# ScopeDOPE™ — Competitive Analysis & Feature Roadmap

**Reference Spec:** SPEC.md v0.9.6-beta4
**Comparator:** Kestrel 5700 Elite Weather Meter with Applied Ballistics and LiNK ($769 MSRP)
**Status:** Active
**Version and date:** see Revision Control Block at the end of this document

---

## Document Purpose

This document provides a structured competitive analysis of ScopeDOPE against the Kestrel 5700 Elite — the current market leader in dedicated ballistic calculator hardware — and identifies the remaining feature roadmap. This document does **not** alter SPEC.md. All items designated for implementation must be reflected in SPEC.md before or alongside code changes.

---

## Table of Contents

1. [Comparator Profile](#1-comparator-profile)
2. [ScopeDOPE Advantages](#2-scopedope-advantages)
   - [2.10 Wisconsin Barrel Maker Bundle Partnerships](#210-wisconsin-barrel-maker-bundle-partnerships--unique-distribution-channel)
   - [2.11 Optics Partnership Targets — No-App and Weak-App Brands](#211-optics-partnership-targets--no-app-and-weak-app-brands)
3. [Kestrel 5700 Elite Advantages](#3-kestrel-5700-elite-advantages)
4. [Gap Summary Table](#4-gap-summary-table)
5. [V1 Remaining Items](#5-v1-remaining-items)
6. [V2 Recommendations — Strategic Additions](#6-v2-recommendations--strategic-additions)
   - [6.7 WeatherFlow-Tempest Partnership Roadmap](#67-weatherflow-tempest-partnership-roadmap)
7. [Strategic Positioning Note](#7-strategic-positioning-note)
8. [IP Protection Priority Order](#8-ip-protection-priority-order)
9. [Open Items](#9-open-items)

---

## 1. Comparator Profile

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Product | Kestrel 5700 Elite Weather Meter with Applied Ballistics and LiNK |
| Manufacturer | Nielsen-Kellerman (Kestrel) + Applied Ballistics (Bryan Litz) |
| MSRP | $769 (verified 2026-06-09) |
| Form factor | Dedicated hardware — handheld weather meter + ballistic solver |
| Solver engine | Applied Ballistics (AB) — G1/G7 + Litz-measured BC library (225+ bullets) |
| Bullet data | Litz-measured BCs from Doppler radar; the most accurate published source for modern match bullets |
| Environmental sensing | Native — wind speed, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, altitude; all on-device |
| Rangefinder integration | LiNK BLE — Sig Kilo, Leica, Vortex, and other compatible rangefinders |
| Field calibration | Yes — user shoots at known distances, app adjusts correction; corrections are additive, not foundational |
| Corrections | Spin drift, Coriolis, aerodynamic jump, moving target lead, MV-temperature sensitivity |
| Output | On-screen table; no printing capability |
| Competition pedigree | Official weather meter and ballistic calculator of the Precision Rifle Series (PRS) — confirmed for the 2025 season (most recent publicly announced; 2026 status not yet confirmed as of 2026-06-09) |
| Business model | Hardware purchase; no subscription |

---

## 2. ScopeDOPE Advantages

### 2.1 Reality-Based Solving (Core Differentiator)

This is the most important distinction in the entire comparison and must be the anchor of all marketing copy.

The Kestrel 5700 Elite runs pure physics — it applies atmospheric corrections to a theoretical trajectory derived from a BC and muzzle velocity. Its "field calibration" feature allows an additive correction based on observed impacts, but that correction is bolt-on. The underlying model remains theoretical.

ScopeDOPE inverts this relationship through DOPE-Blend field-correction. Confirmed range impacts are **the foundation** of the solution; physics is the layer that fills the gaps between them. Every shooter arrives with range data — three confirmed impacts is all it takes to anchor the firing solution to their specific rifle. From session one, ScopeDOPE produces corrections that absorb barrel wear, seating depth variation, suppressor shift, lot-to-lot BC variation, and every other real-world factor that pure physics cannot model. The more DOPE entries, the tighter the correction — but the advantage begins immediately.

The distinction from the Kestrel's "field calibration" is structural, not cosmetic: the Kestrel starts from theory and nudges it toward reality; ScopeDOPE starts from reality and uses theory only to interpolate. One is a correction applied to a guess. The other is a guess applied only where no measurement exists.

This is not a marketing claim. It is an architectural truth.

### 2.2 Physical Label Output

No competing product — at any price — produces a printed scope sticker. The Kestrel has no printing capability. Applied Ballistics apps have no printing capability. This feature is genuinely novel in the market and has zero direct competition.

### 2.3 Price

| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| ScopeDOPE (launch) | $29.99 |
| ScopeDOPE (primary) | $44.99 |
| Kestrel 5700 Elite (Applied Ballistics + LiNK) | $769 (verified 2026-06-09) |
| Kestrel 5700 w/ Hornady 4DOF | $559 (verified 2026-06-09) |
| Applied Ballistics — AB Mobile (iOS/Android) | ~$19.99/yr subscription |
| Applied Ballistics — AB Quantum (iOS/Android) | Free "Ultralite" tier; Elite at $2.99/mo or $19.99/yr (verified 2026-06-09) |

The immediate addressable market is every shooter who currently uses a phone app, a web calculator, or handwritten DOPE cards — a substantially larger population than dedicated Kestrel users. But displacement of the Kestrel, particularly the non-Elite tiers and newer shooters, is a deliberate long-term goal.

### 2.4 No Accounts / No Subscriptions / Fully Offline

**The competitive landscape moved here, so the messaging has to be precise.** In December 2024 Applied Ballistics launched AB Quantum with a free "Ultralite" tier. "Free vs. paid" alone is therefore no longer the clean line it once was, and any copy that implies competitors have no free option is now wrong and will be called out.

