Seekins Bolt Upgrade

[Badseed]

This is for anyone who has had seekins upgrade the bolt on a Havak PH1. I have a PH1 in 6.5cm that shoots lights out. It is earlier one of the earlier havak rifles so it has the mcmillian game warden stock on it which I also like. The problem is that the bolt is cock in close which is stiff.

Now that my son is shooting it, I noticed him canting the rifle to close the bolt. The bolt upgrade that seekins offers is cock on open. I talked with a rep from seekins today and he told me that seekins would preform the bolt upgrade free of change. Sounds great except that he said they would also be replacing the action and the rebedding the new action into a new seekins stock. i hate the idea of swapping out a mcmillian stock for the newer seekins. I guess my question is for those who have done the upgrade, was it a noticeable improvement in the bolt operation? how does the seekins stock compare to the mcmillian?


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[Ohiohuntr]

A friend of mine sent his ph1 in and had it done. He was happy with it, he also had them inlet the stock for a piece of arca

 

[mt100gr.]

So all you get back from your current rifle is the barrel and trigger?

 

[wind gypsy]

Yes, the new bolt is much better!

I sent mine in and I had already rebarreled with an aftermarket barrel. They also swapped a whole new action in which concerned me since I had $1k+ into the barrel but it runs much smoother now and shoots great. I like the seekins stock better than the game warden so to me that is an upgrade.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Is this upgrade something that is standard on newer models? If so, when did they start doing it?

 

[wind gypsy]

I had mine replaced in mid 2021 so I'd expect any manufactured since would have the new bolt.

 

[Badseed]

Yes, the new bolt is much better!

I sent mine in and I had already rebarreled with an aftermarket barrel. They also swapped a whole new action in which concerned me since I had $1k+ into the barrel but it runs much smoother now and shoots great. I like the seekins stock better than the game warden so to me that is an upgrade.

What do you like better about the seekins stock? The waffle grid for texture seems cheap but I have never felt a seekins composite stock in person. I am just making the assumption that MCM is a better stock. Perhaps I am wrongly assuming that.


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[Ohiohuntr]

Is this upgrade something that is standard on newer models? If so, when did they start doing it?

He got a whole new bolt for the ph1 two years or so ago

 

[thinhorn_AK]

He got a whole new bolt for the ph1 two years or so ago

I just ordered a havak element that has the paint job that’s different from that mountain/deaert/urban shadow paint scheme. If I have to send it in right away I’m going to be F’ing pissed. Now I’m already worried.

 

[wind gypsy]

What do you like better about the seekins stock? The waffle grid for texture seems cheap but I have never felt a seekins composite stock in person. I am just making the assumption that MCM is a better stock. Perhaps I am wrongly assuming that.

Ergos are better. Grip is a little better for me when it comes to making good trigger presses. Comb is higher and level rather than positive which means less comb pressing into your cheek when recoil is coming back and up. Toe line isn't a steep ramp so the but isn't as prone to drop when using rear support. It is stiff and light.

Because it probably costs less to make than a fiberglass or carbon layup doesn't make it functionally worse.

 

[Badseed]

I just ordered a havak element that has the paint job that’s different from that mountain/deaert/urban shadow paint scheme. If I have to send it in right away I’m going to be F’ing pissed. Now I’m already worried.

All the new havaks already have the bolt upgrade. As far as I am aware, only the PH1 had the cock on close feature. Its not terrible, honestly the bolt is probably as smooth as a cooper action. The rifle shoots so damn well that I lived with the stiffer than I prefer bolt close.


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[waspocrew]

Go look for a Seekins at a local Scheels, etc and you’ll feel the difference. The new bolts are very smooth.

 

[MattB]

Canting the gun to close the bolt, the horror. I jest, but think about it a bit. Is it really that big a deal? Can you just send them the barreled action or is the replacement action one that won't fit the PH1?

 

[Ohiohuntr]

All the new havaks already have the bolt upgrade. As far as I am aware, only the PH1 had the cock on close feature. Its not terrible, honestly the bolt is probably as smooth as a cooper action. The rifle shoots so damn well that I lived with the stiffer than I prefer bolt close.


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Yeah it was only an older PH1 problem, your element will be good to go

 

[wind gypsy]

Go look for a Seekins at a local Scheels, etc and you’ll feel the difference. The new bolts are very smooth.

I fondled one at scheels a while back that felt pretty bad. I think it may be a shipping grease thing that made it feel way more gummy than mine.

 

[Badseed]

Canting the gun to close the bolt, the horror. I jest, but think about it a bit. Is it really that big a deal? Can you just send them the barreled action or is the replacement action one that won't fit the PH1?

The bolt close is tight enough where most people would question if the bullet was being jammed into the lands. I asked about sending in barreled action but with the new bolt comes a new action which does not fit into the bedding of the PH1. Seekins said it was cheaper to bed a new stock than clean out my existing stock and rebed. I am waiting to hear back if they would consider cleaning out my existing stock because otherwise they would just throw my old stock away anyways. Seems like a waste.


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[Sevens]

So, what do they do with all the old stocks and actions/bolts?

Kind of amazing that a company is willing to swap out, essentially, the two most major and expensive components of the rifle to upgrade it.

 

[wind gypsy]

So, what do they do with all the old stocks and actions/bolts?

Kind of amazing that a company is willing to swap out, essentially, the two most major and expensive components of the rifle to upgrade it.

No kidding, seems crazy.

@Badseed If they are just going to throw away the game warden, i'd ask them if you can just send in the barreled action and have them put it in a new stock. That way you can dremel out and rebed the micky stock if you like it better.

 

[Badseed]

No kidding, seems crazy.

@Badseed If they are just going to throw away the game warden, i'd ask them if you can just send in the barreled action and have them put it in a new stock. That way you can dremel out and rebed the micky stock if you like it better.

Thats exactly what I asked.


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[Brent]

This is for anyone who has had seekins upgrade the bolt on a Havak PH1. I have a PH1 in 6.5cm that shoots lights out. It is earlier one of the earlier havak rifles so it has the mcmillian game warden stock on it which I also like. The problem is that the bolt is cock in close which is stiff.

Now that my son is shooting it, I noticed him canting the rifle to close the bolt. The bolt upgrade that seekins offers is cock on open. I talked with a rep from seekins today and he told me that seekins would preform the bolt upgrade free of change. Sounds great except that he said they would also be replacing the action and the rebedding the new action into a new seekins stock. i hate the idea of swapping out a mcmillian stock for the newer seekins. I guess my question is for those who have done the upgrade, was it a noticeable improvement in the bolt operation? how does the seekins stock compare to the mcmillian?

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Bringing this one back up because I have recent experience with this upgrade. I sent my OG Havak 6.5 CM in for the bolt upgrade. They called and told me that they need to change the action, which I already knew. And then they said that they're putting putting a new barrel on and rebedding the new barreled action into the McMillan stock.

They said the reason for the new barreled action was because they no longer offer the original standard SS finish, and that it was now going to be black.

I was totally surprised at this level of service. I know some might not like the barrel change especially if they have a "shooter", but for me after burning at least 50% of the original barrel life, a new Rock Creek is always welcome.