Seekins Havoc PH3 7PRC load issues

[Acton_26]

I have a Seekins 7PRC with a 26” barrel 1:8 twist and an Area 419 sidewinder brake. I am shooting copper because I live in Commiefornia. I have tried 143gr, 160gr, and 168gr McGuires Copper Rose. I have the following powder:

H4831SC
RetumbO
Varget
H4350
H1000
N560
IMR 8208 XBR

I have ADG and Peterson Brass. I can’t seem to get the correct combination for this rifle.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[Grunt-N-Gobble]

I have the same rifle in a 22in barrel and wish I could help you. I have Barnes bullets in 150 TTSX, 160LRX and 168 LRX but haven't done any load development yet.

If you use the search function, there are some threads discussing copper bullet loads. I have a friend who really likes the Hammer bullets and considers them the "easy button" when he wants to shoot copper. I spoke to the owner when I was thinking of giving them a try and he recommended the 145 tipped. You may want to give them a try.

 

[Acton_26]

I have the same rifle in a 22in barrel and wish I could help you. I have Barnes bullets in 150 TTSX, 160LRX and 168 LRX but haven't done any load development yet.

If you use the search function, there are some threads discussing copper bullet loads. I have a friend who really likes the Hammer bullets and considers them the "easy button" when he wants to shoot copper. I spoke to the owner when I was thinking of giving them a try and he recommended the 145 tipped. You may want to give them a try.

I have used Hammer Hunters in the past and found McGuires have a better BC than the Hammers. McGuires have performed excellent out of all of my other rifles so I am curious why this one which is in my opinion better built than a factory rifle is giving me trouble.

 

[wind gypsy]

Maybe you got a bum barrel or it just doesnt like mcguires. It happens.

 

[Durable Gun]

In have 3 seekins rifles. A havak hit pro, ph2 and now a ph3. My havak hit pro barrel was not honed properly so seeking is sending me another. My ph2 shoots lights out. My new ph3 shoots like absolute garbage ATM. I have gone through 6 different powders. I recently realized that the action screws constantly keep completely loosening after every 50 shots or so. I wrote a thread about it. I'm frustrated to say the least with my favorite rifle company.

 

[Acton_26]

My PH3 will be going back soon. I love everything about the rifle except the less than stellar accuracy!

 

[Durable Gun]

My PH3 will be going back soon. I love everything about the rifle except the less than stellar accuracy!

What was the specific reason u gave them to send it back?

 

[Durable Gun]

What was the specific reason u gave them to send it back?

My PH3 will be going back soon. I love everything about the rifle except the less than stellar accuracy!

Mine will also be going back soon. Spoke to Glen Seekins today.

 

[Durable Gun]

My PH3 will be going back soon. I love everything about the rifle except the less than stellar accuracy!

I can't help but think that due to the fact they got the US military contract, they may have toned down the quality control on the civilian rifles. US military contract may be a little much to take on at first. Lol

 

[Timplant]

I have one there now, same thing Cant get it to shoot worth a crap.

 

[doc holiday13]

I have a seekins PH2 with a seekins 22" barrel. Had seekins rebarrel from a 28 Nosler.

H1000 start at 67.5g. you'll likely top out around 70g Use the 168 bullets
I set my seating depth to match factory ammo which gave me a jump of .120" and it shoots great with 175 ELDX and 180 berger hybrids. I experimented with seating depth to be closer to the lands, but accuracy was meh

 

[LawDog2005]

I have a Seekins 7PRC with a 26” barrel 1:8 twist and an Area 419 sidewinder brake. I am shooting copper because I live in Commiefornia. I have tried 143gr, 160gr, and 168gr McGuires Copper Rose. I have the following powder:

H4831SC
RetumbO
Varget
H4350
H1000
N560
IMR 8208 XBR

I have ADG and Peterson Brass. I can’t seem to get the correct combination for this rifle.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeremy

I received my PH3 Havok 7 prc with a 22" fluted barrel the last week in October. I've been emailing and leaving voicemails to Seekins since 11/10/2025 and haven't received any response. I've tried 3 different bullets and 7 different powders. I've fired 42, 5 or 6 shot groups with 175 ELD-X's and my average is group is 1.67", 1.55" with Precision Hunter. I've tried different seating depths, shooting from a lead sled, sand bags and a bipod. The gun is very consistent with everything I feed it. Just not very precise. The front action screw worked itself loose after ~100 rounds. I had to pass on a 520 yard Muley Buck yesterday because I wasn't confident. So much for my long range hunter. If I wanted to keep my shots under 325 yards, I might as well be shooting a 7mm-08.

