For the traditionalist who has long resisted the blocky, utilitarian aesthetic of modern thermal sights, the HIKMICRO Stellar 2.0 offers a refreshing return to classic form without sacrificing high-tech function.
If you're a traditionalist who has always rather disliked the look of modern thermal sights, the HIKMICRO Stellar 2.0 may well change your mind. It does away with the blocky, utilitarian aesthetic of its rivals and instead houses all its technology within a standard 30mm aluminium tube. This means you can mount it using rings you already own, and it sits on your rifle looking rather like a classic day scope than something borrowed from a science fiction film.
The most significant practical improvement with this second-generation model is the power system. HIKMICRO has integrated a dual battery arrangement that addresses the age-old problem of thermal scopes failing mid-stalk. There's an internal rechargeable battery together with a turret housing a removable 18650 cell. The device draws from the external battery first, so when that drains you can swap it out in seconds without the unit switching off. This effectively provides unlimited runtime, provided you carry a few spares.
Looking through the eyepiece, the image quality is precisely what one has come to expect from the latest 12-micron sensors. Detection capabilities are impressive, and the Image Pro mode genuinely sharpens background detail, which proves invaluable when identifying safe backstops in flat light. Zeroing is surprisingly straightforward thanks to the freeze function. One simply fires a shot at the target, freezes the image on the screen, then adjusts the reticule to match the point of impact. It transforms what might otherwise be a box-of-ammunition ordeal into a two-shot process.
There are, naturally, some compromises to consider before purchasing. Whilst the 30mm tube is convenient, the unit remains substantial and adds noticeable weight to a lightweight hill rifle compared with a standard optic. You must also be comfortable navigating a digital menu system rather than traditional turrets for adjustment, which may take some getting used to for those of us accustomed to more conventional arrangements. The recoil-activated video recording is a splendid feature for reviewing shot placement, though one must remember to configure it correctly beforehand.
The Stellar 2.0 bridges the gap between classic rifle aesthetics and cutting-edge thermal technology more successfully than almost anything else currently available. It allows one to retain the muscle memory and feel of a traditional setup whilst gaining the ability to see in complete darkness. For the fox shooter or deer manager working unsociable hours, it's a serious piece of kit that feels entirely at home on a stalking rifle.
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