Setup guide
Setting Up the Stellar 4.0: Rings, Height, Eye Relief and Zeroing
If your new Stellar 4.0 shows a dark ring around the picture, or you find yourself pushing your head forward to see the whole screen, the scope is sitting in the wrong spot along the rifle. Set the eye relief first, then the ring height, and only then zero it. Doing it in that order saves ammunition and a frustrating first night.
Know what you're mounting
Say it's the night before your first trip and you're packing the ute. The Stellar 4.0 weighs 1,008 g to 1,140 g with its removable battery fitted, before you add rings or a mount, as the chart below shows. On a heavy-barrelled varmint rifle that hardly registers. On a light sporter it changes how the rifle carries and balances, so it's worth thinking about before you choose rings.
That weight is the main trade-off with this scope. If you hunt mostly on foot with a light rifle, factor it in. Mounting the scope low and centred over the receiver keeps the rifle from feeling top-heavy.
Rings or rail, and how high
The SQ50L and SX75L have a standard 30 mm tube, so they take 30 mm rings on a Picatinny or Weaver base. The SQ50LR and SX75LR are rail-mounting versions and use a rail-compatible mount instead; our guide to choosing between the Stellar 4.0 L and LR covers that choice.
For ring height, the rule is simple: use the lowest rings that let the objective end clear the barrel, with a small gap to spare. Lower rings keep your cheek on the stock and the scope closer to the bore. The diagram below shows the three things to check before you tighten anything.
Ring height depends on your rifle's base and barrel as much as on the scope, so tell us your rifle and base and we'll match a set from our scope rings range. If you're not sure what base you have, our guide to choosing between Weaver, Picatinny and dovetail rails will help.
Set the eye relief before you tighten
The Stellar 4.0 has 55 mm of eye relief and an 8 mm exit pupil. With the rings just snug enough to hold the scope, shoulder the rifle in your normal shooting position, close your eyes, then open them. Slide the scope forward or back until the full picture appears with no dark ring, then level it and tighten the rings to the maker's torque.
Next, set the dioptre so the display text and reticle look sharp to your eye. The Stellar 4.0's dioptre adjusts from −5 to +5, which covers most eyesight without glasses. Do this before focusing on the target, because the dioptre sets the screen and the focus sets the scene. The 55 mm figure is a step up from the 3.0's 45 mm, which we compare in Stellar 3.0 vs 4.0.
Zeroing the Stellar 4.0
The scope's minimum focus distance is 10 m, so set your zero target at 100 m or your normal shooting distance, never at a few metres. Thermal scopes need a target that shows up as heat, so use a thermal zeroing target or a warm patch on cardboard.
- Select a zeroing profile you'll use for this rifle and load.
- Range the target with the built-in laser rangefinder so you know the exact distance.
- Fire a group of three shots, aiming at the same point each time.
- Use freeze zeroing: it holds the image of the target still, so you can move the reticle onto the centre of your group without holding the rifle on aim.
- Fire another group to confirm, and save the profile.
Once the zero is saved, the Stellar 4.0's ballistic calculation uses the distance from the rangefinder to help with your aiming correction at other ranges. Check it against real shots at two or three known distances before you rely on it on game.
The scope stores separate zeroing profiles, which is handy if you move it between rifles or shoot more than one load. The diagram below shows how that works.
Power for the first night out
The Stellar 4.0 runs on two built-in cells plus one removable 18650 battery. USB-C charges the built-in cells only, so the 18650 needs its own charger. HIKMICRO rates the SQ50 models at up to 9.5 hours and the SX75 models at up to 7 hours, at 25 °C with the rangefinder on.
The scope is rated to work down to −30 °C, but batteries give less run time in the cold. On a frosty winter fox night, carry a charged spare 18650 in an inside pocket where it stays warm.
Our pick for most setups is simple: an L model in good-quality 30 mm rings, the lowest that clear the barrel, and quick-detach rings if you plan to move the scope between rifles. The full spec sheet for every model is in our HIKMICRO Stellar 4.0 review.
Need rings for your Stellar 4.0?
Browse 30 mm rings, or tell us your rifle and we'll help you choose.
Shop scope ringsStellar 4.0 setup FAQ
What height rings do I need for the Stellar 4.0?
Use the lowest 30 mm rings that let the Stellar 4.0's objective end clear your barrel with a small gap. The right height depends on your rifle's base and barrel profile as much as on the scope, so there's no single answer for every rifle. Tell us your rifle and base, and we'll match a set of rings that fits.
How do I set eye relief on the Stellar 4.0?
Fit the Stellar 4.0 with the rings just snug, shoulder the rifle in your normal shooting position and slide the scope until the full picture appears with no dark ring. The Stellar 4.0 has 55 mm of eye relief and an 8 mm exit pupil. Level the scope, then tighten the rings to the maker's torque setting.
What is freeze zeroing on the Stellar 4.0?
Freeze zeroing holds the image of your target still on the Stellar 4.0's display, so you can move the reticle onto the centre of your shot group without keeping the rifle aimed at the target. It makes zeroing quicker and more precise, especially from an unsteady rest. Always confirm the new zero with another group before you save it.
How many shots does it take to zero the Stellar 4.0?
Plan on two or three groups of three shots once the Stellar 4.0 is mounted and the eye relief is set. Fire the first group, use freeze zeroing to move the reticle onto its centre, then fire a second group to confirm. Add a third if the second group isn't centred. Bring extra ammunition for checking the zero at other distances.
What distance should I zero the Stellar 4.0 at?
Zero the Stellar 4.0 at the distance you shoot most, usually 100 m. Its minimum focus distance is 10 m, so very close targets won't come into sharp focus. Use a target that shows up clearly on thermal, such as a heated zeroing target, and range it with the built-in laser rangefinder so you know the exact distance.
How do I charge the Stellar 4.0 batteries?
The Stellar 4.0 has two built-in cells and one removable 18650 battery. Plug a USB-C cable into the scope to charge the built-in cells; HIKMICRO lists 5 V / 2 A input with QC3.0 support. The removable 18650 isn't charged through the scope, so charge it in a separate 18650 charger and keep a spare ready.
Does cold weather affect the Stellar 4.0's battery?
Yes. The Stellar 4.0 is rated to work down to −30 °C, but lithium batteries deliver less run time in the cold. HIKMICRO's battery ratings of up to 9.5 hours for the SQ50 models and 7 hours for the SX75 models are measured at 25 °C. On frosty nights, carry a charged spare 18650 in an inside pocket to keep it warm.
How do I adjust the dioptre on the Stellar 4.0?
Point the Stellar 4.0 at a plain background and turn the dioptre until the reticle and on-screen text look sharp to your eye. The dioptre adjusts from −5 to +5, which covers most eyesight without glasses. Set it before you focus on a target, because the dioptre sharpens the display while the focus sharpens the scene.
Will the Stellar 4.0 hold zero on a heavy calibre?
HIKMICRO rates the Stellar 4.0's shock resistance at 6,000 J. Holding zero also depends on the mount, so use quality rings tightened to the correct torque and a solid base. The 55 mm eye relief gives your brow more room on heavier calibres. Check your zero after the first few shots and after any knock in transport.
This guide is based on HIKMICRO's published Stellar 4.0 specifications.