In the past twelve months acclaimed Germany gunmaker Sig Sauer has been aggressively marketing their new line of red dot sights. The Sig Sauer Romeo 7 is the bigger brother to the hot selling Romeo 5 sight that has recently been selected by the Federal Bureau of Investigations for use by their agents. The Romeo 7 contains all the technology and features of the Romeo 5, but with a few additional attributes, but with those added features comes a slightly higher price tag. In my short time looking into the Romeo 7 it would appear that all the superiority quality control and craftsmanship we have come to expect from Sig Sauer is present in the entire line of the Romeo series of optics despite their differences in sizes.
Why the Romeo 7 and not the Romeo 5 ?
The Romeo 5 is a fine optic but its objective lens features a 20mm diameter lens, the Romeo 7 in contrast features a 30mm diameter objective lens. To many users the slightly larger diameter lens is important to them, and allows the shooter an easier time in acquiring targets quickly. This seems to be especially true with older shooters, and now that I am falling into that class of shooter it’s becoming more important to me as well. The Romeo 7 also is powered by a single AA battery and has an incredible projected run time of 62,500 hours on a medium setting, yes that is correct. In other words you could put a new duracell AA sized battery in the Romeo 7 and turn it on an average medium setting and in 2604.16 days , or 7.134 years later you will have to install another one.
Specifications of Romeo 7 optic:
Length: 4.7″
Height: 2.2″
Diameter: 30mm
Battery: AA (Only 1 needed)
Magnification: 1X
Mount: Quick Detach
Run Time: 62,500 hours on medium setting
Reticle: 2 MOA single red dot
MSRP: $359.00
The Romeo 7 isn’t the smallest or lightest red dot style optic on the planet and thats exactly the way Sig Sauer designed it to be. They chose to make an optic that could withstand repeated use and the daily grind of the military and law enforcement community. I have tried the Romeo 7 out at several stores mounted on three different AR-15’s and it seemed to sit much more naturally than other optics like the Aimpoint Patrol Optic. The controls of the Romeo 7 are located on the back of the optic in a position that any potential shooter could adjust with one hand with minimal interruption to their shooting position.
I have been fortunate and found a Sig Sauer 556 Classic SWAT that should be arriving soon and have been intently searching for a well built and affordable optic to place on it. While I love the Trijicon MRO that I have on my 10.5″ AR-15, I was looking for something a bit bigger for a full sized rifle, that’s when I found the Sig Sauer Romeo 7. In my mind it is every bit the equal of other optics like the Aimpoint Patrol , and the Vortex Spitfire but $75-100 cheaper than either of those on average. The plan is to field one of these in the very near future for some late Alaskan springtime shooting excursions. It will be interesting to see how the Romeo 7 holds up to the snow, ice and cold that many of us have to experience this time of year. What are your thoughts on the Sig Sauer Romeo 7 ? What is your full size red dot of choice? Eotech ? Aimpoint?, Trijicon ? let us know what you use and how it’s held up for you.
Rick
