# ScopeDOPE™ — Optics Partnership Target Analysis

**Date:** 2026-05-31
**Status:** Internal Strategy — Not for distribution
**Context:** Up-and-coming optics brands with no app or a weak/basic app, with emphasis on brands actively entering or growing in PRS/NRL/long-range competition. Researched mid-2026.

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## Summary

| Brand | Origin | App Status | PRS Traction | Partnership Tier | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Apex Optics** | Canada | None (scopes) / AB Synergy (binos only) | #7 PRS, growing fast, Nemesis just launched | 1 | **Immediate** |
| **Arken Optics** | USA (budget) | Basic / weak — companion app "in development" | NRL22 / budget PRS dominant | 1 | **Immediate** |
| **Tract Optics** | USA, DTC | Basic (Impact Ballistics — BDC web tool only) | PRS + ELR, growing | 1 | **Near-term** |
| **Zero Compromise Optic** | Austria | None | #1 PRS scope brand | 2 | At scale |
| **Element Optics** | Sweden/SA/USA | Basic app exists — no DOPE, no lot tracking | Growing US presence, PRS focus | 2 | Near-term |
| **Athlon Optics** | USA | None | Growing mid-price PRS presence | 2 | Near-term |
| **Kahles** | Austria | None | K540i now #1 PRS scope by pros | 2 | At scale |
| **US Optics** | USA | None | Declining PRS share, new LXR 2026 | 3 | Monitor |

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## Tier 1 — Immediate Targets

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### Apex Optics — apexoptics.co

**What they are:** Canadian optics brand, launched 2021. Built by competitive shooters, for competitive shooters. Their flagship Rival 4-32×56 ($2,100) grew from 1% to 4% of PRS top 200 pros year-over-year and ranked #7 in 2024 — a significant gain for a brand that young. They run their own PRS match (Apex Rocky Mountain Challenge) and are an official PRS affiliate partner. At SHOT Show 2026, they launched two significant products: the Nemesis competition riflescope series (5-25x56 and 7-35x56, $4,000 each, 36mm tube, specifically engineered for PRS/NRL/global precision rifle competition) and the Synergy 12x50mm laser rangefinder binoculars ($3,000) with integrated Applied Ballistics Elite Solver Engine.

**App status (scopes):** No app. Their rifle scopes have zero ballistic integration — users are entirely on their own for ballistic solutions. The Applied Ballistics integration only exists in the Synergy binoculars, not in any scope. Scope users still need a standalone ballistic app.

**App status (Synergy binoculars):** Integrates Applied Ballistics Elite Solver, NEURAL-AX engine, LUMACORE MicroOLED HUD. This is their bino product only — a hardware-software integration tightly coupled to AB's ecosystem.

**Why ScopeDOPE fits:** The Synergy AB integration is hardware-to-hardware (binos to ballistic solver) — it doesn't replace a DOPE-based app that tracks confirmed impacts, manages lot-level ammo data, and prints scope labels. ScopeDOPE is complementary, not competitive, to their AB binocular system. And for the majority of Apex scope users who don't own a $3,000 Synergy binocular, ScopeDOPE fills the gap entirely.

**Partnership angle:** "Your Rival and Nemesis users are running your scope with no app. We have the app that treats DOPE as a first-class input, not an afterthought. When your customers install a new scope and need to rebuild their data from scratch, ScopeDOPE gets them there faster than any calculator."

**Size / approachability:** Small enough to respond to direct outreach. Run by founders who are competitive shooters themselves. Contact: apexoptics.co/pages/contact

**Timing:** Now. The Nemesis launch at SHOT 2026 means they are actively building their PRS identity and looking for ecosystem partners. Pre-launch introduction is ideal.

---

### Arken Optics — arkenopticsusa.com

**What they are:** Budget-to-mid PRS/NRL scope brand with a very large, active community in exactly the NRL22 and budget PRS demographic. EP-5 5-25x56 and SH-4J 6-24x50 are the reference scopes. At SHOT Show 2026, Arken previewed the TL3000, a weapon-mounted laser rangefinder with integrated ballistic calculation and Bluetooth ($600 target price, summer 2026 availability) — explicitly positioned as an accessible WMLRF.

