Over the last month or so, I have had three separate DP Pro optics exhibit what I believe is a serious problem that makes them unsuitable for EDC. Two units were mounted on different Q5 pistols, and the third on a G17 MOS. The problem is when turned on, and holstered during matches, the dot turns off and does not awaken when the pistol is presented from the holster. Even after drawing and shaking it, it does not wake up reliably. I am not sure the exact logic of the sleep mode, in terms of whether the dot should sleep when in the holster walking around, but certainly it should awaken when the pistol is drawn. Interestingly, I do not encounter this problem in my practice sessions, but the delay between drawing while practicing is typically a minute or two at most, compared to 20-40 minutes during a match.
As an aside, for some time, I have had battery life issues with the Pro, across the eight units I own, but this issue seems to have been resolved, or at least is much better, using Duracell batteries. Energizer and Sony batteries have provided poor life, measuring in the days or few weeks. While it has not been more than a few months, so far the Duracell batteries seem to be lasting longer.
What is odd is this going to sleep issue has just arisen this fall, and is happening across multiple units. It makes me wonder if the motion sensor has a limited life and is failing across many units manufactured around the same time. While a nuisance gaming, this is obviously a big problem for defensive use, and if my experience is not the exception, people should be warned not to use them on defensive firearms.
I returned one unit to them several weeks ago with a detailed description. After the second unitbfailure, I called and left a voice mail, but have yet to receive a response. The third unit failure was observed only at a match today.
I, for one, am very grateful for this public service announcement. A single unit failure is an anomaly. A second unit; a curious coincidence. A third? Well, that’s what I would call a serious issue. Especially when it comes to matters possibly involving life and death.
I typically make it to the range four days a week, and the issue does not show up. As I mentioned, where it does show up is at matches on the weekend, where I turn the unit on, shoot a stage, and then have a 30 minute or so period where I have the pistol in my holster. Are you shooting matches, using it for EDC, or otherwise in the same scenario as I am seeing the problem? If not, as a data point, it would be great if one evening you could simulate my match scenario and see if you have the same problem.
Exactly why I posted this. One or two instances would be concerning, but three strikes me as a definite trend, especially when each successive Pro I tried, exhibited the exact same issue. I placed a similar thread on PF, and someone reported the exact same problem there.
In a similar vein I have a friend interested in a RMR sight for her new pistol. What are the options for this type of sight? Vortex, Aimpoint, Trijicon?
Both are LED always on. One is auto adjust and the other is manual adjustable
about 6 months of use and no issues
I use the anti flicker sealing plate on both
I called Leupold again, number 79 in the wait, and left a message. They called back just now, and the CS guy “knew nothing” about this particular problem, and had no suggestion other than to return the units to them.
That’s crazy that you’ve had this problem with so many units. It’s great that they keep replacing them, but it would seriously damage my confidence in them.
I was at a match this weekend, shooting a 34 MOS with a DP Pro. I left the dot turned on for the day. About halfway through the match, I noticed the dot was off as I walked around, and when I drew the pistol to make ready, the dot did not come back on until I vigorously shook it. Later it went off again, and by wrapping the frame of the optic, it would come back on. I mentioned this to another competitor, with the comment that this might be unacceptable on an EDC pistol, and he said in an EDC or military situation (I understand the military 320 model has the DP Pro footprint) you would draw aggressively, smacking the gun in your holster as you gripped it, bringing the dot back on. I was not sure whether he was serious.
During stage six, I lost the dot a few times. When done, at the safety table, the dot was intermittent. I changed to a new Duracell 2032 battery, replacing the Energizer that was still in this optic. Same thing, intermittent dot, followed by no dot, except occasionally when you pressed the trigger, releasing the striker, the dot would glimmer briefly. So basically this unit is dead, and will need to go back to Leupold. This makes 4/4 DP Pro units that have failed in the last month or so.
I am seriously discouraged with the Pro, and plan to try to make a C-More RTS2 work for Carry Optics.
In matches now, I treat the DP Pro like an open gun optic, turning it on at the beginning of the stage, and off after I shoot the stage. They seem to work pretty well when treated that way. Today, during practice I left the dot on. I had about a ten minute delay between strings at one point, and when I drew my 34 MOS, the DP Pro did not come on, after apparently being put to sleep by the motion detector. I have lost track, but this must be five or six different DP Pro units in the last two or three months that have again proven themselves unsuitable for EDC.
Wow. There goes any chance of getting a DP Pro for me… I had really been wanting one because of its apparent advantages over the RMR, but no chance I’d get one now.