Looking at the polymer-framed, striker-fired, 9mm from Slovenia, it would be easy to assume the Arex Delta is a Glock clone. After all, there are a lot of similarities.
Though inspirations exist in the pistol’s design, Arex also did a few things to distinguish itself.
New guns are sometimes a risky gamut, you could find yourself something really nice, or you might end up in customer service hell. So, how does the Arex Delta shake out in this category?
We took the Arex Delta M model out to the range to test it for ourselves. So, follow along as we cover the specs and features, pros and cons, and reveal our range results to help you decide if the Arex Delta is right for you.
Table of Contents
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Arex Delta Pros & Cons
Pros
- Reliable
- Accurate
- Affordable
Cons
- Ambidextrous mag release
The Bottom Line
The Arex Delta is a seriously good pistol that feels very much like an improved Glock with a less expensive price tag.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Arex Delta Gen 2 M
Specs
- Caliber: 9x19mm
- Action: Semi-auto striker-fired
- Width: 1.18″
- Length: 7.1″
- Barrel Length: 4.0″
- Height: 4.7″
- Weight: 21.6 oz.
- Capacity: 17+1
- Comes with: Plastic case, 15 round mag, 17 round mag, optics mounting hardware, cleaning rod, 4 different sized backstraps, lock
Features
- Optics ready
- Magpul 870 Stock
- Ambidextrous controls
- Three sizes
- Multiple colors
Arex Delta Background
Arex Defense is based in Slovenia and imports to America through Global Ordnance. They currently offer four models of pistols with a few variants.
The Zero 2 is an all-metal pistol, the Alpha is their competition model, there is also a Zero 1, and of course, the Delta.
Arex also makes a tactical version of the Delta with a threaded barrel and suppressor height sights.
There are three sizes of the Arex Delta. The L is 7.7 inches long, the X is 7.2 inches long, and the model we tested, the M is 7.1 inches long.
Arex Defense shows great receptiveness to its clients. This original Delta generated feedback, and that was instrumental in the second generation’s design.
Who Is It For?
The Arex Delta M is a great compact pistol and, in this configuration, would serve well as a home defender.
In addition, the size, capacity, and reliability lend themselves also to concealed carry.
Just about anyone would benefit from the Delta’s great ergonomics and affordability.
Fit & Feel
Arex’s Delta feels very much like a Glock in the hand but with better ergonomics. Its beavertail extends nicely and covers the web of the hand without the need of a backstrap addition.
The grip is roughly the same width as a Glock but is not as wide from the front strap to the back strap. Grip texture is fairly aggressive, like a medium sandpaper, and covers the sides, front strap, and back strap as well.
My take is the grip angle is a little straighter, and the undercut on the trigger guard allows a good high grip. The gun fits in the hand nicely, and the controls are all easy to reach.
Inside the magwell features some beveled angles that assist with reloads, though there is no extension or flaring at the base.
This gun comes with four grip panels that fit into the backstrap for adjustment to hand size.
I found the attention to detail on the trigger guard a nice addition; ribbing on the bottom and front comes in handy if you shoot from a supported position. There are also grip sections forward on the frame on both sides for folks to place their thumbs.
Its trigger is polymer and consists of two flat angles. The shoe is curved but angled, and the sides of the trigger are beveled away, making for a comfortable contact surface.
Pulling the trigger back, you find a bit of pretravel before hitting a well-defined wall. The trigger breaks crisply, 4 pounds on the Lyman Digital Gauge, and reset is almost immediate, tactile, and audible.
Arex milled serrations in the slide, which are best described as scalloped triangles. They are fairly subtle but still effective.
Sights are metal on the Arex and feature a white dot up front and a black, serrated in the rear. As the sights are standard height, I did not use them for this review.
I favored the optics mounting system Arex uses with the Delta instead.
It’s a series of plastic plates and hardware (all included) that worked well. I mounted up a Viridian RFX-35 green dot using the Type 2 plate from Arex since it uses an RMR footprint.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Magazines are steel with a plastic floorplate, and one of them came with a +2.
