SIG’s Romeo5 series of red dots have presented the shooting public with an affordable and reliable red dot option for AR 15s, shotguns, and similar setups. The Romeo5 is a series of optics with a wide variety of setups and features available. At the same time, the Romeo5 is largely considered a budget optic. SIG produced a Romeo5 XDR, which featured a higher price point and two reticles. As part of the XDR line of optics, SIG released a limited edition model called the Romeo5 XDR Predator model.
In the gun world, Predator can mean a lot of things. Typically Predator is a name applied to hunting optics, gun, camouflage finishes, and the like. The Predator namesake in this regard has nothing to do with hunting. It’s a reference to the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film featuring an alien-hunting A team of black ops commandos in the jungle. How does that translate to an optic?
Well, it’s all about the reticle. Or four reticles in this regard. The Romeo5 XDR predator features a simple 2 MOA dot, a dot and bottom line, a 12 MOA triangle, and a 12 MOA triangle with a 2 MOA dot in the center. If you recall the film the Predator, the villainous alien utilized a triangular aiming reticle to pick off his threats. That same reticle has been translated to this optic.
The Predator – Track ‘em Down.
When the CIA finally lets you stop pushing pencils and get some action, the Sig Romeo5 Predator is here for you. While red dot might be the colloquial term for these types of optics, it’s actually a green reticle. It’s quite bright, and users can go through 8 different daylight settings and 2-night vision settings.
The optic gets quite bright and has no problems being bright enough to be easily seen in the brightest parts of the day. At setting six, the optic is perfectly capable for high noon in Florida. At eight, it’s super bright, and with the bigger reticles, it’s insanely easy to see. I do like green dots and find them a bit softer on my eyes than red dots.
The controls are positioned on top of the optic so they can be considered ambidextrous. What I prefer about this setup versus a rotating ring is the clearer field of view overall. It’s less obstructed, and nothing protrudes into your vision.
This is AR height only, and you can’t swap the mount around. Part of that unobstructed vision I love so much results in the battery being located beneath the optic as part of the mount itself. The battery is a simple AAA setup, and who can hate AAAs? They are cheap, available everywhere, and do their job. According to SIG, the battery lasts 50K hours as well.
Size Wise
The Romeo5 Predator packs a 20mm objective lens, so the Predator falls right into the world of compact optics. It’s 1.4 inches wide, 2.5 inches long, and 2.59 inches tall. It’s a lightweight optic that weighs only 5.6 ounces. The little optic is perfect for two eyes opened shooting style. The Romeo5 Predator is a sweet little compact optic that doesn’t take much rail space or add much bulk to any rifle.
Mounting and Zeroing
A built-in mount with a simple hex-head bolt secures the optic to whatever gun you need it mounted to. Mounting took a whole six seconds, and my Micro Scorpion and I were up and running before we knew what was what. The adjustment turrets are exposed but recessed and require a flat head tool of some time to make adjustments.
Adjustment increments are 1 MOA, and while not the most precise, they make zeroing a red dot simple. I dialed it in from a rested position, and in short order, I zeroed the optic. To zero the optic, I used the simple 2 MOA dot. When you zero the optic, it’s much easier to use the 2 MOA dot than the big triangle, which crowds your view a bit.
The adjustments clicked and popped quite nicely. They are solid and tactile. It’s easy to feel each and every click and adjustment as you zero the little fella. Once on target, I swapped to the Predator traditional triangle and started letting lead fly.
At the Range
That big triangle reticle without the dot in the center is fun. It’s huge and very easy to see. Put the target in the center of the triangle and let loose. For big targets, it’s well suited for quick snapshots on target. A 12 MOA reticle is nothing to sneeze at. It’s huge, and huge grabs the eye, is easy to see, and is fast to get on target.
The downsides are that such a big reticle makes it tough to be precise with. I can’t see small targets like my 4-inch out to 25 to 50 yards. As a rifle optic, that makes it tough to use at longer ranges. Luckily you can just switch the 2 MOA dot and call it a day.
The 12 MOA triangle and 2 MOA dot seem to be the best option if you want size and some precision. The dot is what’s zeroed, and the triangle around it isn’t. I bought the Predator optic to use the Predator reticle, and that’s why I mounted it on the CZ Micro Scorpion. With the big reticle, it makes sense that it’s only useful at a relatively short range.
What’s the Reticle Good For?
I’d love to say there is some other benefit regarding the 12 MOA triangle. Does it work to compensate for height over bore? Nah, not really. Can it be used for range or windage? I guess so, but that’s not really its purpose. Ultimately the only real advantage the reticle offers is the size works well for speed.
The other XDR provides a better reticle for useful range estimation, and if you want practicality, take that route. If you want something fun, unique, and rather cool, then the Predator reticle is for you. It’s fun, unique, and a great little optic option for the sci-fi enthusiast.
(Imagine Weird Clicky Predator Noise Here)
SIG’s little Romeo5 Predator optic is a sweet little optic. I like the reticle but will admit it’s not entirely practical. It is fun, though, and does provide a massive reticle for engaging on the fly. The Predator has you covered if you want speed more than precision. Like the previous Romeo5 optics, the Predator offers a robust, affordable, and well-designed optic.