The durable differentiator is not price — it is the **structure** of the product. Look at how AB Quantum is actually built:

| | AB Quantum (Applied Ballistics) | ScopeDOPE |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes — "Ultralite," but **range-capped (~800 yd)** and **limited to 5 profiles** | N/A — one-time purchase, full product |
| Paid tiers | **Elite** ($2.99/mo or $19.99/yr) lifts range to ~3,300 yd and unlocks reticles; **Pro** adds WEZ, AB Spotter, integrations, etc. | None — every feature is in the one purchase |
| How you "unlock" | Recurring subscription, **or** pair an AB-Elite-licensed device (e.g., a Kestrel) | Nothing to unlock |
| Cloud component | **AB Quantum Sync uploads profiles to AB's encrypted servers** | No server; data stays on the device |
| Core gating | The thing a long-range shooter most needs — range past 800 yd — is **behind the paywall** | Nothing is gated |

Read that structure plainly: AB's free tier is an **upsell funnel**. It is deliberately capped at the exact capability a serious shooter will outgrow in a season (range and profile count), which converts the free user into a subscriber. ScopeDOPE is the inverse — the paid app is the whole product, bought once, with no tier above it to climb to and no feature withheld to motivate an upgrade.

**So the claim is not "we're free and they're not."** It is three things that remain true regardless of competitor pricing:

1. **No account, no server.** ScopeDOPE never uploads your data anywhere — there is nothing to sync, nothing to breach, nothing to lose access to. AB Quantum Sync, by contrast, puts your profiles on AB's servers.
2. **No subscription wall on core capability.** ScopeDOPE doesn't cap your range, your profiles, or your features behind a recurring fee. The shooter who buys it owns the whole thing.
3. **Fully offline, every feature, every time.** No connectivity dependency in the field, ever.

**Copy guidance:** lead with no-account + fully-offline + no-feature-gating. Do not lead with "no subscription" as if it implies competitors charge for everything — they now have a free tier. The honest, stronger frame is: *"Their free version stops at 800 yards. ScopeDOPE doesn't stop, doesn't subscribe, and doesn't phone home."* (Verify AB tier details before any head-to-head published use — see §7.2; AB pricing/limits verified 2026-06-09 but subject to change.)

### 2.5 Session Portability

The `.dope` file format enables cross-device session sharing, backup, and transfer — a capability that does not exist in dedicated hardware or most competing apps. A shooter can start a session on their phone at the range, share it with a training partner, archive it after a match, and load it on a new device without losing a single confirmed impact. No Kestrel can do this. No competing app has a documented, portable session format.

### 2.6 The `.dope` Open Standard — Community Contribution and Competitive Confidence

Cold Bore Ballistics™ developed the `.dope` file format and is releasing it to the community as a free and open standard under a **Custom Open Specification License** — free to implement for any purpose, royalty-free, with attribution to Cold Bore Ballistics LLC required. Cold Bore Ballistics LLC is the authoritative version publisher and retains stewardship and certification rights. This is not CC0. Competitors are explicitly welcome to implement it.

**Licensing:** The `.dope` format is published under a Custom Open Specification License — free to implement for any purpose, royalty-free, with attribution required. Cold Bore Ballistics LLC is the authoritative version publisher. A "Certified .dope Compatible" certification program is planned at ~5,000 installs. This is not CC0 — attribution and format integrity are preserved.

This is a deliberate act of confidence, not charity.

The implicit statement is: *"We are so certain that ScopeDOPE does more with this data than anyone else can, that we are handing the format to everyone — including the competition — and inviting them to try."* No company gives away its data format unless it believes the format is not the product. The product is what ScopeDOPE does with the data.

It is also a genuine contribution to the precision rifle community. Shooter data has historically been locked in proprietary formats, siloed per-app, and lost when a developer abandons a product. The `.dope` standard changes that: sessions are portable, durable, and readable by any future tool that chooses to implement the spec.

**Competitive implications:**
- Any tool that adopts `.dope` implicitly validates ScopeDOPE as the format's originator
- Cross-app portability removes a switching barrier — but ScopeDOPE is the app shooters are switching *to*
- Community goodwill from an open standard is not easily purchased by a hardware manufacturer

**Marketing use:** This story is most effective with technically engaged shooters and the precision rifle media. It signals confidence, community values, and long-term thinking — attributes that resonate strongly with the target audience.

### 2.7 Public Feature Voting and Bug Reporting (v1.1.0)

No competing ballistic calculator operates a public feature voting board or structured bug reporting system. Community feedback for those products flows through App Store reviews and forum threads — passive, fragmented, largely one-way.

ScopeDOPE adds a public feature request and bug reporting board — integrated into both the website and the app, with user voting to surface what matters most — in the **v1.1.0** release (not at v1.0 launch). Do not present it as available in launch copy until v1.1.0 ships. As a structural advantage it is a direct one:

- **Community ownership:** A shooter who voted for a feature and sees it ship becomes an unpaid advocate.
- **Retention signal:** Visible response to bug reports signals active maintenance.
- **Roadmap transparency:** Vote counts demonstrate data-driven development decisions.
- **Acquisition asset:** Validated feature demand with vote counts is a due diligence data point.

**The one commitment this requires:** The response loop must close. A voting board where features accumulate votes and nothing moves is worse than no voting board.

### 2.8 Community DOPE Library — Data Exchange Program (V1.5)

Good DOPE data is genuinely hard to find. Published BC values are theoretical. Field-fired confirmation data — with documented environmental conditions, verified distances, and confirmed impacts — is rare and currently siloed per shooter. No product on the market has solved this.

