Need an elk rifle-Seekins PH3

[TradLife406]

I finally drew a really good elk permit close to the house here in Montana. Been trying since I was 12 and I turn 38 in August.

My main gun is a 13lb 6.5 PRC. I friggin love it as a prairie rifle. She'll shoot a 20 shot mean radian around .28-.30.

I'd have zero problems shooting a big bull with the 156 gr Berger. But the gun is too heavy for mountain hunting.

I'd like to get a finished out scoped, suppressed, arca rail gun around 10lb then use the saved weight for a bigger spotter.

I don't think I can afford to build out a custom.

I've heard amazing things about the Seekins. And I see they've got the PH3 about to hit. And it can take a chunk of arca rail!!!

Thinking about 7 PRC with a 22" pipe. I hate recoil. And I guess these aren't too bad with a can. I'd get another 6.5 PRC in a heartbeat. But I've never rifled an elk. Shot a few with a trad bow and salvaged tag mine last year with the truck So I'd like to error on the side of caution. Then it won't be too big for a coulee deer gun.

Any other guns to look at that might be more affordable? That check the same boxes? Suppressor and arca ready? I've looked at the Ruger Americans but the problem you buy a cheaper gun then have to swap out the trigger and the stock. Also looked at tikkas too. But that's stock swap atleast. The ones that are actually threaded are a grand then $500 for a stock.


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[CRJR45]

I have a SLAM in 6.5PRC and a ELEMENT in 28 Nosler , love them both . When I shoot the barrel out of the 28 I will send it back and have a 7PRC barrel put on it . I sent it back to have a Mlok installed so I can use both on my tripod .
I was at Drifters Gear and they have a few PH3's in stock so I got a good look at them , IMO you can't go wrong . Good luck !

 

[RWT]

You’ll spend the same $ on a Seekins
As you would tweaking a Tikka. Either way it’s $1500 and if you tweak a Tikka you have more input.

If the Seekins Element had stayed below 6 lbs I would have gone that route. As it is I am looking at a Tikka super light in a Bastion stock. All in $1600 because I have to pay sales tax of $120.

 

[sveltri]

My daughter killed her cow last year with my PH2 6.5 PRC. When I found the elk the day before I didn’t have time to re-zero the gun with my 156 load so we went out with 125 CE coppers. Her shot was 200 yds and that little bullet did work, one shot through the shoulders and the cow was dead within 20-30 seconds. I was pretty impressed and felt like the 156 would’ve done at least that good. Killed a cow with the 153.5 a couple years ago. The 6.5 PRC is all you need. Sounds like you’re already set up with the cartridge and the PH3 is great. I traded my 24” ph2 for a 20” ph3.

 

[MT_Wyatt]

I finally drew a really good elk permit close to the house here in Montana. Been trying since I was 12 and I turn 38 in August.

My main gun is a 13lb 6.5 PRC. I friggin love it as a prairie rifle. She'll shoot a 20 shot mean radian around .28-.30.

I'd have zero problems shooting a big bull with the 156 gr Berger. But the gun is too heavy for mountain hunting.

I'd like to get a finished out scoped, suppressed, arca rail gun around 10lb then use the saved weight for a bigger spotter.

I don't think I can afford to build out a custom.

I've heard amazing things about the Seekins. And I see they've got the PH3 about to hit. And it can take a chunk of arca rail!!!

Thinking about 7 PRC with a 22" pipe. I hate recoil. And I guess these aren't too bad with a can. I'd get another 6.5 PRC in a heartbeat. But I've never rifled an elk. Shot a few with a trad bow and salvaged tag mine last year with the truck So I'd like to error on the side of caution. Then it won't be too big for a coulee deer gun.

Any other guns to look at that might be more affordable? That check the same boxes? Suppressor and arca ready? I've looked at the Ruger Americans but the problem you buy a cheaper gun then have to swap out the trigger and the stock. Also looked at tikkas too. But that's stock swap atleast. The ones that are actually threaded are a grand then $500 for a stock.


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Re 7PRC w/can. It’s still a pretty significant thump. Control of rifle for follow up is markedly tougher than smaller cartridges, for me. 6.5 PRC barrel is what I’m considering for my main gun now….

I don’t really care for the seekins stocks (the grip is huge to me) but love the modularity of that PH3 platform, it’s quite awesome. Every one I’ve handled has seemed extremely nice.

