Seekins Element Hunter – Early Thoughts

[wind gypsy]

Are there any others making prefit barrels yet? The options look limited to Straight Jacket. The idea of a caliber swap for a trainer sounds appealing.

The tennon specs are widely published, any smith that can cut to a spec can do it. It's more of a matter of whether the smith trusts seekins holding spec without having measured enough actions first hand.

 

[Timjohnson11]

Are there any others making prefit barrels yet? The options look limited to Straight Jacket. The idea of a caliber swap for a trainer sounds appealing.


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EuroOptic has a handful of Seekins prefit options available for order. I snagged a 20” 22 ARC barrel for ~$550.. Seekins recommended R1 Precision and Straight Jacket for prefits if you wanted something different than what Seekins is offering via EuroOptic. R1 Precision quoted me $750 for a 18” 22 Creed and a 4 week timeline. They noted it would be identical fluting and contour as the Seekins barrel.

 

[Skookum_25]

EuroOptic has a handful of Seekins prefit options available for order. I snagged a 20” 22 ARC barrel for ~$550.. Seekins recommended R1 Precision and Straight Jacket for prefits if you wanted something different than what Seekins is offering via EuroOptic. R1 Precision quoted me $750 for a 18” 22 Creed and a 4 week timeline. They noted it would be identical fluting and contour as the Seekins barrel.

Appreciate it!

 

[Fitz]

Decided to pull the trigger on the 6.5cm element hunter thanks to your post! Likely going to pair it with a maven rs 1.2 just to see what the hype is all about.

 

[Bater]

Decided to pull the trigger on the 6.5cm element hunter thanks to your post! Likely going to pair it with a maven rs 1.2 just to see what the hype is all about.

Nothing magical, just a very usable FFP reticle in a fairly light (ish) scope that holds zero and tracks correctly. Don't expect to be blown away, but they do as they are intended…

 

[Fitz]

Nothing magical, just a very usable FFP reticle in a fairly light (ish) scope that holds zero and tracks correctly. Don't expect to be blown away, but they do as they are intended…

Appreciate the honest feedback. I've been strictly using SFP and was leaning toward the 2.5-10 nxs but heard good things about the maven and it's more affordable.

 

[Bater]

Appreciate the honest feedback. I've been strictly using SFP and was leaning toward the 2.5-10 nxs but heard good things about the maven and it's more affordable.

I have both and for Western hunting would prefer the RS1.2.

 

[HSolo]

Has anyone put a shorter pre-fit barrel on one of the Element Hunters? I am interested in maybe putting a 16" barrel on one of them.

 

[Oregonhuntrboi]

Has anyone put a shorter pre-fit barrel on one of the Element Hunters? I am interested in maybe putting a 16" barrel on one of them.

Do it! I put a 16.5 inch on my ph2. Once the new EH chassis come available I will be putting that on my ph2 as well.

 

[fbhandler]

To the

It’s a bit early on this rifle release but couldn’t find a single independent review anywhere. Good luck if it helps. Seekins Element Hunter in 6.5 PRC 20” barrel.

Brief
Feeds, cycles, and shoots well. Way too early on accuracy. The recoil pad has a couple of stiff spots along with the squishy stuff and thought it might fall a little short but not bad so far. The rifle is tight and I like it that way. Clean and precise. No slack at all in the folding stock. I’ve only shot with a suppressor on it.

View attachment 907154

Longer

Cleaned the barrel before the 1st outing. It was dirty and glad to see that. Assuming a box or two that the manufacturer shot through it. I did a rough 5 shot zero w/the rifle last week and also ran 3 different bullets (both copper and lead) w/factory ammo through it. All was fine. Shot ~ a box.

Then changed the zero stop at the house and went out a couple of days ago back to the range. 1st shot with the 127g Hornady was a little right. After confirming with a second shot, moved to the left and shot a 3 group. Seemed ok and still a tad high and right but will update once final ammo selection is nailed down. Accuracy seems decent at 100yr but too early for an opinion. After that, just cycled and shot another 30 or so rounds mostly having fun on steel targets out to less than 300yrds. Focus was – can it feed and shoot reliably. Ok so far.

View attachment 907155


Factory ammo velocity out of the thin 20” carbon fiber barrel
Barnes 127g LRX BT – Ave was 2891 (box states 3010)
Hornady Outfitter 130g CX – Ave was 2880 (box states 2975)
Hornady Match 147g ELD – did not test velocity and did not shoot outing 2

View attachment 907157

Working on 3 different loads to test on the next outing. Specifically, a 134g Hammer, 156g Berger Elite, and a Barnes 127g LRX. Expecting to see higher velocities over the factory ammo.

This will either become my backup elk rifle to the 280AI this fall or the primary. More time on the range and in the field is needed for this one. Time to refill the freezer.

Any input from other owners is much appreciated!

Any chance we could get an over all folded length ? I haven’t been able to find it anywhere.

 

[Timjohnson11]

To the

Any chance we could get an over all folded length ? I haven’t been able to find it anywhere.

I’ll plan to measure mine for you win I get home.