They loaded and seated easily, then dropped cleanly when I pressed the button — but more about that button in ergonomics.
How Does It Shoot?
The shootability of the Delta is impressive…
After getting used to the trigger, I found it was predictable and provided repeatable performance.
While I wouldn’t call the Delta a tack driver, it certainly did an adequate job and improved as I practiced with it.
The recoil impulse was also pretty light and allowed me to get back on target fairly quickly for follow-up shots.
The combination of the ergonomics and trigger allowed me to get into a pretty fast rhythm that still allowed me to keep the dot through recoil. In short, the Delta really shoots.
Only problem I had with the gun was the ambidextrous magazine release. The button must be mashed deeply in order to release the magazine, forcing me to adjust my grip.
With full magazines, it was particularly difficult to accomplish. This is likely a tradeoff of having an ambi mag release that doesn’t need to be switched.
Reliability was also above par. Over 450 rounds were fired, and there were zero malfunctions.
What Sets it Apart?
If I hold this striker-fired pistol up to many modern contemporaries, it does many things extremely well.
It is accurate, highly reliable, has a great trigger, and a good optics mounting system.
There are some pretty cool features, like the striker indicator in the rear, the chamber indicator, and the ease of the slide release, but one of the coolest has got to be the price.
It’s a heck of a bargain to get all these features and performance without breaking the bank.
Arex Delta By the Numbers
Accuracy
3.5/5
Shooting 5-shot groups at seven yards, I was able to create groups on average of 2-inches.
Reliability
5/5
As mentioned, we ran the Arex Delta through 450 rounds with zero malfunctions.
Customization
3/5
Being a new firearm, there isn’t a great deal of aftermarket spun up yet. However, there are some accessories on the Arex Defense website and the Delta comes in black, Gun Smoke Gray, Flat Dark Earth, and you can buy a Tiffany Blue frame too!
Ergonomics
4/5
I really like everything about the ergonomics of this firearm with the exception of the magazine release.
Value
5/5
Pricing at online retailers as of this writing ranges just under $400 for the Arex Delta.
Overall
4/5
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Upgrades for Arex Delta
Final Verdict
If you’ve been looking for a feature-rich, sub-$400 pistol with good performance, the Arex Delta M is a strong contender. The reliability is solid, and the accuracy is good.
While I did have a slight hangup on the ambi magazine release, it doesn’t take away from the overall performance of the gun. I looked at the Delta Tactical on the Arex Defense website, and that is one of the items they fixed.
Arex indicated it was based on feedback. I have to admit a company that listens to customers and implements feedback is cool and worthy of support.
Will you be picking up an Arex Delta Gen 2? Let us know in the comments below! Also, check out more budget guns out at the 8 Best Budget Guns for New Shooters!
16 Leave a Reply
Love my Arex, and Im going to buy another one. Extremely accurate! Ive put 1000 rounds through with no malfunctions. Very reliable. Qualified, day and night, on the first attempts each, for my armed license.
WAA WAA the magazine release!! OH PUHLEASE!!! Guys, they make these things called CRAFT KNIVES! get a fresh blade... and trim down the plastic dam around the release buttons. 10 minutes for both sides, a little 1000 grit to finish it up. smear a little VICKS (Yes.. the vapo rub.. a TINY amount) onto the arear you just trimmed.. so the plastic goes back to it's original color! WOW! You can't SEE what you did but it feels like an extended mag button and it cost you.... ZILCH! Then a little polish on the bump of the trigger transfer bar, a little gun grease inside the slide rails. DAMN SAM! This sucker shoots NICE! DEAR AREX... You didn't pay me for this high praise BUT... you can feel free to send me a couple more of the Delta M's for free if you want to!
There is also an OD green frame option! Can't forget that one!!! My only complaint on my Delta X is the extreme difficulty to press the mag release enough to drop a mag. I hear this does loosen up with use.
