Tikka vs Seekins

[ml2014]

Seekins just bought back a rifle from me and I used 1/3 of the money to buy a tikka

How was that process? I'm disappointed in my PH3 6.5cm NRL. Waiting on shipping label to send it in. Seems like huge design flaw not being able to place in a single round and feed it.

 

[Turkeytider]

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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“ if it shoots excellent “, why change out the stock at all?

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Ouch what happened?

A bit of a long story but…..
I had an original element that I really liked. It randomly started shooting terribly. I’m talking 3ft groups at 100 yards. Sent it in, they had it for a few months, called, said they wanted to send me a new m3 element. I told them I didn’t want that, wanted mine fixed. They said they couldn’t fix it but couldn’t tell me what was wrong either. They didn’t have the man power to fix rifles basically and implied they didn’t have the parts either.

I get the new element, it’s almost 7lbs (1.5lbs heavier than the previous model) which is wild and why I didn’t want it to begin with. I take it to the range, shoots great, true sub MOA rifle. Problem is it won’t feed from magazine. Contact Seekins, initially they tell me I’m loading the mags wrong and assure me they wouldn’t send a rifle out that had been top loaded only. I get the email of the guy I originally was dealing with and he sends me a label to get it back. They clean up the feed ramp, provide me with a “tuned” mag, and get it back to me. The gun still doesn’t feed smoothly but better.

Fast forward to the CO Rokslider shoot. The gun started having light primer strikes and on the third stage the bolt would not close on a live round. That ended up being carbon from the suppressor falling into the chamber but still, one more thing. Between it being so heavy, feeding poorly, and having light primer strikes now, I was done. They sent me a label and I sent it back for the third time and they bought it back from me.

I’m not crapping on Seekins. I think they revamped their entire line at once, expanded, and weren’t staffed for that growth. My CS experience through all of it was impressive and I don’t think any other manufacturer would have bought the rifle back like they did. I don’t understand why they revamped their entire line and added 1+ pound to every model but for most that might not be an issue.

 

[bojangles808]

A bit of a long story but…..
I had an original element that I really liked. It randomly started shooting terribly. I’m talking 3ft groups at 100 yards. Sent it in, they had it for a few months, called, said they wanted to send me a new m3 element. I told them I didn’t want that, wanted mine fixed. They said they couldn’t fix it but couldn’t tell me what was wrong either. They didn’t have the man power to fix rifles basically and implied they didn’t have the parts either.

I get the new element, it’s almost 7lbs (1.5lbs heavier than the previous model) which is wild and why I didn’t want it to begin with. I take it to the range, shoots great, true sub MOA rifle. Problem is it won’t feed from magazine. Contact Seekins, initially they tell me I’m loading the mags wrong and assure me they wouldn’t send a rifle out that had been top loaded only. I get the email of the guy I originally was dealing with and he sends me a label to get it back. They clean up the feed ramp, provide me with a “tuned” mag, and get it back to me. The gun still doesn’t feed smoothly but better.

Fast forward to the CO Rokslider shoot. The gun started having light primer strikes and on the third stage the bolt would not close on a live round. That ended up being carbon from the suppressor falling into the chamber but still, one more thing. Between it being so heavy, feeding poorly, and having light primer strikes now, I was done. They sent me a label and I sent it back for the third time and they bought it back from me.

I’m not crapping on Seekins. I think they revamped their entire line at once, expanded, and weren’t staffed for that growth. My CS experience through all of it was impressive and I don’t think any other manufacturer would have bought the rifle back like that did. I don’t understand why they revamped their entire line and added 1+ pound to every model but for most that might not be an issue.

dang that sucks but glad they made it right

 

[jesco88]

A bit of a long story but…..
I had an original element that I really liked. It randomly started shooting terribly. I’m talking 3ft groups at 100 yards. Sent it in, they had it for a few months, called, said they wanted to send me a new m3 element. I told them I didn’t want that, wanted mine fixed. They said they couldn’t fix it but couldn’t tell me what was wrong either. They didn’t have the man power to fix rifles basically and implied they didn’t have the parts either.

I get the new element, it’s almost 7lbs (1.5lbs heavier than the previous model) which is wild and why I didn’t want it to begin with. I take it to the range, shoots great, true sub MOA rifle. Problem is it won’t feed from magazine. Contact Seekins, initially they tell me I’m loading the mags wrong and assure me they wouldn’t send a rifle out that had been top loaded only. I get the email of the guy I originally was dealing with and he sends me a label to get it back. They clean up the feed ramp, provide me with a “tuned” mag, and get it back to me. The gun still doesn’t feed smoothly but better.