 

[fbhandler]

I’ll plan to measure mine for you win I get home.

Thank you… sure appreciate that ! Is this rifle still working out well for you ?

 

[Timjohnson11]

Thank you… sure appreciate that ! Is this rifle still working out well for you ?

Yes, it’s the most accurate rifle I own. Fit and finish is superb. Cycles on par with my Tikkas. The quick change barrel system works as advertised.

30” folded length with no muzzle device. 20” barrel.

 

[fbhandler]

Got it… thank you !!

 

[voltage]

I have been debating on getting a 6cm for a couple months now and this about has me talked into it.

 

[mthayr]

Seekins has a bag rider for the Slam and Element Hunter that they will be releasing shortly (per Glen Seekins himself). It's supposedly similar to the XLR Element 4.0 bag rider.

@Timjohnson11 Any update on this? Been a couple months.

 

[Bad Apple]

Well I can say that I thus far am not overly impressed. Perhaps it is not fair as I compare it to my Beragra HMR. My take away thus far it's twice the price and half as accurate? Perhaps that is simply the carbon barrel can't handle more than 3 shot groups at a time? Don't get me wrong I am really wanting to like this rifle and perhaps have been making too many excuses for what needs to be sent back. I am a little perplexed at this point with a little over a 100 rounds through it and can't find a factory ammo load that it will group well.

My main rifle to compare: Bergara HMR in 6.5 creedmoor with same set up shoots most factory (ELD-M, ELD-X, Berger EH, Berger LRHT, Barnes VORTX, SST, Terminal Ascent) ammo less than 1" (0.8 - 1.2), 10 shot groups, at 100 yards.

Rifle: Seekins Havoc Element Hunter
Caliber: 6 mm Creedmoor
Ammo Tried: Hornandy 105 gr BTHP; Hornady ELD-X 103 gr (two lots); Hornady ELD-M 108 gr (3 lots); Berger 95 gr & 108 gr Elite Hunter; Sierra Tipped GameKing 100 gr
Step up: Front Caldwell The Rock BR & Caldwell rear bag
10 shot group - between 10 shot groups total cool down between 40 - 50 minutes.
Shot string: 10 shot group 1 round every 12 - 15 seconds for 5 shots; then 60 seconds mag/change get back underscope and shoot the remaining 5 shots every 12 - 15 seconds.

Over 130 rounds - cleaned with bore guide/rod bore tech after 75 rounds

Attached are the best 10 shot groups of the ammo tested from 2 different range days. Conditions slight wind 3 - 5 mph head on, and between 33 - 35 degrees F at the same altitude 3139 feet.

Is this considered good, average, bad, vs send it back to Seekins as a lemon?
Another issue: the factory magazine will not feed when loaded with 3 rounds. With only 2 rounds loaded it feeds most of the time. Funny thing it feeds 100% with the 308 MDT magazines that I bought.

I was kind of expecting 1.1" or less is this too much to expect in a lightweight platform.

Any tips to suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Oregonhuntrboi]

Well I can say that I thus far am not overly impressed. Perhaps it is not fair as I compare it to my Beragra HMR. My take away thus far it's twice the price and half as accurate? Perhaps that is simply the carbon barrel can't handle more than 3 shot groups at a time? Don't get me wrong I am really wanting to like this rifle and perhaps have been making too many excuses for what needs to be sent back. I am a little perplexed at this point with a little over a 100 rounds through it and can't find a factory ammo load that it will group well.

My main rifle to compare: Bergara HMR in 6.5 creedmoor with same set up shoots most factory (ELD-M, ELD-X, Berger EH, Berger LRHT, Barnes VORTX, SST, Terminal Ascent) ammo less than 1" (0.8 - 1.2), 10 shot groups, at 100 yards.

Rifle: Seekins Havoc Element Hunter
Caliber: 6 mm Creedmoor
Ammo Tried: Hornandy 105 gr BTHP; Hornady ELD-X 103 gr (two lots); Hornady ELD-M 108 gr (3 lots); Berger 95 gr & 108 gr Elite Hunter; Sierra Tipped GameKing 100 gr
Step up: Front Caldwell The Rock BR & Caldwell rear bag
10 shot group - between 10 shot groups total cool down between 40 - 50 minutes.
Shot string: 10 shot group 1 round every 12 - 15 seconds for 5 shots; then 60 seconds mag/change get back underscope and shoot the remaining 5 shots every 12 - 15 seconds.

Over 130 rounds - cleaned with bore guide/rod bore tech after 75 rounds

Attached are the best 10 shot groups of the ammo tested from 2 different range days. Conditions slight wind 3 - 5 mph head on, and between 33 - 35 degrees F at the same altitude 3139 feet.

Is this considered good, average, bad, vs send it back to Seekins as a lemon?
Another issue: the factory magazine will not feed when loaded with 3 rounds. With only 2 rounds loaded it feeds most of the time. Funny thing it feeds 100% with the 308 MDT magazines that I bought.

I was kind of expecting 1.1" or less is this too much to expect in a lightweight platform.

Any tips to suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Definitely reach out to Seekins CS. They will take care of you.