ScopeDOPE is positioned to solve it through a community data exchange: users voluntarily submit validated DOPE sessions in exchange for credits redeemable for Cold Bore Ballistics branded merchandise — hats, shirts, and other apparel. Credit tier reflects data quality:

| Credit | Value | Data Quality Required |
|---|---|---|
| **Gold** | $8.00 | 85%+ env. completeness (all 5 fields); 3+ confirmed impacts at 2+ distances; ammo lot recorded; cold bore session noted |
| **Silver** | $3.00 | 40–84% env. completeness; 2+ confirmed impacts at 1+ distance; ammo name recorded |
| **Bronze** | $1.00 | Below 40% env. completeness; at least 1 confirmed impact |

**Merchandise redemption table:**

| Item | Retail | Gold submissions needed | Silver submissions needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Velcro patch | ~$13.50 | 2 | 5 |
| Beanie | ~$28 | 4 | 10 |
| Tier 3 hat (Flexfit) | ~$43 | 6 | 15 |
| Tier 2 hat (Richardson) | ~$47 | 6 | 16 |
| Tier 1 hat (59FIFTY) | $99 | 13 | 33 |
| T-shirt (Comfort Colors) | ~$38 | 5 | 13 |
| Quarter-zip | ~$58 | 8 | 20 |
| Hoodie (ITC IND4000) | ~$72 | 9 | 24 |
| Custom label roll | $9.99 | 2 | 4 |

**Implementation constraint (§4.6):** The credit system requires identity — it must be implemented as an opt-in Community Account add-on. The core app remains fully functional without any account.

**The dataset is proprietary.** Submissions are anonymized and validated internally. The collected data is not published or shared — it is a Cold Bore Ballistics asset used to improve the accuracy of the community BC library within ScopeDOPE.

**Why this is a competitive advantage:**
- Every submission improves CBB's proprietary BC library — users benefit through better predictions inside the app; raw data is CBB-only
- The dataset compounds over time — a growing, validated proprietary library becomes increasingly difficult for any competitor to replicate
- Kestrel's BC library is static and closed; this grows continuously with the user base
- Directly addresses the Litz measured BC gap (§6.1) through real-world data rather than a licensing deal

**The swag angle is not a gimmick.** A shooter wearing a ScopeDOPE hat at a PRS or NRL22 match is a visible, credible endorsement in front of exactly the right audience. Cost of goods is a marketing expense with direct exposure to the target market — more efficient than digital advertising to a community that is skeptical of it.

**Data quality safeguards (TBD):**
Preventing low-quality or fabricated data from contaminating the library is the hard problem. Specific validation approach deferred. Candidate mechanisms: outlier detection against physics predictions, multi-submitter consensus on same load/conditions, per-submitter reputation scoring, manual review tier for Gold submissions.

**Timing:** Do not launch at v1.0. Core app, DOPE database infrastructure, and web store must exist first. Target v1.5 or v2.0. Pre-launch action: note in SPEC.md §19 under Future Monetization.

**Status:** Concept — target v1.5. See `CBB_MERCH_ANALYSIS.md` for full product lineup, pricing, margins, and credit system design. See also §6.1.

### 2.10 Wisconsin Barrel Maker Bundle Partnerships — Unique Distribution Channel

No competing ballistic app has a distribution partnership with a barrel manufacturer. Cold Bore Ballistics has a geographic and demographic advantage: Wisconsin is the historical epicenter of American precision rifle barrel manufacturing. Krieger (Richfield, WI — 45 min from Mukwonago), Bartlein, Criterion, and Brux are all within driving distance and all serve the exact ScopeDOPE demographic.

**The activation moment:** when a shooter installs a new barrel, their DOPE resets to zero. ScopeDOPE is the tool that rebuilds it. An activation code bundled in the barrel box — physically or as a QR code on the packing slip — delivers value on the exact day the shooter needs it most.

**Commercial structure — three options:**
- **Option A — Wholesale codes (preferred):** barrel maker purchases codes at $20–25/code and includes one with every barrel. Predictable revenue, no tracking required. At Krieger's barrel prices ($300–$600+), a $25 app code is rounding error for the customer experience it creates.
- **Option B — Revenue share with referral code:** unique referral code per barrel maker; shooter gets ~$5 off; Cold Bore pays commission per redemption. No upfront cost, fully trackable, built-in incentive to include the code in every package.
- **Option C — Complimentary codes (pre-launch seed only):** small batch at launch to seed community presence with Krieger before formal commercial terms. One-time tactic only — transition to A or B immediately after.

**Priority order:** Krieger first → Bartlein (after Krieger established) → Brux (parallel with Bartlein) → Criterion (at scale). See COLD_BORE_STARTUP_GUIDE.md §3.5 and §4 for outreach timeline and contacts.

---

### 2.9 Recommended Sensor Pairing — WeatherFlow WEATHERmeter for Precision Shooting

The WeatherFlow WEATHERmeter for Precision Shooting (~$99.95) is the recommended sensor pairing for ScopeDOPE. This is stated in all marketing materials as an honest product recommendation — no formal agreement is required for that claim, and no formal agreement currently exists.

A formal reseller/bundle partnership with WeatherFlow-Tempest is on the roadmap at ~1,000 ScopeDOPE installs. See §6.7 for the full partnership roadmap and company profile.