 

[cpalm9]

I've got a Bergara Crest in 7 PRC 22" barrel with Nomad Ti XC can. It's a great gun. Action is just as smooth as my hunting buddy's Tikka. Little heavy at ~11lbs since I mounted an ATACR 4-16 but it is very comfortable to shoot. So you could pretty easily keep it around 10lbs with a lighter scope.

 

[JoeB]

I have a PH1 in 6.5 PRC and love the rifle. Just purchased a PH2 Element in 7 PRC and expecting I will love it also. I have not heard any bad reports about a Seekins rifle and their customer service is top notch. Buy with confidence

 

[ResearchinStuff]

seekins is using an R700 style trigger, right? if so, that'd be enough to push me to a tikka.

7 PRC is also totally unnecessary, overrated, and detrimental for most shooters. They've done a great job marketing it though, as evidenced by it being the default starting point in half or more of the "i don't know enough about rifles to pick one out without advice from strangers" threads.

the simplest answer is a tikka in 6.5 creed. the most rokslide answer is the tikka in 223.

Thread '6.5 Creedmoor/260 for Deer, Elk, and whatever else.....'

Dec 17, 2021

Seeing that the 223 thread is such a success, I thought maybe I would start one for the Creedmoor/260. Seems like people are asking a lot about using them and various bullets, especially for elk. I've used mine for the last few years almost exclusively. I have some pics of bullet damage, albeit not nearly as many as I should have, from a couple deer. I'll try to briefly describe the ones I don't have pics of.

If you have experiences, good or bad, post them up. Of course, pics are great, and add a lot of valuable information. Maybe it will take off, maybe it won't, but if it does it...

• woods89
• Replies: 1,620
• Forum: Firearms

• 

P

Thread '.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.'

Jun 3, 2019

DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ 176 PAGES? HERE'S THE CHEAT SHEET.

---

“Bullets matter more than headstamps.”

“Spent primers offer the supreme tutorial”.

I’ve read it here and elsewhere online. It got my attention. I started digging and asking questions and listened.

The 77gr TMK delivered by a .223 is where I ended up after many discussions and objective data regarding bullet performance and numerous pics of field results.

Now for the delivery system. Accurate. Repeatable. Reliable. Reasonable weight to afford steady shot placement and the ability to spot my own impacts...

• PNWGATOR
• Replies: 11,127
• Forum: Firearms

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[TreeDog]

What makes your 6.5 heavy? Could you lighten it for cheaper than a new rifle?

 

[180ls1]

My main gun is a 13lb 6.5 PRC. I friggin love it as a prairie rifle. She'll shoot a 20 shot mean radian around .28-.30.

I'd have zero problems shooting a big bull with the 156 gr Berger. But the gun is too heavy for mountain hunting.

I would build a light weight "identical" version of that gun. 6.5 prc and 156's. It'll be great and you'll be comfortable with everything about it.

 

[10ringer]

My buddies 7lb 6.5 prc kicks worse than my 9lb 7prc, both with muzzle brakes. Point being, pick the cartridge you want and play with gun weight and muzzle devices to have it shooting comfortable for YOU. Btw Im shooting a Weatherby 307 range xp and it’s a great gun for $1200. Comes factory with a TriggerTech Trigger and a treaded barrel. Excellent grouping out of lead free 168gn barns LRX. Also shoots lights out with Nosler 180 accubonds LR.


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[6mm Remington]

I'd sure feel comfortable shooting an elk with the 6.5 PRC using a good bullet like the following.
Nosler 120 gr. E-tip
Nosler 125 gr. Partition
Nosler 130 gr. Accubond
Nosler 140 gr. Accubond
Nosler 140 gr. Partition
Any of these bullets would serve you well in the 6.5 PRC.

Yes the 6mm Remington is a little light for elk but with a 100 gr. Partition in mine I shot a spike bull at about 30 yards with it and it worked very well. My son has also taken an elk with his 6mm Remington using the 90 gr. E-tip. His elk was a nice big cow taken with one shot at 350 yards tight behind the shoulder. GBM - Good Bullets Matter

 

[TradLife406]

What makes your 6.5 heavy? Could you lighten it for cheaper than a new rifle?

I'm really not even sure. It's in an AG stock. Maybe it's the arca rail and bottom metal. It's a bighorn origin action and a 24" carbon six barrel.

I thought about going to a lighter chassis but then I might as well buy a new gun.

