What’s the difference between Sig Romeo 5 vs Holosun 503c?
I wanted to find out, so I bought both red dot sights and hand-tested everything:
- Reticle
- Durability
- Battery life
- Field of view
- And so much more
By the end of this Sig Romeo 5 Vs Holosun 503c comparison review, you’ll know which red dot is best for you.
Let’s get started!
Quick Comparison Table
Features | Sig Romeo 5 | Holosun 503c |
|---|---|---|
MOA | 2 | 2 |
Magnification | 1x | 1x |
Eye Relief | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Battery Life | 50,000 Hours | 50,000 Hours + solar panel |
Weight | 5.29 ounces | 4.23 ounces |
Price | Under $300 | Under $300 |
Sig Romeo 5 vs Holosun 503c Review
Red dot sights are some of my favorites to use. They’re versatile and much better for precision over iron sights. Two of my favorite manufacturers are Sig Sauer and Holosun.
It only makes sense that I’d want to know which was better in the argument of the Sig Romeo 5 vs Holosun 503c. While there are a lot of similarities between them, one had an edge for me.
If you’re wanting the details about these two fantastic red dots, keep reading!
Glass Clarity & Reticle
We’ll start with how the Sig Romeo 5 and the Holosun 503c are similar. They both have a 2 MOA dot reticle with a 1x magnification.
I really enjoyed how easy it was to change the Holosun to a circle dot reticle. It opened up my sight view a little more for close-quarters targets. As far as the sight picture goes, both red dots were pretty much the same.
Both sights let me lock on and pivot to new targets quickly. I didn’t have any issues with accuracy within a reasonable red dot range.
In regards to the lens coating, the Sig Romeo 5 was protected with a spectra coating.
The 503c has a multi-coated lens, so I didn’t have any glare on the circle dot reticle.
Light transmission might have been a little better with the 503c, but the two sights were almost dead even. Ironically, the two are almost more alike than the 503c and the Holosun 510c.
Winner: Holosun 503c has a slight advantage. While both sights are very similar, the Holosun can swap to a circle dot for a little more versatility.
I will say that the 503c can only use the circle dot on solar power. It also has an adjustable brightness with 11 different levels.
If you want a Holosun red dot, you might want to check out the 510c.
Battery Life
One of my favorite features about the Sig Romeo 5 is the motion-activated illumination.
Shortened to MOTAC, my Romeo 5 doesn’t turn on until it senses movement.
Once I put it down, the optic turns off to conserve its CR2032 long battery life. All in all, the Sig Romeo’s battery life can last for 50,000 hours of use.
The Holosun 503c has a CR2032 battery compartment as well, with the same 50,000 hours of long battery life. It can also run on solar power thanks to a solar panel on the optic.
If used exclusively in the daytime, your Holosun 503c could last forever.
Winner: Sig Romeo 5, unless you only shoot during the day. Because of the solar panel, the 503c is very close when it comes to which battery life is better.
However, the MOTAC system on my Sig Romeo 5 means that it will conserve battery life no matter what time of day it is. So, hypothetically, the Romeo 5 battery life can last longer overall.
Eye Relief & Eye Box
As with any red dot sights, the Sig Romeo 5 and Holosun 503c both have unlimited eye relief.
They both have an objective lens that’s 20mm, so I didn’t have any problems seeing clearly.
With the 1x magnification, I could make out any target I set my sights on with ease.
Another similarity that’s worth noting is that both sights are parallax-free, too.
Winner: Both. With so many similarities between the two on eye relief, objective lens size, and a clear sight picture, it’s impossible to pick a winner.
Durability & Weight
I love both the feel of both of these red dot sights.
The Sig Romeo 5 is one meter waterproof and only weighs 5.29 ounces.
My Romeo 5 is rated IPX-7 as opposed to the IPX-6 rating of the Holosun 503c.
The Holosun weighs less at 4.23 ounces, but it’s slightly bigger in dimensions than the Romeo 5, so it takes up a little more space on my weapons.
The 503c is also good underwater up to one meter.
Both red dots are built with aluminum, so they can both take a beating.
The Romeo 5 and Holosun 503 are both made of aircraft-grade aluminum.
I haven’t had any problems with either one breaking or getting damaged, so once again I find that they’re pretty close.
They’re also both fog-proof and shock-proof.
Winner: Sig Romeo 5. It’s hard to choose between the two, but I like the dimensions a little more with my Romeo 5.
Now, compared to the Romeo 4, the 503c would be the winner here.
Windage, Elevation, & Brightness Knob
Both of these red dot sights have windage and elevation adjustment knobs.