### 2.11 Optics Partnership Targets — No-App and Weak-App Brands

Several up-and-coming optics brands competing in PRS/NRL22 have no ballistic app or a weak/basic one. Each represents a partnership distribution channel: an activation code or community endorsement from the scope brand puts ScopeDOPE in front of their users at the point of sale. See `OPTICS_PARTNERSHIP_TARGETS.md` for full analysis, partnership pitches, and contact details.

| Brand | Status | App Gap | Priority | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Apex Optics** | CA; #7 PRS pros, growing; Nemesis just launched | No app for scope users | **Immediate** | ~500 installs |
| **Arken Optics** | Budget NRL22/PRS dominant; TL3000 WMLRF companion app vaporware | Weak + explicitly in-development gap | **Immediate** | Pre-launch community; formal at launch |
| **Tract Optics** | DTC, PA; PRS/ELR; Impact Ballistics = BDC web tool only | No DOPE management, no lot tracking, no printing | **Near-term** | ~1,000 installs |
| **Element Optics** | Value PRS tier; existing app = calculator only | No DOPE mgmt, no confirmed impacts, no labels | Near-term | ~1,000 installs |
| **Athlon Optics** | Mid-price PRS/NRL22; large community | No app at all | Near-term | ~2,000 installs |
| **ZCO** | Most-represented scope among top-200 PRS pros (~45 of 200, ≈22%; leads the top 25) — per ZCO/PrecisionRifleBlog, 2025 season | No app; Kestrel/AB users — print + lot data is the pitch | At scale | ~3,000 installs |
| **Kahles** | Austrian premium; K540i DLR (released Feb 2025) a fast-rising favorite among serious competitors | No app; US distributor contact required | At scale | ~5,000 installs |

**Not partnership targets:** Revic Radikl (integrated onboard ballistic computer — direct competition); Nightforce (Kestrel/AB ecosystem, addressed separately); Sig Sauer KILO rangefinder integration (see §6.2).

---

## 3. Kestrel 5700 Elite Advantages

### 3.1 Ballistics Engine Completeness

| Correction | Kestrel 5700 Elite | ScopeDOPE v1.0.0 |
|---|---|---|
| G1/G7 drag model | Yes | **Yes** |
| Litz-measured BC library (225+ bullets) | Yes | No — manufacturer-published BCs only |
| Spin drift | Yes | **Yes** (v0.9.x — Miller 1983 + Litz approximation) |
| Coriolis effect | Yes | **Yes** (v0.9.x — optional toggle, coarse GPS for latitude) |
| MV-temperature sensitivity | Yes | **Yes** (v0.9.x — per-ammo sensitivity value) |
| Aerodynamic jump (crosswind vertical) | Yes (4DOF) | **V1** — GH #87; implementable from existing Sg + crosswind inputs without full 4DOF |
| Moving target lead | Yes | No — V2 candidate |

### 3.2 Environmental Sensing

The Kestrel device **is** the weather meter. It measures all relevant parameters natively and continuously, with no separate device required.

ScopeDOPE pairs with portable field sensors that the shooter brings to the range:

| Parameter | Kestrel 5700 Elite | ScopeDOPE v1.0.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Wind speed | Native | **WeatherFlow Tactical** ✓ / **BT-100APP** ✓ |
| Temperature | Native | **WeatherFlow Tactical** ✓ / **BT-100APP** ✓ |
| Barometric pressure | Native | **WeatherFlow Tactical** ✓ |
| Humidity | Native | **WeatherFlow Tactical** ✓ |
| Wind direction (shooter-relative) | Native | **WeatherFlow Tactical** ✓ (built-in compass → shooter-relative conversion) |
| Altitude | Native (derived from pressure) | GPS auto-capture (GH #88) / manual override |

The WeatherFlow Tactical is a handheld BLE sensor — you bring it to the range, hold it or mount it at your shooting position, and it connects directly to ScopeDOPE via Bluetooth. No WiFi, no hotspot. Price: ~$99.95.

### 3.3 Rangefinder Integration

Kestrel LiNK receives distance data directly from compatible rangefinders over BLE. The shooter ranges a target, and the firing solution updates immediately. ScopeDOPE has no equivalent in V1 — GH #86 tracks this for v2.0.0.

### 3.4 Dedicated Hardware

The Kestrel's standalone hardware is readable in direct sunlight without phone screen brightness concerns, has dedicated physical controls, and does not compete with other phone apps for processor or battery. For serious competition use, this matters.

---

## 4. Gap Summary Table

| Category | Gap | Severity | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics engine | No Litz-measured BCs | High for physics-only accuracy — not planned; community DOPE exchange (§2.8) is the answer | Not planned — see §2.8 |
| Physics engine | Aerodynamic jump (crosswind vertical) | Low — implementable from existing Sg + crosswind inputs | V1 — GH #87 |
| Sensor coverage | Altitude derived from pressure (not GPS) | Low — Manual entry works; WeatherFlow Tactical provides pressure for ICAO derivation | Acceptable |
| Rangefinder integration | None | Medium — major workflow friction at the line | V2 — GH #86 |
| Hardware | Phone vs. dedicated device | Low for target market — phones are capable; sun glare is real but manageable | — |
| Printer support | B21 Pro support in progress | Medium — current top-selling Niimbot model | V1 (DOPE-33) |

**Previously identified V1 gaps now resolved:**

| Category | Previous Gap | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Physics engine | Spin drift missing | Implemented — Miller 1983 Sg + Litz approximation |
| Physics engine | MV-temperature sensitivity missing | Implemented — `mv_sensitivity_fps_per_f` ammo field |
| Physics engine | Coriolis correction missing | Implemented — optional toggle, coarse GPS |
| Physics engine | Aerodynamic jump missing | GH #87 — V1, pending implementation |
| Sensor coverage | Altitude manual only | GH #88 — V1, GPS auto-capture on conditions screen |
| Ammo schema | `bullet_weight_gr` absent | Implemented — Room v3→v4 migration |
| Sensor coverage | Full environmental sensing missing | Implemented — WeatherFlow Tactical BLE driver (BLE UUIDs pending hardware verification) |

---

## 5. V1 Remaining Items

### 5.1 Niimbot B1 Printer Support — Implemented

The Niimbot B1 is fully supported. ISSC UART-over-BLE protocol, 384-dot (48 mm) printhead, 203 DPI. Driver ID: `niimbot_b1`. All 19 label formats supported.