Fast forward to the CO Rokslider shoot. The gun started having light primer strikes and on the third stage the bolt would not close on a live round. That ended up being carbon from the suppressor falling into the chamber but still, one more thing. Between it being so heavy, feeding poorly, and having light primer strikes now, I was done. They sent me a label and I sent it back for the third time and they bought it back from me.

I’m not crapping on Seekins. I think they revamped their entire line at once, expanded, and weren’t staffed for that growth. My CS experience through all of it was impressive and I don’t think any other manufacturer would have bought the rifle back like that did. I don’t understand why they revamped their entire line and added 1+ pound to every model but for most that might not be an issue.

Yep, I too scratch my head on the whole PH3 being so much heavier than the PH2. Like- I get they wanted to add features like adjustable cheek riser and MLOK forend, but they missed the fact that they've just basically given everyone a 9lb rifle. I specifically wanted a shorter and heavier 6.5PRC than what Tikka had to offer. I'm always going to be suppressed, and I want to spot my impacts better. I feel like they need to make two variants of the PH3, one with a more of a basic stock and one with all the features. Same as Springfield did on the Waypoint 2020.

On the light primer strikes note, I made some reloading errors that were highlighted by the Seekins PH3 firing pin... Using my old RCBS hand primer that I've been using for 15+ years, and a Hornady shell holder, I wasn't getting enough seating depth into the primer pocket. First time I've actually had this issue, I think it was the Hornady shell holder. I normally use all Redding stuff. But I was only able to get the primers basically flush or 0.001" below flush. 3 out of 20 rounds did not go bang. I instantly blamed the gun and called Seekins. To their credit, they had a label in my email inbox same day, and it took them less than 2 weeks from the time I sent the bolt in the mail to back in my hands. I've since remedied my reloads by purchasing the Franklin Arsenal hand primer tool that has adjustable seating depth. I told them about that too, and they said not a problem, they'd still do the upgrade. I don't know why Seekins wouldn't just use the "upgraded" firing pin spring in all of their PH3s... maybe they are now? I purchased it back in Dec 2025.

Also, I did purchase a MDT metal AICS 6.5 PRC/300WSM magazine, I wanted a spare and the Amend 2 magazine that shipped with the rifle didn't feel like it actually seated in the magwel. It fed just fine, but I didn't like how much it moved around. The MDT gets one more round too, which is nice. I've cycled 100 loaded rounds from the new MDT magazine into the gun, without any issues feeding or extracting a loaded cartridge. When doing load dev- I single feed all of the rounds I'm testing and never had an issue there.

My PH3 is very accurate, with factory Hornady Precision Hunter, 10 round group at 1.1 MOA. My hand loads are a bit more accurate than that even. Sorry to hear yours was giving you issues.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

dang that sucks but glad they made it right

For sure. I don’t think any other manufacturer would have bought it back. Good CS is rare these days and Seekins has it.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

How was that process? I'm disappointed in my PH3 6.5cm NRL. Waiting on shipping label to send it in. Seems like huge design flaw not being able to place in a single round and feed it.

Process was as easy as it could be. They sent me a label each time I had to return the rifle. I never had to pay anything out of pocket to get it to them or back. I’m not sure they would just buy any rifle back, nor should they, but since I had multiple continuing issues, they offered.

 

[surfr716]

Nothing against tikka but its not in the same league as Seekins. My Element is the most accurate rifle i've ever owned, bar none, and the best part is it shoots everything from the 130 cx to the 156 EOL equally well. its been my go to for several seasons now, seen a lot of big mountainous country. and just gets the job done. ive built a lot of rifles since buying it but it just keeps getting pulled out of the bull pen.

 

[surfr716]

Tikka triggers are adjustable though and there are spring options as well if you wanted to go that route. the trigger tech trigger in a seekins is just a r700 trigger that's been done up nicely, still susceptible to failure and jamming in ice, snow etc.

Not trying to argue or say your opinion isn't valid.

show me a rifle that wont jam in snow and ice though.

my first rifle i ever built was a 7 stw, on a pre 64 win action i bought while drunk on gunbroker. its also the only action ive ever had freeze from water entering the action on an early season high hunt. No mechanical device is above failure. ive definitely had 700s go down from grit in the trigger while shooting so i get the argument but i dont think its as prevelant as the internet would have you believe, just a significantly larger sample size to pull stories from

 

[Grillnugz]

I didn't really know about Seekins before I bought my last rifle. But I ended up at $720 for a 20" threaded stainless T3X 6.5 PRC (EuroOptic + Beretta Rebate + Gunsmith). So after RokStok I'll be $1,265. And I like the factory Tikka trigger better than the Trigger Tech I had in the past.

