Romeo4s
I have come to be quite a fan of the Sig Sauer Romeo4 series of optics. With different tiers and offerings, there are many options to choose from that range in price, battery life and reticles. I purchased my first Romeo4s in 2020 from OpticsPlanet and immediately loved it.
Details from Sig Sauer (https://www.sigsauer.com/romeo4s-1×20-mm.html)
Listed on their site for $379
– Designed for modern semi-automatic pistols, MSR platforms and shotguns
– Short and medium-range engagements and recreational shooting across a wide range of calibers and light conditions
– Extremely strong and light CNC aluminum housing
– Runtime in excess of 100,000 hours with solar and battery usage
– Comes standard with see-through lens covers and quick-release mount
– Ballistic Circle-Dot and Ballistic Circle QuadPlex reticle options
– Users can select from 4 different integrated reticle options (Dot, Circle-Dot, Dot with Holds, Circle-Dot with Holds)
– Unlimited eye relief to acquire aiming point and target, regardless of eye position behind sight.
– MOTAC (Motion Activated Illumination) powers up or down when sensing motion
– Uses an ultra-efficient red LED illumination for daylight visibility and extended runtime
– True co-witness QR mount and low mount included
– Strong, lightweight aircraft-grade CNC aluminum housing
– Waterproof, IPX-7 rated, and fog-proof.- Ballistic Circle-Dot and Ballistic Circle QuadPlex reticle options
– Users can select from 4 different integrated reticle options (Dot, Circle-Dot, Dot with Holds, Circle-Dot with Holds)
Different reticle options offered by Sig for the Romeo4s
– Unlimited eye relief to acquire aiming point and target, regardless of eye position behind sight.
– MOTAC (Motion Activated Illumination) powers up or down when sensing motion
– Uses an ultra-efficient red LED illumination for daylight visibility and extended runtime
What I look for in a red dot optic:
Battery life – I like having at least 50k hour runtime on a red dot because it gives me a sense of security that I can leave it on for a year and not have to worry about it
Durability – Red dot optics need to be waterproof, preferably submersible for me to opt for them in a home-defense, SHTF capacity.
Reticle – The reticle needs to be clean and fit the role that the optic will play on the particular platform it is mounted on. I like having reticle options as well so that I have some versatility at my disposal.
Aesthetic – Lets be real. Half of putting stuff on your guns is so that it will look cool.
Practicality – An optic needs to provide the maximum tactical advantage while minimizing the amount of setback in terms of size, weight, and cost. The best optic I’ve ever had is one that does everything I need it to do, within my price range.
First impressions
Sig Sauer does an excellent job with the boxes for their products. The box is robust and filled with foam to protect the optic. Other manufacturers send their optics in simple cardboard boxes with plastic that leaves me amazed it survived shipping. Inside the box, you get the optic, a QD co-witness mount, a low mount, a tool for the optic screws, a cleaning cloth, and a battery. The Romeo4s optic body comes in an odd bluish gray/steel color (I believe Sig calls it ‘graphite’) that is less than ideal. The finish and machining is very sleek but that color leaves a lot to be desired! Both adjustment turrets are protected with caps and recessed into the body to keep from bumping. The Romeo4s comes with front and rear flip covers for the lenses that are removable. They can also be rotated to allow for different orientations of opening. The controls are located on the left side of the optic body due to the solar panel being on top. Some shooters do not prefer the side-mounted controls due to the risk of buttons being inadvertently bumped such as when the weapon is slung on the back or hanging in front of the shooter. The battery housing and adjustment turrets all have O-rings to keep them watertight and secure. The co-witness mount seems very sturdy and rugged, it is a huge pro for the optic but also provides several cons. The QD feature is great rapid removal of the optic but can also be tightened down to stay locked in place with a retaining clip on the QD lever. Also, the optic utilizes the T1/2 footprint so there are a plethora of aftermarket mounts available for it. It is great that this mount is provided as many optics do not come with a mount or cost extra to get them packaged in. Unfortunately, Sig does not provide a 1.3 co-witness mount with the Romeo4s. I personally prefer the lower 1/3 co-witness for my red dot optics. Having to pay extra to get one from Sig was less than ideal. The structure of the mount makes it very difficult to get a torque wrench to the screw heads for precise installation which I do with all my optics. There is a provided tool from Sig for hand-tightening. The multi reticle feature is a huge selling for me personally. This optic features a 65moa EoTech style ring with a 1moa dot in the center of a crosshair that spans 5moa on each side. The optic also comes with a traditional 65moa ring and 2moa center dot. I have a different Romeo4 optic with that reticle, so I will speak to both reticles.
Optic in action
The glass has a slight blue tint to it, which is the case for lots of red dot sights, but the reticle is crisp and sharp. The different reticle options give you the option to select what fits the role of the optic on the particular platform that you have mounted it to. This versatility is something I look for in red dot optics because I can mount it on a shotgun and utilize the 65moa ring for buckshot or eliminate the ring and use only the center reticle option for more precise rifle shooting. The crisp reticle makes shots easy at any range, indoor or outdoor. The Romeo4s feature Sig Sauer’s MOTAC technology which, according to the manual, powers down the optic after 120 seconds of use but will reactivate with any slight movement. In my experience, I have never been able to catch the optic off outside of intentionally testing the feature. If you so much as put a finger on the optic, it will turn on.
I ran the optic on the QD mount on my Geissele Super Duty 16in 5.56 rifle and it performed like a dream. The optic stayed clear and sharp under a 3x magnifier. It was just as much at home on the rifle as it was on my Mossberg 930 12ga shotgun. I utilized a 28in field barrel and an 18in security barrel at close range from 7 to 25 yards with buckshot as well as out to 50 yards with slugs. The 65moa reticle mirrored my buckshot patterning within 25 yards. I even took a whitetail deer on the run from 30 yards with the Romeo4s mounted on my Mossberg. Shooting the moving deer with the Romeo4s was a breeze with the crisp reticle and clear view, allowing for rapid target acquisition and shot placement.
Durability
The Romeo4s is IPX7 rated, which ensures that the device can be submerged in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes without any damage. I tested this with my Romeo4s. I submerged it in water for 30 minutes and rechecked the optic. It was just fine. I also placed the optic in my freezer overnight and it powered right up. Shock resistance is a necessity for any trustworthy optic. I performed a drop test from shoulder height onto concrete two times and rechecked the zero. The optic passed every test flawlessly with no notable zero shift.
Summary
Pros:
Outstanding battery life
Great reticle options
Included robust QD co-witness and low mount
IPX7 rated with great durability
Protective flip caps included
MOTAC and solar panel allow for always on use
Unlimited warranty
Can be found for around $300
Cons:
Does not come with a 1/3 co-witness spacer which costs extra money from Sig
The shape of the mount does not allow for easy torque wrench utilization, but there is a provided tool for non-precise hand tightening
Noticeable blue tint to the lens
The odd color of the optic body
The Romeo4s is an awesome optic that gives you the reticle of an EoTech in an optic that can give an Aimpoint a run for its money. With such a good price tag, you would not be wrong to put this red dot on every rifle. Its durability and battery life reassure a shooter that the optic will not fail them. You would not be wrong to put this optic on any rifle, shotgun or PCC.