As is though for prairie hunting she's about perfect.

Yeah I was reading more in the 7 vs 6.5 on here and I think I'd just keep rolling with the 6.5. Just in a lighter setup.


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[TradLife406]

My buddies 7lb 6.5 prc kicks worse than my 9lb 7prc, both with muzzle brakes. Point being, pick the cartridge you want and play with gun weight and muzzle devices to have it shooting comfortable for YOU. Btw Im shooting a Weatherby 307 range xp and it’s a great gun for $1200. Comes factory with a TriggerTech Trigger and a treaded barrel. Excellent grouping out of lead free 168gn barns LRX. Also shoots lights out with Nosler 180 accubonds LR.


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I actually looked at one of these today! I really liked it! Might be worth buying an action. But that rabbit hole gets expensive


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[HilltopHitman]

I shoot a 300 PRC PH2. Awesome shooter and have had to use Seekins warranty, awesome company. Go to Missoula scheels and buy a PH3 or Element, you won’t regret it.

 

[khuber84]

I'm really not even sure. It's in an AG stock. Maybe it's the arca rail and bottom metal. It's a bighorn origin action and a 24" carbon six barrel.

I thought about going to a lighter chassis but then I might as well buy a new gun.

As is though for prairie hunting she's about perfect.

Yeah I was reading more in the 7 vs 6.5 on here and I think I'd just keep rolling with the 6.5. Just in a lighter setup.


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You have a carbon barrel(50oz assumed) carbon stock(33oz assumed) 31oz action. Add another 6oz for trigger and bottom metal, that's like 7.5#. What else you have on it?

A 20in seekins ph3 weighs 7.5# according to Eurooptic spec sheet.

My tl3 in a Rokstok with 20in steel, sti supressor and gunwerks bipod is just under 11#. Carried it all over the mountains.

 

[Jaegerr]

I'm in the same boat. I got a T3x SS in 300wm on sale for about $700 from Eurooptic, got the AG composites stock on sale for $500, a 20 inch PBB pre-fit for 7PRC is around $600 for a SS barrel with no flutes, no cerakote, no lapping. Just the addition of a threaded muzzle. You tack on about $175 for an M-Lok/ARCA rail and a top rail on the receiver similar to the PH3 and you're in the neighborhood of $2,000 for a set-up custom tikka 7PRC. Now if you just used a stock barrel or got savvy on the classifieds here you could get it done for a few hundred cheaper, but I'll argue apples to apples the new PH3 beats any custom hunting build of the same look/set-up if you're having to re-barrel. The new tikka's in 7PRC might be the better option once they hit the shelves as you can have the barrel cut and threaded for $200~, then I still think the tikka makes sense from a cost perspective.

 

[khuber84]

I'm in the same boat. I got a T3x SS in 300wm on sale for about $700 from Eurooptic, got the AG composites stock on sale for $500, a 20 inch PBB pre-fit for 7PRC is around $600 for a SS barrel with no flutes, no cerakote, no lapping. Just the addition of a threaded muzzle. You tack on about $175 for an M-Lok/ARCA rail and a top rail on the receiver similar to the PH3 and you're in the neighborhood of $2,000 for a set-up custom tikka 7PRC. Now if you just used a stock barrel or got savvy on the classifieds here you could get it done for a few hundred cheaper, but I'll argue apples to apples the new PH3 beats any custom hunting build of the same look/set-up if you're having to re-barrel. The new tikka's in 7PRC might be the better option once they hit the shelves as you can have the barrel cut and threaded for $200~, then I still think the tikka makes sense from a cost perspective.

New 7prc Tikka are pre-threaded.

 

[Jaegerr]

New 7prc Tikka are pre-threaded.

Yes, I guess I didn’t specify, but I think they’re 24” barrels and so to run a 20-22” you’d obviously have to cut anyways. If they’re shorter than 24” then you save yourself some money there. Put it in a KRG Echo for $299 if it’s 20-22” factory and yeah that would be a great value at around $1200-$1300. If you went manners, rokstok, AG composites, stockys, etc you’re $500-$800 and I’d be a little more of a wash in my opinion as far as money goes. More of a personal preference on what system you like better at that point.

 

[TheViking]

I'd figure out what weighs so much on your rifle and swap out some parts to lighter ones. You can resell them after your hunt if you want.

156 Berger is lethal on elk.