some thought to “adopting” one of these once FM figures out what concealed-carry handgun to get – happy with the Axeon red dot on FM’s .177 Maximus but installing one of these UTG Micros on it would be kind of overkill in “Basil’s” opinion.
I have used red dot optics on rifles, shotguns and pistols.
BUT this is my first foray into an optic on a defensive handgun.
Until this point, the red dot optics I have used on pistols were “target pistols” or range toys (guns that don’t see any use except at the range.)
Yea I am old and grew up on iron sights and metal framed pistols. I have always said if its electronic it can and will fail. When you need it the most.
I am willing to give it a go, and finally move into the 21’st century.
My first red dot was an antiquated Weaver Quick Point that my dad had on his shotgun in the mid 1970’s.
Does anyone remember the Armson OEG? (Occluded Eye Gunsight) yea I am that old.
FawltyManuel,
Basil if you haven’t already spend your money on an hour of training in a Shoot House with a qualified instructor and find out IF a DOT SIGHT makes any sense at all in defensive gun use. In most states you can’t be picking them off until they get under 5 yards from you, unless they are already shooting, or expect to be arrested and at least indicted by the Grand Jury.
I’ll bet your flashlight (electric torch) choice will likely be change as well.
shootski
No, have not and yes will take your good advice to heart…the DOT sight would be more for purposes of target shooting as FM’s eyes can use any and all help available; point taken. Here in FL we have the Castle Doctrine and Stand-Your-Ground in our favor but don’t ever want to find out the legal ramifications of downing a perp in legitimate self-defense. Still, as has been said, better judged by twelve than carried by six.
FawltyManuel,
Basil you got this!
I subscribe to the 12 judging over the 6 carrying as well.
My daughter says something similar but her Jury would probably be replaced by the regional Critical Incident Response Team.
shootski
Ian,
Thank you for mentioning the “Tertiary” aiming point and its use. I have etched dots and lines on some of my DOT sights and just figured they were there in case the battery went dead. Especially ones that blocked out the air guns sights.
My main gripe was that these small sights were hard to acquire the dot and keep it centered on the lens when held at arm’s length.
Not a big problem when target shooting but hard to deal with when you have fast moving targets and need to move it around constantly.
I have been totally ignoring them when trying to bring up the dot. Might even try reading the product information provided one day. If it’s there?