REVIEW: Spuhr ISMS Ideal Scope Mount System SP3016

When buying an optic, mounting is often skimped on. If the glass was already very expensive, the thoughtless buyer avoids another high expense and instead opts for cheap solutions. Then one wonders why the results are so miserable despite having high-end glass and constantly adjusting the settings. Those who buy cheap, buy twice - so a proper solution is needed: ideally the perfect solution. We show you Spuhr's ISMS mounting.

ISMS - which stands for "Ideal Scope Mount System". A fancy name for a mounting system. Does it live up to its name?

Hakan Spuhr has made a name for himself with his company: He continuously designs new and innovative products in the field of attachments and mounts. So if you haven't visited the website yet, you should do it urgently: NVG Mounts, special ballistic solutions and of course mounts for optics - everything your heart desires.

The ISMS is the consistent further development of a conventional optic mount for a riflescope. Initially, all variants of the ISMS are block mounts, not individual rings but a component with attached rings. You can get the ISMS mount for Picatinny, Accuracy International, Tikka T3X/SAKO TRG, and QDP. Here for Picatinny:

This block can be obtained regularly or - as in our test - with an extension. The extension, also known as Cantilever, moves the riflescope slightly further away from the eye without changing the mounting point of the glass. This has the advantage with AR systems that the optic sits on the upper receiver and does not have to be mounted on the forend. In addition, the weapon's center of gravity remains in the middle. At Spuhr, you naturally get different heights for all common riflescopes and the appropriate ring sizes (30mm, 34mm, etc.).

For attachment to the Picatinny rail, you can choose between quick-release levers or Torx screws. A complete rail is pressed laterally against the rest of the mount, exerting equal pressure over the entire surface.

As a small bonus, the ISMS mounts come with a built-in level, which counteracts tilting when shooting.

The big special feature at Spuhr is the rings milled from the block. They are not usually attached horizontally or vertically but at a 45-degree angle.

This gives the user the advantage that the sight line at the top is unaffected (e.g. on the turrets) and accessories like popular mini red dot sights can be attached directly to the ring at a 45-degree angle, without the need for additional adapters.

When inserting the riflescope, a common problem has been eliminated: How do I align the riflescope horizontally in the middle before tightening it? What was previously done with a lot of finesse and "rule of thumb" is child's play with the ISMS. First, insert the riflescope, then slide the included angle under the optic into the designated slot.

The glass aligns itself when it is loosely in the mount and can now be tightened.

Surely you have also noticed the many screw holes on the mount. The basic idea at Spuhr is to keep the center of gravity in the middle of the weapon and thus mount a lot of accessories there. Here are a few examples of what you can attach to the mount:

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