### 5.2 Niimbot B21 Pro Printer Support

**Status:** DOPE-33 — open, high priority.

**What:** The Niimbot B21 Pro uses the same ISSC UART-over-BLE protocol as the B1. It prints at a higher resolution (300 DPI vs. the B1's 203 DPI), which the back-end label rendering accommodates. It is a top-selling Niimbot model and significantly more common in the wild than the B1.

**Marketing takeaway:** the B21 Pro produces **sharper printed labels** than the B1 — finer text and crisper reticle/QR detail at the same physical label size. For the shooter, it is the same workflow with a cleaner result.

**Why now:** The protocol work is already done for the B1, so adding B21 Pro support is largely a matter of confirming BLE service UUIDs, registering the new driver ID, and adjusting label image generation for the higher resolution.

**Implementation:**
- Confirm B21 Pro BLE service UUID vs. B1 (verify against hardware)
- Add `niimbot_b21_pro` driver ID
- Register new driver in DI module
- Adjust label raster generation for 300 DPI output
- Update `LabelFormat.supportedPrinterIds` to include `niimbot_b21_pro`
- Add entry to SPEC Appendix C

#### Niimbot Private Label — Two-Stage Strategy

Niimbot is a manufacturer — OEM and private label are standard operating procedure, not a special request. Their FAQ confirms: *"We can customize the language according to your market once the quantity reaches our OEM MOQ."* This is fundamentally different from the WeatherFlow situation; Niimbot expects private label inquiries.

**Stage 1 — Custom Consumables (pre-revenue, no install milestone)**

ScopeDOPE-branded label rolls pre-cut to ScopeDOPE standard label sizes. MOQ = single roll; 48-hour production; free design service. The B1 and B21 Pro use the same 48 mm roll, so a single SKU covers both printers. Estimated economics at 100 rolls: ~$200 inventory → ~$1,000 gross revenue → ~$800 gross profit. This is the razor/blade model — initiate before launch. See COLD_BORE_STARTUP_GUIDE.md §4.0 for inquiry template and pricing table.

**Stage 2 — Private Label B21 Pro Printer (~2,000–3,000 installs)**

B21 Pro with Cold Bore Ballistics branding replacing Niimbot branding. Estimated unit cost $30–$40; MOQ 500–1,000 units; capital commitment $15,000–$40,000. A branded printer is a physical Cold Bore Ballistics product that lives on the shooter's bench permanently. Commit to inventory at ~5,000 installs with demonstrated sales data.

**Developer support:** Register at niimbot.com/us/developer_work_order *before* initiating OEM conversation — establishes a technical relationship first and may yield official BLE protocol documentation.

---

## 6. V2 Recommendations — Strategic Additions

### 6.1 Measured BC Library — Community DOPE Exchange (not Applied Ballistics)

The Kestrel 5700 Elite's single largest physics-only accuracy advantage is the Litz-measured BC library. ScopeDOPE will not pursue a licensed AB/Litz BC library — that is Kestrel's territory and copying it is not a differentiator.

The answer is the community DOPE exchange program (§2.8, target v1.5): users submit validated field-fired DOPE sessions, the community library grows, and back-calculated effective BCs emerge from real-world data rather than a licensing deal. This approach produces a dataset that is more current, more rifle-specific, and impossible for a hardware manufacturer to replicate.

**JBM CDM curves** remain an option for bulk-loading manufacturer drag data without licensing fees — public domain, no AB dependency.

---

### 6.2 Rangefinder BLE Integration — GH #86 (v2.0.0)

**What:** Receive ranging data directly from a BLE-capable rangefinder. The shooter ranges a target; the distance appears in ScopeDOPE as an output distance automatically.

#### V2 Primary Target — Sig Sauer KILO3K

The KILO3K ($349.99 MSRP) is the confirmed V2 integration target. It is the entry point to the Sig BDX lineup and the most common BLE-enabled rangefinder in civilian PRS competition use. One driver implementation covers the entire KILO BLE series above it — KILO4K ($599.99), KILO5K ($699.99), and KILO6K-HD — because all use the BDX 2.0 protocol (Bluetooth 5.x).

Marketing line: *"Range it with your KILO. ScopeDOPE does the rest."*

**Protocol access — three paths in order of preference:**
1. **Direct outreach to SIG Electro-Optics** (`electro-optics@sigsauer.com`) — ask whether a third-party BDX integration agreement exists. BaseMap already integrates with KILO, confirming SIG has had at least one third-party conversation. No formal developer program found as of 2026-05-28.
2. **APK decompilation + nRF Connect** — the SIG BDX Android APK can be decompiled with `jadx` to extract GATT service and characteristic UUIDs; paired with nRF Connect BLE traffic capture, the protocol is likely not heavily obfuscated.
3. **Reverse engineering only** — last resort if paths 1 and 2 yield nothing.

**Architecture requirement:** The KILO3K driver must be a fully removable module implementing the existing `RangefinderSource` abstraction. No other components may depend on it. If SIG terminates access, the driver is removed without structural impact to ScopeDOPE.

