How We Work
Optics Intel publishes two kinds of content, held to two different standards — and we never blur the line between them.
Guides: the research standard
Everything in our Guides section is research — done properly:
- Specs come from primary sources. Manufacturer spec tables and manuals, not other blogs. Where the manufacturer's own materials conflict (it happens more than you'd think), we say so instead of picking one silently.
- Owner consensus is aggregated, attributed, and treated as consensus — not converted into first-person claims. If we didn't shoot it, we don't write "we found."
- Unknowns get flagged, not filled. Questions only live testing can answer — zero retention, turret tracking, real eyebox feel — appear in the guide as open questions, on the record for future testing.
- Affiliate links never shape conclusions. We earn the same either way. Full disclosure here.
Reviews: the range standard
The word "review" is reserved on this site. It only ever means an optic that went through this protocol, with our own targets and numbers to show:
1. Mounting and zero
Mounted with a torque wrench to manufacturer spec, and we record how many rounds it takes to establish a stable zero.
2. The box test
Dial through a full box — up, right, down, left, back to center — shooting each corner. If the turrets don't track true or return to zero, you'll see the target photo, not just our word.
3. Zero retention
After zeroing, the rifle sits for at least a week; then a cold first group with no warm-up. We also remove and remount the optic to see if it holds.
4. Glass and eyebox
Resolution and edge clarity on high-contrast targets, chromatic aberration checks, a dusk session for low light — and for LPVOs, eyebox forgiveness at max magnification, the thing spec sheets never tell you.
5. Living with it
Illumination in full daylight, battery behavior, turret feel, throw lever with gloves. The small stuff that decides whether an optic stays on the rifle.
What we don't do
- We don't call anything a review unless we've shot with it.
- We don't accept payment for coverage or let brands preview verdicts.
- We don't quote live retailer prices — they change hourly. MSRP from the manufacturer is what our tables show.
As range results land, existing guides get upgraded in place with measured data — and the open questions in each guide are the test card we take to the range.