Tikka vs Seekins

[fowler1416]

I have a tikka t3x roughtec in 6.5prc. Stainless fluted barrel. I have been looking at the Seekins Element Hunters recently. Would I be better off in performance with selling the tikka and buying the EH, or would I be just as good buying the EH stock and putting the tikka barrel and action in it?

 

[abilliott]

How does your tikka shoot? If it shoots excellent I would just look at buying a chassis. My Seekins rifles have not yet shot any better than any of my tikkas.

I actually just dropped on of my seekins off at the gunsmith to be rebarreled since I’m not happy with the way it shoots. I also dropped a tikka 30-06 off to be rebarreled into a 6 creed that i will be buying a chassis for.


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[Ryland]

I say keep the tikka. My seekins is nice and shoots well but nothing super special. Much prefer my tikka. And you’d save like 1200$ going that route

 

[FLHunter87]

I’m thinking about buying a tikka Bergera etc just to put a MDT stock on it. Either the HNT Chassis or the Carbon Rifle. I have a browning X Bolt and love it. I have thought about going custom, it’s just hard to see me spend 8-9k for a custom weapon.

 

[Paladin]

I had a Tikka Superlite in 6.5CM that shot lights out. Long story short, I wanted a folding chassis for a upcoming hunt so I sold it and got a Seekins Slam. The Seekins shoots great also but I really wish I had the Tikka back.

 

[FLHunter87]

I had a Tikka Superlite in 6.5CM that shot lights out. Long story short, I wanted a folding chassis for an upcoming hunt so I sold it and got a Seekins Slam. The Seekins shoots great also but I really wish I had the Tikka back.

Why didn’t you look into the MDT HNT Chassis for your tikka?

 

[thinhorn_AK]

The problem with Seekins is how many reports there are of guns having to go back. Every time I’m on the Seekins Facebook page people are like “just send it in bro”, “I sent mine in and they fixed it”. Apparently, according to Seekins they send so many out that the reports are a very small percentage, but that’s also what SiCo says about the scythe….

I had an element hunter, I was really excited about it until I got it. The barrel was off center in the barrel channel of the stock, didn’t effect function but it was obvious, every person I handed the gun to saw it instantly. Seekins didn’t return my emails about that. Also the stock is just a plastic stock with a paint job, i sort of expected McMillan quality or something for a 2700 dollar rifle.

As far as accuracy, it shot well but not better than my other guns, I was able to get a lot of loads working for it but none of them were outstanding, not that it matters much, it was more than accurate enough for hunting.

Finally, I took it on a hunt and after I fired it, I went to chamber another round and the bolt pulled right out leaving me to fumble with the thing. Seekins did send me a new bolt body and bolt stop but it was this whole “yeah no big deal, we’re happy to send you parts”….ili could have lost an animal or something due to that. Not cool.

Finally, the stock just didn’t fit me well, it was hard to get a good cheek rest on it and there were no other stock options available so I got rid of it.

These rifles are the scythe or the vortex of rifles, get a tikka and don’t look back.

 

[fowler1416]

Is there anything else foldable in that $1K price range? I don't want anything "tactical" as this is a hunting rifle.

 

[mthayr]

The barrel was off center in the barrel channel of the stock, didn’t effect function but it was obvious

I have the same rifle, and the same off-centered stock. Its disappointing, but I was able to (mostly) remedy the situation by loosening the action bolts, and aligning it before retightening the bolts to spec. Now I'm left wondering if my bolt's gonna fall out - sheesh

 

[fowler1416]

Man, I am/was a big Seekins fan. Have a couple. Now I am wondering about all the quality issues. I have seen the same posts on forums and Facebook about issues. Maybe they got too big too quickly.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I have the same rifle, and the same off-centered stock. Its disappointing, but I was able to (mostly) remedy the situation by loosening the action bolts, and aligning it before retightening the bolts to spec. Now I'm left wondering if my bolt's gonna fall out - sheesh

Yeah that sucks ass. I picked mine up from the FFL and went over to my buddies house where we unboxed it. From the first second I took it out I thought, that looks off center, first words my buddy says “the barrel is off to one side”….great.

It made it really hard to enjoy the rifle after that, I tried hard but I guess that soured me instantly then the stock/fit issue, bolt issue, no after market support just killed it for me.

There are just so many stories of QC problems and accuracy issues with these that for me personally it’s just not even an option at this point. I know guys have them and like them but my experiences up well with the issues and complaints I’ve seen online.

Tikkas are utilitarian but they generally work well, get good accuracy, are durable and handle the elements, they also have lots of aftermarket support, I read somewhere once the t3x is a scaled down trg22 which is nearing its true. I have a few of them, 30-06, 6.5cm, a 243 that is going to be a project gun and a 300 win mag I got in a trade.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Man, I am/was a big Seekins fan. Have a couple. Now I am wondering about all the quality issues. I have seen the same posts on forums and Facebook about issues. Maybe they got too big too quickly.

If you have one that is working well and you like it then keep shooting it. If you havnt purchased yet, you could get like 3 tikkas for the cost of a Seekins.

 

[schmidty3]

Dad got himself a seekins EH 6.5 prc.

Its been fine. Accuracy is good. I dont really like the ergonomics on the folder though.

The tikkas seem to handle dirt and debris better. The seekins at the cactus classic NRL were allegedly having issues. They seem to get gummy pretty quick.

To be fair...Lots of guns/triggers went down across lots of models of guns though. Even my tikka was having some issues. But that was because the chamber was packed with red mars dust. Towards the end...Had to hammer the bolt closed to shoot and hammer back open to eject.

 

[ID_Matt]

Seekins always seem to shoot good but I think you would be money ahead by just buying the chassis you want for the tikka. If you want folding - XLR, MDT, or the seekins one you mentioned would work. Once a guy can look past the fancy paint/cerakote on the seekins, they'll see a tikka is better made. Seekins actions are just a round hole with no raceways cut in them and they always feel like they put 18 layers of cerakote on them.

 

[Crews]

Keep the Tikka barreled action, drop it in one of the many excellent aftermarket chassis options. For Tikka I'm partial to KRG.

Seekins is nice but I fail to see how it is much of an upgrade from a Tikka unless you are looking for some very specific features, like quick change barrels and toolless bolt swaps in the HIT models.

 

[Paladin]

Why didn’t you look into the MDT HNT Chassis for your tikka?

Just wasn't as crazy about the MDT NT chassis as I was the Seekins. I had been checking with Jordan at Seekins about every three months because I originally wanted one of their chassis to switch out with my Element but it wasn't ready for release. About the same time I found the Slam and sold the Tikka they announced they were offering their chassis to fit the Tikka, I mean it was within weeks. Impatience has cost me alot of money over the years

 

[glock233]

Tikka is less likely to choke in the field.