These are easily changed using a small tool that comes with them out of the box. If you have trouble finding the knobs, you can always try using a Youtube tutorial.
As for the brightness, the Sig Romeo 5 has 10 brightness levels.
The last 2 are night-vision capable, but I haven’t any issues seeing the crisp dot under any brightness setting.
The Holosun has 11 brightness levels.
Like the Romeo 5, I can see the red dot under any lighting condition.
If you’re trying to use the circle dot, though, you can only use that during the day with solar power for some reason.
Winner: Holosun 503c. Since the 503c has an extra brightness level and the other knobs are similar, it makes sense that Holosun has a leg up.
Both sights perform similarly to the Aimpoint ACO, if you want another option.
Though, if you go that route, you might want to look at the Aimpoint PRO.
Mounting
I haven’t any issues mounting either of these red dot sights.
The Sig Romeo 5 comes with a low- and high-mount Picatinny rail.
I’ve been able to put it on almost anything in my arsenal.
Holosun’s 503c comes with an absolute co-witness mount.
I can put it on most of the same things as my Romeo 5, though my Sig can mount on my crossbow and the 503c can’t.
The adjustment for either one is .5 MOA per click, so they’re both easy to angle once they’re mounted.
If you want even better control and performance, you might want the Sig Romeo 7.
Winner: Sig Romeo 5. Both red dots mount easily on a number of weapons, but the Romeo 5 is a little more versatile with mount options. I love it on my AR pistol or my rifle.
Price
If you want a great red dot sight for the value, either choice is solid.
The Sig Sauer Romeo 5 runs anywhere from $200-250 depending where you shop and if it’s on sale.
- -2 MOA Red-Dot provides 10 illumination settings (8 daylight plus 2 NV) for visibility in all light conditions
- -MOTAC (Motion Activated Illumination) powers up when it senses motion and powers down when it does not. Provides for optimum operational safety and enhanced 40,000+ hour battery life
- -Integrated M1913 Picatinny interface provides industry-standard mounting options for a wide range of applications
I got my Holosun for closer to $280, which is still a fantastic value for less than $300.
Manufacturer warranties for both are great, too.
- Product Type: Aiming Scope Sight
- Package Height: 11.937 Centimeters
- Package Length: 7.62 Centimeters
Holosun offers a warranty on any material or quality defects, with a 5-year warranty on the optics and brightness systems.
Sig Sauer has a 5-year warranty on electronic components and a lifetime warranty on the electro-optics.
Winner: Sig Romeo 5. Whether you go with the cost or the warranty value, the Romeo 5 is better.
It’s worth saying that both red dot sights offer a lot of features for under $300, though.
If you’re looking for a budget red dot close to the same price, you might like the Holosun 403b.
Sig Romeo 5 vs Holosun 503c: Which Red Dot Sight is Better?
As much as I love both red dot sights, I have to pick the Sig Romeo 5 as my favorite.
The Romeo 5 is a little smaller and I’ve got more mounting options.
- -2 MOA Red-Dot provides 10 illumination settings (8 daylight plus 2 NV) for visibility in all light conditions
- -MOTAC (Motion Activated Illumination) powers up when it senses motion and powers down when it does not. Provides for optimum operational safety and enhanced 40,000+ hour battery life
- -Integrated M1913 Picatinny interface provides industry-standard mounting options for a wide range of applications
For about $50 less on average, I also love the MOTAC system for fantastic battery life conservation.
Other than that, both red dots had the same eye relief, lens clarity, and durability.
FAQ
While some of their optics are co-branded with Primary Arms, Holosun and Primary Arms are two separate manufacturers.
The Sig Romeo 5 uses motion-activated illumination, which is basically the same thing. It turns on when it senses motion and turns off when you holster your weapon or aren’t using it.
Both the Romeo 5 and the Holosun 503c red dot sight use a CR2032 battery.
Hi. Great review! I heard that the Romeo 5 is actually made by Holosun. I could be wrong though. I have the Romeo 5 and it’s performed perfectly thus far.
Thanks.
I’ve had several sig Romeo 5’s and Holosun 403 B’s. Since both can be had for about $120 if you watch online sales, the comparison should be between these two.. The Holosun riser is a little taller, allowing lower 1/3 cowitness where the Sig allows absolute with F marked height sights.
I have astigmatism, and have learned that the lower brightness settings on both solved the blurry dot problem.
So, the riser height determines which one I use on a particular weapon, or either one on most.
I like them equally, both deserve high marks for the cost.
Oh…. I did knock a Sig off center once, but it fell off the golf HARD! It’s now scratched, but still working.