**App status:** Weak and divided. Arken has two separate apps: an Arken Optics app (for digital/thermal scopes) and an Arken Ballistics app (for glass scopes). The ballistic app is basic — it supports ballistic table transfer to their digital scopes but for traditional glass scope users it is functionally a simple BDC calculator. Arken explicitly acknowledged at SHOT 2026 that manual ballistic data entry through the TL3000's physical buttons "is slower than using an app" and confirmed a companion app is in development. The Facebook community regularly posts asking for better third-party app recommendations.

**App status (TL3000 companion):** In development as of SHOT 2026. Gap exists right now and will exist for months at minimum.

**Why ScopeDOPE fits:** Arken's user base is the budget-conscious, NRL22-adjacent shooter who wants a real ballistic workflow without a $600 Kestrel. This is ScopeDOPE's exact target demographic. The TL3000 app gap is a direct opportunity — ScopeDOPE could be positioned as the companion app for Arken shooters while their own TL3000 app is still vaporware. A partnership or even a community endorsement from Arken carries significant weight with this audience.

**Partnership angle:** "Your users are asking Facebook groups what ballistic app to use. We have the answer. Arken + ScopeDOPE is the complete NRL22 setup for under $200 in optics spend — scope, weather data, DOPE management, and scope label printing."

**Size / approachability:** Very approachable. Active on social media, owner-accessible brand. Contact: arkenopticsusa.com/pages/contact

**Timing:** Now. The TL3000 companion app gap makes this a window.

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### Tract Optics — tractoptics.com

**What they are:** Direct-to-consumer optics brand founded 2015 in Pennsylvania. Owned and operated by Jon LaCorte and Jon Allen, who have 40+ combined years in the optics industry. TORIC line is specifically designed for PRS, ELR, and long-range shooting — TORIC 4-20x50 PRS, TORIC 4-25x50 ELR (34mm, 160 MOA elevation), and TORIC 4.5-30x56 ELR. They now also have TORIC 10×42 Eagle Ballistics LRF binoculars with integrated ballistics. Direct-to-consumer model means better margins and owner-direct contact.

**App status:** Has an "Impact Ballistics" app/web program. But it is a basic BDC calculator — enter your cartridge data, get a bullet drop table. There is no DOPE management, no lot-level ammo tracking, no confirmed impact recording, no scope label printing, no sensor integration. It is one step above a printed DOPE card. Multiple reviews specifically describe it as a "ballistic program" and "web tool," not a full ballistic computer.

**Why ScopeDOPE fits:** Tract's Impact Ballistics app does exactly what ScopeDOPE is designed to replace. Their PRS-focused user base is the precision shooter who takes the sport seriously enough to buy a $1,500 scope but hasn't invested in a $600 Kestrel. DOPE-Blend™ methodology speaks directly to this buyer. Lot-level ammo tracking is a meaningful upgrade over Impact Ballistics' static bullet data entry.

**Partnership angle:** "Impact Ballistics gives your customers a starting point. ScopeDOPE gives them a system. When they swap barrels, change lot numbers, or move to a new range, ScopeDOPE rebuilds their data around confirmed impacts instead of starting over from math alone."

**DTC advantage:** Because Tract is direct-to-consumer, there is no dealer layer to navigate. Jon LaCorte and Jon Allen are contactable. The company makes outreach decisions quickly. Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are both Midwest — not geographically irrelevant.

**Timing:** Near-term (~500–1,000 installs). ScopeDOPE needs enough traction to be credible in the conversation.

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## Tier 2 — Worth Approaching at Scale (~2,000–5,000 installs)

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### Zero Compromise Optic (ZCO) — zcompoptic.com

**What they are:** Austrian premium scope company founded ~2018. #1 scope brand among PRS top 200 in 2024 (20% of top 200, 3 of top 10). GunsAmerica "Best Optic" at SHOT Show 2025. ZC527 5-27x56 is their flagship PRS scope (~$4,720). Official PRS affiliate partner 2025. Achieved quality leadership in US sports sector within a year, described as growing "exclusively through customer feedback and social media." Premium price: $4,000–$4,720.