Also, I currently they only offer the a delta m and delta x tactical. I'm looking forward to them releasing the delta L tactical.
Yes! OD green is always FTW! The FDE looks great too
My next buy will be a tactical model (in ODG!)... once the BS IL ban is trashed (yes, the idiots have banned threaded barrels... even though suppressors have been banned in IL for years).
Anyway, Arex needs to step up their presence in the US. The Rex models are supreme as well but they're not getting the market share they deserve. And the more that sell here, the more support we owners will enjoy.
I absolutely love my Delta M. It’s by far the most comfortable CCW I’ve yet owned, both in ease of concealment and the grip fits my medium/large (depending on glove manufacturer) hand better than any G19 size pistol I’ve ever owned. The trigger is fantastic for how inexpensive the gun is, it’s very accurate and comfortable when I put it in an IWB holster. The only gripe I have is the same one everyone else has- the magazine release takes some practice to get proficient with, and hopefully it gets smoother with use. I installed some XS Sights adjustable tritium night sights that were made for an Sig 320. They are a little wide in reference to the top of the slide, but that’s a trade off I’m willing to accept in exchange for adjustable sights.
I'm so impressed with this inexpensive pistol, thanks for sharing your experience too.
Not sure why this is even being compared to a Glock. They're nothing like Glocks.
Anyway, I've owned the Delta M for 2 years now, and it is one of the most accurate pistols I own. Admittedly not the most comfortable grip (very aggressive stippling), but it is perfectly balanced, lightweight, manages recoil nicely (as noted) and is the perfect carry weapon IMO. The only downside are the shallow grip serrations. A bit harder to rack the slide because it can slip more easily that other pistols.
There is a replacement mag release available that is a bit larger than the OEM part, so that can help. I do agree it is rather hard to actuate the OEM version, but once you get used to it, it is fine and breaks in nicely.
I drew the comparison to Glocks as a frame of reference for people who may not be familiar with these firearms. You're right, there are several notable differences. Thanks for pointing out your experience with the magazine release.
Ahhh, understood.
And I guess I did forget the fact that the Delta M (and likely the L and X models as well)....
... fits perfectly in G19 holsters!
One other thing I forgot was that the takedown for a field strip is also the easiest of everything I own. Almost instant. I was just cleaning mine last night and I was reminded how easy it is.
Anyway, thank you for featuring this gun. We really need to get Arex and the importers to step up their game on this gun. The bigger their market presence for all the models they offer (the Rex is just as amazing), the better their product support will be.
The striker indicator can be used like the gizmo(?) on Glocks; press on it when reholstering, and you know if the trigger is hanging up, and I believe it can keep the striker from traveling back and firing (within limits). The (very) low profile mag release is a trade-off. I'd have been happier with a little more height. People say it gets better with use.
It does get better/breaks in with use, and you get used to actuating it as well. They also now offer a larger one that you can switch out. GZD has it and I assume Global Ordinance or any of the other Arex dealers probably carry it as well.
One reviewer/owner ordered a replacement frame, and (very nicely, he said) asked Global Ordinance to install the extended mag release for him. It's said to be a real pain.
Hmmm, well, i coukd see that. I haven't actually tried to switch it on mine since the release has finally gotten easier to manipulate.
Good caveat to mention! Thanks!
Thanks Richard, I can confirm the striker portion now that I've tried it myself. I'm always so careful when re-holstering like this, but it's an added safety feature. And yes, trying to do two things (mag release) at the expense of doing one well might be the best description here. But there are options to cure it.
I have the M 2.0 in Grey with the Viridian 35. This is one of my most accurate 9's that I own.
The ergo's are great, feels nothing like a Glock at all (I don't know why that was stated) much thinner. I threw in the aluminum AP Trigger and it's fantastic. This is now my night carry with a TLR7A.
There are similarities with Glock, though granted, they are a different gun--totally agree on the ergonomics.