Over the last year some of the best reflex sights the market has seen made their way to consumers. Determining the “best” can feel overwhelming. With competition carry optics division in mind, I’ve set out to help you find the right optic for you.
For this review, I headed to the range to put some optics through their paces. To test these optics, I popped them on the Sig Sauer P320 X5 Legion — one of the most popular carry optics guns today. Of course, these can be mounted to most any optics-ready handgun. All of these optics offer rugged housings and scratch resistant/fog-resistant lenses. Windage adjustments are 1 MOA clicks and resiliency to recoil is no issue.
Leupold Delta Point Pro
The Delta Point Pro on the Sig Sauer P320 X-Five Legion. (Photo: Taylor Thorne/Guns.com)
Released a few years ago, the Leupold Delta Point Pro remains relevant in the optics world compared to the up and comers. Over the years, it has proven itself as a reliable go-to choice.
The Delta Point Pro is one of two optics that direct mount to the P320 X5 — a big selling point.
It offers a wide field of view and a clear crisp dot in 2.5 or 7.5 MOA. Leupold does provide an optional rear iron sight should you choose to co-witness.
The Delta Point Pro direct mounts to the Sig P320 X5. (Photo: Taylor Thorne/Guns.com)
One of my favorite features on this particular optic is the battery saving motion sensor technology. This tech will automatically deactivate illumination after 5 minutes and reawaken upon movement. Something that comes in real handy at the range! The battery tray requires no tools, which is a plus.
The ergonomics are simple with everything accomplished using the center button sitting on top of the battery. The gun does need to be tilted when checking for brightness due to this design – an annoyance, but not a deal-breaker. Picking up targets and transitioning is no problem and feels natural.
Specifications
- Height x width: 1.3-inches x 1.3-inches
- Weight: 1.95-ounces
- Battery life: Unspecified by Leupold; however, I’ve used this red dot for years and replace the battery once a year as a precaution.
- Waterproof: 100%
- Warranty: Unlimited lifetime
Trijicon SRO
The SRO offers a wide field of view. (Photo: Taylor Thorne/Guns.com)
Released in 2019, the Trijicon SRO started popping up on the range with its wide reticle spotted from afar. Trijicon included a wide field of view, which is amazing, and the ergonomics are fantastic. A large up-button on one side and down-button on the other will turn it on or off and adjust brightness. One can look through the sight when making adjustments which makes tweaking settings a no-brainer. The SRO has automatic brightness adjustment modes which can be locked in, though I personally prefer the manual modes.
For those accustomed to C-More, the “original” competition optic, look no further. The round lens gives an air of familiarity yet has more glass and is lighter. Battery life is also much better. My one quip centers on the battery tray which sports large slots. These require a thick screwdriver instead of a quarter, spent casing or thin screwdriver commonly used as on-the-spot tools.
A bonus to the SRO design is its compatibility with suppressor-height iron sights. The SRO is offered in 1.0, 2.5 or 5.0 MOA. Unless you shoot Bullseye, stick with the 2.5 or 5.0 MOA. I tried both and either size is great and comes down to personal preference.
The optic is tall compared to its competitors, resulting in more vertical vision. Every time I picked up the gun, the dot was right there and ready. Trijicon typically has a coating on optics which give off a blue hue, but thankfully, the SRO was saved from this. It has only the slightest tint to the glass.
It’s worth noting that, compared to its sibling optic the RMR, the SRO has reportedly seen less durability in the field with models occasionally breaking during use.
Specifications
- Height x width: 2.2-inches x 1.3-inches
- Weight: 1.6-ounces
- Battery life: 3 years at setting 4 of 8
- Waterproof: Up to 10-feet
- Warranty: 3 years to the original owner
Sig Sauer Romeo3MAX
The Sig Sauer Romeo3Max is a collab between Max Michel and Sig. (Photo: Taylor Thorne/Guns.com)
The Romeo3MAX is another high-end reflex sight released in 2019. With an array of Sig-branded microdots to choose, what makes this noteworthy?
The Romeo3MAX was the result of a collaboration between Sig Sauer and Team Sig Shooting Captain Max Michel. Michel previously used the Romeo during competition but tweaked the design to produce the new Romeo3MAX.
The Romeo3Max comes in 3 or 6 MOA and brings nice features such as motion-activated illumination. This tech powers up or down based on the motion of the gun. The red dot also touts a red notch reflector offering better brightness, according to Sig. Compared to other optics, I felt the brightness was on par.
This optic is great for PCC. (Photo: Taylor Thorne/Guns.com)
The ergonomics are okay, at best. Two small buttons on the side adjust brightness and serve as the on/off switch. The biggest drawback comes down to adjustments and battery replacement. The Romeo3MAX requires a small Allen wrench for windage adjustments and battery swaps.
The battery tray is upgraded over its predecessor as it will stay in place and is tightly secured to avoid any mishaps. A very notable benefit of this optic is the low profile Picatinny mount – a must-consider for Pistol Caliber Carbines as the holdover is extraordinarily minimal.
Specifications
- Height x width: 1.3-inches x 1.2-inches
- Weight: 1.5-ounces
- Battery life: 20,000 hours
- Waterproof: Up to 3-feet
- Warranty: Unlimited lifetime, 5 years on electronic components
Sig Sauer Romeo1PRO
The Romeo1Pro from Sig Sauer is the smallest of these optics. (Photo: Taylor Thorne/Guns.com)
The Romeo1PRO is a unicorn of sorts — always out of stock and rarely seen on the range. That being said, I was jazzed to try it out as it directly mounts to the P320.
Sig improved dot brightness with a new point-source emitter featuring 12 settings. Compared to the Romeo1 at normal brightness the clarity is slightly better; however, at brighter settings, I found the dot created an incredible starburst. In fairness, this could relate to my own astigmatism, but this was the only optic I saw a starburst pattern while using.
The ergonomics of the Romeo1PRO are very similar to the Romeo3MAX, with the only difference being windage adjustments. Windage is tweaked with a small screwdriver, though the top-loading battery tray requires a slightly larger screwdriver. Like the Romeo3MAX it also comes with motion sensor technology.
Compared to other optics, it features the smallest field of vision. The width is comparable to the Delta Point Pro, but the height is slightly lower. Putting it through some drills it’s a solid optic, and worth considering. Compared to the others, though, the Romeo1PRO provides the smallest window and no real stand-out options.
If you loved the Romeo1 or are looking for something more affordable, this is the optic. Keep in mind, it is not compatible with slides cut for the Romeo1.
Specifications
- Height x width: 1.1-inches x 1.2-inches
- Weight: 1.0-ounces
- Battery life: 20,000 hours
- Waterproof: Up to 3-feet
- Warranty: Unlimited lifetime, 5 years on electronic components
Final Thoughts
From left to right: Leupold Delta Point Pro, Trijicon SRO, Sig Sauer Romeo3Max and Sig Sauer Romeo1Pro. (Photo: Taylor Thorne/Guns.com)
Specifically, with competition or even the serious range-goer, clarity of glass, field of view, quality of dot and ergonomics are all features to consider. Overall, all of these optics meet these basic requirements and prove themselves as high-end offerings.
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