**App status:** None. ZCO scopes have no app, no Bluetooth, no electronic integration of any kind. Their users typically pair with Kestrel Applied Ballistics. There is zero software ecosystem.

**Why ScopeDOPE fits:** ZCO users are the most serious PRS competitors. They care deeply about DOPE accuracy. When they install a new ZCO on a new rifle, they start from scratch — exactly the same pain point ScopeDOPE addresses. The absence of any ZCO app means there is no competing product to displace. ScopeDOPE is purely additive.

**Challenge:** The ZCO user who is a top 200 PRS shooter already owns a Kestrel 5700 Elite with Applied Ballistics. ScopeDOPE's pitch needs to be about lot-level data management and printing, not basic ballistic solving, to be relevant to this buyer. The differentiation argument is strong but requires more polish.

**Timing:** Approach at 2,000–5,000 installs with meaningful user data to show. A partnership with ZCO validates ScopeDOPE in the premium tier.

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### Element Optics — element-optics.com

**What they are:** Team of competitive shooters from Sweden, South Africa, and the USA. PRS/NRL design philosophy, manufactured in Japan. Nexus Gen 2 (4-25x), Titan (3-18x, 34mm ED glass, 150 MOA elevation, described as viable for ELR and PRS), Helix lines. Growing US market presence. Platinum Lifetime Warranty. Price range: $500–$1,000 — the value PRS tier.

**App status:** Has an "Element Ballistics App" (iOS/Android, free). The app is more developed than Tract's — it includes a bullet database, trajectory tables, reticle overlays, and Bluetooth integration with their HYPR-7 and rangefinders. However, it is a conventional ballistic calculator — no DOPE management, no confirmed impact tracking, no lot-level ammo data, no scope label printing. The app is the tool, not the system.

**Why ScopeDOPE fits:** Element's app covers the calculator function but nothing about long-term DOPE management. ScopeDOPE's DOPE-Blend methodology is explicitly the argument: "Element's app gives you a calculated solution. ScopeDOPE refines it with every confirmed impact." For the value-tier PRS shooter who chose Element over Vortex because they care about quality, ScopeDOPE's proposition resonates.

**Challenge:** They have an existing app, so the pitch is "complement" not "replace." Need to articulate clearly why both are useful.

**Timing:** Near-term. The existing app means they are already thinking about software. A conversation is easier than with a brand that has dismissed software entirely.

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### Athlon Optics — athlonoptics.com

**What they are:** Growing mid-price US brand with a strong PRS and long-range shooting lineup. Argos BTR Gen3, Ares ETR, Midas TAC — multiple FFP scopes with zero stop designed for competition. Value positioning, lifetime transferable warranty. Growing presence in NRL22 and PRS mid-tier.

**App status:** None. No ballistic app, no software ecosystem.

**Why ScopeDOPE fits:** Large user base at the price point that perfectly overlaps with ScopeDOPE's target buyer. The Athlon user is price-conscious, takes the sport seriously, and doesn't have $600 for a Kestrel. ScopeDOPE is their complete solution.

**Timing:** Near-term. Volume brand — even a soft endorsement or "compatible with Athlon" mention in their community carries significant weight.

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### Kahles — kahles.at

**What they are:** Austrian premium optics founded 1898. K540i DLR 5-40×56 released February 2025 is described as already the favorite among serious precision rifle competitors — 8x zoom ratio, widest field of view of any scope in that category. K525i DLR street price ~$3,400; K540i ~$4,600. Growing rapidly in PRS after releasing scopes specifically designed for competition shooters.

