My second Seekins rifle that has issues

[wind gypsy]

Definitely not. Three PH3s/Element M3s in my circle.. All three function flawlessly, and outshoot any Tikka in our circle out of the box. And I’m a Tikka guy generally so I don’t say that lightly. The recent Seekins are about as good of value out there.

Perhaps we are outliers but I don’t think so. Glen posted on the Seekins Facebook page reflecting on year end metrics and 2026 goals around new years. He posted some stats around warranty rates. I can’t remember the specifics but the warranty rate moved materially lower moving from the PH2 / M2 to the PH3 / M3

Wonder if data is skewed due to the ph3/m3 models not being in customers hands for long?

 

[wind gypsy]

I felt one up in my LGS and it felt really nice but I saw issues with light primer strikes?

There are reports of the same on this forum.

Light bolt lift on a 60 degree action means there is a good chance the firing pin isn't falling with much energy.

 

[Thatguy308]

After reading this and a few other posts I think I wont be getting a seekins then.
Thanks for your insights folks.

 

[coachmks]

If I had a “do over”, I would not have bought the Element M3 I have. I love the PH2 and I shoot it quite often. I’m not liking the new Element or the new level of customer service I’m seeing.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

If I had a “do over”, I would not have bought the Element M3 I have. I love the PH2 and I shoot it quite often. I’m not liking the new Element or the new level of customer service I’m seeing.

That’s how I felt about my element, I didn’t hate it but it was hard for me to see the value in it. People talk a lot about the stocks but it’s just a plastic stock, there are no options for a chassis for the gun. They aren’t bad guns but for the price of an element you could do better. I think the ph2/3 for under 2k is a decent gun but my element was very disappointing. It shot well but it didn’t fit me well and there was no after market support. It also had a few issues that I needed to contact Seekins for.

 

[Timjohnson11]

Someone posted the video (above) of the light firing pin strike on the Seekins Facebook page. Glen Seekins replied as follows last week:

 

[Durable Gun]

Canada and California. Both places that are nice to visit for a few days.

I recall my Dad driving to Canada for a church trip and they stripped search his truck. He asked why and they stated he has Texas plates and they believe he had guns. To damn funny.

I seriously looked at a land purchase in Canada. Then I read their regulations on owning land. Had to pass.

Unforunately my country is going down the toilet. If I had my way I'd be in Idaho.

 

[BCDJR]

Someone posted the video (above) of the light firing pin strike on the Seekins Facebook page. Glen Seekins replied as follows last week:

View attachment 1011003

 

[BCDJR]

That to me this a bad post from Seekins. Having been associated with world class manufacturing globally most of my career ….the best ones don’t accept any failure. Do they achieve it no but the goal is zero. Hearing them say 3% seems to be ok and they had 3% before as a justification? So my question is how many new born babies is it ok for a hospital to drop?? That should be the standard. I’ve never purchased one of their guns and after reading these excuses from the owner I will not buy one

 

[Mo]

What would someone suggest as an alternative to the M3, just save money and get the PH3? I've been looking for 90 degree grip, QD cups, rail for bipod and ARCA, 22 in threaded barrel. I was planning on putting an ATACR up top and an airlock on the end, 7 PRC if it matters. Considering the scope is heavy, wanted to keep the bare rifle under 7lbs. Thanks

 

[Formidilosus]

Someone posted the video (above) of the light firing pin strike on the Seekins Facebook page. Glen Seekins replied as follows last week:

View attachment 1011003

To put this in perspective- any European, Scandinavian, or Finnish company that has a 3% warranty rate- would go out of business.


Beyond that, anecdotally I know of multiple Seekins with light strikes, and none of them have sent the rifles in.

 

[Formidilosus]

That to me this a bad post from Seekins. Having been associated with world class manufacturing globally most of my career ….the best ones don’t accept any failure. Do they achieve it no but the goal is zero. Hearing them say 3% seems to be ok and they had 3% before as a justification? So my question is how many new born babies is it ok for a hospital to drop?? That should be the standard. I’ve never purchased one of their guns and after reading these excuses from the owner I will not buy one

Correct.