#### Other Candidates — Deferred

| Manufacturer | Model | MSRP | BLE | Protocol Access | ScopeDOPE Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sig Sauer | KILO3K | $349.99 | BDX 2.0 | No formal program — outreach first, nRF+jadx fallback | **V2 — primary target** |
| Sig Sauer | KILO4K | $599.99 | BDX 2.0 | Same as KILO3K — one driver covers all | V2 — covered by KILO3K driver |
| Sig Sauer | KILO5K | $699.99 | BDX 2.0 | Same | V2 — covered by KILO3K driver |
| Vortex | Razor HD 4000 GB | ~$679 | GeoBallistics | Entangled with competitor ecosystem | V2 — deferred; Wisconsin partnership angle |
| Vortex | Fury HD 5000 AB | ~$999 | Applied Ballistics | Entangled with competitor ecosystem | V2 — deferred |
| Maven | RF.1 | ~$449–$499 | **None** | N/A | Long-term partnership candidate — not an integration target |
| Maven | RFZ.1 | $595 | **None** | N/A | Same |

#### Maven — Long-Term Partnership Candidate (Not a V2 Integration Target)

Maven Outdoor Equipment (Wyoming, direct-to-consumer) has no Bluetooth on any current rangefinder — the RF.1 and RFZ.1 are wired-only. They cannot be integrated as a rangefinder data source for V2.

However, Maven has no competing ballistic software and no wireless ecosystem, while every major competitor (Sig, Vortex, Leica) has moved to BLE. Maven has not. If Maven adds BLE to a future rangefinder, a ScopeDOPE integration partnership would be a compelling differentiator for their hardware. A cold outreach to Cade Maestas (Co-Owner/Chief of Sales) positioning ScopeDOPE as a direct-to-consumer peer is worth pursuing — not about today's RF.1, but about what the next generation could look like. See §9.

**Implementation:** New `RangefinderSource` abstraction parallel to `WeatherSensorSource`. Results screen gains "Live Range" mode highlighting the matched output distance row.

---

### 6.3 Competition Stage Mode — Target v1.5

**What:** A dedicated mode for NRL22 and PRS competition where the user preloads known stage distances, and ScopeDOPE produces a stage-specific label.

The app already has NRL22 and PRS distance presets. Stage mode is the logical next step. No other app targets this workflow.

**Implementation:**
- `Stage` model: stage name, list of distances, match type
- Built-in stage library for standard NRL22 course of fire distances
- User-defined stages
- Stage selection on Results screen
- "Stage label" print preset

---

### 6.4 Wear OS / watchOS Companion

**Status:** Pending use case validation.

The practical application of a watch companion in competition context is unclear — experienced competitors arrive at the line with their solution already printed. Defer until a credible use case is identified through community feedback.

---

### 6.5 Cloud Sync (Optional Add-On)

Already listed in SPEC §19 as a post-v1.0 monetization option.

**Design constraints (must be preserved from §4.6):**
- Core app must remain 100% functional with no account and no network.
- Cloud sync is opt-in only.
- No user data leaves the device unless the user explicitly enables sync.

**Sync scope:** Named `.dope` sessions; user-defined ammo entries; AppPreferences.

---

### 6.6 Additional Weather Sensor Support

**Calypso Instruments ultrasonic anemometers** (CMI1006, CMI1061, CMI1061-AB "Mini AB") and **CPS Ultrasonic Portable** — compact ultrasonic BLE anemometers for shooters. Community open-source drivers exist for Calypso (`maritime-labs/calypso-anemometer` on GitHub). CPS requires nRF Connect BLE traffic capture.

These add alternative handheld form factor options; the WeatherFlow Tactical covers the full environmental field set for V1. Add in V2 as complements.

---

### 6.7 WeatherFlow-Tempest Partnership Roadmap

#### Company Profile

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Company | WeatherFlow-Tempest, Inc. |
| HQ | Scotts Valley, California |
| Size | 21–50 employees |
| CEO / Co-Founder | Buck Lyons — buck.lyons@tempest.earth |
| CTO / Co-Founder | David St. John |
| Phone | +1 (831) 438-9740 |
| Valuation | $73.9M pre-money (2025 Wefunder round) |
| Revenue | $12.2M annual; $63M cumulative since launch |
| Funding model | Crowdfunding (StartEngine, Wefunder) — not VC-backed |
| Profitability | Operating profit since Q2 2025 |

**Key finding:** WeatherFlow already produces application-specific WEATHERmeter variants — Precision Shooting and Agriculture are confirmed distinct products with separate branding, apps, and positioning. A partnership ask is not a novel concept for them; they have proven willingness to serve specific verticals.

#### Stage 1 — Now (Pre-Launch)

**Action:** None beyond the existing recommendation in marketing materials.

ScopeDOPE already positions the WEATHERmeter as the recommended sensor. This drives organic discovery for WeatherFlow and establishes the pairing in the community before any formal relationship exists. No outreach needed at this stage.

#### Stage 2 — At ~1,000 ScopeDOPE Installs

**Action:** Contact Buck Lyons directly at `buck.lyons@tempest.earth`.

**Propose:** A formal reseller/bundle partnership:
- Cold Bore Ballistics becomes an authorized reseller of the WEATHERmeter for Precision Shooting
- ScopeDOPE is the officially recommended and supported app on WeatherFlow's precision shooting product page
- Cold Bore sells a bundle (app + WEATHERmeter) at a modest discount vs. buying separately
- No inventory commitment required — referral/reseller margin on sales driven

**Value to WeatherFlow:** A proven, measurable distribution channel into the precision rifle community — a vertical they have entered but not deeply cultivated.

#### Stage 3 — At ~5,000 ScopeDOPE Installs

**Action:** Revisit private label conversation with sales data.

**Private label reality check:**
- Full private label (Cold Bore Ballistics branding on device) requires MOQ ~500–1,000 units
- Estimated unit cost landed: $45–$60
- Capital commitment: $22,500–$60,000 — not viable pre-revenue
- At 5,000 installs, demonstrated sales volume makes the ask straightforward
- WeatherFlow is actively seeking B2B revenue and new verticals

---

## 7. Strategic Positioning Note

### Core claim (use verbatim)

> "The only mobile Ballistic Computer™ that uses YOUR actual DOPE data — not just math."