**App status:** None. No Kahles ballistic app exists.

**Why ScopeDOPE fits:** Kahles scopes are premium, used by serious competitors, and have zero software ecosystem. The gap is identical to ZCO's — these users have Kestrels, but ScopeDOPE's lot-level data management and printing workflow is differentiated from Kestrel/AB. The Kahles US distributor would be the contact point.

**Timing:** At scale (~5,000 installs). Kahles is European with a formal US distribution structure — the conversation requires credibility and traction to open.

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## Tier 3 — Monitor Only

**US Optics** — Long-established US brand. New LXR 4-24x launched SHOT 2026 for PRS/tactical. PRS market share dropped from 3% to 1% (2023→2024). No app. Declining trajectory suggests deprioritizing for now.

**Revic Optics** — Division of Gunwerks. The Radikl RS series has a fully integrated internal ballistic engine (Micro OLED HUD in the FOV) plus Bluetooth app. This is the most technologically advanced scope on the market for built-in ballistics. They are direct competition to ScopeDOPE's value proposition at the hardware level, not a partnership target.

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## Brands Already in the Pipeline

- **Sig Sauer** (KILO3K BDX rangefinder integration) — covered in `SCOPEDOPE_COMPETITIVE_ANALYSIS.md` §6.2
- **Nightforce** — established brand, Kestrel/AB ecosystem, addressed separately

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## Outreach Sequence

| Phase | Target | Approach |
|---|---|---|
| **Now (pre-launch)** | Arken Optics | Community relationship first — be visible in Arken Facebook groups. Direct contact when TL3000 app gap is confirmed |
| **~500 installs** | Apex Optics | Formal partnership inquiry. Lead with Nemesis launch timing and scope-user app gap |
| **~1,000 installs** | Tract Optics | Direct founder outreach (Jon LaCorte / Jon Allen). DTC makes this a one-call conversation |
| **~1,000 installs** | Element Optics | Complementary pitch — their app + ScopeDOPE = complete system |
| **~2,000 installs** | Athlon Optics | Approach their community team — large user base, community-driven brand |
| **~3,000 installs** | ZCO | PRS partnership pitch — user data and .dope database as leverage |
| **~5,000 installs** | Kahles | US distributor contact — credibility-dependent |

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## Notes

The Revic Radikl series ($3,995) represents the only scope on the market with a fully integrated onboard ballistic computer competitive with ScopeDOPE's scope-side proposition. It is hunting-focused, not competition-focused, and priced well above the NRL22/PRS mid-tier. Monitor for market direction but do not treat as a partnership target.

The Apex Synergy Applied Ballistics integration is the first real sign that a growing optics brand has partnered with an established ballistic software company at a hardware level. It validates the market. It also creates urgency — other Tier 1 brands could pursue similar partnerships if not approached first.

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## Document Control

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| **Document owner** | `jschwefel@coldboreballisticsllc.com` |
| **Classification** | Highly Confidential (04_-_Highly_Confidential/) |
| **Location** | `OneDrive/ScopeDOPE/04_-_Highly_Confidential/Marketing_Guide/OPTICS_PARTNERSHIP_TARGETS.md` |
| **Cross-references** | `SCOPEDOPE_MARKETING_GUIDE.md`; `SCOPEDOPE_COMPETITIVE_ANALYSIS.md` |
| **Created** | 2026-06-01 |
| **Last updated** | 2026-06-09 |
| **Next full review due** | 2027-06-01 |

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## Revision Control Block

| Rev | Date | Changed By | Reviewed By | Approved By | Summary |
|-----|------|------------|-------------|-------------|---------|
| 0.9 | 2026-06-01 | jschwefel | — | — | Initial release |
| DRAFT | 2026-06-09 | Claude (Opus 4.8) | — | — | Fixed "DOPE-blend"→"DOPE-Blend" (™ first use) per BRAND_LEGAL_LANGUAGE_GUIDE. Applied ™ to first use of ScopeDOPE. Casing-only fix — "methodology" wording retained (formal/strategy context, not "engine" naming). |