 

[wind gypsy]

I can't help but think that due to the fact they got the US military contract, they may have toned down the quality control on the civilian rifles. US military contract may be a little much to take on at first. Lol

They sure weren't a sure thing with early PHs and PH2s either. Their attitude in dealing with it was positive though.

 

[Acton_26]

What was the specific reason u gave them to send it back?

I told them my rifle would not group at all! I sent them what rounds I had put through it and a count of how many rounds.

They sure weren't a sure thing with early PHs and PH2s either. Their attitude in dealing with it was positive though.

I have had a very positive experience dealing with Seekins Customer Service. Vanessa has been really good about keeping me informed of what information they wanted from me and what I have already done to try and correct the problem myself.

 

[Acton_26]

Maybe you got a bum barrel or it just doesnt like mcguires. It happens.

At this point, I don't think it likes any ammo. LOL I have shot both factory and hand loads through it to see if it was just me or the McGuire's projectiles. It did not seem to matter what went done the barrel thus far. I am hoping it is only the barrel and when I get it back it will be a tack driver.

 

[Durable Gun]

I spoke to Glen and Tyler from Seekins. They are building me a new rifle. Even though I've had issues with 2 of their rifles. I am honored to own a few lines of their rifles. I will be a customer for life. Top shelf customer service. Bar none.

 

[Acton_26]

I spoke to Glen and Tyler from Seekins. They are building me a new rifle. Even though I've had issues with 2 of their rifles. I am honored to own a few lines of their rifles. I will be a customer for life. Top shelf customer service. Bar none.

That is AMAZING customer service! I just sent mine off to them to get it lined out! I am 110% positive they will figure it out and fix it for me! After everyone who has had issues with their rifles and the amazing positive feedback from both Seekins and customers, I am pretty sure I will be a customer for life as well!

 

[solarshooter]

A buddy has had problems on problems with his PH2s. Mags wouldn't feed, barrels burnt out fast, action bound up, trigger stopped working, gun wouldn't shoot and had nearly every component replaced before it magically started shooting. Yeah the customer service is good but wouldn't you rather just not need it?? He missed a season with his gun in the shop and had to borrow my Tikka. They are extremely innovative, but that sword cuts both ways.

Oh, and now they've released the PH3, the PH2s tanked in value, so he can only ever sell for a big loss.

 

[solarshooter]

They sure weren't a sure thing with early PHs and PH2s either. Their attitude in dealing with it was positive though.

Military contracts but also a massive increase in civilian sales volume. Once they started selling at the big box stores they need to move thousands or maybe 10s of thousands of guns a year. That means they prioritize volume over quality. And they count on the customers and customer service department to act as QA. Some guys don't shoot well/enough to ever know/notice, so it probably works in their favor to operate this way. Maintaining quality at high volume and low margin is literally one of the hardest things to do in manufacturing. That's why brands like Tikka and Toyota (though not as much these days) are so rare.

 

[Acton_26]

A buddy has had problems on problems with his PH2s. Mags wouldn't feed, barrels burnt out fast, action bound up, trigger stopped working, gun wouldn't shoot and had nearly every component replaced before it magically started shooting. Yeah the customer service is good but wouldn't you rather just not need it?? He missed a season with his gun in the shop and had to borrow my Tikka. They are extremely innovative, but that sword cuts both ways.

Oh, and now they've released the PH3, the PH2s tanked in value, so he can only ever sell for a big loss.

Yes, I’d rather not need the warranty and have a rifle that shoots the way. It is guaranteed out of the box. But on the flipside of that sword as you say at least they are standing behind their product to make it right. I don’t care if I get the same gun back or a different gun as long as it shoots the way it’s guaranteed out of the box. I’m happy. That’s just me though. I can understand the frustrations of having every component replaced before “magically” start shooting.