This claim is accurate, defensible, and directly attacks the fundamental limitation of every competing product including the Kestrel 5700 Elite.

### Supporting claims

| Claim | Basis |
|---|---|
| "Built from YOUR confirmed impacts." | DOPE-Blend™ field-correction is the default and foundational mode |
| "No subscriptions. No accounts. No signal required." | SPEC §4.6, §16, §19 |
| "Reality-based ballistic corrections." | Corrections reflect actual rifle behavior, not theoretical BC |
| "A field DOPE system, not just another ballistic calculator." | Session management, label output, sensor integration |

### Target Market Tiers — Kestrel Displacement Strategy

The goal is not only to win the non-Kestrel market. It is to displace the Kestrel across all tiers, starting where displacement is easiest and working up.

**Tier 1 — New to precision shooting (primary V1 target)**
These shooters cannot justify $559–$769 for a dedicated device before they know whether the sport sticks. ScopeDOPE at $44.99 removes the financial barrier entirely. This is the easiest conversion and the largest pool. They already have range data — they've been to the range. Every one of these shooters who enters their existing impacts into ScopeDOPE becomes harder to convert away later.

**Tier 2 — The shooter who has to save up (primary V1 target)**
This shooter knows what a Kestrel is and wants one eventually, but has competing priorities — match fees, ammo, optics. ScopeDOPE is the tool they can afford today. The goal is to get there first — become the app their DOPE data already lives in — and make ScopeDOPE the thing they already trust by the time they could afford a Kestrel. At that point, many won't bother.

**Tier 3 — Kestrel non-Elite users (V1/V2 target)**
The Kestrel 5700 with Hornady 4DOF ($559) is a significant purchase. These shooters have committed to a dedicated device but not to the full Applied Ballistics ecosystem. ScopeDOPE's DOPE-Blend architecture offers something their Kestrel cannot: a firing solution anchored to their actual rifle. The message: *"Your Kestrel tells you where the bullet should go. ScopeDOPE tells you where yours actually goes."*

**Tier 4 — Kestrel 5700 Elite / Applied Ballistics loyalists (aspirational)**
These shooters have committed fully to their Kestrel — a $769 device backed by the Applied Ballistics ecosystem. Direct displacement is unlikely and should not be the primary message. The goal is temptation: get them to install ScopeDOPE alongside their Kestrel, let the DOPE-Blend output speak for itself, and let the printed sticker close the sale. The feature they cannot get anywhere else (label printing) is the wedge. The DOPE-corrected accuracy is the reason they stay.

### Barrel Maker Bundle Partnerships — Positioning Reinforcement

Wisconsin barrel maker partnerships reinforce every layer of the "made by a shooter, for shooters" positioning:

- **Geographic authenticity:** Cold Bore Ballistics (Village of Mukwonago) and Krieger (Richfield), Bartlein, Brux, and Criterion are all Wisconsin companies serving the same competitive shooter community.
- **Distribution at maximum relevance:** a new barrel is the single highest-intent moment for ballistic software adoption — DOPE resets to zero the day the barrel arrives.
- **Community signal:** "Krieger includes ScopeDOPE with every barrel" is the kind of peer recommendation that carries more weight on Sniper's Hide than any paid advertising.
- **No competing app can replicate this:** Applied Ballistics, Hornady 4DOF, and Kestrel have no comparable local manufacturing relationships or activation-code distribution model.

The one-sentence pitch to barrel makers: *"Your customers' DOPE resets the day they install your barrel. We help them build it back faster."*

---

### What NOT to claim

Do not pitch the physics engine as the differentiator — the G7/G1 engine is the floor, not the product. Every shooter picks up ScopeDOPE with range data in hand; the app requires three confirmed impacts and is already applying real corrections from session one. The claim is not "our physics is better." The claim is "our physics is corrected by your actual rifle — and no competing product does that from the ground up."

---

## 8. IP Protection Priority Order

**"Ballistic Computer" status:** No live trademark registration found at USPTO as of 2026-05-27. Filing window is open.

| Priority | Action | Cost (approx.) | Timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | **Copyright registration — app code** | 65 (Copyright Office online) | Before public launch | Submit first/last 25 pages with engine and DOPE-Blend logic redacted |
| 2 | **Trademark "ScopeDOPE"** — Class 9 | ~350 (USPTO TEAS Plus) | At or before launch | Arbitrary mark; strong protection |
| 3 | **Trademark "Cold Bore Ballistics"** — Class 9 | ~350 (USPTO TEAS Plus) | At or before launch | Company brand; file alongside "ScopeDOPE" |
| 4 | **Trademark "CBB"** — Class 9 | ~350 (USPTO TEAS Plus) | At or before launch | Abbreviation mark; file as part of same batch |
| 5 | **Trademark "Ballistic Computer"** — Class 9 | ~350 (USPTO TEAS Plus) | File simultaneously with "ScopeDOPE" | No live registration found; filing window open |
| 6 | **Trademark "DOPE-Blend"** — Class 9 + Class 42 | ~700 (USPTO TEAS Plus, 2 classes) | File simultaneously with other marks | Coined compound mark; dual-protection with trade secret; file Class 42 for future SaaS coverage |
| 7 | **EULA** | 0 — write before launch | Before launch | Prohibits reverse engineering; Wisconsin governing jurisdiction |
| 8 | **Community presence** | 0 | Start now | Establishes prior art; builds install base |
| 9 | **Patent — printing workflow (provisional)** | ~160 (USPTO micro-entity fee; pro se) | Before v1.0.0 launch | Provisional locks priority date before public disclosure; locks out international competition |
| 10 | **Patent — printing workflow (full utility)** | 15,000–30,000 (with attorney) | At ~5,000 installs | Convert provisional to non-provisional; patent pending status active from provisional filing |

