We have positioned the guide rod and the wire-stand-off on the optic in the axial direction. 

We have selected six magnets whose magnetic strength is +/-5% of their mean strength (180 Gauss).  The measurement was made as follows:

1) each magnet was placed on its  end, on the top of a beaker held upside down. 

2) The Hall probe was placed directly under the magnet touching the glass from the other side (the inside of the beaker). 

This ensures that the relative position of the magnet and the probe remains fixed during a measurement.  And ensures that their separation is the same for each of the magnets tested. 

With this procedure the variation in the measured B field is less than +/- 10% in the sample of magnets tested.