Seekins PH3 or Tikka t3x roughtech ember

Junkel87

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Feb 11, 2025
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Looking at buying either a seekins ph3 in 6.5 PRC or Tikka T3x roughtech ember in 6.5PRC. Only downside to the tikka is I've got to have barrel cut to 20" and replace the stock. The ph3 is ready to go.
 
The factory tikka vertical grip and a cheek riser is quite effective if you don’t want to replace the stock right away.

The Tikka is the more reliable gun for a field gun.

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If you have to cut the barrel and switch stocks on the tikka. Why would you spend the extra $500 more or less on the rough tech ember over the the lite or super lite stainless? You are literally changing everything that makes the rough tech ember different then the Lite.
 
If you have to cut the barrel and switch stocks on the tikka. Why would you spend the extra $500 more or less on the rough tech ember over the the lite stainless? You are literally changing everything that makes the rough tech ember different then the Lite.
I want the heavier barrel. The stock on the roughtech and lite are the same just different paint from what I've gathered. I don’t like the pencil thin barrel on tikka lite.
 
The factory tikka vertical grip and a cheek riser is quite effective if you don’t want to replace the stock right away.

The Tikka is the more reliable gun for a field gun.

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What makes it more reliable though? Other then the whole freeze test they did on here. I don’t ever foresee myself having to worry about my gun freezing. I'm just backcountry hunting elk in Montana and Colorado with it.
 
I want the added velocity the PRC has. Also the superlite has a smaller diameter barrel i believe
Out of curiosity, what has you leaning 6.5PRC over a 6.5CM? I'm not invested either way but EO has some Roughtech Superlites and the 6.5CM ones appear to have 20" barrels.

 
What makes it more reliable though? Other then the whole freeze test they did on here. I don’t ever foresee myself having to worry about my gun freezing. I'm just backcountry hunting elk in Montana and Colorado with it.
The entire design. Feed, extract, trigger, safety, magazine etc. Paired with reliably torqued barrels with incredible longevity.

I’d never suggest a guy head into the back country of Montana or Colorado with a Seekins but you do you 👍🏻
 
Have you ever tested the new seekins ph3 to backup all of your statement.
The entire design. Feed, extract, trigger, safety, magazine etc. Paired with reliably torqued barrels with incredible longevity.

I’d never suggest a guy head into the back country of Montana or Colorado with a Seekins but you do you 👍🏻
 
I want the heavier barrel. The stock on the roughtech and lite are the same just different paint from what I've gathered. I don’t like the pencil thin barrel on tikka lite.
You have a ton of reading and learning to do on T3 lite profile barrels.

In training/hunting guns I’ve used both the D18 and D16 profile Tikka barrels for 10s of thousands of rounds on multiple barrels. I’ll choose D16 every time for a field carry rifle, particularly if running it suppressed.
 
Have you ever tested the new seekins ph3 to backup all of your statement.
I happen to think the Seekins rifles seem quite nice, though I did feel some of the previous generation of PH2's and Elements and the bolt binding was pretty bad. Having said that, his comments aren't really Seekins specific outside of the barrel torque at least from my reading. Seekins is a Remington pattern action using Remington pattern triggers, safeties, etc. Even their quick change barrel system seems reminiscent of Accuracy International's or Terminus' systems. For the most part he doesn't really need to have used a PH3 to have those opinions because they're not specific to the PH3 in the first place.
 
Sigh. It sounds to me like you at looking for folks to validate your want for a Seekins versus actually asking annd listening for advice/opinion on Seekins versus Tikka.
I'm definitely not trying to justify getting a seekins if I knew it was what I wanted I would of just bought it and not posted. My biggest complant about the Tikka is the stocks and the long barrels. If the tikka came with a nicer stock and a 20'' threaded barrel I'd of probably already bought it. My reason for posting was mostly to see if anyone has actual experience with a ph3 ( the only real thing they share with R700 is trigger) and if buying a tikka and having to do all the work to it is worth it vs just buying a set up rifle.
 
You have a ton of reading and learning to do on T3 lite profile barrels.

In training/hunting guns I’ve used both the D18 and D16 profile Tikka barrels for 10s of thousands of rounds on multiple barrels. I’ll choose D16 every time for a field carry rifle, particularly if running it suppressed.
I'm assuming your reason for the D16 pick is due to weight?
 
Do you want to make the rifle heavier overall? Because that's the only reason to pick the D18 barrel.
Yes I do prefer a slightly heavier rifle and I figured the D18 was more ridgid. Also figured it would balance better with a suppressor on the end.
 
If you want extra weight, then that's one way to get it. I do not and I certainly don't want it out front, making the rifle nose heavy, but my rifles are hunting rifles and I'm not trying to balance them on barricades. I've had D18s and D16s, both in 6.5CM, they shot the same, suppressed and unsurpressed. The increased diameter of the D18 isn't getting you any extra precision. The only thing it gets you (besides extra weight) is sufficient material for 5/8-24 threads, that's why Tikka did it.

My current preference is 18" stainless D16 barrels with adapters (or preferably flared custom contours) to get 5/8-24 threads, but that's just me. I don't need the extra velocity from longer barrels because I don't hunt past 500 yards.
 
Have you ever tested the new seekins ph3 to backup all of your statement.
I’ve owned and shot multiple PH2s. In general, they are one of the better performing actions compare to others. Their inherent failure points are bolt bind and the main downfall being repeated trigger failures.

PH3 doesn’t interest me as it’s the same gun with a couple minor changes, none of which addresses the heavy field use issues.

If you’re comparing them to other “hunting gun” brands. They are good. But you’re comparing them to a Tikka, which is in a different class of function and reliability.
 
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