 

[Timjohnson11]

To put this in perspective- any European, Scandinavian, or Finnish company that has a 3% warranty rate- would go out of business.


Beyond that, anecdotally I know of multiple Seekins with light strikes, and none of them have sent the rifles in.

The PH3/M3 warranty rate was 2% to date, not 3% for what it's worth.. And I'd guess with relatively strong confidence that >50% of those PH3/M3 warranty cases to date were sent in for things that would not be eligible for "warranty", or worth sending in under the more burdensome process/timeline, of said European, Scandinanvian, or Finnish companies' warranty policies...

Both Tikka's in my circle that were purchased in recent months don't shoot great, and none of them have been sent in either... Specifically, a 6.5 PRC Lite with the 22" stainless barrel, and a 243 Roughtech Spector with the 20" cerakoted barrel. Neither are very precise rifles, and would be getting sent back for "warranty" if i) Tikka's process for sending back / warranty work was as easy and straightforward as Seekins, and ii) if they weren't already t'd up to get rebarreled to 6PRC and 6CM, respectively.

 

[Uncle Goonie]

I really want one but it's disheartening to hear about the issues. Nice to see they offered some new chamberings this year but barrels and bolt parts still appear out of stock. I like the idea of being able to switch barrels but it'd be nice if I could just order one from them off the site. With the obvious known light spring strike issue it'd be nice if they sold springs on the site...but maybe it's not that simple to swap?
The PH3 is noticeably heavier in hand than the PH2, albeit the new stock features are very nice.
I wish they would change the twist rate on the 300 PRC, shoots fine with lighter bullets but how they do with the heavy for caliber stuff. I'm guessing that spinning up three different twist 30 caliber barrels might not pencil out yet.
Two friends have them, one had to be sent in for light strikes.
If these issues are fixed I'll be picking one up.

 

[Schmo]

Someone posted the video (above) of the light firing pin strike on the Seekins Facebook page. Glen Seekins replied as follows last week:

View attachment 1011003

The open acceptance of a failure rate as being acceptable is quite disappointing. Definitely not what we’re looking for.

 

[chicoredneck]

I have 1 Seekins, an element hunter purchased this summer. I had to send it in for warranty work due to extremely stiff bolt lift and poor accuracy. They rebuilt the rifle onto a new action, said they cleaned up the chamber and re-mounted the same barrel to the new action. They test fired it, sent pictures of impressive groups, and sent it back to me. The rifle still shot like garbage. I sent it back a second time, they test fired it, said it shot fine and returned it to me with an extra fixed stock, stating that the new stock may make it easier to shoot. The issue is, Seekins only tested 1 type of ammo and only shot 3 shot groups. The 143gr eldx, that they used to shoot test groups, does shoot well out of the rifle, but nothing else does. The accuracy difference between the eldx and everything else tested in substantial. The rifle is extremely sensitive and picky in regards to loads it likes (143gr eldx being the only one I’ve found so far). This rifle is used to hunt in CA, so I have to use copper. I have a load that shoots good enough, but a far cry from the accuracy I would expect for the price I paid.

Seekins customer service was pretty good and they tried to do right by me. The problem is that I had to use their warranty. What about those customers who get a lemon, but don’t use the warranty? How many of those are out there driving their failure rate over 3% to who knows what %?

I was in a Scheels handling Seekins they had on the rack the other day. Of the 5 rifles, one had the same stiff bolt lift my rifle suffered from. So just from handling 6 rifles perosnally, 2 had out of spec actions. That is a 33% failure rate from this sample. They are trying to say they have a 3% failure rate? That doesn’t add up.

I like Seekiin’s innovation and product line. Their customer service, when you eventually get ahold of them, is great. However, they have a QC opportunity they need to address.

 

[handwerk]

It seems to me since they are assembling the rifles they could take a little more time and check them for function and catch a lot of these problems...... and better yet test fire them.

 

[solarshooter]

I have seen A LOT of Seekins issues on this forum in the last ~2 years. My buddy has had 3, all of which had issues. I think they are innovative to a fault, and they have grown too fast to maintain quality.