Hard to beat this combo, regardless of cost. If you don’t like the lines of the rokstock, go with the stockys vg and save a few hundred. Tikka trigger, bottom plastic and magazine all work well. The factory stock is probably the most rigid plastic stock available on a factory gun.

I own rifles ranging from factory to fancy. The tikkas always work well and are a pleasure to shoot. Nice customs might shoot slightly better but they are heavier and way more money. Unless you want are dead set on a round tikka doesn’t chamber, no reason not to go tikka, especially now that most/all offerings are threaded.

 

[MTtrout]

Bummer for those that have had negative experiences with Seekins, I didn’t know there was issues with some. I got my element about 5 years ago and it has been the easies to reload for and most accurate gun I’ve ever shot. I have a tikka too, good guns, for sure. That was my hunting rifle till the element.

 

[MattArcher2]

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?

If the Tikka is shooting how you want it to, probably just upgrade the stock. Only real reason to go with the Seekins action/rifle is if you’re going to change bolt faces and or calibers.

 

[handwerk]

It seems crazy to me that Seekins doesn't take each rifle and test fire/check function before it's shipped.
So the customer does the QC?

 

[fatlander]

I’ll preface my opinion with this, I don’t own a seekins. Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, if your tikka shoots like mine, I can’t see any justification for chasing something different. My SL 6.5 Creedmoor is an absolute tack driver. I keep getting the itch to get a stock for it, and chop and thread the barrel, but I keep coming back to why? It’s almost silly how well the gun shoots for the money I have in it. I could spend about what I have in it already for those two things and I don’t see how I could gain anything other than slightly better “feel”; it’s really not conceivable to think it could shoot any better with factory ammo than it does right now. I’ve yet to find a load it doesn’t like.


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[jesco88]

It seems crazy to me that Seekins doesn't take each rifle and test fire/check function before it's shipped.
So the customer does the QC?

They most certainly do fire the rifle prior to sending it out.

I keep getting the itch to get a stock for it, and chop and thread the barrel, but I keep coming back to why? It’s almost silly how well the gun shoots for the money I have in it. I could spend about what I have in it already for those two things and I don’t see how I could gain anything other than slightly better “feel”; it’s really not conceivable to think it could shoot any better with factory ammo than it does right now. I’ve yet to find a load it doesn’t like.


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As someone that just finished a "budget" build on a Tikka 6.5CM with 24" SL I can 100% say the stock matters way more than I thought.

It's not that the gun will necessarily shoot more accurate, although it likely will. It's that you will handle the rifle better. The factory Tikka stock geometry doesn't lend itself to having the recoil come straight back. The rear butt pad is angled down so when the recoil hits your shoulder it pushes the muzzle up. Not a huge deal on a 6.5CM, but I definitely noticed it when I switched to a Stocky's Stock. I have big hands (3XL Gloves) and wanted a long trigger reach, so I picked up a Stocky's VG hunter over the Rokstock, and I couldn't be happier with it.

The biggest difference in terms of recoil reduction and accuracy was shooting the rifle suppressed. Going from a 24" barrel to a 22" only lost 25fps (went from 2680 to 2655) with the same lot of Hornady 143 precision hunter. If I knew the gun would always be suppressed, I'd go at least 20". I threaded it for 1/2x28, not enough meat to go with 5/8x24, and I didn't want some weird looking bell shoulder on it, just looks goofy to me. Groups were a bit smaller too when shooting suppressed, which I've seen to be the case for pretty much every rifle I've shot suppressed. The recoil reduction without the muzzle blast is the main reason I shoot suppressed. I've yet to shoot a gun that I didn't shoot better with a can on it. Maybe some FRT super gassy ARs.. I wouldn't say I shot it better without a can, I just cried a little less

The first thing I'd do is thread the barrel and put a can on the rifle. It makes the biggest difference. If you live in a communist state that doesn't allow that, then I'd spend the money on a Rokstock. Everyone that's bought one seems to mention how much better it shoots than the factory Tikka stock.

 

[wind gypsy]

Imagine if savage, ruger, remington, bergara, springfied, tikka, etc had this many reports of issues scaled to how many guns they sell..

I like seekins but it sure seems like they put out a lot of turds. My sample of 1 was years ago but it started as a turd too. That one was replaced twice and had an aftermarket barrel chambered for it before i was truly happy with it.

 

[wind gypsy]

“ if it shoots excellent “, why change out the stock at all?

A mechanically accurate rifle and being easy to shoot well are two different things. The controlling factor in hitting what you want is almost always the shooter not the rifle so if you can make it easier to shoot well you're ahead of the game.