Background: I like red dots on competition and carry guns. I test back to back and for everything except pure point shooting, there is a distinct advantage for me to shoot with a red dot... even at 7 yards at a fast pace.
For example, with a P365XL I was able to score 147/150 on the December Challenge Federal Air Marshal handgun qualification test which is rapid fire on a small target at 7 yards from concealed draw and with transitions.
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I could not do as well with iron sights.
At this point because of my USPSA Carry Optics practice, I have 20k+ rounds with RDS in the past 5 months and lots of dry fire hours on presentation and transitions.
I currently have a Shield RMSc on the P365XL and have been waiting on the cheaper Romeo Zero to come out.
I know both are not as robust as an RMR, but they both have integrated back up rear sights that co-witness with the factory front sight. They are likely “durable enough” for my use on a carry gun as long as the back up sights are usable.
@cowboy1964 and I have been waiting for our Optics Planet orders to get in from Sig. late December is the current guesstimate.
The Romeo Zero is an $180 optic and the Shield RMSc is a $400 optic that is sold out almost everywhere.
So today, I got in a transfer of another gun. A duplicate practice gun since I like my XL so much. A like new P365XL with another RMSc already mounted, for the price of $770. Basically I’m getting the optic for $200 which is a bargain since they’re not easily available.
When I went to the store, they happened to have a P365XL with a Romeo Zero already mounted that I was able to handle and compare!
So this is my initial impression of the RMSc vs. Romeo Zero on 365XLs.
RMSc:
Aluminum housing and aluminum back up sights.
Thinner lens frame.
Known to be damaged on drop tests.
Co-witness with front sight.
Bright auto adjust dot.
$380-400 street price.
Romeo Zero:
Polymer housing and polymer back up sights.
Thick lens frame.
Probably will also damage on drop tests.
Co-witness with front sight, but the bottom edge of the lens and frame cut the front iron dot in half.
Bright auto adjust dot.
$180-200 street price.
If price was the same, I very much prefer the RMSc. The Romeo Zero feels cheap and the thick polymer frame is a little distracting and it seems to reduce the window size on an already small optic. I also don’t like the idea of polymer sights on guns, but that’s a personal preference not a requirement.
Is it worth twice the price of the Romeo Zero? I’m not sure. But to me (and the guys at the shop) it was no contest in the head to head comparison the preference for the RMSc from a straight optic standpoint.
I’ll update the impressions when I get my Romeo Zeros in. But barring impressive drop and durability testing of the Zero, I don’t see that it will be going on to a primary carry gun of mine anytime soon.
For example, with a P365XL I was able to score 147/150 on the December Challenge Federal Air Marshal handgun qualification test which is rapid fire on a small target at 7 yards from concealed draw and with transitions.
I could not do as well with iron sights.
At this point because of my USPSA Carry Optics practice, I have 20k+ rounds with RDS in the past 5 months and lots of dry fire hours on presentation and transitions.
I currently have a Shield RMSc on the P365XL and have been waiting on the cheaper Romeo Zero to come out.
I know both are not as robust as an RMR, but they both have integrated back up rear sights that co-witness with the factory front sight. They are likely “durable enough” for my use on a carry gun as long as the back up sights are usable.
@cowboy1964 and I have been waiting for our Optics Planet orders to get in from Sig. late December is the current guesstimate.
The Romeo Zero is an $180 optic and the Shield RMSc is a $400 optic that is sold out almost everywhere.
So today, I got in a transfer of another gun. A duplicate practice gun since I like my XL so much. A like new P365XL with another RMSc already mounted, for the price of $770. Basically I’m getting the optic for $200 which is a bargain since they’re not easily available.
When I went to the store, they happened to have a P365XL with a Romeo Zero already mounted that I was able to handle and compare!
So this is my initial impression of the RMSc vs. Romeo Zero on 365XLs.
RMSc:
Aluminum housing and aluminum back up sights.
Thinner lens frame.
Known to be damaged on drop tests.
Co-witness with front sight.
Bright auto adjust dot.
$380-400 street price.
Romeo Zero:
Polymer housing and polymer back up sights.
Thick lens frame.
Probably will also damage on drop tests.
Co-witness with front sight, but the bottom edge of the lens and frame cut the front iron dot in half.
Bright auto adjust dot.
$180-200 street price.
If price was the same, I very much prefer the RMSc. The Romeo Zero feels cheap and the thick polymer frame is a little distracting and it seems to reduce the window size on an already small optic. I also don’t like the idea of polymer sights on guns, but that’s a personal preference not a requirement.
Is it worth twice the price of the Romeo Zero? I’m not sure. But to me (and the guys at the shop) it was no contest in the head to head comparison the preference for the RMSc from a straight optic standpoint.
I’ll update the impressions when I get my Romeo Zeros in. But barring impressive drop and durability testing of the Zero, I don’t see that it will be going on to a primary carry gun of mine anytime soon.
