Arex, a relatively unknown manufacturer from Slovenia, is often confused with Slovakia. Despite its low profile, the company gained some attention through Polenar Tactical videos and a Military Arms Channel torture test of the Arex Zero 1, a SIG P226 clone. Still, many gun enthusiasts may not be familiar with Arex or its Slovenian origins, a country once part of Yugoslavia.

The first time I handled the Arex Delta M at a local gun shop, I was impressed by its ergonomics and grip texture, which fit my hand perfectly. Weighing just 628g (22oz) with an empty magazine, this lightweight and slim pistol resembles the Walther P99, particularly with its red striker indicator that protrudes when the trigger is pressed. However, it’s essentially a striker-fired “Glock clone,” like many modern pistols. What sets it apart is its exceptional ergonomics, ideal grip angle, textured grip (no stippling needed), factory-flared magwell, and a crisp 3.5lb trigger (measured with a Lyman Trigger Pull Gauge after ~1,000 rounds).

The Arex Delta comes in three sizes: L (full-size, similar to a Glock 17), M (compact, comparable to a Glock 19), and X (a “crossover” with a full-size frame and compact slide). I don’t fully understand the crossover trend, as a larger grip may print more during concealed carry, and open or duty carry would benefit from a longer barrel.

My Arex Delta M is a Gen2, non-optics-ready model. Arex’s generational differences can be confusing. The initial Gen1 had a smooth grip, followed by a “New Frame” with aggressive texture, offered as an upgrade for Gen1 owners. The Gen2, available in standard or Optics Ready (OR) variants with plates for red dots, followed. I opted for the standard Gen2, as I don’t use red dots, and it was more affordable. Arex later released the Delta Tactical with a threaded barrel and suppressor-height sights, which I find the most appealing, especially in the grey frame color.

The pistol comes out of the box with one 15-round magazine, two 17-round magazines, a cleaning kit, and backstraps. I also purchased CBC Magtech NTA, Federal Punch ammo, and 450 Fiocchi Small Pistol Primers during the same shopping trip (Everything pictured, excluding the Olight WML):

Initially, the gun shot slightly left, though switching to the large backstrap reduced this issue. I’ve used it in local IPSC matches for two years with reliable performance, except for one incident where the slide locked back and wouldn’t close. I resolved this by field-stripping the gun, cleaning carbon buildup from the trigger and back modules with Ballistol, and reassembling it. The issue hasn’t recurred, but it shook my confidence in the pistol, especially since I was carrying it at the time.

The controls, particularly the magazine release and loading the 17-round magazines, were initially stiff. I loosened them by repeatedly loading/unloading the magazines and pressing the release. The thin grips and ambidextrous magazine release make it easy to drop magazines without breaking my grip, or using my middle finger on the right-side release.

Groupings were solid: 124gr wadcutter handloads at 10 meters (left) and 124gr ball handloads at 7 meters with wadcutter headshots at 10 meters (right) showed good accuracy with fast follow-up shots.

Overall, the Arex Delta M is an excellent pistol for the price, offering better ergonomics than a Glock 19 or CZ P10C in a similar size and capacity. It’s available in optics-ready and threaded-barrel variants, with a crisp trigger, decent sights, and a slim, lightweight design ideal for carry. I’ve fired ~1,800 rounds (mostly handloads) and placed third twice in local IPSC matches against competitors with IMBEL 1911s, Glocks, CZ Shadow 2s, and others. The Delta L’s 17- or 19-round magazines (with bumper) are compatible, providing great capacity. However, the red striker indicator fell off unnoticed, though this didn’t affect function. I could likely request a replacement from the retailer.

On the left: The Arex field stripped, very easy to do without any tools. On the right: How I wear it on my IPSC rig, it fits my Bianchi M12 holster perfectly (without the Olight).

Pros

1. Excellent ergonomics with multiple backstraps
2. Includes a cleaning kit
3. Affordable compared to competitors
4. Cold-forged barrel and Tenifer finish for durability
5. Thin grips allow easy magazine release access without breaking grip

Cons

1. Striker indicator fell off, raising potential build quality concerns
2. Triangle-shaped trigger may cause shots to drift left; requires careful finger placement
3. Magazines are harder to find than for Glocks, CZ P10Cs, XDs, or M&Ps

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