---

## 9. Open Items

| # | Item | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niimbot B21 Pro BLE service UUID confirmation vs B1 | Founder | **V1** — DOPE-33, open, high priority |
| 2 | Compass azimuth accuracy for Coriolis (coarse vs. fine GPS) | Founder | **Resolved** — DOPE-18 closed; coarse location in use; complete for V1 |
| 3 | JBM CDM data licensing / terms for bundling | Founder | V2 TBD — track in CBB Jira |
| 4 | KILO3K BDX integration — SIG outreach to `electro-optics@sigsauer.com`; fallback: APK decompile (`jadx`) + nRF Connect BLE capture | Founder | V2 — tracked in DOPE backlog; outreach first |
| 5 | NRL22 standard stage distance library — source / confirm official distances | Founder | **V1.5** — tracked in DOPE backlog |
| 6 | Calypso BLE protocol validation against hardware | Founder | V2 — `maritime-labs/calypso-anemometer` is the starting point |
| 7 | CPS BLE protocol reverse engineering | Founder | V2 TBD |
| 8 | Trademark "ScopeDOPE", "Ballistic Computer", "Cold Bore Ballistics", "DOPE-Blend" — USPTO filing | Founder | **Action required** — all four marks pending; target before v1.0.0 launch |
| 9 | Maven partnership outreach — contact Cade Maestas (Co-Owner/Chief of Sales) re: future BLE rangefinder generation; position ScopeDOPE as integration partner | Founder | Long-term — not V2 |
| 10 | Niimbot custom consumable inquiry — contact niimbot.com/us/customConsumable; request quote at 1, 50, 100, 500 roll tiers; laminated thermal or wrap-around film material | Founder | **Pre-launch** — no install milestone required |
| 11 | Niimbot developer support registration — niimbot.com/us/developer_work_order; register BLE integration before OEM conversation | Founder | **Pre-launch** |
| 12 | Niimbot B21 Pro private label inquiry — niimbot.en.made-in-china.com; request OEM quote, MOQ, lead time, FCC/CE carry-through | Founder | At ~2,000–3,000 installs |
| 13 | Arken Optics — be visible in Arken Facebook community pre-launch; direct contact when TL3000 companion app gap is confirmed | Founder | **Pre-launch** |
| 14 | Apex Optics — formal partnership inquiry (apexoptics.co/pages/contact); lead with Nemesis scope-user app gap and ScopeDOPE complementary positioning | Founder | ~500 installs |
| 15 | Tract Optics — direct outreach to Jon LaCorte / Jon Allen (tractoptics.com); DTC brand = one-call conversation | Founder | ~1,000 installs |
| 16 | Element Optics — complementary pitch: "Element app + ScopeDOPE = complete system" (element-optics.com) | Founder | ~1,000 installs |

---

## Document Control

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| **Document owner** | `jschwefel@coldboreballisticsllc.com` |
| **Classification** | Highly Confidential (04_-_Highly_Confidential/) |
| **Location** | `OneDrive/ScopeDOPE/04_-_Highly_Confidential/Marketing_Guide/SCOPEDOPE_COMPETITIVE_ANALYSIS.md` |
| **Cross-references** | `SCOPEDOPE_MARKETING_GUIDE.md`; `OPTICS_PARTNERSHIP_TARGETS.md`; `SCOPEDOPE_VALUATION_BRIEF.md` |
| **Created** | 2026-06-05 |
| **Last updated** | 2026-06-09 |
| **Next full review due** | 2027-06-05 |

---

## Revision Control Block

| Rev | Date | Changed By | Reviewed By | Approved By | Summary |
|-----|------|------------|-------------|-------------|---------|
| 0.9 | 2026-06-05 | jschwefel | — | — | Initial release |
| DRAFT | 2026-06-09 | Claude (Opus 4.8) | — | — | Pricing verification (all dated 2026-06-09): Kestrel 5700 Elite $560→$769; Kestrel 5700 w/ Hornady 4DOF confirmed and tightened to $559 (distinct SKU — not changed to Elite price); Sig KILO5K ~$779→$699.99; recomputed Kestrel-displacement tier pricing accordingly. Expanded §2.4 into a structural teardown of AB Quantum's freemium model (verified: free "Ultralite" capped ~800 yd / 5 profiles; Elite $2.99-mo or $19.99-yr lifts range to ~3,300 yd; Pro adds WEZ/integrations; AB Quantum Sync uploads profiles to AB servers) — added comparison table and re-grounded the differentiator on no-account/no-server/no-core-gating/fully-offline rather than "no subscription." Updated Niimbot B21 Pro framing: same ISSC UART-over-BLE protocol as the B1, higher 300-DPI resolution handled by back-end label rendering; marketing takeaway is sharper labels (kept the resolution-handling detail low-key, not surfaced as a parity problem). Refreshed ZCO PRS stat (≈45/200) and toned the Kahles K540i claim to match source. Dated the PRS "official calculator" pedigree to the 2025 season (2026 unconfirmed). Sharpened §2.1 core-differentiator contrast and named DOPE-Blend™ field-correction. Gated §2.7 feature-voting board to v1.1.0. Applied ™ to first use of ScopeDOPE, Cold Bore Ballistics, Ballistic Computer, DOPE-Blend; fixed "DOPE-blend"→"DOPE-Blend" and removed banned "DOPE-Blend engine" naming. Removed header version number and updated comparator/ spec-reference (v0.9.6-beta4) per policy. |
