SIG Romeo 5 Review: Best Bang for the Buck Red Dot?
Looking for your first red dot but don’t want to break the bank?
One of the most popular go-to red dots on the market is the Sig Romeo 5. But how does it perform when put to the test?
Is this the best “bang for the buck” red dot you can pick up?
We put the Sig Sauer Romeo 5 on trial to help you decide if it’s the right fit for you. We cover everything from installation to on the range to water submersion. Read our verdict below.
We’ll also dive into the features of the Romeo 5 and cover some upgrades to consider.
By the end, you’ll know whether or not this red dot is the right choice for your setup.
Cue dramatic courtroom music…
Who is the Romeo 5 For?
Sig Sauer made the Romeo 5 to be the go-to option for compact, affordable, entry-level red dots.
The goal was to make it compatible with a wide range of firearms, including airguns, large caliber pistols, shotguns, and, of course, ARs.
Looking at the price tag for more expensive options like Aimpoint and EOTech, it makes sense why you may be looking for something more affordable.
If you are new to the world of AR-15s and don’t have a huge budget, but want an effective and durable optic, the Romeo 5 might be the red dot for you.
Sig Sauer Romeo 5 Red Dot
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Sportsman’s Warehouse (See Price)
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Guns.com (See Price)
Romeo 5 Specs
- Weight: 5.1 oz
- Run Time: 40,000 Hours (4.5 Years)
- Illumination Settings: 8 Daytime/2 NV
- Center Dot Size: 2 MOA
- Objective Lens Diameter: 20mm
- Adjustment Increments: 0.5 MOA
- Total Elevation Travel: 100 MOA
- Total Windage Travel: 100 MOA
- Waterproof: IPX-7 (1 meter for 30 minutes)
- Footprint: Aimpoint T2
- Battery: (1) CR2032
- Mount Type: M1913 T10 Low Profile and T10 1.41” Riser (co-witness)
- Price: $120
SIG Romeo 5 Features
Depending on where you look, you can typically pick this up for about $120-$150. Considering what all it delivers, that’s a good price.
The feature that stands out most to us is the MOTAC (Motion Activated Illumination), otherwise known as “shake awake.”
This powers the device on whenever it senses motion. By simply pressing one of the +/- buttons, you activate the device and can leave it be.
If it doesn’t detect any motion for two minutes, it goes into a rest mode to conserve battery life, yet it swiftly powers back on to the last power setting you used upon detecting motion.
That’s a pretty cool feature that use to only be available with higher end optics, but is now included with the Sig Romeo 5. To deactivate the shake-awake feature and power down the device, you simply press and hold one of the +/- buttons again.
For run time, you get about 40,000 hours of use from one CR2032 battery (which costs about $1 to replace). In other words, you can power it on once and expect it to run for about 4.5 years. Not bad.
The Romeo5 has a standard 20mm tube. The lens is coated with Spectracoat, which is a reflection lens coating that reduces reflections from the surface to lower levels.
This provides better light transmission through the red dot, allowing the operator to keep it at a lower brightness level, thus, conserving energy.
It also helps prevent any sort of fogging.
Additionally, this optic features Sig’s Stealth ID. It’s essentially just the trapezoidal design of the surface. It gives it a more aesthetically pleasing look, but isn’t much to write home about.
Installation
Out of the box, you have two mounting options: a standard M1913 pic low mount riser and a co-witness 1.41″ riser mount that will align with your sights.
You may opt for the lower profile mount because of your specific gun use, but the riser mount is great, because, if the power fails, you can rest assured your iron sights are perfectly aligned with the trajectory of the red dot.
The bottom of the red dot utilizes Aimpoint’s T2 footprint, so you also have the option of mounting onto something else if you want.
Installation was quick and simple. It’s just a matter of placing the optic in your preferred spot on the pic rail and turning the screw to tighten it.
If you ever need to replace the battery, you simply remove the cap and swap it out with a new CR2032.
If you don’t plan on using the red dot often, or it’s mounted on a rifle that sees limited action, it comes with a protective cover to keep the glass from getting scratched.
At the Range
We spent some time at the range testing out the Romeo5 and sighting it in.
From a perched position, our targets were about 200 yards away.
The 2 MOA was perfect for getting on target and still getting precise shots off.
Initially, the Sig Romeo 5 exhibits a slight blue tinge, but this quickly becomes unnoticeable as your eyes adjust. We experienced no discomfort while viewing through the lens for extended periods, thanks to its unlimited eye relief, making it quite comfortable for prolonged use.
The windage and elevation adjustment knobs are tactile and easy to use, and utilize removable caps. These adjust in increments of 0.5 MOA.
How did it perform on the ground moving from target to target?
Well, the Sig Romeo 5 features an LED dot, not a holographic one, so we didn’t have to worry about the dot moving or shifting as we changed positions. Our experience was completely parallax-free, making it easy to acquire targets during transitions without missing our shots.
From there we gave it the old dunk-in-the-bathtub test. The Romeo 5 has an IPX-7 rating, which means it can stay up to 1 meter under water for 30 minutes.
As you can see, the red dot was still working after we submerged it in water.
Recommended Upgrades
If you want to take your Sig Romeo 5 to the next level, there’s a couple of upgrades to consider.
The biggest upgrade we’d recommend is combining the Romeo 5 with the Sig Juliet 3 magnifier. This expands the visibility range from 200 to 300+ yards.
Sig Sauer Juliet 3 Micro Magnifier
Sig Sauer (See Price)
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Sportsman’s Warehouse (See Price)
Euro Optic (See Price)
Kygunco (See Price)
One of the features that higher end red dots often include is a quick detach mount. You may want this if you want to quickly switch to iron sights. It also provides a more secure clamp for the red dot as well.
You can add this as an after-market upgrade for about $105.
American Defense QD Mount
You also have the option of the low-profile QD mount version.
Final Thoughts
The verdict is in and we like the Sig Romeo 5 as the best bang for the buck red dot.
The Sig Romeo 5 features an incredible battery life, a shake-awake feature that is normally found in higher end red dots, and a 2 MOA for accurate shooting at 200 yards.
For about $120, its hard to beat the value to price ratio.
If you’re looking to buy your first red dot, this is an excellent option for a starter optic.
What do you think? Did the Romeo 5 align with your expectations? What upgrades would you add to our list? Let us know in the comments.
Justin Trump is the managing editor and owner of CAT Outdoors. The son of a Vietnam veteran, he’s an avid gun enthusiast and 2A advocate. He holds two firearm patents for the CAT M4 and Talon tools. When not managing CAT Outdoors, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, rooting for Michigan sports teams, and serving his church.